The Director of Music at Wycombe Abbey on the Value of Music Tours for Young Musicians

Giving younger musicians something to look forward to 

With academic pressures on younger pupils increasing, finding ways to keep them involved in music is becoming more important. 

At Wycombe Abbey, music tours have become one way to encourage younger pupils to stay involved, develop regular rehearsal habits and build enthusiasm for future musical opportunities. 

The aim, according to Stefan, is to “foster that love of music making”, giving pupils an opportunity to celebrate their musical commitment while inspiring them to keep playing. 

Finding the right balance between music and holiday 

Planning a successful tour means thinking carefully about when to travel, where to go and what the experience should offer. 

For Wycombe Abbey, the beginning of the summer holidays has proved ideal, allowing pupils to celebrate the end of the school year together. Travelling by coach also makes destinations such as the Netherlands and Belgium accessible, particularly when transporting instruments and equipment. 

Just as importantly, the tour should feel like a holiday, not simply a series of performances. As Stefan puts it, “we really wanted it to be a holiday.” 

The itinerary for the Belgium tour included chocolate-making, castle visits, boat rides, a trip to the beach and theme park activities. Performances took place in welcoming, low-pressure venues, including town squares and churches, with soundchecks taking the place of lengthy rehearsals. 

Bringing different musicians together 

One of the challenges of organising a tour for younger pupils is getting a complete orchestra or band to sign up. Wycombe Abbey found a solution by opening its tours to any instrumentalist in Years 7–10. 

This brought together pupils from the Concert Band, Training Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra, creating opportunities for musicians who might not normally play together to share the experience. 

The approach has helped pupils build new relationships across ensembles and work towards a shared goal. Careful repertoire planning, flexible arrangements and opportunities for smaller groups also help ensure everyone can contribute. 

Building teamwork beyond the stage 

For Stefan, one of the biggest benefits of a tour is its impact on team spirit. 

“The key takeaways from these tours are that they ‘turbo boost’ team building.” 

Performing to unfamiliar audiences gives pupils a new challenge, while travelling together encourages them to adapt, solve problems and support one another. Whether dealing with unusual acoustics, limited space or unexpected practical challenges, pupils learn to work as a team. 

Another highlight is seeing the leadership opportunities that develop naturally during a tour. “I love seeing the older pupils just automatically mentoring the younger pupils,” he says. 

From supporting fellow musicians to organising social activities such as karaoke evenings, older pupils gain valuable leadership experience while younger pupils benefit from their encouragement. 

Making the planning work

Although the rewards are significant, successful tours depend on thoughtful preparation. The Wycombe Abbey music department has found several approaches particularly useful: 

Working with a specialist tour operator such as Rayburn Tours can also help manage the logistics involved in taking a large group of young musicians abroad. 

Creating a lasting legacy 

Perhaps the clearest sign of a successful tour comes after everyone returns home. 

Following the most recent Belgium tour, the Year 10 pupils sent an enthusiastic email describing the trip as “the perfect cadence to end the summer year”. 

Their message ended with a request that says it all: 

“Please, please, please, can we do another tour next year?” 

For the Wycombe Abbey music department, this captures the lasting value of the experience. A tour rewards pupils for their musical commitment while encouraging them to keep attending rehearsals, participate in ensembles and look forward to future opportunities. 

Overall, school music tours are about much more than performing abroad. With thoughtful planning, inclusive opportunities and a balance between music and enjoyment, they can bring young musicians closer together, build confidence and inspire a lifelong enthusiasm for making music.