Direct Tuition: Information for Parents & Carers
Register HereAvailable Instruments

- Brass: trumpet, cornet, baritone, euphonium, trombone, tenor horn, french horn, flugel horn, tuba
- Woodwind: flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, recorder
- Strings: violin, viola, cello, double bass
- Guitar: acoustic and electric including bass
- Keyboard and piano
- Harp
- Drum Kit
- Voice
Some instruments are more suitable for children to start in upper KS2 due to their size. Our teachers can discuss this with you.
We have a wide range of instruments for lease and our teachers can offer advice about purchasing instruments.
- Instrument Lease Scheme: Pupils can lease instruments through our instrument lease scheme and support is given to families who meet the criteria for Free School Meals
- Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme: Pupils can benefit from our VAT exempt Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme
Lessons
- Weekly lessons take place during school term time and some may be offered out of school hours. We aim to deliver a minimum of 30 lessons per academic year and usually achieve between 34 – 36 lessons
- Lesson length and group size are based on the instrumental teacher’s recommendation and assessment. Group sizes are a maximum of 4 students for starters and are usually 30 minutes long. In most cases lessons are paired or individual
- Lesson usually take place in your child's school and are usually on a rotation system wherever possible, with every effort made to accommodate pupil’s requirements to fit into their school timetable
- Where lessons are delivered online we use a secure platform to teach online and pupil safeguarding is our highest priority
- Lessons can be in the comfort of your own home with a face to face lesson in school each half term or as recommended by the teacher
- Online lessons can be taken on school premises with agreement and by prior arrangement with your school
Quality Standards
Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Music Services is a professional organisation using quality controlled teaching methods and appropriately qualified teaching staff. All of our teachers
- have enhanced DBS clearance and relevant safeguarding training
- receive regular training to continue their professional development and keep them up to date with current teaching methods and musical skills
- are reviewed annually using the Performance Management Scheme for centrally employed teachers as part of the process to ensure that they continue to meet the professional standards set out for teachers
- receive regular visits and support from their line manager
Our Lessons
Instrumental lessons offer a broad range of musical experiences such as studying music from around the world, composing, listening skills, theory of music, appraising skills, performing and communicating with other young musicians.
- All staff follow our instrumental syllabus which links to the National Plan for Music and offers a sound framework for teaching.
- Our teachers will help with the preparation of national exams taken in school such as performances and recording compositions as required
- Pupils have access to external music examinations
- Music service teachers provide an annual report for each pupil
- We provide each child with a practise book (except for online lessons). The book offers a line of communication between teachers and parents and helps pupils to develop independent learning techniques
- We welcome communication from parents and encourage you to be involved in all aspects of your child's musical development