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Questors Young Musicians Club

Homepage > Classes > Instrumental Tuition

Instrumental Tuition

For Children of six years and older we offer the following lessons:

For older children we offer following lessons which may be started as the child reaches an appropriate age:

Instruments taught at QYMC

This is a list (not quite complete yet) of the instruments that are taught at QYMC, with a brief description of each one. We've tried to pick out any special requirements that should be taken into consideration if you are thinking of learning the instrument.

The violin is the smallest of the stringed instruments offered at QYMC. Although one of the slower instruments to get started on, it is equally suitable for the youngest beginners at QYMC (age six and upwards) and the oldest. Once the basics have been mastered it is a very rewarding instrument to play and we run a junior string ensemble for violin and cello pupils of approximately grade 1 - 3.

The violin is one of the instruments offered in our taster classes.

Violins suitable for beginners start at about £50, and we have a some violins which can be hired for a modest fee. If we do not have a suitable instrument we can give details of commercial hire schemes.

The 'cello is a large stringed instrument, played in a sitting position with the instrument between the legs. It is tuned several octaves lower than the violin, and there are many similarities between the two. The cello is a very mellow instrument and is suitable for beginners of all ages at QYMC.

The 'cello is one of the instruments offered in our taster classes.

'Cellos suitable for beginners start at about £100, (second hand) and we have a some 'cellos which can be hired for a modest fee. If we do not have a suitable instrument we can give details of commercial hire schemes.

This is one of the most versatile and useful instruments to be able to play. The piano is a member of the percussion family, and combines melody, harmony and accompaniment on one instrument, making it equally suited to solo or ensemble playing.

We recommend that you have access to a piano at home for regular practice. An electronic keyboard can be a cheap stop-gap, but should be replaced by a real piano (or digital piano) after the first term or two. Electronic keyboards are not suitable after this, as the weighting of the keys and the sensitivity of the keyboard and pedals are very different.

New pianos are very expensive (£2,000+), and it may be a good idea to try and find a second hand piano. When looking for a second hand piano, prices and quality vary wildly, so try to take along someone with a good knowledge of the instrument. Always try an instrument before you buy it. Pianos are very big and heavy instruments, so digital pianos (Clavinovas) are often a good idea. A digital piano will cost from about £700, and will take up not much more room than a standard electronic keyboard.

This is one of the most popular instruments of the brass family. Usually used as a melody instrument, it is equally well suited to playing jazz, pop or classical music. It is not appropriate for children who do not yet have their adult front teeth.

A starter level trumpet will cost about £120. There are good value instrument hire schemes offered by music shops, which are excellent for beginners.

This is a brass instrument, very similar to the trumpet, but slightly smaller and more often used in jazz or band playing. As with all brass instruments, children must have their front teeth before they start learning this instrument.

A starter level cornet will cost about £120. There are good value instrument hire schemes offered by music shops, which are excellent for beginners.

Percussion is ideal for young beginners. Untuned percussion instruments (for example drums) are fun to play, and allow children to develop a good sense of rhythm and group awareness when playing: these are two of the most important skills in music. Tuned percussion (for example the xylophone) is also excellent for developing skills in melody and harmony.

Percussion is offered in our taster classes.

Percussion covers many instruments, and it is unnecessary for pupils to buy or hire all the instruments they encounter. More usually we would suggest that pupils buy a rubber practice pad and set of sticks, which should cost under £20.

The recorder is a member of the woodwind family, and is one of the most popular instruments for beginners. The recorder groups at QYMC are always popular classes, and it is a good instrument for ensemble playing (our beginner ensemble recently won first prize in the Ealing Music Festival). QYMC encourages pupils to play the full family of recorders and we also have an advanced ensemble.

The recorder is one of the instruments offered in our taster classes.

Recorders are popular instruments and descant recorders are available very cheaply. Although you often find recorders for sale in toy departments, etc. you should go to a music shop and pay about £8 - £15 for a plastic descant as there is an enormous difference in quality in these intruments. A more advanced recorder student should look at paying £100 upwards for a handmade wooden recorder.

Any information given regarding prices of instruments is offered as a guide only. In order to learn an instrument you will from time to time need to buy for example tutor books, sheet music and consumables. Your child's teacher will advise you of what you need to purchase or make the purchases on your behalf if this is more appropriate.