Learning an instrument
How to apply online and pay for music tuition.
Most tuition is offered by our visiting teachers in schools around the county during the school day. However, there are also out of school opportunities for all ages.
Not all instrument tuition is available in every school. You will be able to see which are offered in your child’s school during the application process.
We offer tuition in:
- strings: violin, viola, cello, double bass
- woodwind: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone
- brass: trumpet, cornet, trombone, baritone, euphonium, horn (French and tenor), tuba
- percussion: drum kit, tuned percussion,
- guitar: classical, electric and bass
- keyboard
- vocal/singing
If your child doesn't have an instrument you can hire one.
Lessons
34 lessons are offered in the academic year. Charges will be per lesson, charged termly in advance. The Music Service works on the three-term school year. Refunds will be made, if necessary, at the end of the academic year.
We provide every pupil with a record book and their teacher will use this to write in their targets for the next lesson. Your child should bring this book to every lesson. You will also be able to communicate with the teacher using the record book or via email.
Your child will receive an annual report in the summer term, written by their teacher which explains what they have achieved during the academic year.
About our teachers
All of staff who work with your child or have access to their personal information have a current DBS certificate. All of our teaching staff follow relevant schemes of work to deliver high quality lessons and we offer ongoing support and training to all staff during the year.
Charges
Lessons are charged in four bands depending on lesson length and number of pupils in the group. All beginner groups start on band 1 rate.
Band 1 - £6.75 per lesson
- Group of 10 or more pupils for 50 minutes
- Group of 7 to 9 pupils for 40 minutes
- Group of 5 or 6 pupils for 30 minutes
- Group of 3 or 4 pupils for 20 minutes
Band 2 - £9.75 per lesson
- Group of 3 or 4 pupils for 30 minutes
- Shared lesson for 20 minutes
Band 3 - £14.25 per lesson
- Shared lesson for 30 minutes
Band 4 - £18.90 per lesson
- Individual lesson. Longer lessons are charged pro rata.
Key information
If only one pupil applies for a group lesson, they will stay on the waiting list until a group can be formed. Applicants can opt for an individual lesson which will be charged at the Band 4 rate.
All rates will be held with no increase until the end of the current academic year. If necessary following group size changes, rates will be changed from September of the next academic year.
Charges will only be increased to the next charge band except where parents/carers request a particular group size/lesson length.
Endangered instruments
A discount of 25 per cent on the above prices will be given across all group sizes for tuition. (Instruments included in this group: Viola, French Horn, Oboe, Trombone, Double bass, Tuba, Bassoon).
Ensemble charges (charged termly ie Autumn, Spring and Summer)
| Ensemble | Length of ensemble | Termly charge |
|---|---|---|
| Primary choirs (eg, OYS, SOSC, SOYS) | 1 hour | £40 |
| Secondary Choirs | 1.5 hours | £50 |
| Single Ensembles | 1.5 hours | £50 |
| Music Centres | 2.5 hours | £71 |
| SOYPA | 2 hours | £71 |
| For Senior Students at Centre for Music: | ||
| Saturday morning group only | 3.5 hours | £99 |
| 1 additional ensemble | ||
| Centre for Music pass* | £150 | |
| County (Level) Ensemble** | 2 hours | £81 |
| * including Saturday morning and more than one additional ensemble | ||
| **OYBB, OYFE (Flute choir), OYCCC (Clarinet choir), OYBG (Brass Ensemble), Oxybaroxy | ||
| County (Level) Ensemble Bassoon Ensemble, Percussion Ensembles, JamPods Rock Schools |
up to 1.5 hours | £53 |
| County (Level) Ensemble Oxonforde Yonge Musicians, Quartets |
1 hour | £49 |
| Late cancellation fee | £35 |
Pay for lessons
Families on benefits
Families who receive certain benefits may be eligible for free lessons, instrument hire and ensemble membership. Please contact us at to check eligibility before making an application for lessons.
- Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400.
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
- Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual income of no more than £16,190