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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?

Funded Places for 2025-26 are still available!


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!


Catch up with our latest news on Instagram:


What our students
and parents say
about us.

“I think the Shostakovich project has been

one of the best confidence builders he has ever had,

thank you so much.” 

Piano Concerto, Parent

“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


Alumni Hall of Fame

We are so proud of our amazing students, past and present. You can find some of our alumni stories here:

Looking across fields and headlands to the river severn

Funding & Grant Eligibility

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

A view of Glastonbury Tor and surrounding fields

Please help us to support more young musicians across the South West region.

The funds we raise can break barriers so that talent – not location or means – defines opportunity.
We have three simple ways you can help fund our work:

If you shop online, you can raise donations for SWMS at no cost to you by signing up with EasyFundraising. Every time you shop with participating retailers, they’ll donate a small percentage of your spend at no extra charge. It’s an easy way to support us through your everyday purchases.

To get started, just click the button below:

You can also donate directly through Give As You Live or Just Giving.

To get started, just click on either of the buttons below:

Donate through Give as you Live Donate

Supported by:

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