GEMS Music Academy
(based at GEMS Wellington Academy Dubai Silicon Oasis) – individual schools refer students.
Unique among UAE school providers, GEMS is able, through its large network of Dubai schools, to bring together specialist activities from across its network to combine provision in one location. This has been done in the past for Sports and Swimming, for instance, and the GEMS Music Academy, based at GEMS Wellington Academy, Dubai Silicon Oasis, is a successful example of this arrangement.
GEMS Music Academy offers one-to-one instrumental lessons, group beginner lessons and events and competitions for GEMS students and schools:
One-to-one instrumental lessons
Over 800 students in 15 GEMS schools receiving one-to-one instrumental lessons from a team of more than 30 teachers. Lessons are offered on a variety of string, woodwind and brass instruments as well as voice, piano, drum kit and music theory. Many students enter for and pass the ABRSM, Trinity and London Rock and Pop examinations.
Group Beginner lessons
Approximately 80 students from 17 GEMS schools participate in group beginner lessons. Students learn in groups of 4 – 12 (depending on the instrument) for flute, clarinet, violin, trumpet and guitar. These lessons take place on Saturdays as part of the GEMS Music Academy Saturday Academy. GEMS Music Academy provides the instruments for the flute, clarinet, violin and trumpet lessons and to allow students and parents the time and space to decide if an instrument is right for them to move forward with prior to making an expensive purchase that may end up unused in the medium term.
GEMS Music Academy Saturday Academy
The GEMS Music Academy Saturday Academy runs at GEMS Wellington Academy, Silicon Oasis. Group beginner lessons and one-to-one lessons are offered, together with the opportunity for students from across GEMS schools to make music together through a variety of ensemble rehearsals. The GEMS ensembles are designed for students who:
- Already play an instrument or sing well (ABRSM Grade 2+)
- Can already read music
- Want to make music and participate in concerts with students from across the GEMS network.
Students from any GEMS school can be a part of the GEMS String Ensemble, Wind Band, Choir, Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble as long as they meet the criteria to join the group. There is no fee to participate in the ensembles.
GEMS Events and Competitions
GEMS Music Academy runs a variety of events and competitions throughout the school year in order to allow students from across the GEMS Network to perform together, watch and listen to each other, learn from each other musically and sometimes compete against each other. These annual events include:
The GEMS Music Academy Roadshows: These are taken into the GEMS schools and allow students (and parents) the opportunity to see and hear the GEMS Music Academy teachers perform.
The GEMS Music Academy Coffee Concerto: This event allows students and parents to try out instruments, purchase sheet music, instruments and accessories, talk to GEMS Music Academy teachers, watch GEMS Music Academy teachers perform and participate in workshops with the GEMS Music Academy teachers.
The GEMS Music Academy Winter, Spring and Summer Concerts: These events feature the GEMS ensembles that rehearse on Saturdays and soloists from across the GEMS Network that have been selected for performance by their GEMS Music Academy teachers.
The GEMS Aspiring Musician of the Year Competition: This event provides an opportunity for students of ABRSM Grade 4 – 6 standard to experience masterclasses and workshops with teachers from GEMS Music Academy and then compete against each other for the title of the GEMS Aspiring Musician of the Year.
The GEMS Young Musician of the Year Competition: This event provides an opportunity for students of ABRSM Grade 7+ standard to experience masterclasses and workshops with teachers from GEMS Music Academy and then compete against each other for the title of the GEMS Young Musician of the Year.
The GEMS Night at the Musicals: Schools across the GEMS Network present extracts from their annual school shows and presentations are made to the schools for the Best Solo Performance, the Best Group Performance and the Best Overall Presentation.
GEMS Music Academy Teacher concerts: Throughout the school year and certainly in term 3, the GEMS Music Academy teachers provide the opportunity for every student that they teach to perform to their parents in a series small, informal concerts
The GEMS Music Day and Concert: Every GEMS School is invited to bring 20 students to the GEMS Music Day. During the day, students workshop with Music teachers from across GEMS to prepare 2 performances for the evening concert. Each participating school then has the opportunity to provide a showcase performance in the evening concert.
Whilst individual GEMS schools may not be in a position to provide a full range of Music tuition and performance opportunities, GEMS Music Academy enables aspiring musicians the opportunity to study and perform with fellow students from across the network.
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