Kirklees Music School (KMS) Frequently Asked Questions…
Kirklees Music School office details
9 Beast Market
Huddersfield
HD1 1QF
Monday - Friday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm. Opening times in the school holidays may vary – please check termly KMS newsletters/website for details.
Tel: 01484 426426
Fax: 01484 480490
Email: enquiries@kirkleesmusicschool.org.uk
What is the application process?
Where and when will lessons take place?
How many lessons will I/my child receive?
Is it possible for adults to have lessons?
Is it possible for adults to attend Music Centre?
Do I need to buy any music books/additional accessories?
How do I find out about my child’s progress?
I/my child already receive lessons but would like to change the lesson option. How can I do this?
My child is transferring schools. What will happen?
My child is leaving high school/college at the end of the academic year. What will happen?
Is there any help for families in receipt of benefits?
Are there any groups or ensembles my child can attend?
My child does not have lessons with Kirklees Music School. Can they join a Music Centre ensemble?
How can I cancel lessons and/or Music Centre membership?
What happens if I/my child does not receive the guaranteed minimum of 30 lessons?
What happens if the teacher is ill?
What happens if the teacher is ill long term?
How do I make a complaint to Kirklees Music School?
What do I/my child need for the first lesson?
I/my child is having lessons but would like to learn another instrument. Is that possible?
Tuition is available for a wide range of instruments, including:
Woodwind – Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Recorder.
Brass – Trumpet, Cornet, Tenor Horn, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Euphonium, Tuba.
Strings – Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass.
Guitar – Classical Guitar (nylon strung), Electric Guitar (yr 6 ), Bass Guitar (yr 6 ), Acoustic Guitar (steel strung, yr6 ).
Piano and Electric Keyboard.
Percussion – Snare Drum, Drum Kit, Tuned Percussion.
Voice (Yr 7 ).
Instruments shown above in italics are classed as ‘minority instruments’ – tuition on these instruments is available at a reduced rate. Please download one of our minority instrument lesson booking forms for current prices and lesson options or call the KMS office.
What is the application process?
There are different forms for different lesson types so please make sure that you complete the appropriate form.
Return the completed form to the KMS office.
If lessons are not immediately available you will be added to our waiting list and contacted when there is a space.
Where and when will lessons take place?
For school age children attending Local Authority (Kirklees) Schools lessons take place in school and during school hours where possible.
In high schools, KMS staff will where possible try to teach pupils on a rota basis to avoid missing the same class every week.
There are also ‘Central Classes’ where lessons are taught outside of school hours. These are based at our Music Centres or other agreed venues. If you would like to apply for Central Classes please mark this on your lesson booking form or call the KMS office for more details.
For children who attend non-Kirklees schools or schools/colleges that do not make provision for KMS tutors to visit, lessons would have to take place at a Central Class.
KMS is unable to organise lessons at the student’s home.
How many lessons will I/my child receive?
KMS aim to deliver 33 lessons per academic year, with a guaranteed minimum of 30.
My child appears on the school register for Special Educational Needs - is it possible to have lessons?
Yes. Music can be a way of engaging with students with Special Educational Needs whilst developing confidence and self-esteem. Please indicate this where requested on the booking form and you may wish to write some further details on the booking form which the teacher will be made aware of.
Is it possible for adults to have lessons?
Adults are welcome to apply for lessons. Adult prices apply to all pupils who have completed school year 13, or those who have left year 11 and are no longer in full time education. Adults are taught outside of school hours at one of our ‘Central Classes’ which are based at local Music Centres, schools or other agreed venues. Please download the adult booking form from our website for details of lesson options and prices or contact the KMS office.
Is it possible for adults to attend Music Centre?
Adults are welcome to attend Music Centre Ensembles. Please refer to the website for Music Centre details. Prices can be viewed by downloading the Music Centre Registration Form from our website.
An invoice for fees once we know that lessons are to start will be sent to you in the post. There are a few different ways to pay:
Cash – please bring cash directly to the KMS office. DO NOT SEND CASH IN THE POST.
Credit/debit card – payment can be made online via the KMS website (www.kirkleesmusicschool.org.uk), at the KMS office or over the telephone on 01484 426426.
Cheque – made payable to ‘Kirklees Music School’ and sent to the KMS office.
Direct Debit – you will need to request an application form from the KMS office. Payment is made in three monthly instalments per term. Direct Debits can only be set up if the form is submitted before the start of a new term.
Please do not make payments directly to tutors as all monies have to be processed by the KMS office.
When first starting lessons it is not always necessary to buy an instrument. KMS and its’ Music Centres have a small stock of instruments which can be loaned to pupils on a first-come-first-served basis. There is a small administration fee for the loan, and parents are responsible for the care and maintenance/servicing of instruments and any fees this may incur. Loans may last as long as a pupil is receiving tuition for that instrument with KMS. Please email instruments@kirkleesmusicschool.org.uk if you require further information.
Please note KMS do not loan Electric, Classical, Bass or Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards, Pianos or Percussion Instruments.
It is useful to know that Violins, Violas, Double Basses, Cellos and Guitars are available in different sizes so they are proportionally correct for smaller or younger children.
Instruments are also available on loan from some music shops.
Do I need to buy any music books/additional accessories?
You will be expected to buy music books and any additional accessories (ie valve oil for brass instruments, reeds for woodwind instruments, drumsticks for percussion instrument and rosin for stringed instruments etc). Tutors will write down the titles of books you will need to purchase in your child’s Practice Diary. Books and sheet music cannot be purchased or borrowed from KMS.
How do I find out about my child’s progress?
Practice Diaries – these are issued when your child starts lessons. Students are issued with a new Practice diary at the start of every academic year. The Practice Diary is used to record week by week progress. The tutor may also write notes to you in the Practice Diary or the titles of books/additional accessories you will need to purchase.
Annual Reports – you will receive a progress report at the end of each academic year.
What happens if I choose Option A or Option B lessons but there are no pupils to share the lessons with?
Option A pupils will receive group lessons of 2 for 20 minutes or 3 for 30 minutes where possible. Option B pupils should receive shared lessons of 2 for 30 minutes or an individual lesson of 15 minutes. Where lesson sharing is not viable or the gap between pupils’ ability would mean that sharing lessons would not be beneficial for all parties concerned, Option A pupils will receive 10 minute individual lessons and Option B pupils will receive 15 minute individual lessons.
I/my child already receive lessons but would like to change the lesson option. How can I do this?
Please download a Lesson Booking Form from this website for details of lesson option packages.
If you would like to change to a shorter lesson or choose a lower priced option, please contact the KMS office and your requested change would probably take effect from the start of the following term.
If you would like to change to a higher priced option, you will need to complete a Lesson Booking Form. The tutor will contact you when they are able to accommodate the change.
My child is transferring schools. What will happen?
Pupils transferring schools at the end of the academic year will automatically be timetabled for lessons at their new school unless you write to KMS giving notice to cancel lessons. Please see your Terms and Conditions for details of the cancellation procedure or refer to the FAQ ‘How can I cancel lessons and/or Music Centre membership?’
If moving to a non-Kirklees school or a school/college that does not make provision for KMS tutors to visit, lessons have to take place at a Central Class. Pupils at non-Kirklees schools/colleges will be charged at a different rate (please see Lesson Booking Forms on our website for details).
My child is leaving high school/college at the end of the academic year. What will happen?
Lessons will be timetabled at one of our Central Classes unless KMS receive written notice of cancellation (please see the FAQ ‘How can I cancel lessons and/or Music Centre membership?’ for more information on KMS’s cancellation procedure).
Is there any help for families in receipt of benefits?
Kirklees Priority Passport holders are entitled to discounts on both lessons and Music Centre Membership fees (please note we do not accept Kirklees Access Passports):
£20.00 discount per term for ‘minority instrument’ lessons.
£30.00 discount per term on all other lessons.
Free Music Centre Membership for pupils who also have lessons with KMS.
1/2 price Music Centre Membership for pupils who do not have lessons with KMS.
To apply for a Kirklees Priority Passport or to find out more please call 01484 234056 or visit www.kirklees.gov.uk/passport
Are there any groups or ensembles my child can attend?
There are 7 regional Music Centres that rehearse on a weekly basis during term time. There are lots of different groups for musicians of all abilities. Your child’s tutor will let them know when they are ready to join; this is usually within the first year of lessons. From an early stage playing in an ensemble, band or other musical group is a vital part of the music education process.
Please visit the ‘Music Centres’ and ‘Central Ensembles’ areas of our website for a list of Music Centre locations, groups and rehearsal times.
If you/your child join a Music Centre group, you will need to complete a Music Centre Registration Form which can be downloaded from our website.
My child does not have lessons with Kirklees Music School. Can they join a Music Centre ensemble?
YES! You do not have to be receiving lessons with KMS to join our Music Centre - the more the merrier! Please visit the ‘Music Centres’ and ‘Central Ensembles’ area of our website for a list of Music Centre locations, groups and rehearsal times. Everyone who attends a Music Centre group will need to complete the Music Centre Registration Form which can be downloaded from our website.
How can I cancel lessons and/or Music Centre membership?
Please make sure you include the following information in cancellation correspondence:
Name of child.
School/centre where lessons take place.
Details of lessons being cancelled, and/or if attending Music Centre, which ensembles you will/will not continue to attend.
Your Payer Reference.
Details of KMS loan instrument (where applicable).
To Cancel Music Centre Membership
Notice is not required to cancel Music Centre Membership however you will need to inform the KMS office.
To Cancel Lessons
If you are offered the chance to start lessons but no longer want them, please contact the KMS office immediately. The office must be notified before the lessons are due to start otherwise fees will be charged.
Once lessons have started, a pupil can only withdraw from lessons at the end of a term.
Advanced written notice of cancellation must be sent directly to the KMS office (i.e. a letter, fax or email). The KMS office will not accept a telephone call as notice of cancellation. Replies will not be sent to letters unless a stamped address envelope is enclosed.
Written notice must be received at the KMS office by:
1 November to terminate lessons at the end of the Autumn Term (December).
15 February to terminate lessons at the end of the Spring Term (March).
1 June to terminate lessons at the end of the Summer Term (July).
If written notice is not received before these dates, but is given before the end of the relevant term, a fee in lieu of notice of 35% of the fee for the full term will be charged. Payment of this fee does not entitle the pupil to any further lessons. Please note that once a new term has started then full payment for that term is required.
Important Information for GCSE and A-Level Students
It is possible for pupils in years 11 and 13, when taking GCSE or A-Level examinations, to finish or suspend tuition at the Summer half term break. Advanced written notice of cancellation must be received at the KMS office by 15 February, and a maximum of 27 lessons will be available during the academic year, with 25 lessons as the guaranteed minimum available. It must be made clear in the letter/email/fax if the pupil intends to resume lessons at the beginning of the Autumn term.
PLEASE NOTE: Unless written notice is received by 15 February, it will be assumed that pupils wish to continue with lessons for the full Summer term.
What happens if I/my child does not receive the guaranteed minimum of 30 lessons?
All the registers are collected into the KMS office in the Summer holidays and if the teacher has not been available to deliver the guaranteed minimum of 30 lessons (or proportion of depending on how many terms the student has been charged for), a credit will be placed on your account in the Summer holidays. This will then appear on your Autumn Term’s invoice.
What happens if the teacher is ill?
If lessons take place in school and your teacher is ill, the KMS office will contact each school on that morning concerned to ask them to pass a message onto the students to inform them the teacher is ill. If lessons take place at a central class, every effort will be made to contact you/leave a message on your home or mobile telephone. Please note this will not be counted as part of your guaranteed minimum of 30 lessons.
What happens if the teacher is ill long term?
If a teacher is absent from work long term, KMS will try to arrange for a cover teacher. If this is the case, details of this will be sent to you in writing.
How do I make a complaint to Kirklees Music School?
If you wish to make a complaint, this must be made in writing by post to the KMS address or by emailing enquiries@kirkleesmusicschool.org.uk. This will then be looked into by the relevant Assistant Principal and a response issued to you.
What do I/my child need for the first lesson?
It is not essential to have an instrument, equipment or any music books for your first lesson. New pupils will be issued with a Practice Diary and the teacher will be able to answer any questions they may have. Books and an instrument will be needed for the next lesson, and the teacher will advise you of what to purchase via the Practice Diary.
Most instruments are suitable for all ages. If your child started lessons and the instrument they had chosen to learn was unsuitable, the teacher would advise you of an appropriate alternative.
Please see How can I get an instrument? for details of KMS loan instruments.
I/my child would like to learn to play an instrument but don’t know which to choose. What should I do?
The first thing to decide will be which family of instruments you/your child is interested in. KMS teachers are able to offer tuition in the following families:
Brass, Guitar (Classical Guitar/Ukulele), Woodwind, Percussion, Upper Strings (Violin/Viola), Lower Strings (Cello/Double Bass), Music Technology (Electric Guitar/Electric Bass/Acoustic Guitar) and Voice – please refer to the instruments section of the website for further information.
You can watch musicians by searching online video sharing websites and this should help you identify the different qualities of these instruments.
Most instruments are suitable for all ages. If your child started lessons and the instrument they had chosen to learn was unsuitable, the teacher would advise you of an appropriate alternative.
KMS are unable to offer taster sessions or allow pupils to test instruments for hygiene reasons.
I/my child is having lessons but would like to learn another instrument. Is that possible?
Yes! You can apply for tuition in as many different instruments as you like. You will receive separate lessons for each instrument with a specialist teacher.
If you would like to change instrument (i.e. you would like to stop receiving tuition for one instrument and start tuition in another), you will have to give written notice to cancel your current tuition as per KMS’s terms and conditions, and submit a new lesson booking form for the new lessons you would like.
Please note that it may not be possible to swap immediately as you may need a different teacher for the new tuition. If you are changing to an instrument in the same family and therefore will stay with the same teacher (e.g. from a Trombone to a Cornet, or an Electric Keyboard to Piano) an immediate change should be possible providing the KMS office is informed.