FAQ

Pitchstone Music is an East London charity built on the belief that exceptional live music should belong in the everyday life of a community.Pitchstone grew from an idea about what might happen if some of the UK’s outstanding chamber musicians brought the same artistry, curiosity and commitment they give to the world's greatest concert halls into local spaces, removed financial barriers to attending and invited people to encounter music on their own terms.We are a small, registered charity bringing exceptional evening concerts, schools programmes and community participation programmes for underserved groups into the heart of the community.

Join us in Leytonstone! Pitchstone Music presents live classical music in local community venues with programmes ranging from chamber music concerts, to our ‘Musical Adventures’ concerts for families. You might hear a string ensemble, a piano recital, or an unexpected combination of instruments. Each event brings its own repertoire, performers and atmosphere. Check the individual listing for the venue, date, start time, and booking arrangement. If you have a question about attending, email hello@pitchstonemusic.com

Yes! Here in East London, Pitchstone offers free concerts so that ticket costs need not stand between you and the live musical experience. Free admission means that you are welcome whether or not you choose to donate. If you would like to support our work we are very grateful, as free concerts take resources to organise. Some events may require advanced booking, so check the listing before setting out. It will explain how to attend and whether you need to reserve a free place.

Absolutely! You can enjoy chamber music without recognising the composer, without reading music or knowing what comes next. There is no wrong way to listen, just let your imagination take you to your individual experience. Part of the pleasure of live chamber music is watching it unfold: following a melody as it passes between the instruments from one player to another, how the musicians take cues from each other through shared glances and physical gestures or discovering an inner line that you hadn’t noticed before. Each musician offers a different way into the music, and there’s always something new to notice.There is no test afterwards!And if you already love chamber music there is always more to notice, a different interpretation, an unfamiliar piece, or a musical detail that suddenly catches your ear.

Chamber Music is just the name for music that was originally played in a room in someone’s home. A ‘chamber’ is the old-fashioned word for a ‘room’. So chamber music is for small groups of players to play together, usually with one musician per part. A string quartet, for example has two violins, a viola and a cello. Think of it as a conversation without words. The musicians take turns to exchange ideas - sometimes they agree, interrupt, or argue together! And occasionally they seem to finish one another’s sentences. Because this is music that is written for small groups it’s more often played in smaller, intimate venues, rather than large concert halls that seat thousands of people. You can hear it in concert halls, churches and community spaces and it can be intimate, dramatic, mischievous, or very moving, sometimes all within a few minutes.

The main difference between chamber music and orchestral music is how the musicians are grouped and the repertoire that’s written for them.In chamber music, usually everyone has an individual part. Chamber ensembles commonly perform without a conductor, keeping together through listening, movement and eye contact. In an orchestra, whole sections of musicians usually play the same part together, especially in the strings. Orchestras usually have a conductor, although there are exceptions to both. Neither is necessarily louder, more complicated or easier to enjoy. Chamber music gives you a close-up view of the individual musical voices, whereas orchestral music offers the colours and possibilities of a much larger ensemble.

Music gives children opportunities to listen, imagine, move, make discoveries and share ideas. Live performance adds something especially vivid: the instruments are right there. Children can see a bow move, hear a cello resonate, and discover that music can tell a story without a single spoken word. Our school and inclusive family events introduce live music in ways designed specifically for the audience. We celebrate the SEND community by providing a sensory corner, sensory toys, a blackout tent, a breakout space and a SENCO. Children might want to join in, watch closely, wriggle, move around, or make noise. Curiosity does not look the same in each individual, and the magic of music is that there is no wrong way to listen. Check our Events listings for upcoming concerts - there you will find information about the intended audience, the format of the concert, and any access information. All our venues are accessible venues.84% of children say music is important for their mental health and wellbeing, according to ABRSM’s UK research. This reflects children’s own perceptions, rather than a clinical assessment.A study of 6,087 primary-aged children linked stronger singing skills with a greater sense of belonging. Separately, an experiment with four-year-olds found that “joint music making … increases subsequent spontaneous cooperative and helpful behavior.” — Welch et al. (2014); Kirschner & Tomasello (2010).

A local concert gives people a reason to come together. Walk down Leytonstone High Road and you will encounter stories that began in a variety of different countries, languages and cultures. Many local residents have left one place to build a life in another, carrying memories of home whilst adapting to new surroundings. Many classical composers knew the challenges that families often face: family separation, economic uncertainty, or the complicated question of how we hold on to our identity whilst trying to thrive in new surroundings.Culture is sometimes described as a luxury, but across every civilisation, people have turned to music, storytelling, art and ritual as part of what makes survival meaningful.Culture helps us make sense of ourselves and one another. It strengthens empathy, deepens reflection, and creates opportunities for communities to gather around something larger than their individual concerns.At Pitchstone Music, we believe world-class music belongs not only in prestigious concert halls, but in local communities. We believe everyone deserves access to beauty, creativity and moments of shared reflection. Music reminds us that beneath our different backgrounds, professions and life experiences lies something universal: a longing to belong, to be understood, and to find meaning together in the stories we share.

Music can offer relief, joy, enjoyment, a space for reflection and a feeling of connection with other people. A live concert might give you a welcome pause in a busy week and you might find yourself absorbed in a melody, moved by an unexpected sound or harmony, or just glad to spend time listening alongside others. Different people respond differently: music does not have to be calming to be meaningful and a concert is not a medical treatment. At Pitchstone our aim is to create opportunities for a sense of shared experience - for discovery, friendship, beauty, reflection and belonging to community. Come on your own or with someone else and choose an event that interests you.

We would love to hear from you! Email hello@pitchstonemusic.com and tell us a little about how might be able to help support us. Depending on our current needs you might help to welcome concertgoers, support an event, share publicity locally, or contribute with your digital and practical skills. You do not need to be a classical music expert! Thoughtfulness, reliability and enthusiasm are a wonderful start. Whether you can offer occasional help or would like a more regular role, we can discuss what might suit you and explain the commitment involved.

There are several ways to help our musical community grow.·       Make a one-off or regular donation·       Volunteer your time or skills·       Share the publicity for a concert with friends, neighbours or local groups·       Introduce us to a potential community partner or supporterDonations help us to meet the costs of presenting live music while keeping free admission central to our work. There is no expectation to donate when you attend – your presence alone is what matters – coming along and even inviting someone else along may be the first step into a whole new musical world. We are, however, extremely grateful for donations.

Join our mailing list for news of concerts, family events and other Pitchstone activities! You can sign up on our Homepage and browse the Event page whenever you are looking for something to attend. When an event catches your eye, open its individual listing for the programme, venue, timings and booking details. Joining the mailing list does not reserve a place so remember to register separately where required. Do you know someone who might enjoy Pitchstone events? Share the event with them! A personal invitiation is a lovely way to introduce someone to live music.

Wear whatever you like! There is no dress code for a Pitchstone concert and you do not need special clothes to enjoy live classical music. Come in whatever feels comfortable and appropriate for your day, whether that means jeans and trainers, work clothes, a favourite dress, or something warmer or more practical. The idea that every classical concert requires formal evening wear can make the experience seem less welcoming than it really is. Some major occasions, and particular venues, might specify a dress code, but an ordinary chamber music concert does not. Community venues can vary in temperature so bringing an extra layer is often sensible.

Chamber music often feels like a conversation. Watching the players can help you to hear it; a violin may begin an idea, the viola may change the colour of the sound, and the cello may answer from below. At another moment all the musicians may seem to breathe and move as one. You can also listen for changes in energy, texture and silence. The energy of music is often conveyed in the rhythmic pulse. Many classical works are divided into sections called movements and the programme will list the movements separately, but together they form one larger piece. An audience often waits until the end of the complete work before clapping because sometimes the music is so gripping that in the quiet between the movements you may not feel like clapping at all. The silence can seem as though it belongs to the piece, giving emotional time to settle before the next movement begins. If you are unsure whether the piece has finished, watch the performers. They usually remain sitting, poised when another movement is coming, and relaxed when the whole piece is over. You can also follow the rest of the audience – if applause happens at a different moment it is still a lovely thing. A warm response is something that musicians really appreciate. We always ask the audience at the start of a concert to switch off their mobile phones in order to be fully present to the music.Family concerts are relaxed. Children are welcome to respond in any way, they can wriggle, shout, move around, get up, dance, sing along. The most important thing is to stay curious and notice what holds your attention, what surprises you, and what you would like to hear again. Explore our upcoming concerts.