Creating a world-leading performing arts facility

Creating a

world-leading

performing arts

facility

Consultancy I Design I Installation I Training

Our approach

We have been providing advice and support to music teachers for over 30 years, during which time changes

in the curriculum have reshaped the role of creativity in music and the performing arts.

With this in mind, we approach each

new school project with a clear

understanding of the goal: to provide

pupils with a unique, world-class

educational experience. This approach

aims not only to facilitate effective

learning but also to offer pupils

unparalleled opportunities across every

aspect of the learning environment. We

aim to realise this vision through

innovative integration of technology,

complemented by traditional resources,

within facilities designed to foster

confidence, creativity, and a forwardthinking

attitude towards learning.

To achieve this, we carefully select the

finest resources and equipment available

today and strategically place them in

spaces that enhance the pupil learning

experience. In addition to sourcing

top-quality resources, we partner with

organisations capable of delivering

exceptional training for both staff and

pupils. These partnerships blend new

teaching methodologies with traditional

approaches, providing on-site CPD

opportunities as well as ongoing remote

learning and support. Our aim extends

beyond creating an environment

equipped with outstanding tools; it is to

ensure these resources are used

effectively to achieve the best possible

educational outcomes for everyone

involved.

Consultations

While we hope that this

document provides you with

useful information on how to

plan for your new or refurbished

performing arts facility, we also

offer consultations for schools

looking for more tailored support

and advice. We can provide

consultative support either

remotely or by visiting you in

person, and have supported

schools across the UK, in Europe,

the Middle East and Asia. Contact

us for further information.

William Thompson MA PGCE LTCL

Director of Education

Creating a world-leading performing arts facility

Music Department

How do we designate different rooms?

A music department has some of the most varied activities of all departments

within a school. As well as didactic teaching, it needs to facilitate rehearsals of a

wide variety of ensembles, recording of musical performances and compositions,

individual and group practice on instruments and music technology, plus all the

other types of interaction that would be normal in any busy school department.

When we are asked to help a school develop their facilities, we consult with them

to take into account their preferences for layout and functionality. We also consult

any preferred resources list; this can be a helpful guide in defining the use of other

spaces. We consider the range of activities that might be possible within a school

department, and allocate resources to specific rooms accordingly. Of course, we

know that the music staff may have their own preferences for how these rooms

are to be used, so everything that we have outlined theoretically will be flexible in

practice. Our initial concept designs always recognise this.

The following pages contain an example proposal for a large new music

department. Many new departments require a mixture of classrooms, rehearsal

spaces, practice rooms and recording facilities. With that in mind, our concept

design proposes spaces that are both beautiful and functional, where all the

activities of a music department can exist side by side.

Our concept design proposes spaces

that are both beautiful and functional,

where the activities of a music

department can exist side by side


Music Rooms

In this example, there are three general music rooms in the music department. We

have allocated appropriate resources across these rooms, always ensuring that

each room also has a suitable piano installed. The staff in the music department

will be best placed to decide on how each space is used, but in our example rooms

we have designated them to meet the needs of specific age groups.

Lower Primary Music Room

In this room, apart from a digital piano, we have included a range of resources that

will be best suited to Key Stage 1 music teaching. Included in here will be a range of

percussion instruments, Suzuki Music Pads, a class set of Wak-a-tubes and small

djembes, together with a Hi-Fi system for music playback.

In a room which is designed to meet the specific needs of younger children, it is

important that the décor and furniture are appropriate, and provide a relaxed

environment for children to enjoy their music-making. We can provide advice on

appropriate approaches to take to help ensure this is possible.

What is unique in

this space

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Colour-coded Wak-a-tubes

and combi bells

Suzuki Music Pads

A digital piano with Bluetooth

MIDI and audio


Lower Primary Music Room

Some ideas and suggestions of products suitable for this type of space, listed below by category:

Hifi System

Hi-Fi System with appropriate loudspeakers

Side-clamp Speaker Brackets - pair

Instruments

Nuvo WindStars 1 Recorder+ class set for 10 students with instruments

and teaching resources

Class percussion

Percussion Plus 25 note chromatic junior glockenspiels

Percussion Plus class percussion packs

Percussion Plus mobile instrument trolley

Digital pianos & accessories

Kawai digital piano

Musisca CASTOR-GLIDE Digital Piano Castors

Hidrau 'Toledo' adjustable piano stool

Percussion Plus combi hand bells sets

Percussion Plus tub of egg shakers in mixed metallic colours

Percussion Plus World Slap Djembe 15 player class pack - pre-tuned.

With Andy Gleadhill's Slap Djembe award-winning teaching resource

Percussion Plus Wak-a-Tubes 30 player classroom pack

Wak-a-Tubes C major scale treble octave sets

PP Giant Piano Mat

Suzuki Music Pads

Suzuki P-tunes music push pump set

Trophy Mel-O-Dee Balls

Upper Primary Music Room

This can operate as the Key Stage 2 music room, and will therefore contain

instruments and resources suited to slightly older children.

As well as a wide range of percussion, both tuned and untuned, the resources will

include descant recorders, plastic Nuvo, pTrumpet and pBone instruments suited

to children at this stage of development, and a class set of authentic wooden

Ghanaian djembes.

What is unique in

this space

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Ghanaian djembes

Nuvo WindStars

pBone and pTrumpet carbon

neutral instruments

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Tuned percussion kits

Nuvo WindStars

Nuvo WindStars provides a simple, effective, and comprehensive way for

primary school students to experience the joy of playing music together.

WindStars is a book-based method created by highly experienced music

educators and featuring Nuvo’s innovative beginner wind instruments.

Available at three different levels, WindStars provides suitable entry points

for students with different experience levels and learning styles, with a

comprehensive selection of backing tracks and video materials provided to

supplement the books.

Unlike many traditional wind instruments, Nuvo’s are tailored to younger

players – they’re lightweight, easy to handle, and quick to produce a good

sound from. Overall, an excellent solution for whole class ensemble teaching.


Upper Primary Music Room


Pro audio & accessories

All-in-one Hi-Fi system

Appropriate pair of speakers

Sennheiser professional gooseneck microphones

Sennheiser profile USB microphone

Sennheiser closed-back monitoring headphones

Class percussion

Percussion Plus class percussion packs

Percussion Plus World Slap Djembe 20 player class pack - rope-tuned.

With Andy Gleadhill's Slap Djembe award winning teaching resource

Percussion Plus soprano glockenspiel and drum pad kit

Percussion Plus world percussion kit

Percussion Plus mobile instrument trolley

Nuvo WindStars 3 Teacher Book

pBone plastic Bb tenor trombone

pTrumpet plastic Bb trumpet outfit

Recorder Workshop 601 descant recorder

Computers & tablets

Music Computer Workstation (includes iMac and all associated software)

Digital pianos & accessories

Kawai digital piano

FZone sustain pedal for digital pianos


Adjustable piano stool

Classroom wind instruments

Nuvo N120 Clarineo outfit with limited edition case

Nuvo N220 jFlute outfit - Black with steel trim

Nuvo WindStars 2 Instrument Essentials – teachers’ book

Nuvo WindStars 2 Student Book - Clarineo

Nuvo WindStars 2 Student Book - jFlute

Nuvo WindStars 2 Student Book - jSax

Nuvo WindStars 3 Student Book - Clarineo

Nuvo WindStars 3 Student Book - jFlute

Nuvo WindStars 3 Student Book - jSax

Post-Primary Music Room

The room is a location for some innovative electronic music resources. Roland

AIRA Compact synths are the perfect gateway to electronic music performance

for students. These electronic music-making devices are small, lightweight,

rechargeable battery-operated and incredibly tactile.

When played through headphones or a sound system they allow for an incredibly

rich sound canvas, and as stand-alone instruments they don’t require any

computer software. However, there are also several computer workstations to be

located in this room.

We have also included drum kits and accessories, plus a sound system, suitable

for a range of different ensembles. The inclusion of a set of music stands means

that this classroom can function well as a stand-in rehearsal space.

What is unique in

this space

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An assortment of guitars, bass

guitars with relevant

accessories

Innovative electronic music

resources for contemporary

compositional activities

Bose L1 Pro16 sound system

for ensembles, with small

mixer and accessories

Zoom LiveTrak Mixers

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The choice of a digital and an

acoustic piano

Several computer

workstations with software

and associated hardware

The Zoom LiveTrak mixers are powerful all-in-one tools for mixing, recording,

and audio interfacing. Ideal for small group work, band sessions, and

multi-track recording in school settings, they allow students to rehearse and

record together while hearing exactly what they need in their own

headphones.

Offering up to 20-track recording, built-in effects, and flexible input options,

the LiveTrak mixers encourage students to create, perform, and capture

music in breakout rooms or studio environments. Extra benefits include

multi-track USB audio integration and post-session mixing flexibility.


Post-Primary Music Room



Bose portable line array system


Sennheiser dynamic vocal microphone


Zoom Livetrak digital mixers and recorders

AKG closed-back monitoring headphones

Roxtone Smart XLR microphone cables

K&M boom microphone stands

Computers


Music stands & accessories

RAT Performer music stands

Upright piano

Yamaha b1 upright piano


Digital pianos

Yamaha portable digital piano


Yamaha fixed keyboard stand

Drum kits

Pearl Export rock drum kit

Pearl height adjustable round drum stool

Roland V-Drums electronic drum kit

Vic Firth silencer drum and cymbal mute set - rock

Vic Firth American Classic drum sticks

Clearsonic acoustic panels

Electric Guitars & Bass

Various electric guitars

Yamaha electric bass guitars

Amplification

Boss Cube Street II 10W stereo amplifiers

Blackstar Unity bass guitar amplifiers - 30W

Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 guitar amplifiers

Effects & Processing

Zoom guitar multi-effects pedals with expression pedal

Boss guitar effects processor pedals

Boss Loop Station pedals

Boss chromatic tuner pedals

Music ICT Room

This room will provide students with access to music computer workstations, where

they will be able to use software such as GarageBand, Logic and Sibelius to compose

and arrange. Each workstation will allow input from attached keyboard and pad

controllers, as well as audio recording via a dedicated audio interface.

We anticipate that any computers will be networked by the school’s IT department,

allowing pupils to log on to any of the workstations around the music and drama

departments.

We recommend that the computers in this room are also linked through an ‘audio

network’ – a series of audio patch points that are connected to a location adjacent

to the teacher desk position. Here a line mixer will allow the teacher to amplify –

through the Hi-Fi system or a set of dedicated monitors – any student’s work to the

class. There will also be access to DJ controllers, which students can use individually

with headphones, or can connect to the supplied PA system.

What is unique in

this space

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Computer workstations for

composition

DJ controllers

Audio networking

Sound system for playback

Microphones for audio

recording to each workstation

Casio digital piano with

access to online material

https://web.casio.com/app/

en music_space/

Apple

Apple technology can help empower your school to become an innovative,

forward-thinking institution. We can help you to leverage it to enhance

teaching, learning, and leadership across all curricular areas if so desired.

We believe that Apple offers the best and most reliable platform for music

education, and our team can work across all areas to ensure sucessful

implementation of digital and pedagogical programs, fostering innovation,

creativity, and student engagement.


Music ICT Room



Genelec 8040B studio monitor speakers

Mission pair of speakers

Mission pair of floor-standing speakers

QTX pair of studio monitor stands

Tascam line mixer

Pioneer 2-channel DJ controller

Computers & tablets


Digital piano

Yamaha digital piano


Hidrau 'Toledo' adjustable piano stool

Rehearsal Studio

This is the main rehearsal facility for the school, accommodating large ensembles

and choirs, but it will also have other uses. It is an obvious venue for recording groups

of all sizes, but can also be used for more intimate soloist and piano recordings.

The grand piano in this room could be equipped with a MIDI record and playback

facility, allowing piansts to practise and record in this room, and then to transfer the

recording for playback elsewhere.

The room will house a range of instruments that are appropriate for students and

we also propose that the chairs used for ensembles be specialist musician chairs,

which will help ensure correct posture during rehearsals.

We have also included some of the unique NUVOBand plastic flutes and clarinets

which offer full instrumental functionality in a lightweight and durable form factor.

RAT Musicians Furniture

RAT offers a wide range of durable, thoughtfully designed furniture for music

education. Their music stands are well known for stability, ease of use, and

classroom practicality, with useful features such as stackability, integrated

pencil trays, and smooth height adjustment.

The wider range includes well-balanced conductor’s podiums, ergonomic

musicians’ chairs, and bespoke storage trolleys, all designed to be functional,

hard-wearing, and easy to use. RAT furniture is built to stand up to the

demands of busy school life.


1. Teaching wall with storage and digital screen

2. Teachers position

3. Tiered steps with pull out stools

4. Flexible ensemble space

5. Instrument storage

6. Window to recording studio

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75" SCREEN

75" SCREEN

LARGE MUSIC ROOM

86 m²

What is unique in this space

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A grand piano, that can be supplied

with innovative technology if required

Ergonomic seating ideally suited for

musicians

Portable staging that can be utilised

throughout the school, but also

enabling sightlines for ensembles to

be improved by placing some players

at a higher level

Conductor podium and music stand

that can be relocated to the

Auditorium when required

Flexible PA system offering

amplification when needed

About MMX Strings

Factory produced instruments at

this price including all those from

Stentor, Primavera etc are

produced on a production line and

finished with a plastic lacquer

coating.

MMX are hand-crafted in a family

workshop under the guidance of a

master luthier. MMX instruments

are made from Sichuan spruce and

maple, seasoned in the workshop

for up to three years, and finished

with an oil-based varnish. All

They also come with superb carbon

composite bows, with perfect

weight and balance so the

instruments are ready to play.

We are pleased to offer the school a

unique MMX School Partnership

which includes professional luthier

support on-site after delivery.

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High end Hi-Fi system for superb

instruments are set up with the

playback of music recordings

student in mind with quality

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Superbly crafted stringed instruments

fittings and strings and play tested.

from the MMX workshop

Violins and violas are supplied in

good quality lined cases, cellos in

lightweight moulded cases for

better protection.

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Classroom keyboards

We can offer any combination of Yamaha, Roland and Casio keyboards for the classroom.

Yamaha manufactures a large range of

portable classroom keyboards. Their

popular PSR range encompasses both

touch sensitive and non-touch sensitive

options, covering different price

brackets. The PSR-E383 is especially

practical, with 61 touch sensitive keys

and USB to Host functionality providing

excellent classroom utility.

Another strong alternative for classroom

keyboards is the Roland GO series.

GO:KEYS 3 offers 61-note touch sensitivity

as well, with over 1000 Roland sounds on

board, and sophisticated chord

sequencing and auto-accompaniment

features as well. GO:KEYS 5 offers similar

features, plus a speaker system with

extended bass response, a mic input with

vocal effects, and enhanced audio

connectivity. Both are high-level options

for the classroom, presenting strong

potential for songwriting projects.

Casio’s LK-S450 keyboard not only offers

the ‘lighted-keys’ functionality that is

favoured by some teachers, but it is also

iPad compatible either via cable or the

optional WU-BT10 Bluetooth adapter,

thus adding increased flexibility through

Casio's proprietary Music Space and a

range of third-party apps.

Digital pianos

We can offer high-quality digital pianos from foremost brands including Yamaha, Kawai, Roland and Casio.

These will not only offer excellent tonal performance and reliability, but also similar Bluetooth connectivity

to piano apps as the classroom keyboards have. Thus, we can easily find a suitable combination to furnish

all the rooms in the music department.


Rehearsal Studio



All-in-one Hi-Fi system

Mission pair of floor-standing speakers

Roland headphones

Sennheiser wireless 2-channel microphone system

Yamaha MG Series analogue USB mixer - 10 channels

Yamaha STAGEPAS 1K portable PA system

String instruments

MMX Performer double bass outfits

MMX Student cello outfits

MMX Student series violin outfits

MMX Student viola outfits

RAT double bass stool with fixed legs

Black hole cello mat

Wind instruments

Buffet Crampon clarinet outfits

Conn-Selmer 'Band Time' Bb French horn outfits

NUVOBand student Bb clarinet outfits

NUVOBand student flute outfits

Yamaha student Eb alto saxophone outfits

Yamaha student flute outfits

Yamaha student Bb tenor trombone outfits

Yamaha student Bb trumpet outfits

Yamaha student Bb tenor saxophone outfits

Computers & Tablets

Apple iPad 10.9" 10th Gen Wi-Fi 64GB - Silver

Lapcabby Lyte 20 single door tablet USB C

Digital keyboards

Casio lighted-keys portable keyboard

9.5v mains power supply for Casio portable keyboards

Grand piano

Yamaha Disklavier

Hidrau 'Vienna' adjustable concert piano stool

Music stands & chairs

RAT Concert conductor stand and music stands

RAT Performer 3 concert music stand trolley

RAT SpeedDeck conductors rostrum

RAT Concert chairs - Adjustable and upholstered

Orchestral percussion

Majestic Concert Black concert bass drum with stand

Majestic Concert fiberglass deep cambered timpani set

Majestic Deluxe 3 octave vibraphone

Majestic Deluxe 4.3 octave marimba

Recording Studio

The Recording Studio in the music department should be designed as a digital

audio hub that can access a number of different spaces, so that if a particular room

is being used for an unrelated activity, the studio can still function by utilising

connections to an alternative location. Ideally, each of the Practice Rooms plus one

of the larger music rooms would be able to connect into the Recording Studio

Control Room, allowing a variety of soloists and ensembles to be recorded at any

time. A Vocal Booth will facilitate solo singer recordings and overdubs.

Connectivity between the rooms will be via CAT6 point-to-point cabling, and

mobile racks will carry the necessary equipment required in each room where the

performers are located.

The Studio will be centred on a computer running Logic Pro X and Ableton, which

will interface with an Allen & Heath Avantis desk. This will enable tactile control of

the audio environment. The sound output from the desk will drive two Genelec

monitor speakers, together with a Genelec sub, providing full range sound.

Each mobile rack will carry a digital stage box for connectivity, along with a

headphone amplifier and storage for headphones and cables.


What is unique in this space

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Bespoke studio furniture to carry the

mixing equipment

Professional-level sound equipment,

including an Allen & Heath Avantis

desk and Genelec monitors

A full range of microphone types for all

purposes

Dual 27” screens for ease of

monitoring in Logic or Ableton

High quality microphone in the Vocal

Booth

Choice of recording locations – Large

Music Room, Vocal Booth or Practice

Rooms

Vocal booth equipped with Neumann

U87 vocal microphone

Allen & Heath Avantis

The Allen & Heath Avantis is a 64-channel, 42-bus digital mixing desk. The

desk features dual full HD touchscreens with a super-flexible workflow,

extensive input and output options, add-on processing from Allen & Heath’s

flagship dLive mixing system and a rugged full metal chassis.


Recording Studio



Studio control & digital mixing

Allen & Heath Avantis digital mixers

Allen & Heath 16-way stageboxes

Remote control for mixer desks (iPad, case, and leads)

Presonus headphone mixing systems

Talkback cable packs (with condenser mic)

Apple Studio Packs (Mac Studio, software, accessories)

Music computer workstations (iMac-based)

Studio monitoring & speaker systems

Genelec studio monitors

Genelec subwoofers

Audio-Technica monitoring headphones

QTX studio monitor stands

Cables, connectivity & infrastructure

Studio cable packs (mic, jack, power leads)

Control room cable packs (mic, jack, power leads)

CAT6E cables – 3m and 10m

Cable cases with wheels

MIDI & keyboard gear

M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro USB MIDI keyboard controllers

Stagg table-style keyboard/mixer stands

Microphones & recording

Shure SM58 dynamic microphones

Shure instrument microphones

Sontronics Orpheus condenser microphones

Neumann Ai condenser microphones

Sennheiser dynamic microphones

Sennheiser drum kit microphone sets

SE Electronics Reflexion Filter Pro

BSS mono active DI boxes

Mic stand packs – 25 assorted mic stands

Racks, storage & utility

6U rack units

2U rack drawers

XL Plus accessory cases

ClearSonic Sorber acoustic shield panels

Vicoustic VicStudio Boxes

Vicoustic Multifuser panels

Practice Studio

These spaces should offer opportunities for both independent learning, small

ensemble rehearsals, and recording. Pupils can rehearse, create and record

independently in each room, or a performance in any one of the rooms can be

transferred digitally to the Recording Studio. They are also designed to offer the

ability to overdub – previously recorded tracks can be fed back to any of the

rooms in order for additional tracks to be added.

Each practice room is kitted out with a selection of instruments: either acoustic

or digital piano, drum kit, electric and bass guitars, and associated accessories.

They also have a digital mixer which allows complete control over the volume of

instruments and microphones that have been plugged into it, and in addition

provides up to 5 separate headphone mixes for the musicians in the room. Not only

can they hear each other clearly, they can also record their individual parts onto an

SD card or to a laptop, for editing later on one of the computer workstations.

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What is unique in

these spaces

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Digital mixer units that allow

for independent personal

monitor mixes and ad hoc

recordings

A range of instruments

including keyboards, guitars

and drums

CAT6 connectivity to the

Recording Studio

Optional computer

workstations with software

and associated hardware

_Practice Base

Sennheiser Microphones

Sennheiser is a trusted name in pro audio, known for producing high-quality

microphones that deliver clarity, reliability, and ease of use. Their products are

ideal for a wide range of school applications – from vocal and instrumental

amplification to recording, broadcasting, and live performance.

_Practice Base

140

Whether handheld, clip-on, or headset models, Sennheiser microphones

are built to last and perform consistently in demanding educational

environments.


Private and Confidential all Rights ©Kampus 2024

Practice Rooms




Sennheiser dynamic vocal microphone


Zoom Livetrak digital mixers and recorders

AKG K72 closed-back monitoring headphones

Allen & Heath dSnake AudioRack expanders

Roxtone Smart XLR microphone cables

K&M boom microphone stands

Computers


Music stands & accessories

RAT Performer 3 stands set

Upright piano

Yamaha b1 upright piano


Digital pianos

Yamaha portable digital piano


Yamaha fixed keyboard stand

Drum kits

Pearl Export rock drum kit

Pearl height adjustable round drum stool

Roland V-Drums electronic drum kit

Vic Firth silencer drum and cymbal mute set - rock

Vic Firth American Classic drum sticks

Clearsonic acoustic panel

Electric Guitars & Bass

SUB by Sterling 'Cutlass' SSS electric guitars

Tokai ST style electric guitars

Yamaha electric bass guitars

Amplification

Boss Cube Street II 10W stereo amplifiers

Blackstar Debut combo guitar amplifiers - 15W

Blackstar Unity bass guitar amplifiers - 30W

Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 guitar amplifiers

Effects & Processing

Zoom guitar multi-effects pedals with expression pedal

BOSS guitar effects processor pedals

BOSS Loop Station pedals

Boss chromatic tuner pedals

Storage

Proper storage of expensive musical instruments is essential, and will help preserve

them in excellent condition for years to come. We can offer a number of different

solutions, each best suited to the instruments that they are designed to hold.

Mobile Storage

We have included mobile racks for

orchestral stringed instruments: violins,

violas, cellos and double basses. This will

enable the instruments to be moved

safely from room to room as and when

necessary. To facilitate this, we suggest

that the relevant doorways in the music

department should be wider than a

standard door design, perhaps

consisting of a ‘door and a half’.

Ukulele & Guitar Storage

Our wall-mounted ukulele racks are

a superb way of both storing and

displaying a set of ukuleles in a room.

Percussion Storage

Percussion trolleys are an effective way

to make handheld small percussion

easily accessible to students, particularly

those in Key Stages 1 and 2.

General Instrument Storage

We recommend the use of adjustable

Wenger storage cupboards for smaller,

cased instruments, such as woodwind

and brass. These can be installed into

one of the dedicated Stores indicated on

the plans, or into one of the classrooms, if

wall space permits.

Guitars are best stored in one of the

dedicated racks that are supplied with

soft, rubberised cushioning to protect

the instruments at all contact points.

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Drama Department

Many schools choose to integrate their music and drama departments into one

building or area, creating an holistic performing arts space. We aim to design

spaces that provide students with unparalleled opportunities for creativity and

innovation, whether in the areas of drama, dance or moving image.

The disciplines of performing and creative arts now fully embrace the

development of new technologies, as exemplified by the use of digital audio,

virtual reality, LED volumes, unreal engines and similar technical resources in

modern culture.

For this example, we have planned a department that, whilst fully engaging

with these innovations, also contains the building blocks essential for

excellent teaching and learning in the area of drama.

Drama rooms will have flexible staging units to complement the sound and

lighting installations provided by others. A large Black Box studio will be a useful

testing ground for students before they move to the larger arena of the

Auditorium. It can also, however, become a more intimate performance space in

its own right, with staging and other equipment relevant to a range of theatrical

styles. We encourage schools to fully consider the best solutions for installed light

and sound in this type of space in particular.


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Use of technology is most evident in the Media Suite, which is the set of rooms

adjacent to the Black Box, consisting of:

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Live Room

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TV/Sound Stage

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AV Room

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Recording Studio

We propose that the AV Room and Recording Studio be combined into a single,

larger ‘Control Room’, where both audio and video can be edited and captured.

This space would better replicate the sort of facility found in, for example, a

modern television studio. This would also release a small space which could

then be dedicated as a Podcast Studio, for audio-only recordings.

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DRAMA

59 m²

These spaces will provide students with

unparalleled opportunities for creativity

and innovation, whether in the areas

of drama, dance or moving image.

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DRAMA

59 m²

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Drama Rooms 1 & 2

These two rooms, which can be combined and enlarged to one single space by

removing the installed dividing acoustic panels, allow for both didactic and practical

drama classes. It is anticipated that either one or both of the rooms would have a

dedicated sprung dance floor, and that mirrors and ballet barres would therefore also

be required.

We can supply flexible staging blocks for these rooms, and they would also contain

a stage piano and amplifier. Some mobile sound equipment would also be

supplied.

Black Box

In this large space a number of different activities can take place, including both

rehearsals and performances. We would include here some independent staging

blocks as well as an area of flexible staging that can be used for either performers,

or to raise up part of an audience to improve sightlines. A portable stage piano with

speaker would also mean that this space is usable for multiple activities, including

choir or ensemble practices, music performances or even practical music

examinations.

We could also include an optional portable sound system for use in here, but also

outside or in other locations as and when required. The digital mixing desk would

control all inputs, and could be used at a distance from the speaker systems and

the performers if necessary, thanks to a 30m CAT6 digital audio cable.


Drama Rooms


Staging & seating

Wenger flexible classroom seating and staging

Storage boxes – 64 litre

Keyboard & piano setup

Kawai stage piano


Roland keyboard combo amplifiers

Roxtone mono jack cables – 6m

Stereo phono cables – 6m

PA & sound reinforcement

Bose portable line array systems

Bose ToneMatch mixers

PreSonus 2-way loudspeakers

PreSonus active subwoofers

K&M speaker poles with crank

Allen & Heath compact mixers

Yamaha closed-back monitoring headphones

Wireless microphone systems

Sennheiser wireless handheld microphone sets

Sennheiser wireless beltpack transmitters

Sennheiser antenna splitter amplifiers

ADP UHF antennas

Headset microphones

Microphones & accessories

Shure SM58 dynamic microphones (with on/off switch)

Boom microphone stands

Straight microphone stands

Stereo bars

5m mic cables

N-series XLR microphone cables – 10m and 20m

Video capture

Zoom video recorders

E-Image tripod kits

Black Box & Dance studio


Staging & seating

Wenger flexible classroom seating and staging

Gopak Ultralight stage package D

Really Useful Boxes – 64 litre

Keyboard & piano setup

Kawai stage piano


Roxtone mono jack cables – 6m

PA & sound reinforcement

Bose Pro+ portable Bluetooth speaker systems



PreSonus active subwoofers

K&M speaker poles with crank

Allen & Heath compact mixers with dust covers

Yamaha closed-back monitoring headphones

Wireless microphone systems

Sennheiser wireless base sets

Sennheiser wireless handheld microphone sets

Sennheiser antenna splitter amplifier s

Beltpack transmitters

Sennheiser UHF antennas

Headset microphones


Audio Technica condenser hanging microphones

Shure SM58 dynamic microphones (with on/off switch)

Boom microphone stands

Straight microphone stands

N-series XLR microphone cables – 20m

Media Suite

A media suite can be one of the most innovative and creative areas within a

school, facilitating multi-media projects that embrace every area of artistic

creativity. Virtual Reality, avatars, digital sound creation, unreal engines – all these

are possible, and give students a unique pathway into the new world of creative

industries and, in particular, film and gaming.

The Media Suite we have designed for this example incorporates a TV/Sound

Stage room as a central element, supplemented with a Live Room (which can

serve as a rehearsal or recording space), a Podcast Studio and a Control Room.

The latter will house video, audio and associated control equipment, including

DMX lighting control and auto-cue generation.

Live Room

As a separate space within the Media Suite, this room can operate both as a

rehearsal venue and a live room for recording. Therefore we can place in this room

a stage piano and synthesizers which can be used on their own or in conjunction

with other instruments from the music department, such as drums or guitars.

Connectivity to the Control Room would be achieved through a dedicated pointto-point

CAT6 connection, with a mobile rack in this room containing both the

digital stage box and also a headphone amplifier, allowing students to hear each

other while recording.

For vocal recording there is a vocal condenser microphone, along with an isolating

reflection filter. A selection of other mics and accessories is provided to allow any

combination of vocalists or instrumentalists to be recorded.

Stands, cables and microphones should all be stored in dedicated flight cases.


Live Room


Keyboards & stands

Kawai stage piano

Roland Fantom synthesiser keyboards – 61 synth-action and 88 hammer-action keys


K&M wide table-style height adjustable ke yboard stand

Amplifiers & PA systems

Roland 200W keyboard combo amplifiers

Yamaha STAGEPAS 1K MKII portable PA systems

Mixers & audio management

Allen & Heath digital mixers

Allen & Heath dSnake AudioRack expanders

Presonus headphone mixing systems

Monitors & stands

Yamaha monitor speakers

QTX studio monitor stands (pair)

Audio Technica professional monitoring stereo headphones


Shure instrument microphones

Sontronics STC-1 condenser microphones (silver)

Sontronics Orpheus condenser microphones

Sennheiser professional instrument microphones

Sennheiser dynamic vocal microphones

Sennheiser professional condenser microphones

BSS mono active direct boxes

Hercules microphone stands

Audio workstations

Audio Workstation for live room (includes Apple studio and software)

Acoustic treatment

ClearSonic Sorber dark grey panel acoustic shields

Vicoustic Multifuser DC3 panels

SE Electronics Reflexion Filter Pro

Control Room

A large control room can host both video and audio recording and editing

equipment. Also located in here would be DMX lighting control for camera lights in

the TV Sound Stage and the auto-cue (teleprompter) equipment.

The video equipment should all be centred around a BlackMagic ATEM 4K vision mixer.

Audio mixing should be done on an Avantis Solo desk, a smaller version of the desk

in our proposed Music Department Recording Studio. It should also be teamed

with all necessary ancillary equipment, including monitor speakers, talkback and

the ability to record audio from four locations:

1. Live Room 2. Podcast Studio 3. TV Sound Stage 4. Black Box

Connectivity to the different rooms would be via bespoke wall panels, and include

CAT6, HDMI, SDI and DMX connections.

Podcast Studio

Set up as an audio-only location, this relatively small room could house a podcast

desk suitable for three contributors, along with the necessary technical equipment

for them to be recorded by the Control Room.


Control Room


Mixers & audio management

Allen & Heath digital mixer – Avantis Solo

Allen & Heath expander

Genelec studio monitor speakers

Genelec studio subwoofer monitor speakers


K&M microphone desk boom arm

Talkback cable pack (includes condenser microphone)

Lighting & cables

ChamSys QuickQ DMX lighting desk

PDC DMX cables

Control & infrastructure

Remote control for desk (includes iPad, case, and leads)

Control room cable pack (includes mic leads, jack leads, and power leads)

Acoustic treatment

Vicoustic Multifuser

Vicoustic VicStudio Box

Video & media systems

Video Computer Workstation

Blackmagic Design Television Studio desk

Video Autocue system (includes Apple Mac Mini and monitor)

Media Workstation

TV Sound Stage

For the best possible experience, we recommend that a TV Sound Stage contains a

high resolution LED Wall, preferably an LED Volume, covering two adjacent walls.

This can act as a live ‘green screen’ allowing actors to interact with a moving

background that will also provide rear illumination, and therefore giving a much

better sense of spatial depth.

For standard presenter prompting, an auto-cue system could be provided,

controlled from within the Control Room, where there would also be control over

the LED Camera lights. A wireless communication system would enable camera

operators to be in contact with the Control Room.

It is envisaged that if this space is adjacent to the Black Box, additional suitable

connectivity panels between the Control Room and Black Box would enable it to

also be used as a Sound Stage.


TV Sound Stage


Cameras & tripods

E-Image studio tripod kit (EI-7100-A)

Studio camera kit (includes broadcast quality camera and selection of lenses)

Audio systems & accessories

Hollyland Solidcom C1-8S (8-person headset system)

Sennheiser EW-DP ME2 SET

Roxtone Smart XLR microphone cables (3m, 5m)

Røde NTG3 microphone

Røde boom pole pro

Røde boom pole clips

Røde blimp

Audio interfaces & racks

Allen & Heath DX168 interface

Optional rack kit for AB168 & DX168

12U rack

Adam Hall U-shaped ventilation panels (87223 VR)

Rack panels (2U)

19" rackmount power distribution unit

Lighting & power

TV studio lighting system

Rubber extension leads (2 gang, 13A, 5m)

Auditorium

Within any school that acknowledges the importance of creativity and

performance, the Auditorium is not only a window into the work that goes on day

by day behind the scenes, but also a place where life-changing confidence can

be gained by those who are performing. In schools of the very highest calibre, this

space becomes even more important, reflecting its ethos and setting a standard

for the whole school community.

Therefore an arena of this nature requires a superb piano, one that will both

support instrumentalists, choirs and ensembles, and also allow for world-class

performances by pianists. We can offer a range of suitable instruments, all of

which will help to achieve these goals.

"Outstanding from the outset, from discussing initial

ideas and needs of the department to choosing the

instruments - right through to delivery. I can't thank you

enough for your professional handling, excellent

communication and good humour. We are delighted and

thrilled with all of the instruments you have provided."

Duncan Emerson, Director of Music - Bryanston School, United Kingdom


Pianos

Our extensive piano inventory includes acoustic, digital and hybrid pianos, backed up by unrivalled product knowledge and

technical support. As a main dealer for Kawai and Yamaha pianos, we can supply a selection of fantastic new grand pianos

from these prestigious Japanese manufacturers. Schools might be interested in anything from baby grands such as the

Kawai GL-10 or Yamaha GB1K, to studio-ready options like the Kawai GX-3 or Yamaha C3X, and even large performance grands

like the Kawai GX-6 or Yamaha C6X.

Baby Grands

A grand piano that you can feasibly fit into a classroom or

wheel around a department so often proves useful. Ideal for

small halls, adaptable spaces, and classrooms, baby grand

pianos offer a ‘grand’ aesthetic without excessive cost.

Kawai GL-10

At 5'1", the GL-10 is Kawai’s most affordable and best-selling

grand piano. Assembled in Indonesia, this class-leading

instrument features a solid tapered spruce soundboard and

carbon-fibre-infused ABS action components for durability and

responsiveness.

Yamaha GB1K

The smallest baby grand on the market, the 5'0" GB1K delivers

remarkable tone depth, clarity, and projection in a compact size.

Based on Yamaha’s renowned C Series, it features a solid spruce

soundboard, a soft-closing fallboard, and a sostenuto pedal.

Medium-Sized Grands

These are fully fledged performance pianos, providing

fantastic incentives for students looking to progress to a

high level; they’ll have an instrument to play recitals on

which really lets them demonstrate the full extent of their

talent. Going for a medium-sized ‘proper grand’ over a

baby grand will make a huge difference to schools looking

to fit out a concert hall; the natural sound of a baby grand

simply will not fill a larger room, especially when

accompanied by other instruments.

Kawai GX-3

Kawai GX-3 At 6'2", the GX-3 is a direct competitor to the C3X,

featuring Kawai’s Millennium III ABS-carbon action for

outstanding responsiveness, balance, and control.

Yamaha C3X

A 6'1" grand, the C3X is the industry-standard school piano, built

to exceptional standards in Japan. Featuring an Alaskan Spruce

soundboard, it delivers rich, expressive sound and is a staple in

music departments worldwide.


Large Performance Grands

Some grand pianos are about more than just having a

brilliant instrument to play. They are statement pieces,

and schools looking to really show off their investment in

music often do so by purchasing one of these magnificent

instruments, which are usually around 7 feet in length.

With a piano like that, you can really do anything, including

putting on performances of piano concertos if the

opportunity arises.

Kawai GX-6

At 7'0", the GX-6 offers enhanced resonance and a more

powerful response compared to the GX-3, thanks to its

increased string length. This piano is totally at home on the

stage and would provide an excellent instrument for the top

pianists in a school.

Yamaha C6X

The C6X is 6'11'', often thought to be the perfect size for a

grand piano and the same size as the Steinway B. With the

revolutionary advanced design, the C6X is capable of the

subtlest nuances yet can really sing with the sort of clarity

that is extremely hard to find. A wonderful grand piano and

highly recommended.

Piano technology

‘Anytime’ or Silent

In terms of technology, certain additions can be particularly

useful in school environments. Kawai ‘Anytime’ or Yamaha

Silent options are especially popular, as they allow for all the

pianos in a school to be used for practice without disturbing the

rest of the school activities. Kawai and Yamaha offer Anytime or

Silent versions of most pianos in their respective ranges.

Upright models are ideal for practice rooms, especially if you

have several rooms in a relatively small space. They allow

students to put their headphones on and block out distractions

(a trumpet in the next room, for example), whilst still experiencing

that satisfying mechanical feel which is vital to top level playing.

Upright Silent or Anytime pianos are ideal for practice rooms,

especially if you have several rooms in a relatively small space.

They allow students to put their headphones on and block out

distractions (a blaring trumpet in the next room, for example),

whilst still experiencing that satisfying mechanical feel which

is vital to top level playing.

Yamaha Disklavier ENSPIRE self-playing

technology

Now in its eighth generation and known as ‘ENSPIRE’, the

record-and-playback system of Disklavier is better than ever

before, while additional functionality makes it a useful tool for

composing, recording and teaching. Disklavier ENSPIRE not only

plays each note at the right time, it also ingeniously controls

speed and timing of the note’s release to ensure every nuance of

the pianists original performance is accurately delivered.


Prestige pianos

We can supply beautiful, pre-owned pianos that offer not only excellence in playability and tone, with the advantage of a

matured sound board, but also substantial cost savings when compared to new models. We always have several options

available, and all pre-owned pianos are comprehensively serviced by our concert technician, including regulation, hammer

shaping and voicing. One solution we have previously offered was a Steinway Model D concert grand for an Auditorium, and a

Fazioli Model F228 semi-concert grand for a Foyer.

Steinway Model D c.1991

This Steinway Model D was manufactured in c.1991 and spent

much of its life on the stage of a prestigious UK concert

venue, meticulously maintained by technicians from Steinway

London. The cabinetry was fully restored and refinished in

high gloss polished ebony with brass fittings. A superbly

refined and beautiful sounding instrument, this Model D is

most at home on a concert stage.

Fazioli F228 c.2000

A Fazioli F228 is a wonderful choice for a large foyer space.

Not quite as large as the Steinway D we propose for the

concert hall, the F228 measures 228cm (7’ 6”) long and is

handmade in Sacile, Northeast Italy. Fazioli pianos are the

very epitome of elegance, produced in limited numbers to a

remarkably high specification, including 24-carat gold plated

fittings and a poplar veneered inner rim.

PianoDisc Prodigy2 self-playing technology

PianoDisc offers an excellent value aftermarket self-playing

option with very similar high-end functionality with record

and playback features and MIDI connectivity.

PianoDisc offers several excellent features, with

patented solenoid technology able to replicate not

only the pressing of each note but also the release,

enabling the piano to deliver a much dynamic and

lifelike performance. Additionally, Prodigy2 allows

performances including both MIDI and audio

backings to be played back through the piano’s

speaker system simultaneously. We can also supply

new Bosendorfer pianos with Disklavier in-built

technology, subject to quote.

A soundboard of specially selected Italian Alpine spruce and a

Renner action makes the F228 a highly capable instrument,

and a wonderful centrepiece for any performance space.

What’s more - and a real rarity for an instrument of this size

and calibre - this piano has been privately owned and remains

in as new condition throughout.


About Chamberlain Music

Chamberlain Music is an international supplier of education equipment,

musical instruments and consultation services.

Founded in a small shop in Weyhill, Haslemere UK in 1990, we have grown

steadily over the last 35 years. In January 2023 we moved to superb new premises,

with offices and showroom directly opposite our existing 30,000 sq ft warehouse.

We have many years’ experience in planning and developing creative facilities

for schools and colleges. Our team looks after every aspect of the job, working

closely with consulting engineers and building contractors to make sure that

our customers are delivered the quality facilities they expect.

Our international team, under the leadership of William Thompson, Director

of Education, provides consultation and design advice to schools around the world.

Many schools and colleges have benefitted from William's considerable expertise

and experience, on every step of the journey from aspiration to implementation.

Director of Education at Chamberlain Music, William Thompson

studied music at Cambridge where he sang in the world-famous King’s

College Choir. Following further studies in music and computing at Queen's

University in Belfast, he taught in Dublin and Belfast, before becoming a

music advisor for schools in Northern Ireland, and examiner for GCSE and

A-Level Music Technology.

William has travelled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the

Middle East, advising schools and colleges on the development of their

creative education learning spaces, and providing music teachers with

training and support on the relevant use of technology in the classroom.

We work with architects, consulting engineers and other professionals, along

with school staff, to ensure that the result is affordable, appropriate, relevant,

and future-proofed.

We have many years of experience

planning and developing creative

facilities for schools and colleges.


Chamberlain Music, Corporate House, Kings Road Industrial Estate,

Haslemere, Surrey GU27 2QH, United Kingdom

+44 (0)1428 658806 or sales@chamberlainmusic.com

www.chamberlainmusic.com

Creating a world-leading performing arts facility

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