Instrumental tuition is offered to children, following an assessment by a Music Instructor, in both Primary and Secondary Schools. During the first term the tutor will decide whether it is wise to offer lessons on a long-term basis and parents will be informed of the outcome.
Initial applications for tuition are handled via the tutor at the pupil's school, and parents who would like their children to receive tuition should approach the school in the first instance.
Music Tutors can download forms and standard letters here
A copy of the Instrumental Tuition Handbook can ben downloaded here
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a charge for lessons?
The normal charge will be £30 per term (Summer-Christmas; Christmas-Easter; Easter-Summer) payable in advance, with exceptions as listed below.
If your family is in receipt of or eligible for Income Support, Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance or free school meals/clothing grant there will be no charge.
If your child is studying 'S' Grade, 'H' Grade or CSYS Music there will be no charge.
If you have more than one child at any one time receiving chargeable tuition there will be a reduction of £5 per term for the second child with no charge for the third or subsequent children. NB this applies to one instrument per child only.
For pupils recruited at the start of the new session the first charge will be £15 to cover the period from October to Christmas.
If you feel that there are special reasons why your child should be exempt from charges and you do not fit into the first three categories above, you should speak in confidence to the Head Teacher.
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What do I need to do to claim exemption from payment?
Indicate this on the consent form, which will be sent to children who are offered tuition. At a later stage you may be asked to produce evidence for your claim.
How will fees be collected?
A bill will be issued each August, December and March and in respect of the following term.
You will be able to pay by submitting a cheque/postal order to cover the entire term. Alternatively, you may wish to spread the cost more evenly by completing a direct debit mandate which will result in 12 equal payments being debited automatically from your bank account.
Will there be any other costs?
You will be asked from time to time to pay for music, and, in some cases, entrance fees for examinations/competitions.
Certain activities organised by the Authority incur additional cost, for example, membership of Highland Regional Youth Orchestra, where there are unavoidable residential charges.
Who will provide the instrument?
In most cases, the Authority. At a later stage you may wish your child to possess his/her own instrument, but it is in your own interests always to seek the expert advice of the tutor about this.
How should we look after the instrument?
Tutors will give advice about this. It is the responsibility of the pupils and parents to ensure that instruments are maintained in the condition in which they are issued. Musical instruments are easily damaged and should be kept in their cases when not in use. It is also important to keep away from radiators and not to store them in very damp or dry, hot or cold places.
What do we do if the instrument is damaged or lost?
Report this immediately to the school. Do not attempt to repair the instrument yourself – you may only make matters worse.
Who pays for repairs?
Usually, where it has provided the instrument, the Authority. Obviously, in the unlikely event of an instrument being wilfully or negligently damaged or lost, you may be asked to contribute.
How are lessons organised?
By extraction from normal classes. In secondary schools, every effort will be made to minimise disruption to the timetable by rotating lesson times to avoid the same subject being missed every week. Regular attendance at lessons (complete with music and instrument) is essential.
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What about practice?
It is important that the pupil is given a suitable place at home in which to practise. Your encouragement will help enormously, but be careful not to make your child feel that practice is a form of drudgery. Playing a musical instrument should be pleasurable! Beginners can manage on 15-20 minutes daily, and this will gradually increase to 30 minutes or more as advised by the tutor. Regularity is more important then spending a long time practising all at once.
Are there opportunities to play in bands, orchestras etc?
It is the Authority policy to encourage ensemble playing. Much of this takes place outwith normal school hours and should be one of the most rewarding and stimulating aspects of playing instruments. Parents are asked to ensure that pupils are available when selected for participation in school, area or regional bands, orchestras etc. Follow the link for information about Regional music groups.
How will we know what kind of progress our child is making?
Written reports will be issued, either six-monthly or in line with the school’s normal reporting procedure.
What level of service is guaranteed?
A minimum of 28 lessons, no shorter than twenty minutes, per school session, either individually or as part of group. If special circumstances (e.g. tutor absence etc.) do not permit this to be delivered, where a pupil has being receiving tuition for a full school year, a rebate at the end of the school session will be allowed. Where tuition has been given for less than a full year a rebate will be allowed if an average of nine lessons per term has not been achieved.
Examples of circumstances where a rebate in charges will be allowed:
- illness or other unavoidable circumstance for which a satisfactory explanation has been sent to the school in writing by the parent or guardian;
- unavoidable involvement in examinations, interviews outwith school etc.
Examples of circumstances where a rebate in charges will not be allowed:
- music or instrument forgotten
- unexplained absence from school
- family holidays taken during term-time
- a unilateral decision by the pupil or parents to discontinue lessons during the previous term
It should be noted that, if a pupil is present at school he/she will be expected to attend the lesson, even if a temporary disability precludes actual playing of the instrument. Any exceptional instances should be discussed with the Tutor and/or the Head Teacher.
In the case of difficulty in obtaining release from class to attend lessons, contact should be made with the Head Teacher.
Please note that the Authority reserves the right to alter these conditions, and, in particular, to vary the level of charges from time to time.
Highland Instrumental Unit - Providing Instrumental Tuition in Schools leaflet is available from the Current Documents section.
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