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MEI Music Centres - FAQs
Please read our FAQs before getting in touch with us. If your question has not been answered on this page, we will be happy to help.
Signing up
Once you have signed up for 2022-23, your contract will continue until you cancel. We will only ask you to renew your consent forms for picture and evaluation of activities. We will ask you to update your contact details once a year. Please only use the sign up form again if you want to change your provision.
Please also be aware of our cancellation policy.
Our cancellation policy states that you can cancel any provision by giving half a term’s notice to musiceducation.islington@gsmd.ac.uk. If you have paid in advance, you will be reimbursed for sessions after the half term notice period.
Yes, we offer free taster sessions in the first two weeks of term to try out our group lessons. If your child then signs up for the term, you will be charged for 10 lessons, but there will be no charge if they decide not to join.
In the summer term, we have an open day for prospective students to come and try out different instruments. Sign up to our newsletter to find out about the next open day.
We have a number of options for individual lessons, subject to availability. At AMSI and Highbury Grove we can offer individual lessons on all instruments except piano. At EGA we currently offer individual lessons on all instruments.
If we can’t accommodate an individual lesson for your child at the current time, they will be added to a waiting list and we will be in touch when options become available.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide financially assisted places for individual lessons, unless your child has a scholarship.
Pupils can start in the first two weeks of each term. Term dates can be found here. Once you have signed up, your payment plan is agreed and payment is received your child can start. This can take up to two weeks.
Choosing a course
If they are in year 2 or 3, they will do the Introduction to Music course which is designed for complete beginners and will set them up with a solid foundation before they learn an instrument. At the end of the summer term before they start year 4, they will have to opportunity to try different instruments.
For those in year 4 and above, children usually have an idea of what they want to learn, but if you want help or advice, please email musiceducation.islington@gsmd.ac.uk with the email subject “Instrument Advice” and we will get in touch with you.
The “Jazz, Funk, Fusion, Afrobeat, Experimental and Beyond Band Practice” requires musicians to know all 12 notes on their instrument. If you’re unsure about whether this course is suitable, please email musiceducation.islington@gsmd.ac.uk.
We currently offer:
- Strings: violin, viola, cello, double bass, ukulele, guitar and bass guitar
- Woodwind: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, recorder, saxophone
- Brass: trumpet, cornet, French horn, tenor horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba
- Piano/keyboard
- Drums
- Vocals
If the instrument your child would like to learn is not listed, please email musiceducation.islington@gsmd.ac.uk as we are keen to accommodate all young people’s needs.
Not all instruments are offered at each centre, but students can attend on different days to meet all their needs.
Yes, students in reception or year 1 can join Music Explorers. Read more and sign up here.
We also support Islington schools with their music provision and help them to provide musicianship classes in Key Stage 1.
In-school satellite provision: this is an hour long course at your child’s school.
Year 2&3 Introduction to Music Course (AMSI & Highbury Grove):
Activity | AMSI | Highbury Grove |
Arrival at the centre Children will be met by a chaperone who will take them up to sign-in. | 3:50pm | 3:50pm |
First class | 4:00-4:45pm | 4:00-4:30pm |
Break (please make sure your child has a small, nut-free snack and a labelled bottle of water) | 4:45-5:00pm | 4:30-4:45pm |
Second class | 5:00-5:30pm | 4:45-5:30pm |
Home time Children will be taken down to the school entrance to be collected by a parent/carer. | 5:30pm | 5:30pm |
Year 4-6 Provision (AMSI and Highbury Grove):
3:50pm: arrival at the Centre. Children will be met by a chaperone who will take them up to sign- in.
4:00-5:00pm: choir and group music lesson (each class is 30 min, changeover time is included in that period)
5:00-5:15pm: break (please make sure your child has a small nut-free snack and a labelled bottle of water)
5:15-6:00pm: ensemble
6:00pm: Children will be taken down to the school entrance to be collected by parent/carer.
6:00-6:30pm: orchestra (for those of grade 2+standard)
Year 7+ Provision (AMSI and Highbury Grove):
4:20pm: arrival at the Centre and sign-in upstairs.
4:30-5:00pm: group instrumental lesson
5:00-5:15pm: break (please make sure your child has a small nut-free snack and a labelled bottle of water)
5:15-6:00pm: ensemble
6:00-6:30pm: orchestra (for those of grade 2+standard)
6:30pm: sign out
Jazz, Funk Fusion, Afrobeat, Experimental and beyond band practice (EGA):
4:20pm: arrival at the Centre. Young people will be met by a member of staff who will take them to sign in
4:30-6:30pm: class (with a short break. Please make sure to bring a small nut-free snack and a labelled bottle of water)
Payment and Fees
You will receive a Paypal link to pay online once you have signed up. Please make the agreed payment before teaching starts.
You can see our fee structure here.
There is no charge for attending the Music Centre and hiring an instrument to those in receipt of state benefits but unfortunately, we cannot offer supported individual lessons.
Scholarships are available and nomination take place in the summer term for those who live in Islington. Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with our Scholarship news.
If you have a problem with your invoice, please email Rosie.Carter@gsmd.ac.uk.
Further Questions
Currently not; we are hosted by schools that do not have the facilities to accommodate parents waiting at the Music Centres or sitting in on classes. Parents, carers, family and friends are always invited to our end of term performances!
Whether your child takes an exam depends on a number of factors and is not a requirement of having lessons at the Music Centre. If you would like your child to take an exam, please email musiceducation.islington@gsmd.ac.uk and we will put you in touch with their tutor who will offer their advice. Exam fees and administration are to be covered by the parent, unless the child is a scholar.
If your child comes to the Music Centre with their school, check with the school in the first instance. If they attend independently, please email musiceducation.islington@gsmd with the email subject “Instrument Hire” and include the details of what you need.
The charge is £12 per term if they attend the Music Centre and £17 if they are having lessons outside of our provision. There is no charge to families in receipt of state benefits. Recorders are available to buy at a subsidised rate of £7 and are free to those in receipt of state benefits.
If your child is unwell, they cannot attend the Music Centre until they are showing no symptoms of illness.
Term dates can be found here.
You can sign up to the newsletter here.
Concerts take place on week 10 of the term. You can see our term dates here.
MEI run a number of summer and holiday courses each year. Find out about upcoming courses here.
There are also summer courses for different levels at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Islington’s Summerversity programme.
Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with our holiday courses.