Your school guide
St Mary's Music School
St Mary’s Music School admits young musicians through audition, aural tests, interview and reports.
Independent school · Edinburgh
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At a glance
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Entry information
St Mary’s Music School is a specialist music school, not a general 11+ test route. Instrumental applicants are assessed through a music audition and interview, including aural tests; academic and musical reports and a possible two-day stay with music lessons can also form part of the process.
Entry stage: S1 (Scottish first secondary year)
What the assessment covers
- Instrumental performance
- Aural skills
Assessment provider: St Mary’s Music School
The admissions process
- Instrumental applicants present two contrasting pieces on their first-study instrument and may also be heard on a second instrument.
- The school describes interview and simple aural tests.
- Some applicants may be invited for a two-day stay with assessed music lessons and academic teacher reports.
Read the official details: Admissions information from St Mary’s Music School
Go to the source
Official links for your shortlist
Use the school’s current admissions information to check which sample papers or familiarisation materials apply to your child’s entry year.
Know what to expect
Follow the school’s assessment guidance.
St Mary’s instrumental route is based on musical ability and potential. Prepare the requested performance recordings and, if invited, contrasting audition pieces with the child’s music teacher; the school also uses an interview and aural tasks. Plusling supports everyday academic learning, not the music audition.
Read the official guidance: St Mary’s Music School
Keep the practical steps clear
Your application starting points
Use the official links on this page to answer these questions for your child’s entry year.
Check the entry point and eligibility
Confirm the year group, age requirements and any conditions that apply to your child.
Put the right dates in your diary
Note any published registration, assessment, application and offer-response dates that apply to your child’s route. They may be separate steps.
Follow the assessment guidance
Check what the school asks your child to do and whether it recommends any preparation. Use its own instructions and the assessment provider’s advice.
Check fees and financial support
Look at fees, bursaries and scholarships, including any separate forms, evidence and deadlines.
Picture your child’s everyday life here.
An open day is a chance to look beyond the exam. Useful questions to take with you:
- How do you help new pupils settle in and make friends?
- Who can a child turn to when they feel worried or stuck?
- How do you help pupils recover from a setback and discover their strengths?
Know where to focus
See what your child is learning.
See the topics your child has practised, revisit questions that need another look and choose a focus for the next session. Plusling helps you put your time where it can be useful.
- Topic summaries and practice history
- Choose topics in Focus Practice
- Progress to discuss with the adults helping them
A little learning, often
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What to confirm
- Ask St Mary’s Music School for instrument-specific audition requirements and availability before applying.
Plusling’s guide to St Mary's Music School is independently written. The school and its admissions authority publish the official arrangements.
Contains government school-register data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Primary sources
- Scotland: official school register Scottish Government
- St Mary's Music School St Mary's Music School
- Admissions as a Chorister | St Mary's Music School, Edinburgh | Chorister of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral St Mary's Music School
- Admission as an Instrumentalist St Mary’s Music School