Primary Instrumental Programme: Primary 2 - Primary 7

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Overview

Begin your child’s journey to learning a musical instrument with our specialist group classes designed for children from Primary 2. Children will attend weekly group instrumental lessons and interactive musicianship classes.

All classes will take place on Sundays during term time. You can expect to take part in play-based, interactive activities designed to align with developmental milestones for your child.

Led by a team of professional music specialists, these sessions are designed to introduce children to music-making and playing.

Inspired by Kodály methodology, children will develop skills in rhythm, pitch, coordination and imagination all of which enhance language development and confidence.

The important details

Application Deadline:
18 May 2025

Venue:
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G2 3DB

Dates:
7 September 2025 - 14 June 2026

Time:
Sundays, 10am-5pm

Cost
£855 – £1,560 for 30 weeks of tuition

The Primary Instrumental Programme is designed to enable children to access instrumental learning in a structured and supportive specialist environment. Teaching is delivered by a team of highly-skilled practitioners who hold expertise in a number of recognised methodologies. We are confident that your child will benefit enormously from being part of our vibrant and creative learning community!

Practical musicianship classes aim to increase students’ appreciation and understanding of music in a wider context, enabling them to develop as better all-round musicians. Each level has been carefully designed to help students realise their full potential for enjoying and understanding music as performers and listeners.

Classes will explore a variety of skills, engaging children in aural, kinaesthetic and cognitive learning and the practical content of sessions ensures that students develop a confident and competent understanding of each skill presented.

Class sizes are capped to ensure the optimum learning environment and an enjoyable class experience.

Musicianship

All students attend a 45-minute musicianship class relevant to their stage. These courses are a compulsory part of the programme for each student.

Instrumental Lessons

Students also attend a weekly 30-minute instrumental lesson and begin learning in groups. We offer group instrumental tuition in various instruments for the following ages:

Beginner Students in Primary 2-3

Piano/keyboard
Strings: violin, viola, cello and double bass

Beginner Students in Primary 4-5

Woodwind: flute, clarinet, saxophone
Brass: trumpet, trombone, French horn
Percussion (tuned and untuned)

Students will learn in groups for at least a year before moving into 1:1 lessons, subject to a progress review at the end of the first year of learning. Please note that we currently do not offer 1:1 tuition in woodwind, brass and percussion instruments.

Ensembles

Strings students in 1:1 lessons have an additional 45-minute String Ensemble class. All woodwind, brass and percussion students take part in an additional 45-minute Concert Band class.

Teaching Staff

We have a wide and varied range of professional educators who work on a weekly basis with our students. Our staff are specialists in working with young people and many are active performing musicians in addition to teaching.

Our teachers include:

Alina Horvath
Amy Laurenson
Claire McCue
Tim Phillips
James Ross
Dorine Sorber

Joëlle Broad (violin)
Cate Howard (violin/viola)
Ulla-Riikka Kuisma (cello)
Ellen Martin (cello)
Kirsty Matheson (double bass)
Fiona McLean-Buechel (violin/viola)
Rebecca Minio-Paluello (violin)

Arlene Macfarlane (brass)
Camille Mason (woodwind)
Lauren O’Malley (percussion)

Celine Donoghue
Sarah Skerritt
Zara Wardrop

Entry Requirements

There are no entry requirements to the Primary Instrumental Programme and we expect all new students to be beginners on their chosen instrument.

Entry to the programme is by application, and places are allocated via a ballot system.

Fees & Funding

Tuition fees

£855 – £1,560 for 30 weeks of tuition

Fees include musicianship (45 minutes weekly), instrumental lessons (30 mins weekly) and ensemble (45 minutes weekly, if applicable).

Fees can be paid in one lump sum at the beginning of the term or spread over the year in monthly instalments.

Please note that musicianship classes are a compulsory element of the Primary Instrumental Programme. All students receiving instrumental lessons must also attend the musicianship class appropriate to their school year.

Funding

We want to make the performing arts as accessible to everyone as possible. Anyone who faces financial barriers to participate in the Primary Instrumental Programme can apply for a bursary. As soon as you have received an offer of a place, you will be sent a link to the bursary form.

These funds are currently supported by the generosity of individuals and charitable trusts and foundations including:

Agnes Allan Bursary
ABRSM Junior Scholarship UK
Wolfson Foundation Scholarship
Stevenson Scholarship
Miss Nancy Williamson Bursary
William R MacFarlane Scholarship
Savoy Scholarship
John McIntyre Memorial Scholarship

How to Apply

Applications to Primary Instrumental Programme (Piano and Strings) for Session 2025-26 are now closed. Thank you to those who have completed their application, we will be in touch directly in the coming weeks.

Due to high demand of the programme places on the programme are limited and unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee a place to every applicant.

Please be advised that places will be offered via a ballot system, where applicants will be selected at random.

We offer various options for students at each age and stage of their learning, all of which are subject to availability each year:

Beginner students in Primary 2 and 3 can begin learning piano/keyboard or a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, double bass) in group lessons.

Beginner students in Primary 4 and 5 can begin learning a woodwind or brass instrument or percussion in group lessons.

Students in Primary 2 and 3 who are already having lessons on their chosen instrument may apply to have 1:1 lessons on this programme, subject to capacity and staff availability.

Students in Primary 4+ who are already having lessons on their chosen instrument should make an application and audition for our Pre-Junior programme instead.

Unfortunately, we do not offer lessons to beginner students in Primary 6-7.

If you have any further queries, please email PrimaryInstrumental@rcs.ac.uk