About Us
Who are we?
South West Music School is more than just a charity—we’re a vibrant community that nurtures young musicians across the region. We provide a flexible, high-quality music education beyond the classroom, ensuring every young talent, regardless of location, can thrive.
Through workshops, mentoring, and residential activities, we bring musicians together, helping families navigate the challenges of rural and coastal isolation. Our supportive network fosters creativity, connection, and growth, making every student feel part of a musical family.
Open to young musicians aged 8 to 19, our programme offers expert instrumental tuition, mentorship, and musical development. Thanks to the DfE Music and Dance Scheme, financial support is available for those from lower-income backgrounds, ensuring accessibility for all.
We deliver a flexible range of online and in-person activities across the region, we break barriers so that talent—not geography—defines opportunity. Join us and be part of something bigger—a music community that inspires, supports, and celebrates every young musician.
You can find some of our alumni stories here:
You can find out more about our staff team and trustees here:
Where are we based?
Our dedicated team of staff, tutors, and mentors is spread across the entire South West, from the northernmost part of Gloucestershire to the southern tip of Cornwall. This wide reach allows us to support young musicians wherever they are.
We host our workshops and residential courses in top-tier specialist venues, including state-of-the-art university music departments, prestigious private boarding schools, and professional recording studios. These diverse settings allow us to accommodate various group sizes and musical specialisms, ensuring every student gets the best possible experience.
To enhance accessibility, we also offer online workshops and one-to-one mentoring sessions, providing flexible support for our musicians.
Most of our weekend workshops take place in central locations within the region. For older students traveling by train, we encourage environmentally responsible travel where safe and practical. To make the journey easier, we offer secure transfers to and from local train stations, ensuring students arrive safely and ready to make music.
How much does it cost?
We work with families to ensure the right fit for ability, age, interests, and budget. Whether you are looking to sign up for a full year of activities or a single consultancy mentoring session or workshop, we are here to help. Click on the button below and get in touch today to discuss further.
Means-tested grants from the Department for Education’s Music & Dance Scheme can cover 100% of our fees and even support additional music-related costs like instrumental tuition, instrument repairs, and music exams.
