Frequently Asked Questions

This document is intended to help families to understand more about how the Tri-borough Music Hub works, covering:

• Tuition 
• Applying 
• Performances 
• Cancelling 
• Fees / Payment / Remissions 
• Other 

Tuition

How do I choose an appropriate instrument for my child?

This can depend on various factors; which instrument(s) your child is interested in; how old they are; and how physically developed their bodies are (e.g. for wind/brass instruments front teeth are needed).

Can I choose tuition on any instrument?

Yes, provided that instrument is available at the ensemble or centre of your choice and we have a viable number of pupils wishing to learn that instrument at the time you apply. There may also be limitations on number of instruments available at the time of application.

My child wants to join an ensemble/choir; how do I know which one is suitable?

Generally, students will need to already be learning an instrument to join an ensemble.

How about singing?

You can also sing in a choir as part of the standard package at our Saturday Music School.

How long is tuition for?

Tuition is for one academic year (i.e. pupils are committed for one full school year)

What happens at the Saturday Music School?

There is a package for all pupils which involves a small group lesson; general musicianship class; choir; instrument-family ensemble; and a creative ensemble.

Can my child have an individual lesson?

We don’t recommend individual lessons to new starters, however, you may choose to have an individual lesson for some instruments at an additional cost. It is advised that students Grade 5 and above should apply for an Individual lesson.

Can I hire an instrument?

Yes. Any child attending one of our music centres or ensembles may hire an instrument by completing a short form. Hire charges are £10 per term, with 50% remission available for eligible families. Parents are responsible for any accidental damage (but not normal wear and tear). Please note that we may not be able to lend certain uncommon or larger instruments (e.g. French horn, harp etc).

Can I watch my child’s rehearsal?

Unfortunately not. Experience has shown that children find their – or any – parent’s presence in their lesson a distraction. Depending on the activity your child is attending, you will be invited to end of term and/or Christmas and/or end of year performances where you will be able to watch and hear your child’s progress. Please see the Performances section below for more details.

How will I know how well my child is doing?

Annual end of year reports are written by each pupil’s instrumental Tutor for pupils at Keyboard Centre, Saturday Music School. These are then sent out to parents at the end of the summer term. Pupils are also given a Practice Diary, through which their instrumental teacher can communicate with you each week over the course of their lessons, with regard to what they need to practise each week and how they are progressing. Pupils in ensembles will not receive individual feedback.

Who will be teaching my child?

In addition to our core team, we have a pool of over 100 highly trained, experienced music tutors plus four Lead Instrumental Teachers, experts in teaching their instrument groups. At the first session of every academic year, there will normally be a short introductory session parents attend to go over plans for the year and health and safety, where you will be able to meet the teachers.

Applying

Where do I apply?

The application section of the website is HERE; which will take you to an online application portal.

I have submitted an application form online. When will I hear about my child’s place?

Once we have received your application, we will automatically place your child on the waiting list for their chosen centre. If your application was submitted halfway through a term, we will be in touch with you before the start of the next term to let you know if there is an available place for your child.

When can I apply for tuition in the Autumn Term (to start lessons from September)?

Applications for September will start being processed during the Summer Term. You will be contacted by the end of the summer term about your child’s place. Applications need to be received before Summer half-term in order to be considered for the Autumn Term. Late applications may be submitted, but we cannot guarantee a place for September.

How do I apply for concessions?

When completing the online application form, you will see details of the concessionary fees available. If your child is in receipt of free school meals, you are entitled to a 50% discount on tuition with the TBMH, provided you can give us a copy of their free school meals letter before the first session of tuition. There is more info in the Fees section below.

Is there a reduction for members of the same family?

Yes - if you are not already claiming the concessionary rate above, you can get a 50% on the cost of the second child for siblings attending the same tuition. More info in the Fees section below.

I live in another borough but my child attends a Tri-borough school. Can we apply for lessons?

Yes – children need to either live in the Tri-borough area or attend a Tri-borough school, but it doesn’t have to be both.

I live within the Tri-borough but my child attends school in another borough, can we apply for music lessons?

Yes – children need to either live in the Tri-borough area or attend a Tri-borough school.

Performances

What performance opportunities will be available to my child if I sign up?

Depending on what your child is attending, you will be invited to end of term and/or Christmas and/or end of year performances where you will be able to watch and hear your child’s progress. A typical year may include:

• December – end-of-term informal sharing
• December – RBKC/LBHF/WCC Christmas Festivals
• March – end-of-term informal sharing
• July – end-of-term concerts
• July – end-of-year showcase concerts

Pupils attending our provision have recently performed at the Lyric Theatre, the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal College of Music, the Royal Festival Hall and Bush Hall.

Cancellation

How and when can I cancel lessons?

You can cancel lessons by completing the online cancellation form here. However, you will still be invoiced for the remainder of that term’s lessons.

How should I return the instrument once my child stops lessons?

You can speak to the administrator for the ensemble where the lessons take place. They will let you know whether to leave the instrument with them at the centre, or will arrange a time with you to drop it off at our office at the Lyric Hammersmith.

Fees / Payment / Remissions

Do you offer concessions?

We offer concessions for pupils who have proven eligibility for Free School Meals, and for pupils who attend the same Music Hub provision as their sibling.

Remissions Policy (Accessing Discounts for TBMH Activities)

The TBMH heavily subsidises the costs of all our activities to offer value for money to families and to enable equal access. On top of these subsidised prices, families can access up to a maximum of 50% remissions off the cost of TBMH activity if they qualify within any of the following categories:  

* Free School Meals

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

* Ever 6 Free School Meals (in receipt of free school meals in the last 6 years)

* Looked After Children

* Post-Looked After Children (children who have been adopted from care or left care)

* Service Children (Ever 6 service child FTE or in receipt of pensions under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme [AFCS] or the War Pensions Scheme [WPS])

In all cases proof of entitlement will be required before provision starts. You can find out about applying for free school meals here.

Families who do not fall into the above categories can still benefit from a 50% discount for siblings attending the same activity (e.g. both siblings attend are in the same choir)

Please note only one subsidised discount can be applied per applicant, up to a maximum of 50% remissions of fees (per pupil).

Classes at the Lyric

*NOTE: All pupils attending classes which happen at the Lyric Hammersmith, MUST become Young Lyric Members, which is charged at £10 per year and provides many additional free and discounted opportunities.  More information will be sent to pupils in these ensembles about how to join the Young Lyric Membership programme, however, all pupils must register this annually. Online application is here - https://lyric.co.uk/young-lyric/membership/

Instrument Hire and Charging

• Instruments can be hired from the TBMH at a charge of £10 per term. Remissions also apply to this charge.
• Instrument hire costs will be added to the termly invoice.
• Parents/carers are invoiced each term.

Class Information

• Classes run 10 weeks each term, in term-time.
• There are often end of term concerts and other events which groups perform at.
• Pupils wishing to withdraw must do this by completing the cancellation form HERE.
• All Music Centres, Choirs, and Ensembles are delivered and run by fully qualified, DBS checked, and skilled tutors employed by the Tri-borough Music Hub (TBMH).
• Parents/carers are expected to bring/collect pupils to all rehearsals unless they have given written consent that pupils can leave on their own.
• It is essential that all up to date contact information is provided, in case of an emergency.
• Events/performances may be photographed/filmed. If you do not wish you child to be photographed/filmed then please inform the ensemble leader.

Do you offer a sibling discount?

We offer a 50% discount for the second sibling when attending the same provision (i.e. in the same choir / attending the same Saturday Music Centre). *Please note these concessions do not stack – the maximum discount is 50% per child if claiming concessions and 50% for the second child only if claiming the sibling discount.

How do I pay?

As part of the Council we use their finance systems, which are currently outsourced to Hampshire Council. This means that you will be emailed an invoice via Hampshire before the start of each term to pay for your child’s provision. These invoices will be sent from rbkc.invoicing@hants.gov.uk – we recommend you add this email address to your safe senders list after completing the online application form. Please note places are not secured until payment is made, and your child’s place will be withdrawn if you do not pay subsequent invoices promptly.

Can I pay for my child’s tuition with childcare / Kiddicare vouchers?

Unfortunately we are unable to accept these or similar vouchers as a form of payment.

Other

Do you teach adults and can they attend a Music Centre?

Adults cannot attend any of our current music centres, however we are currently looking into launching a music centre and a choir for adults in the future.

Are parents allowed to take photographs and videos at concerts?

No. At our large-scale events for our choirs, Folk Ensemble or Youth Orchestra, as well as the Christmas Festivals and Gala concert, photography and filming is not permitted under any circumstances. Parents who persist will be asked to leave. We have a professional photographer who takes photos at most events, who is aware which children are not allowed to have their picture taken and which may have photosensitive epilepsy. These photos are then available on our website for parents and schools to download for free (or purchase high-resolution versions direct from the photographer for a nominal fee). We occasionally film our events and performances and these are made available on our website for free.