Instrumental Tuition

 

Tuition
Types of Lessons	Providing an Instrument
Where the lessons are held	Instrument Hire
Free Instrumental/Vocal Lessons	Which Instrument to Learn
Free Taster Lessons	Cost of Lessons

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TYPES OF LESSONS

EASS offers INDIVIDUAL LESSONS of 20 minutes or 30 minutes duration, PAIRED LESSONS where 2 pupils will share a lesson of 30 minutes duration and GROUP LESSONS where pupils will be grouped as follows - 2 pupils taught together for 20 minute lessons, or 3 pupils taught together for 30 minute lessons.

WHERE THE LESSONS ARE HELD

Lessons can be provided at your child's own school (subject to available accommodation and there being sufficient pupils on your child's chosen instrument). The vast majority of lessons take place during the normal school day and a pupil's instrumental lessons may be timetabled across curriculum time, lunch and break periods. Lessons at secondary schools are often organised on a rota basis whereby the pupil has a different lesson time each week. Occasionally, with school and parental consent, instrumental lessons may take place just before or after the end of the school day. Lessons at the Saturday Centre are at a set time each week between 9.00am - 12.30pm. A limited number of lessons are offered at the EASS after-school Centre at The Gladys Aylward School.

FREE INSTRUMENTAL/VOCAL LESSONS

Pupils from families in receipt of Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance will be granted free group lessons (subject to available funding). If group lessons are unavailable, pupils will be offered paired or individual lessons as appropriate. If your child is eligible for free lessons, please apply using the application form in the up to current application form. We will send you a Registration Document which you will need to sign and return with up-to-date proof of the benefit you are receiving. Pupils in care (looked-after children) will also be granted free tuition on the same basis. No remission of fees is made for iinstrument hire.

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FREE TASTER LESSONS

Subject to available funding EASS is able to offer one term of free group lessons, paired lessons or 20 minute individual lessons to pupils wishing to learn the instruments listed below. The current instrumental hire fee of £25.00 (correct as at Spring Term 2008) will be payable.

All woodwind instruments*** except recorder.

All brass instruments***

Viola, 'Cello, Double Bass

Tabla

Orchestral Percussion. NOT available in schools. Lessons may be available at the EASS After-school Centre at Enfield County Lower School.

The offer of free 'taster' lessons is subject to available funding. Pupils will be accepted for one course of free taster lessons on one instrument only.

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PROVIDING AN INSTRUMENT

You will need to provide an instrument for your child's lessons and for practice at home. If you wish your child to have Keyboard lessons, you will need to bring your own keyboard to the Centre each week.

INSTRUMENT HIRE

EASS hires the instruments listed below (subject to availability for £25.00 per term - correct as at Spring Term 2008.)

Baritone, Bassoon, Mini Bassoon, 'Cello, Clarinet, Cornet, Double Bass, Euphonium, Flute, French Horn, Oboe, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Tenor Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, Violin, Viola

EASS does not hire Keyboards*, Pianos, Recorders**, Acoustic or Electric Guitar, Percussion/Drum Kits.

* for Keyboard lessons we recommend a 4-octave (29 white keys) keyboard with full-size keys

** toy recorders are not suitable for recorder lessons.

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WHICH INSTRUMENT TO LEARN

EASS can offer lessons at the on the instruments listed below. However, some schools may not be able to offer the full range of instruments due to accommodation restrictions and/or availability of suitable school resources. Some schools may also restrict tuition to pupils in certain year groups. Please check with your child's school for details.

We recommend that children do not start to learn a musical instrument until they are at least in year 2 at school and then the suitability of instrument is dependent upon the age and size of the child. The following earliest starting age is shown as a guideline.

	Recommended minimum school year/age
brass instruments*** Free Taster Lessons available on all brass instruments Cornet, Trumpet, French Horn, Tenor Horn, Baritone, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba	school year 4-5 (age 9-10) school year 7 (age 11-12)
bowed stringed instruments Double Bass - Free Taster Lessons available	school year 4 (age 8-9)
'Cello, Viola - Free Taster Lessons available	school year 3 (age 7-8)
Violin	school year 2 (age 6 -7)
guitar Acoustic Guitar, Bass/Lead Guitar	school year 4 (age 8 -9)
keyboards instruments Electronic Keyboard, Piano	school year 2 (age 6 - 7)
percussion Drum Kit - usually only available in secondary schools or at the EASS after-school centre at The Gladys Aylward School Tabla - Free Taster Lessons available Orchestral Percussion - Free Taster Lessons available but not available in schools, lessons may be available at the EASS after-school centre at Enfield County Lower School	all school year 4 (age 8-9)
singing usually only available in secondary schools	school year 5 (age 9 - 10)
woodwind instruments*** Recorder	school year 2 (age 6 - 7)
Mini bassoon - Free Taster Lessons available	school year 3 (age 7-8)
Flute, Clarinet, Oboe - Free Taster Lessons available	school year 4 (age 8-9)
Bassoon, Alto Saxophone - Free Taster Lessons available	school year 5 (age 9 - 10)
Tenor Saxophone - Free Taster Lessons available	school year 7
*** We advise that Brass and Woodwind Instruments should only be considered when front adult teeth are firmly established. Consideration should also be given to the age and size of the child. Brass and Woodwind instruments (except Recorder) are not usually appropriate until the child is nine years old. If in doubt, please contact the EASS office for advice. If you choose a brass instrument, our Brass Co-ordinator will assess your child as to the suitability of choice before lessons begin.

 

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COST OF LESSONS - click here

FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT THE

EASS OFFICE

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