The College currently has the following spaces and instruments available for use by Junior Members. They are housed in a variety of spaces, not all of which are dedicated practice spaces and are therefore not always available; please read the notes on the spaces below carefully.
The College’s instruments are a shared resource, and care must be taken in using them. Instruments, stools, covers, music racks, and headphones should under no circumstances be removed from the spaces. All the instruments – with the exception of the electric piano – come with their own bespoke covers, and all must be closed up and covered at the end of a session. It is the Junior Member’s responsibility to report any damage or wear and tear to Professor Michael Burden at michael.burden@new.ox.ac.uk
Venues
The Clore Music Studios (book via Scheduler)
The Chapel (email chapel.bookings@new.ox.ac.uk)
The Old Bursary (book via Scheduler)
The Long Room (email rooms@new.ox.ac.uk)
11 NB Basement Practice Room (book via Scheduler)
7 OB Basement Band Room (book via Scheduler)
The Clore Music Studios
The Clore Music Studios were completed in January 2019. The top floor contains two chamber studios; the first floor, four practice rooms; and the ground floor, a large rehearsal room for opera and drama. The College is immensely grateful to the donors who have made this possible, especially the Clore Foundation after whom the building is named.
The Clore Studios has now won four prestigious planning, building, and design awards. In 2019, it received an Oxford Preservation Trust Award for Small Projects, 2019. In 2020, it won Small Project of the Year at the Building Awards 2020. And in 2021 it was one of the RIBA South Regional Award winners, and then one of the RIBA National Award winners.
Instruments: Chamber Music Studio 1: Steinway Model O; Chamber Music Studio 2: Steinway Model A; Studio 3: Steinway Model K; Studio 4: Early Piano Room James Nutting square piano, c 1817; William Rolfe square piano, c1810; Studio 5: Brass Room; Studio 6: Steinway Model K; and Studio 7: Steinway Model A.
The studios can be booked through Scheduler (external lnk). The schematic layout shows the locations of the studios within the building, which is fully accessible. The main entrance is at ground level and there is lift access to all floors.
The use of the Early Piano Room requires initial prior permission; email michael.burden@new.ox.ac.uk
Studio 7 is intended for a series of rehearsals leading to a musical or dramatic performance. It is not intended for piano practice, except in exceptional circumstances. Those booking the space should prepare their rehearsal schedule and book the space accordingly. Bookings will be individually cleared before being allowed to go forward.
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×Clore Music Studios
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×Steinway in a practice room
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×A Harp in the music practice rooms
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×Early years practice room
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×Steinway in a practice room
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×Drums in a practice room
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×Steinway piano in a practice room
The Chapel
Instruments: Steinway Model D and a double manual harpsichord by Robert Goble.
These are both primarily concert instruments, and are not available for general practice. They may only be played in the week preceding a recital for which the performer is booked.
The Chapel can be booked through chapel.bookings@new.ox.ac.uk.
The Old Bursary
Instrument: Steinway Model A.
The Old Bursary can be booked via the Scheduler (external link) and the keys signed out with the Porters.
The Long Room
Instrument: C Bechstein Model V.
The Bechstein – a Viennese piano from 1902, serial number 59847 – has been recently overhauled.
The Long Room can booked through rooms@new.ox.ac.uk.
11 NB Basement Practice Room
Instruments: A Yamaha electronic piano and a clavichord by Robert Goble.
The practice room is not soundproof, although it has a sound absorbant ceiling, and curtains and a carpet. The clavichord is by definition a very quiet instrument, and the electric piano should either be used quietly, or muted and with the earphones provided.
11 NB Basement Practice Room can be booked via the Scheduler (external link) and the keys signed out with the porters.
7 OB Basement Band Room
Instruments: 2 Yamaha keyboards, a Pearl Drumkit, microphones and amps.
The Band Room is soundproofed and can be used for individual practice or to rehearse with a band. The electronic equipment available in the room means it is useful for any band that needs amplification (e.g. with guitars) or a drumkit; the room is best suited to non-classical ensembles. Users should report any difficulties or breakages to the JCR Band Room officer luke.smith@new.ox.ac.uk.
7 OB Basement Band Room can be booked with via the Scheduler (external link) and the keys signed out with the porters.
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