My child is interested in the performing arts. How can they benefit from taking online classes through Guildhall Young Artists?

Josh: Guildhall Young Artists (GYA) is the Guildhall’s network of centres across the country that provide performing arts training for children from the age of four to 18. GYA Online, which is part of this network, was born during the pandemic, when all the GYA in-person centres (in London, Norwich and Taunton) moved their classes online. Student retention was really strong, with new students joining us from all over the country.

GYA Online was officially established as a centre in September 2023. Now children and young people from all over the world sign up to an online programme of music and drama courses in the comfort of their own home, meeting like-minded friends in the process.

How are the GYA Online classes structured?

Julie: Our online centre offers a range of music and drama courses over three terms each year, plus one-to-one online tuition and online performance opportunities. Sizes for group classes depend on the course, but we keep class sizes small. The majority of our group classes are capped at a maximum of 12-15 students, and they are arranged by age and ability level. The GYA network is part of Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and there is regular communication with all departments of the school.

Are there any entry requirements?

Josh: Our online offering is very wide, with courses aimed at less experienced students or more technically advanced students. So, students can be a complete beginner, or they can be studying music or drama at A-level.

The majority of our classes have no formal entry requirements. However for some courses, students submit a piece of work they have been working on and the course leader will assess the appropriate level and the best option for the student. In all cases we aim to tailor the programme of study to suit the student’s current standard and aspirations.

Do you coach children for music and drama exams?

Julie: Through our one-to-one sessions, our students can have help with any goal they are working towards – whether it’s a music or drama exam, a competition, or an audition. Our GCSE music support class is very popular. It runs through the year for any students in Year 10 and 11 who might need more support. It’s fantastic because the GCSE listening paper requires so much knowledge it’s hard to teach that depth within a school day.

Can your online students take part in performances?

Josh: We have informal showings of work at the end of every term in many of the classes – drama students may share monologues or sketches, for instance. We also have more formal concerts and performances each term, collated from all the different courses. And at the end of the summer term, we do a blended concert. We may invite students to perform live and stream that live, or an ensemble from Guildhall’s university programme may come and perform to inspire our GYA Online students to pursue performing arts at higher education.

Julie: Another really exciting thing we did this year was some of our GYA Online students took part in the Cameron Mackintosh Les Misérables collaboration. They practised the songs for the show during their online classes and then performed alongside some of the adult cast of Les Mis at Guildhall’s Milton Court concert hall (below). One student even flew in from Romania to take part. We’re hoping this will be the first of many collaborations.

How do you make sure online students feel they are part of a community?

Julie: Because class sizes are small, the tutor gets to know each student well, which is not always possible at school in a class of 30. Our head of safeguarding for Guildhall is also planning an event for next academic year on how to manage stress and anxiety around exams. We want to make sure all our students are feeling good in themselves.

Josh: As a member of the GYA network our students also benefit from exclusive opportunities, performances and workshops, including competitions, invites to concerts and gigs, and performances from students at Guildhall School. These opportunities ensure that members can connect and collaborate with like-minded individuals across the country. It’s important to us that our online students have the same opportunities as the students at our in-person centres.  

As the courses take place during a weekday evening, children will have already had a day at school/college. How do you keep them motivated and engaged?

Josh: Our group classes take place in the evening (they start from between 5pm to 7.30pm), so it gives children enough time to come home from school, get settled and have a snack before they log on. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a problem with motivation, the kids are really excited by what’s in front of them and value the opportunity to access Guildhall’s teaching provision from their own home. Our teachers are very experienced in working online and making the most of the technology.

What would you say to parents who are worried about their child spending more time looking at a screen?

Josh: I would say our online classes are time that children are engaged with another person; it’s not a case of them just sitting on a sofa and consuming information. As music teachers we are really privileged, because we are often the first adult, apart from family members, that a child has one-to-one time with. (We also ask that a parent is in the vicinity when a lesson is happening for safeguarding purposes). As a child, my music teacher became one of the most important people in my life and they inspired me to go on to do music at higher education.

Is GYA Online good preparation for children who want to apply to study higher education at Guildhall School of Music & Drama? 

Julie: Yes! We’re delighted that 15 final year students from across the GYA network continued their undergraduate training at Guildhall School in September 2023, and we currently have a student with us who is applying for Guildhall next year.

It’s also just as valuable for children and young people who might want to study elsewhere. Last September, one of our online students went on to read Music at Cambridge University, and others have gone on to enrol on post-16 specialist music and drama courses, like Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. We can help with personal statements and selecting which course will best suit the student – we help to bring out their best potential.

Can you name some of Guildhall’s most famous alumni?

Julie: Yes, there’s a long list! Actors Damian Lewis CBE (Homeland), Daniel Craig CMG (James Bond), Lily James (Cinderella), Sarah Lancashire OBE (Happy Valley) and Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso) for Drama. From our musicians, there’s trumpeter Alison Balsom OBE, saxophonist Jess Gillam MBE, opera singer Sir Bryn Terfel CBE, and flautist Sir James Galway OBE.

Pretty stellar! How far afield do your students come from?

Josh: Since we started, just over a quarter of our students are international, and we’ve had students from 16 different countries from six continents. The only continent we haven’t had a student from is Antarctica – which I don’t think is even possible! We are passionate about ensuring that high quality music and drama provision is available to all, regardless of location.

To find out more about GYA Online’s courses, see here, or email gya-online@gsmd.ac.uk.