Fees

General Information Regarding Fees for the Academic Year 2026 – 27

Please read this information carefully and contact us if you have any questions.

Lesson Cancellations

Privately organised lessons, whether delivered in school or at another private location (e.g. a pupil’s home or tutor’s studio), are subject to a minimum of 24 hours’ notice for cancellation.

Lessons organised directly with schools are subject to a minimum of 48 hours’ notice and apply only in exceptional circumstances (for example: unexpected school closures, adverse weather, power failure, urgent health and safety issues, short-notice inspections, or the illness or unavailability of key school staff preventing lessons from taking place).

Lessons cancelled with the required notice will not be charged. Lessons cancelled with less than the required notice will normally be charged in full and will not be rearranged.

Please note that school trips, sports fixtures, examinations, concerts, rehearsals, productions, educational visits, holidays, family events and other pupil commitments do not automatically exempt lessons from the cancellation policy. Where possible, requests to alter lesson times should be made in advance and will be accommodated at our discretion, subject to tutor availability.

We will always do our best to accommodate requests to alter timetables where possible, so please give us as much notice as possible if you become aware of a timetabling issue.

Lesson fees are calculated on a pro rata basis according to lesson length.

Invoices are issued in advance and are payable upon receipt.

Tuition is provided on an ongoing basis. Should you wish to cancel or pause your child’s lessons, six lessons’ written notice must be given by email. The six-lesson notice period applies regardless of attendance, and lessons falling within the notice period remain payable whether attended or not.

The six-lesson notice period comes into effect when a lesson place is accepted, as teaching time is reserved and tutors are committed from that point onwards.

Fees are reviewed annually and are generally aligned with the Musicians’ Union’s recommended teaching rates. Any fee changes will be communicated in advance.

Availability

Lesson places are subject to tutor availability and are not guaranteed upon submission of an application form.

Where a suitable place is available, we will contact you to confirm the lesson arrangements. Where no suitable place is available, pupils may be placed on a waiting list. Places are normally allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Balfour Junior School

Each 30 minute 1-1 or small group lesson costs £22.00, and there are usually 6 sessions per term (so £132.00 for the term) for the academic year 25-26.

Please note for the academic year 26-27 this charge will increase to £22.75 per 30 minute lesson.

Funded brass lessons are also being provided at Balfour Junior School. These are organised via the School Office / Music Lead and Sound Roots – please enquire at school if you wish to take advantage of this opportunity.

Napier Primary School

Funded instrumental lessons are organised via the School Office / Music Lead and Sound Roots – please enquire at school if you wish to take advantage of this opportunity.

Rochester Riverside Primary School

Saxon Way Primary School

Funded instrumental lessons are organised via the School Office / Music Lead and Sound Roots – please enquire at school if you wish to take advantage of this opportunity.

Online Lessons

Each 30 minute 1-1 online lesson costs £22.00 for the academic year 25-26.

Please note for the academic year 26-27 this charge will increase to £22.75 per 30 minute lesson.

Private Tuition

Lessons are charged at £22.00 per half hour for the academic year 25-26, and are usually only offered during term time (unless special arrangements are made to have lessons during the school holidays). As such there are usually 6 lessons per half term and fees are invoiced accordingly.

Please note for the academic year 26-27 this charge will increase to £22.75 per 30 minute lesson.

For pupils receiving lessons in their own home, to keep travel arrangements fair and consistent across all private pupils, we operate a clear travel policy:

• Tutors will travel up to 5 miles each way to a pupil’s home free of charge.

• For any mileage beyond 5 miles, travel will be charged at the Musicians’ Union rate of £0.56 per mile. Please note this may be subject to increase to reflect the Music Union’s recommended base rate.

• If the distance is not practical for the tutor, they may offer alternative arrangements, such as teaching at a suitable location of their choosing, or teaching online instead.