Rohan
ABRSM Grade 5Jackson Street Blues
Rohan's confident Grade 5 performance recorded at Piano with Norbert in Harrow. The blues language at Grade 5 demands feel as much as accuracy, and this one's got both.
Scholarship auditions · Harrow
Music scholarship audition prep
Preparing young pianists for music scholarship auditions at selective Harrow schools, with conservatoire-trained teachers who have sat on the other side of the panel.
Harrow and the surrounding area is home to some of the most competitive school music scholarships in the country, at schools like John Lyon, Harrow School and North London Collegiate. A music scholarship can reward genuine talent and, alongside a means-tested bursary, make a real difference.
The audition is the hurdle. We prepare students for it properly: the right pieces, the supporting tests, and the calm that comes from having done the whole thing before, in practice, more than once.
How we prepare a student
Choosing the right repertoire
Most auditions ask for two contrasting pieces. We pick repertoire that shows the student at their strongest and sits comfortably under pressure, then polish it to performance standard.
Sight-reading and aural
Scholarship panels test sight-reading and aural skills. We build these steadily, the same skills the ABRSM and Trinity exams develop, so they are second nature on the day.
Mock auditions
We run full mock auditions so the student has played the whole thing, start to finish, in front of someone before the real panel. Nerves are practised away, not hoped away.
An honest timeline
Harrow School, for example, asks for a pre-audition with its Director of Music six months to two years ahead. We plan backwards from the audition date so nothing is rushed.
Hear our students
The standard we prepare students to
Rohan
ABRSM Grade 5Jackson Street Blues
Rohan's confident Grade 5 performance recorded at Piano with Norbert in Harrow. The blues language at Grade 5 demands feel as much as accuracy, and this one's got both.
Jay
IntermediateWaltz in A minor (Chopin)
Jay performing Chopin's Waltz in A minor at our Harrow studio. Romantic-era repertoire that asks for sensitive phrasing as much as clean fingers.
Common questions
Which schools do you prepare students for?
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We prepare students for music scholarship auditions at selective schools in and around Harrow, including John Lyon, Harrow School and North London Collegiate. The preparation is tailored to each school's specific audition format.
What level does my child need to be?
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It varies by school and entry point. As a guide, 11+ and 13+ music scholarships often look for around Grade 5 on a main instrument, while senior awards can expect Grade 8. We will give you an honest assessment at the trial.
How far ahead should we start?
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The earlier the better. Some schools, such as Harrow School, ask for a pre-audition with the Director of Music six months to two years before the assessment. A year of focused preparation is a sensible minimum.
What does a scholarship audition involve?
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Typically two contrasting pieces on the main instrument, sight-reading, aural tests and often a short theory paper and an informal interview. Some schools welcome a second instrument or singing. We prepare every element.
Thinking about a scholarship?
Start with a £10 trial. We will hear your child play and tell you honestly what the audition would take, and whether it is within reach.
Book a trial