Instrumental Lessons

Keyboard

• Around 250 students have piano, jazz piano or organ lessons
• The College has over 30 high quality pianos and two organs on campus, including a beautiful Steinway Model B grand piano in the Old Library, a Bosendorfer Imperial in the Great Hall and a Yamaha S4 grand piano in the Auditorium
• There are regular performance opportunities for pianists in assemblies, lunchtime concerts, piano masterclasses and chamber music settings
• The annual Piano Competition (Senior and Junior) and the Piano Accompaniment Competition take place annually

Singing

Singing enjoys a high profile within the College from DUCKS upwards

• There is a strong choral tradition - the department trains the 40 or so choral scholars in the  Chapel Choir
• Supersized House Singing is a special and unique occasion where the entire College community gathers to learn and perform a song in one day
• The Madrigal Choir is open to all keen singers and there are close-harmony groups for pupils of all ages and abilities 
• Prizes in the annual annual Singing Competition are hotly contested
• Partnerships with professional singing groups such as the London Community Gospel Choir, the Swingle Singers and Gabrieli Roar. 

Strings

The Strings department develops playing and performance skills at all levels, encourages all pupils to participate in the many ensembles on offer and provides the environment and resources to realise their full potential.

• Every pupil in the Junior School learns a string instrument with the bespoke Year 3 Strings Scheme (specialising in Colourstrings)
• Orchestral string playing is taught from Year 2 (aged 6)
• The annual Junior Strings Festival and bi-annual Senior Strings Competition are open to all
• Advanced strings players in the Senior School are central to the thriving Chamber Music programme and form the core of the Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra

Woodwind

• Over 100 boys have individual woodwind lessons at the College
• A wide range of music is offered to wood wind players, including classical, jazz, blues and rock
• Students have the opportunity to perform as soloists at concerts, assemblies and jazz gigs
• All pupils in Year 4 are taught a woodwind instrument 
• There is a bi-annual Woodwind Competition and regular concerts throughout the year

Brass

The Brass department fosters a tradition of classic brass ensemble performance as well as contemporary and jazz.

• All pupils in Year 4 offers are taught a brass instrument
• Competitions in the tradition of Brass Band performance such as the ‘Long Note’ and ‘Slow Song’ take place annually
• Recent masterclasses have included the all-female trombone ensemble “Bones Apart” and the legendary trumpet virtuoso Crispian Steele-Perkins.
• International French Horn soloist Michael Thompson visited the department to coach a massed Horn Ensemble of 20 players

Percussion

The thriving and ever-growing percussion department offers students lessons in Drum Kit, Orchestral Percussion and/or Solo Marimba or combination of all three disciplines.

• Percussionists and drummers are regularly invited to perform in concerts, assemblies and events throughout the year as soloists or part of an ensemble
• There is an annual drum rudiment competition with an external adjudicator
• Regular masterclasses welcome performers such as the contemporary quartet Ensemble Bash! and freelance drummers Daniel Hayward and Rob Farrer

Jazz

There is a vibrant Jazz scene at Dulwich, where pupils have the opportunity to improvise in individual and group settings. All students have the opportunity to perform as soloists and in ensembles at major concerts halls in London, jazz clubs, assemblies and lunchtime concerts. A number of boys have won places in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Music Technology and Production

Students can take one-to-one Music Technology and Production lessons in College.