Saturday School

IMPORTANT NOTICE
It is with great sadness that in the summer of 2025, the Trustees took the extremely difficult decision for HYOT not to continue operating due to lack of necessary funding. The Charity is currently undergoing the process of closure. For any information, please do not hesitate to contact us on music@hyot.org.uk.

Hackney Youth Orchestras Trust’s Saturday Music School is open to children and young people aged 5 to 21 years and offers high-quality, accessible and internationally influenced tuition that they can enjoy via individual and group musical experiences as part of a holistic programme of study. Saturday School takes place at St Matthias Primary School, Wordsworth Road, London N16 8DD.

Many of our students take ABRSM and Trinity College London exams.

Students can register for the ‘Solo’ package which includes individual tuition plus group activities (Tutti) or they can register for group activities only (Tutti, Avanti!, Quartet, Online Theory). We offer the following individual tuition (instruments with an asterisk may not be currently timetabled but we might still be able to offer lessons):

  • Strings – violin; viola; cello; double bass*
  • Wind – clarinet; flute; oboe*; recorder
  • Brass – French horn*; trumpet*
  • Percussion
  • Piano
  • Singing

For students who do not have their own instrument, we offer instrument hire from our own collection.

Tuition Options (details are below):

Solo

Tutti

Avanti!

Quartet (new – depending on take-up)

Online Theory Club (new – depending on take-up)

  • All fees quoted are per term and correspond to ten teaching weeks.
  • Concessions are for families on a low income and/or on benefits (contact us for details).
  • Sibling discount: £40 off termly fees for 2nd child upwards.

‘Quartet’ violin group tuition
(4 students in a group)

Group tuition for primary school children in a group of 4, all beginners learning the violin. Termly fees are £210 (full), £100 (concession).

This is a new offer, so contact us at music@hyot.org.uk for details.

‘Online Theory Club’
for grades 0 to 5 – during the week (not on Saturdays)

Online group tuition in music theory. Suitable for all learners of grades 0 to 5. Lessons take place online during the week (not on a Saturday). Termly fees are £75 (full), £45 (concession).

This is a new offer, so contact us at music@hyot.org.uk for details.

Solo

Individual and group tuition for 7 to 21 year olds:

  • individual instrumental or vocal tuition, and
  • minimum two and maximum four Tutti classes (see list of Tutti classes below)

Individual lesson 30 minutes: £345 full fee, £173 concessions
Individual lesson 45 minutes: £440 full fee, £220 concessions
(The above fees include individual and group tuition)

Tutti

Group tuition for 7 to 21 year olds: any of the Tutti classes

  • One class: £135 full fee, £68 concessions
  • Two classes: £220 full fee, £110 concessions
  • Three or more classes: £295 full fee, £148 concessions

The Tutti classes are (click HERE for timetable of these classes):

  • Primary Ensemble – Mixed instruments (Grades 0 to 1)
  • Junior Orchestra (Grades 1 to 4)
  • Theory and Aural Basics (Grades 0 to 1)
  • Theory and Aural Essentials (Grades 2 to 3)
  • Theory & Aural Advanced (Grades 4 to 5)
  • Aural (Grades 6 to 8)
  • Vocal Ensemble

The repertoire in orchestras, instrumental and vocal ensembles is drawn from a variety of periods and styles, reflecting the diversity of music and composers. 

Avanti!

Avanti! is group tuition (recorder, singing, theory/musicianship) for 5 to 7 year olds. For the timetable, click HERE.

Each week for 30 sessions per year, students take part in:

  • 30 minutes Recorder group, and
  • 50 minutes Singing and Musicianship classes

Fees per term are:

  • Full fee £230
  • Concessionary fee £115