Information about Music, Drama & Dance lessons

How much do lessons cost?
Performing Arts lessons (music, drama and dance) cost £324 + VAT per term in the academic year 2024-25.This is based on an average of 9 lessons per term. In reality, pupils are likely to receive more that this in the (longer) Michaelmas term and fewer in the (shorter) summer term. In the event of a pupil not receiving 27 lessons over the course of a full academic year, an adjustment will be made to the final summer bill. It is important that you read and understand the school procedure on missed music lessons.
If a pupil uses a school instrument rather than their own you will be charged £40.00 per term for instrument hire.

Where do lessons take place?
All lessons take place within the Performing Arts Centre, also known as the O’Flaherty Music School.

Lesson times – where to find them
All lessons are shown in the SOCS School App for pupils. This will be explained to your child in their induction.
Fixed Lessons: Pupils in the Sixth Form are offered a fixed time for their music lesson which avoids all academic lessons. Fixed lessons may, in exceptional circumstances, also be offered to pupils in other years where it is clear that this is necessary.
Other Lessons: For the majority of pupils in First to Fifth Form, the time of a music lesson with a particular teacher will change every week. This is done to avoid missing the same academic lesson too often and we work closely with tutors to ensure that the system is as fair as possible. Timetables are published every Friday afternoon for the following week, and pupils can find their lesson times on the Music noticeboards, in House and on SOCS. These will be explained in more details once you’ve joined the school. Timetables are also posted on the Parent Portal of the website every Friday for the following week. Music Department and House staff are all glad to help pupils with their music timetables.

What happens if a pupil can’t make a lesson?

It’s important that the Performing Arts Department knows as soon as possible. We can try and re-arrange things if we know beforehand, but it must be at least 48 hours in advance.

A CHARGE WILL BE MADE FOR ALL LESSONS (music, drama & dance) MISSED WITHOUT A VALID REASON and WITH LESS THAN 48HRS NOTICE

Practice times, including smart card access
The Performing Arts Centre is protected by a series of electronic locks and each pupil taking music lessons will be asked to sign a contract of responsible use before being issued with a smart card giving them access to the building as appropriate. The first smart card issued is free but, in the event of a smart card being lost, replacements are charged at £10 to cover the cost of the smart card.
Pupils are able to access the building at the following times:

Monday to Friday 07.00 – 21.00
Saturday 07.00 – 18.00
Sunday 11.30 – 18.00

There is no formal booking system for the practice rooms; if it is not in use by a teacher or another pupil then you are able to use it. Pianists are also able to use the piano in the Theatre and the Gasquet Hall.

Stopping music lessons
Please note for each of Music, Dance and LAMDA lessons: by signing up, these will continue for the duration of their time at Downside, unless notice is given. Requests to stop lessons must be submitted in writing: music@downside.co.uk The notice period is a term (9 lessons) from the date that notice is received. Fees will be charged in lieu of notice. This is in accordance with the terms and conditions of music lessons as given on the on-line Performing Arts Lessons Request Form. Please note that you are required to give a term’s notice to discontinue any activity charged for as supplemental. Failure to provide the required notice will result in you having to pay the charge regardless. This is because we have to give appropriate notice to the respective teacher, and continue to pay them throughout the notice period.