Aberdeen is home to one of just four specialist music schools in Scotland. We caught up with the school’s Director, Sonia Scaife, to find out more…
‘Aberdeen City Music School is based at Dyce Academy. As well as a high quality mainstream education, our pupils benefit from a specialist music education and free music tuition. There is a wonderful atmosphere at the school.
‘We have 33 pupils ranging from S1 to S6. Some pupils are local while others come from all over Scotland and stay in our on-site boarding accommodation. The admission process includes an audition and although we’re looking for a good musical standard, we can also see potential in young musicians and will happily work with this.
‘We offer individual tuition in all instruments and voice and encourage the pupils to participate in school ensembles and external orchestral activities. ‘We also offer a primary bursary programme which offers talented pupils in P6 or P7 free lessons. Wewill ‘try out’ pupils with instruments if we see musical potential.
‘Since the Aberdeen City Music School was founded, some of our students have gone on to be professional musicians, working with top orchestras around the world, but we are not just here for that. Pupils have gone on to be lawyers, doctors and engineers – we offer that added extra that universities are looking for – a level of commitment.
‘We give many performances throughout the year but our main concert is in March – this year we had an audience of 800! We are just starting a programme of primary visits – hopefully making pupils and their parents aware of this great, free facility.
‘I really feel I have the best job in the world, working with focused, motivated young people who all share a love for music and a wish to succeed in whatever they do’. www.aberdeencitymusicschool.com