Instrumental Tuition

Berkshire Maestros believe that every child can grow through music. It is not the preserve of the gifted few, but something that everyone has the right to experience. The aim of the service is to provide instrumental and vocal tuition to pupils in schools, supported by a carefully graded range of related activities designed to complement and develop skills learnt in the regular weekly lesson. A wide choice of choirs, bands, orchestras, jazz and rock groups is available at our music centres located throughout the county.

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead supports instrumental learning for its young people and its funds are used strategically to ensure that every child has the chance to learn a musical instrument.  In recent years Berkshire Maestros have developed strategies to extend equality of opportunity to children not currently involved in musical activities with the Trust. The pre- instrumental / foundation courses led by pairs of Maestros teachers and offered to whole classes of primary aged children focus on pitch, pulse and rhythm, combining music with movement and the introduction of instrumental activities.  With RBWM support Maestros can offer the following services for children attending LEA maintained schools in Windsor & Maidenhead:

· Small group tuition (two-four pupils / thirty minute lesson) on Strings, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion, Guitar, Keyboard, Voice. 
· Large group tuition (groups of seven or more pupils).
· Individual tuition, generally for intermediate / advanced pupils, on all of the above.
· A three term beginner rate for new pupils; £67 per pupil per term, compared to the standard rate of £83
· County Achievement Scheme, available to gifted and talented pupils by audition.
· A comprehensive range of out of school activities, including Mini Maestros, bands, choirs, orchestras, jazz and rock groups, is available to pupils from the earliest stages of learning.  These services are available at the Windsor Music Centre.
· County choirs, bands and orchestras.
· Concerts in schools given by Maestros teachers are offered to all primary, junior, infant and special schools – one concert per year.
· Festivals – schools are regularly invited to join performances promoted by Maestros at venues including Eton college and the Royal Albert Hall.
· Wider Opportunities projects – including workshops and whole class taster courses on a wide range of instruments - provided free of charge to schools

Costs

Parents are charged directly.  A generous fee remission scheme exists to ensure that no child who wants to learn is excluded through an inability to pay; families in receipt of specified state benefits receive an 85% discount on Maestros published charges.

Small group tuition £83 per pupil per term (thirty lessons per year)
Beginner Small group tuition £67 per pupil per term (thirty lessons per year)
Bands, choirs, orchestras £53.50 per pupil per term for one-hour session
Bands, choirs, orchestras £80 per pupil per term for longer sessions

David Marcou, Principal 
E-mail: davidmarcou@berkshiremaestros.org.uk  

For more Information:

www.berkshiremaestros.org.uk (0118) 901 2370