Music tuition for school age children
The East Sussex Music Service provide music lessons in maintained (state) schools. If your child goes to a maintained school and is interested in singing or learning to play an instrument, you can apply in two ways.
By post
Download – East Sussex Music Service registration pack
Online
Enquiry form – music lessons and activities for young people
Parents of children at independent schools should contact the school direct.
All teachers have to complete Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks before they are employed. We cannot recommend or endorse any private music teachers whose credentials are not known to us.
If you are looking for a private music teacher, search the teachers' register on the Incorporated Society of Musicians website.
Classes
All pupils receive an introductory course of 10 lessons. At the end of the introductory course, a written report is made by the teacher.
Lessons normally take place in groups of four, during the school day. At primary school the lesson is at the same time every week. Lesson times for secondary school pupils change every week to fit around other classes.
Both individual and group lessons are 30 minutes long.
Young cello players from a performance at the Royal Albert Hall
Term times and dates
Students receive 30 lessons throughout the course of a school year, spread over the six term year. The number of lessons offered in a term may vary depending on the length of the term.
The minimum commitment is for two terms out of six.
Fees
The standard fee for group lessons is £82, payable three times a year in September, January and April. A registration fee of £5 is charged for all new students, and this fee is non-refundable.
Fees are paid to East Sussex County Council and are subject to annual increases in April. For more details please download our registration pack.
To find out about how much it costs to hire an instrument, go to our page on musical instrument hire.
Help with fees
We run an Assisted Tuition Scheme for families in receipt of certain benefits.
The following fees apply for the 2007–08 school year for group lessons and are invoiced three times a year in September, January and April:
- families with a total gross family income of £20,000 or less - £41
- families in receipt of Income Support - £12.30
- families in receipt of Income Based Job Seekers Allowance - £12.30.
Familes in receipt of Income Support and Income Based Job Seekers Allowance do not have to pay a registration fee. A copy of your benefit award letter must be included along with your registration form.
Withdrawing from lessons
To withdraw your child from music lessons, inform us by the dates below to avoid paying a £10 administration fee:
- 1 December – for withdrawal at the end of term 2
- 1 March – for withdrawal at the end of term 4
- 1 July – for withdrawal at the end of term 6.
Helping your child to learn
If you would like more information on helping your child to learn their instrument, read this BBC guide on learning to sing or play an instrument – a practical guide for parents.
