Please apply only using the application form above and not via Hertfordshire Music School.

Information/Terms and Conditions for Instrumental/Vocal Lessons

Most of our instrumental teachers come from Hertfordshire Music Service; all are experienced professional musicians. We currently offer tuition on violin, viola, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, tuba, horn, percussion (including drum kit), classical and electric guitar, bass guitar, voice, piano, keyboard, theory. If you require tuition on another instrument, please contact us and we can arrange that through the Music Service.

Frequently asked questions:

What is the cost of lessons? The lessons for 2025/26 are:

30-minute lesson - £27.10 per lesson

20-minute lesson - £18.45 per lesson

Please note that from September 2025, lessons will be charged as follows; 

Autumn Term 25: 12 lessons 

Spring Term 26: 10 lessons 

Summer Term 26: 11 lessons

Students taking GCSE or A Level Music and BTEC Music Performance receive a 50% discount for music tuition for one instrument, if lessons are taken at either HBS or at North Herts Music School. The reduction of fees is only applied up to and including the Spring term before the final exams.

Unless a full half term’s written notice is given in the Spring term, it is assumed that students in Year 11 or Year 13 wish to continue their music lessons throughout the Summer term and these lessons will be charged at full price.

Regular attendance and practice are obligatory and once committed to, lessons must be paid for until the end of the course. 

How many lessons do I get?

The fees cover the cost of 33 lessons per year; although term lengths do vary and so there may be more lessons in some terms and fewer in others. If, at the end of the year, there have been fewer than 33 lessons offered, you will be refunded the cost of any missed lessons. 

When do the lessons take place?

Where possible, lessons take place during the school day but are on a rotating timetable, so students do not miss the same lesson each week. 6th Form students are taught during free periods or lunch breaks. This means it is essential that students check their timetable regularly and on the morning of their lesson.

What happens if a lesson is missed?

If a lesson is missed because the teacher is absent, every effort will be made to make up the lesson at a future date. If this cannot be done within the academic year, a credit will be issued for the missed lesson. Such credits are calculated at the end of the academic year and refunded. However, we ask that you do not deduct ‘presumed’ credits from “request for payments” as there will be opportunities to make up missed lessons throughout the year, at the discretion of the music teacher.

When the teacher is available at the scheduled lesson time, but the student does not attend, the lesson is forfeited and no refund can be made (this includes absence due to student illness, forgetfulness, school trips/activities, exams, poor pupil internet connection or a pupil’s faulty device for virtual lessons etc.). If the Music Department is given at least a week’s notice of a student’s planned absence due to a school
trip/exam etc. we will endeavour to rearrange the lesson, at the teacher’s discretion, although this cannot be guaranteed. No credit will be due if the teacher is unable to reschedule a lesson missed by the pupil without sufficient notice.

For missed lessons in the event of an emergency or closure of a school (full or partial) due to an event outside the schools control (e.g. a pandemic, flooding, heavy snow or industrial action), no credit will be due. If a pupil forgets their instrument or has an injury which prevents them playing temporarily, they should still attend the lesson; the teacher will cover listening skills and/or theory work, which can still be valuable.

Attendance records are kept for invoicing and record keeping and used as the source of information for any queries about accounts.

How do I apply for lessons?

Please complete this form or contact the Co-Curricular Administrator Mrs. McLaughlin (email music@hitchinboys.co.uk) and ask for an application form. If an instrumental teacher has no spaces available, there will be a waiting list. Once an application form is signed by the parent/carer and the space has been accepted by the parents, it forms a legally binding contract with the school and an obligation to pay.

Please note, HMS will not give tuition to a pupil who receives lessons on the same instrument from another (non-HMS) teacher.

When will I be charged for the lessons?

Fees are payable in advance and a request for payment will be sent to you via email from Wisepay. Fees are based on the provision of 33 lessons over an academic year but the number of lessons and therefore fees due in each term will vary.

Payment must be made within 14 days of the date of the request for payment and at least half a term before the lessons are due to commence.

For the current calendar year, payment must be received by the following dates for lessons to continue:

Friday 16th May 2025 for lessons to continue in the Autumn term 2025

Friday 10th October 2025 for lessons to continue in the Spring term 2026

Friday 6th February 2026 for lessons to continue in the Summer term 2026

If payment is not made by the dates detailed above, music lessons will be discontinued for the following term.

Terminating Lessons

Music lessons will continue term-on-term and year-on-year until written notice to withdraw from lessons or ensemble tuition is received. A pupil may only withdraw from lessons at half term or the end of term and if a half term’s notice is given in writing to the Music department (music@hitchinboys.co.uk). No other form of withdrawal will be accepted.

Please note that lessons automatically roll over to the next academic year unless notice is given to stop lessons by May half term.

Can I apply for financial assistance? 

Financial support is a limited, capped fund that is available to apply for directly with Hertfordshire Music Service.  For details on how to apply for remission and eligibility, please check on the Hertfordshire Music Service website (www.hertsmusicservice.org.uk). Please note that if you currently receive financial support, you still need to reapply. 

To apply for remission, please apply using the following link: https://ukhertfordshire.speedadmin.dk/registration#/voucher. 

If you require further assistance, please email music.remission@hertfordshire.gov.uk or contact our Music department directly at music@hitchinboys.co.uk

If you are awarded remission, please let the school know. Until such time as remission is granted, lessons will be billed at full price and paid by the parent(s)/carer(s). If given remittance, please note that you will be required to pay an administration fee of £21 per term which the school finance office will invoice you for via Wisepay request to pay.

Please click on the link to access details of other resources you can apply to for financial assistance: financial support resources

How do I get in touch with the instrumental teacher?

If you wish to contact your child’s instrumental/vocal teacher, please write a note in your child’s practice book, asking the teacher to contact you. Alternatively, you can contact the Music Office at music@hitchinboys.co.uk and we shall ask the teacher to contact you directly.

What should I do if I am not happy with the teaching that my child is receiving?

Please contact Mrs McLaughlin at music@hitchinboys.co.uk, telling us your concerns and we shall deal with them as necessary.  

Does my child need to possess their own instrument in order to have lessons?

It is essential that your child is able to practise for their lessons and, to that end, they need to be in possession of an instrument. If necessary, contact Mrs McLaughlin, who can put you in touch with establishments where instruments can be hired. It is also possible to take advantage of the Assisted Purchase scheme which enables students to purchase musical instruments without the cost of VAT. Your child should bring his own instrument to every lesson (with the obvious exceptions of piano, keyboard and percussion).

Is my child’s musical instrument covered by the school’s insurance while it is in school?

No, your child’s instrument is not covered by HBS insurance. We advise you to ensure that it is covered on your own insurance policy. 

To apply for Music lessons please click on the button above.