Lessons
The Music Centre offers individual lessons by accredited teachers from beginner to advanced levels. Lessons are available in:
- all orchestral and band instruments
- bagpipes
- clarsach
- guitar
- harpsichord
- organ
- percussion
- piano
- recorder
- voice
- conducting and musical directing.
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Lessons cost:
- £16.50 for 30 minutes
- £33 for one hour.
Everyone taking tuition must also be a Music Centre member and pay the appropriate membership fee.
The first lesson is an opportunity for student and teacher to meet and to decide whether they wish to continue. Payment is due after the first lesson, either for just one lesson if you don't want to continue, or for the whole semester if you do.
Fees should be paid online. In exceptional circumstances, the Music Centre can also accept debit and credit cards (in person and by phone), cheques made payable to University of St Andrews, and cash.
In 2019-2020, there are 9 music tuition weeks in Semester 1 and 11 weeks in Semester 2. The Music Centre can sometimes accommodate more lessons after the end of Semester 2 (for schoolchildren and people who live in St Andrew year-round, for example). If you are interested in this, please speak to your teacher in the first instance.
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There are two ways in which University of St Andrews students can obtain help with music lesson costs: scholarships and the Hebdomadar's Music Fund. Full details are in the scholarships and bursaries leaflet (PDF) .
In most cases, awards are made at the beginning of the academic year following competitive auditions at the start of the semester. They are open to any current student at the University, with the exception of vocal scholarships which are not open to first-year students.
Students who wish to apply should come to the Music Centre office during Orientation Week to book a convenient audition time.
No student will be awarded more than one scholarship in any one discipline (i.e. singing or one particular instrument).
Recipients of music scholarships are required to join the Music Centre.
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All music scholarship recipients are required to join the Music Centre. Further information is available in the Music Centre's scholarships and bursaries leaflet (PDF) .
St Salvator's Chapel Choir
A choral scholarship with St Salvator's Chapel Choir is one of the most prestigious musical opportunities available at the University of St Andrews. Every member of the choir holds a scholarship and is required to sing in two or three services every week during teaching time. The choir also sings at graduations, tours internationally, records CDs, makes radio and TV broadcasts, and works with eminent musicians such as Dame Emma Kirkby and Peter Harvey.
The scholarship covers the full cost of singing tuition at the Music Centre, as well as participation in the choir's activities.
St Leonard's Chapel Choir
A number of scholarships are available for members of St Leonard's Chapel Choir. These cover the full cost of singing tuition at the Music Centre.
Organ scholarships
Up to three organ scholarships are awarded each year. Organ scholars accompany either St Leonard's or St Salvator's Chapel Choir.
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Awards from the Hebdomadar's Music Fund are based on financial need and cover half the cost of music lessons for that year. Financial need is reviewed and assessed by Student Services, not the Music Centre, and is treated in absolute confidence.
There is no audition for the Hebdomadar's Awards: selection is by an application form. The deadline for applications is 4pm on the Wednesday of Week 1.
The Hebdomadar's Music Fund is supported from a number of individuals and groups, including the Kate Kennedy Club.
Further information is available in the Music Centre's scholarships and bursaries leaflet (PDF) .
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Dates for music teaching in 2019-2020 are as follows:
Semester 2 (11 tuition weeks)
Monday 27 January to Friday 13 March 2020 (7 weeks)
(No lessons during spring vacation: Monday 16 March to Friday 27 March 2020)
Monday 30 March to Friday 24 April 2020 (4 weeks)
Lessons and ensembles continue as normal on Good Friday (10 April) and Easter Monday (13 April).
Post-semester
In some cases, it may be possible to continue lessons after the end of the standard teaching block, for example for schoolchildren or people who live in St Andrews year-round. Please speak to your teacher in the first instance if you are interested.
Musical classes
The Music Centre also offers group classes for beginners in bagpipes, conducting, and guitar if there is sufficient demand.
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Would you like to learn the bagpipes? The Music Centre offers group tuition to beginners with the Associate Teacher of Piping.
Please contact the office by emailing music@st-andrews.ac.uk if you are interested. Classes will only run if there is sufficient interest, and pricing will be dependent on the number of students.
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Workshops in conducting and directing for beginners are held twice each semester.
For those with some skills already and who may be conducting an ensemble or choir, one-on-one sessions are available.
Anyone interested in developing conducting skills should contact Bede Williams by emailing bw23@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Sian Edwards, Honorary Professor of Conducting, directs conducting short courses in St Andrews each year.
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Subject to demand, the Music Centre offers beginner's classes in guitar for children, students and adults. Please register your interest by emailing music@st-andrews.ac.uk. Prices will be dependent on student numbers.