Who are SMS?

Established in 2003, SMS provides contemporary multi-disciplinary instrument tuition in Drums, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Music Production, Music Theory, and we run Rock Clubs for bands from our base in Marlborough.

We provide structured learning for all students, in 7 schools across Wiltshire, and privately at St Johns Academy, Marlborough: we are located in the music department after school hours Mon-Fri and during school holidays.

Lessons are one-to-one, pairs and/or small groups.

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With 5 teachers, we teach c.200 students, any duration between 20/30mins (schools) up to 90 mins weekly (private). We have to date taught over 400+ students from beginner to advanced and also teach Professional Performance and Teaching Diplomas to those who have achieved Grade 8 or equivalent.

To date, we have achieved nearly 200 exam successes up to Grade 8 Rockschool Music Board.

https://www.rslawards.com/

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Our Teachers

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In the first instance, we are only as good as our teaching staff...

Click here for the biography of all teachers. 

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Our teachers are all performing musicians, throughout the UK and in some cases internationally, qualified to higher education level, and teacher training is given both internally and formally through Rockschool Music Board. All teachers have worked in different areas of the music business, from studio / session work, touring, judging music and talent competitions across the UK, as well as the academic background below, authorship and a music exam specialism.

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Stu Slater is founder and owner of the school. A Senior Examiner for the music board Rockschool Ltd (www.rslawards.com), travelling both the UK and worldwide, he examines Grades 1-8 in drums, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, guitar, bass, piano, vocals and ukulele, plus Performance and Teaching Diplomas. Estimates are c.10,000 exams to date, across c.30 countries in Europe, South America, Canada, Middle East, Africa, Far East and Australia. Stu has also worked for years in other ways for the music board: 

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Consultant: Syllabus Advisor (2014-pres) and Deputy Chief Examiner (2015-2016; 2019-pres): His role includes the examiner panel line-management worldwide; examiner recruitment, training, moderation, standardising and consultancy.

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Academic Authorship / Syllabus Writing: Stu devised Rockschool’s Teaching Diplomas; co-devised the Performance Diplomas; co-devised Rockschool’s Grade 1-8 Theory syllabus. He also wrote Rockschool’s 'Intensive Teacher Diploma Course, a week-long course, successfully delivered in UK, Ireland, Spain and Malaysia, and a teaching qualificaiton for China.

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Ambassadorial: Regular presentations and workshops in numerous countries for Rockschool relating to product range / processes; representation of brand. 

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Overall, he has contributed to over 50 drum, guitar, piano, theory and vocal Rockschool Grade books, written magazine articles and re-written Grade 7 and 8 drum repertoire for Yamaha Music Board.

​Our School

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SMS therefore began as a local community provision, applying much of this growing academic content into schools and Stu’s local region. It has developed into a sizeable music provision and overall progress / results are strong.

The underlying core of the business is a desire to help children become musicians and help musicians of all ages progress to their potential in contemporary music. We wish to assist all players achieve their aspirations whatever their level and we encourage everyone who wants to play a musical instrument to commence their journey - it is never too early. (And never too late...!)

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We also provide Duke of Edinburgh programmes (30 to date) and offer work experience placements. For example numerous St Johns Y10 students have taken their week-long industrial curriculum placement over the last few years.

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We finally provide opportunities for our students to become involved in teaching and the running of the school, for example we are currently taking on 2-3 new Assistants, all 16-18, specifically targeted to help with rock club, band development, new online products being developed, a new video series, and some instrument tuition to younger children.

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Our school work includes:

Abbey Meads (Swindon)

Baydon (Nr Marlborough)

Bishops Cannings (Nr Devizes)

Collingbourne (Collingbourne Ducis)

Kennet Valley (Lockeridge)

Marlborough St Mary’s (Marlborough)

Ogbourne St George (Nr Marlborough)

Preshute Primary (Manton)

St Johns Academy (Marlborough)

Wiltshire Music Centre (Bradford-on-Avon)

Woodborough (Nr Pewsey)

'Slater Music School' is the trading name of 'Wiltshire Music School Limited'

Company Number 08019379