New music education charity champions access to high quality teaching

Greenwich has a new charity for learning all aspects of music! Greenwich Music School (GMS) provides music lessons and courses for all ages, and was officially registered as a charity in January. The organisation was started in 2016 by Charlton-based husband and wife team Ed and Bethan Scolding, who are both professional musicians and teachers.

What motivated the couple to begin? “We started GMS to share our passion for music with people of all ages through teaching and education of the highest quality,” says Bethan. “Bringing together our team of specialist tutors and developing our bespoke curriculum, from babies and toddlers to professional musicians, has been fantastic - and it's been a great privilege to see our first students progress and flourish at all levels.”

The organisation now teaches over 200 students every week, providing instrument and voice lessons, group courses for children and young people such as choir, musicianship and orchestras, the Greenwich Early Years Music programme for babies and toddlers, and courses for adults including Mulberry Orchestra Sessions and Performance Workshops. Students perform regularly, and benefit from learning with professional musicians who are dedicated to teaching.

Greenwich Music School also works at a professional level, running the internationally acclaimed London Conducting Academy, delivering training for music teachers from across London, undergraduate music teaching placements, and a Teacher Network which brings together anyone teaching music in any capacity across South-East London, to share ideas, training and best practice.

“Registering as a charity is the next step towards being a centre of excellence in music education – a place focussed on providing and promoting really good teaching,” explains Ed. “The best teachers are always learning, and we wanted to give musicians who love teaching the tools and opportunities to achieve everything they’re capable of – doing this means their students get the benefit.”

As a charity, Greenwich Music School will be able to provide wider access to high quality music education. Plans are being made for a bursary programme, discounted courses, an instrument amnesty and donation programme, developing the tutor network with training and collaboration opportunities for those involved in music education locally, and offering subsidised teacher training which would ultimately benefit anyone learning music across South East London and beyond.

GMS are also keen to make new partnerships to help them realise their aims of delivering and enabling excellent music education.

To support, learn music, or find out more about Greenwich Music School explore the website, call 020 8305 1286 or contact Ed on ed@greenwichmusicschool.org.uk.

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