WILLINGTON PREP MUSIC DEPARTMENT
PRIVATE INSTRUMENTAL/VOCAL TUITION
Music tuition is available on most instruments and voice and is taught by an excellent group of visiting music teachers in our well-equipped practice rooms. Lessons are delivered during term-time, are 30 minutes long and occur once per week of term during the school day on a rota basis to ensure that the same lessons/part of academic lessons are not missed on a regular basis. From the beginning of Year 5 to the February half-term of Year 6, children will not be taken out of Maths and English lessons for private tuition in order to best support preparation for 11+ examinations.
Instrumental lessons are available to children from Year 1 to Year 6. Reception children are welcome to apply from the Spring Term with an expectation they could begin lessons in the Summer Term. Parents of children in Reception to Year 2 should discuss with their class teacher the suitability of taking private lessons at school. In our experience, children of this age may find it challenging to miss academic lessons, even for a short time each week. We want to ensure that their personal instrumental journey has a positive start.
Vocal tuition is recommended from Year 3 and up.
Children should have their own instrument and advice on purchase/hire of these is available from the Director of Music or the individual tutors. Many teachers prepare their pupils for Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music exams or other external examination boards suited to the musical instrument/style studied. Should your son or daughter wish to study an instrument for which lessons are not currently provided, please contact the Director of Music to discuss.
Once an application for lessons is received by the Director of Music, your contact details will be shared with the most appropriate tutor for your child. The tutor will be in touch to introduce himself/herself and to discuss the practicalities of the lesson arrangements (fees, timetabling of lesson, resources required) and will remain your primary point of contact regarding your child’s progress. Please note that fees are set by individual tutors and the contract for instrumental lessons is directly between parents and the tutor.
To request further information about the instrumental/vocal tuition programme, please contact the Director of Music. In the unlikely event of a concern regarding your child’s instrumental tutor which cannot be resolved directly, please advise the Director of Music.
A useful guide on choosing a musical instrument to learn is https://www.libertyparkmusic.com/choose-right-instrument-child/