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A group of students playing music and having fun

South West Music School: inspiring excellence in music

Helping young musicians from the South West of England to broaden their horizons.

Accessible | Innovative | Creative | Empowering

Reach your full potential through music.


Interested in joining South West Music School?

Applications for 2025-26 are now open!

A guitar student talking with a tutor looking at pedals
Are you aged 8–19 yrs and have a passion for music?

Four wind students playing music together
Click below to find out more!

Latest news and events
at SWMS.

What our students
and parents say
about us.

“SWMS has really helped me to develop my confidence in performance, both through the residentials and workshops. It’s so great to work with other like-minded young musicians from across the South West and everyone is so lovely!”

Flute, Advancing Programme Student

“At SWMS, I have been able to grow my musical passion, experience live performance in a professional setting and make new friends along the way. I’ve been in touch with many of the other musicians from SWMS on the outside and have loved forming bands and close relationships with them. Learning to improvise and create music with others on the spot has opened so many doors for me and I would have never had the opportunity to play with such amazing musicians if it hadn’t been for SWMS.”

Drums & Piano, Advancing Programme Student

“South West Music School has significantly helped my musical and performance skills and confidence. It has provided me with the amazing opportunity to collaborate with other musicians – which is so helpful in that my secondary school hasn’t offered music for the past three years (I was unable to choose GCSE music as a subject). SWMS it has provided me with 1 to 1 mentorship, and access to music lessons, these help guide me as a musician and open up new opportunities for me in the future.”

Piano & Voice, Songwriting Programme

“I just wanted to send my own email thanking you and all of the SWMS tutors for their support and guidance over the years. 

There are so many influences and lessons that I will take forward to my undergrad studies and beyond, and I owe a LOT to SWMS for making this possible for me.” (currently studying at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire)

Voice, recent graduate

a young musician accompanying a vocal student on the piano

An older student helping a younger student to work out a song on a piano

Funding & Grant Eligibility

We offer each student an individual programme of study. Click here to find more about our costs and financial support.

A group of students at a south west music school course, smiling and sat on a bench

Supported by:

A logo of the Department for Education
Exeter and District Classical Music Trust