Key information:
- Course dates:
- Mondays or Wednesdays during term time
- Fees:
- From £60-£140, full details below. Sibling discounts and bursaries available
- Deadline:
- Children can join in the first two weeks of term
- Level of study:
- Courses and Workshops for ages 4 – 18
- Mode of study:
- After School
- Contact details:
- MusicEducation.Islington@gsmd.ac.uk
About MEI Music Centres
Why join?
Playing a musical instrument and participating in ensembles help to build a student’s confidence, resilience, teamwork and communication skills whilst developing what we hope will be a lifelong love of music and the arts.
Who can join?
Students age 6 to 18 who love playing and are keen to learn.
How to sign up?
Sign up to the Music Centres here
*Please note that the music centres are full for this term. If you would like to be added to the waiting list for September 2022, please email MusicEducation.Islington@gsmd.ac.uk. Otherwise, the sign-up form for September will go live at the end of the summer term.*
Our Courses:
This course offers children the experience and joy of making music. As well as musical skills, the child will also develop listening skills, social interaction, coordination, and memory and language skills. This engaging, playful and supportive learning environment allows each child to grow as a person and as a musician.
The course combines the following:
- creative and rhythmic classes using body percussion
- singing and fun games with recorder playing
Please note that the year 2-3 course is full for this year. Applications will open in the summer for September 2022.
Young instrumentalists can join our instrumental/orchestral course where will develop a good foundation of musical understanding that will open doors to a variety of musical activities.
The course includes:
- Instrumental Group Lesson or option of individual lessons
- Choir
- Ensemble
- Creative Music Ensemble (Year 7+)
- Orchestra (Grade 3+)
For all students who wish to boost their music theory knowledge in preparation for GSCE/A-Level music or grade 5 theory, we are offering a music theory course.
This will be an interactive class and will use your instrumental skills as a learning tool, it won’t just be studying at a desk! The content of the course will be tailored around your students’ needs and will be flexible so that they can feel confident about any upcoming exams as well as understanding more about the music they play.
Every week we learn pieces in a group. You will learn how to solo and how to play as part of band. The vibe is pretty chill so no matter where you’re at now, we will get you to where you want to be! We have a gig at the end of each term, so you can get used to playing in front of people. We welcome all students. The most important thing is that you will need to know all of the 12 notes on your instrument. It does help if you can read but if you can’t (yet!) then coming along to class will actually help you get that together.
Individual Lessons - We offer individual in person or online lessons with our high-quality teachers, covering the full range of instruments. We offer 30 lessons per year, split into 10 lessons per term.
Lessons can be taken as a standalone, however, we strongly encourage students to develop their musical skills and meet like-minded friends by attending our MEI Music Centres.
Further information
We run three sessions each week at the following schools. Once you have committed to a venue, we kindly ask that you commit to sessions here for the term.
Year 2-3 Course, Instrumental/Orchestral Course
Mondays at Arts and Media School Islington
Turle Rd, Finsbury Park
London, N4 3LS
Year 2-3 Course, Instrumental/Orchestral Course, Music Theory Booster
Wednesdays at City of London Academy - Highbury Grove
8 Highbury Grove, Highbury East
London, N5 2EQ
Jazz, Funk, Fusion, Afrobeat, Experimental and Beyond Band Practice
Mondays at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School
Donegal Street
London, N1 9QG
AMSI
April: 25
May: 9, 16, 23
June: 6, 13, 20, 27
July 4, 11 (end of term concert)
HG
May: 4, 11, 18, 25
June: 8, 15, 22, 29
July: 6,13 (end of term concert)
EGA
April: 25
May: 9, 16, 23
June: 6, 13, 20, 27
July 4, 11 (end of term concert)
Fees per term (10 sessions)
| Students living or attending school in Islington | Students not living or attending school in Islington | Students attending a Music Centre school | |
| MEI Music Centre | £120 | £140 | £60 |
| Additional MEI Music Centre | £60 | £70 | £60 |
| Individual Lessons | £250 | £290 | £250 |
| Music Theory Booster | £60 | £70 | £60 |
Additional Sibling Discount (Students living or attending school in Islington)
| One MEI Music Centre | £100 per term (10 sessions) |
| Additional MEI Music Centre | £50 per term (10 sessions) |
Bursaries are available for those in need of financial assistance who live or go to school in Islington.
Our policy is to eliminate any financial barriers to accessing an exceptional music education in Islington.
A music scholarship is for everyone who is super keen and committed to keep learning music and is working to improve their skills wherever and whenever they can. A scholarship gives free individual lessons in one instrument, free access to our ensembles and a number of additional activities.
We currently looking for two different scholars:
MEI scholarship is a one-year scholarship for children who want to start learning the French horn, double bass and trombone. After one year the scholarship will be reviewed.
London Music Fund (LMF) scholarship is a four-year scholarship for children in year 4 or 5 who have already started learning any instrument.
Scholarship contracts are between the student and their parents, MEI and your child’s school, and each partner will support the scholar as well as possible.
Our scholarship auditions will be held after school on Wednesday 11 May at City of London Academy Highbury Grove.
