We are dedicated to teaching music in the best way.

Congratulations! Your child’s music journey begins here.

Learning music? Music impacts our lives everyday and can improve the personal, social, academic, creative and mental wellbeing of all young people.

Leading music organisation Music Mark says that Music: 

• Boosts improvement improves learning skills fosters team working builds life skills 
• Encourages creativity
• Is for life
• Is an educational building block
• Is fun
• Is for everyone
• Encourages better behaviour 

Starting music lessons with Figo Music School (School Setting. Primary, Secondary)

Our lessons 

We offer ten lessons per term on a weekly basis with provision continuing into the next term. This reoccurs unless in the unfortunate case, we receive a parental request to stop tuition. 

For beginners, depending on the set up in your child’s school, we can offer lessons in a small group no bigger than 5, so that your child gets to start their journey with their friends and classmates – This is cheaper, more informal, and sometimes you will see each student motivated to practise more so that they can challenge their classmates! 

If starting with group lessons, there will no doubt come a point where the progress of each child will begin to accelerate at different speeds, and we’d then suggest moving to individual lessons. 

If you choose 1-1 individual lessons, we offer a minimum of 15 minutes per week. 20, 30 and 60 minute lessons are also available. When your child progresses beyond the ‘beginner’ stage and is more confident, we’d suggest increasing lessons to 30 minutes allowing them to have the greatest opportunity to develop their instrumental skills, as well as their general musicianship. 

Your child’s lessons will feature technical exercises designed to enhance their cognitive abilities, physical coordination, and muscle memory. They will also explore a diverse selection of songs/pieces, carefully chosen to be both enjoyable and slightly above their current level, inspiring them to reach new musical heights.

Some parents prefer a structured, exam-focused approach to learning, following graded books & exams through organisations like ABRSM or RockSchool (RSL). This method outlines a clear progression in any students learning, with exams that evaluate the child’s development and award certificates as milestones of achievement. It’s important to remember that graded instrument exams, though not always important, do help emphasise someones hard work and dedication and will look particular impressive on any CV in the future. 

Other parents may prefer not to follow an exam-focused approach, choosing instead to emphasise particular styles or simply the enjoyment of playing an instrument without the formality of exams. In either case, we encourage parents to share their expectations with the tutor to ensure the lessons align with their goals. You may not have a clear goal, in which case the tutor can give some options, or you may be very clear about your desires – what’s really important is that you form part of the conversation in your child’s learning, and are both supported by our staff.

Our Tutors were once young musicians too. They know all there is when it comes to practising for grades in Classical, Jazz or even Pop & Rock. Our tutors are excited to offer opportunities in Piano, Guitar and Bass lessons, either to be learnt as a stand alone instrument or to complement your singing if you wish to learn how to self accompany. We tailor our lessons to fit you and welcome a whole range of styles. Every tutor will be dedicated towards meeting your child’s learning needs, interests and aspirations.

Our tutors are DBS checked and trained to Level 2 safeguarding standards through ESCB and participate in yearly support and development training.

We take pride in our tutors, who are not only skilled educators but also positive role models. They will be supporting your child’s personal, academic, and musical growth by being fair, adaptable, enthusiastic, and attentive to their individual needs. You can also expect reliable, professional and consistent communication, typically through weekly notes on your child’s progress.

How can I help my child when it comes to learning music?

When should they practise? 

You know your child best, so perhaps a fixed spot in their daily routine is great, or maybe first thing in the morning away from the pressures of homework would be more beneficial. 

Children and teens can be protective of their ‘free’ time – time that isn’t study or practice. 

So we suggest, if there is a spare fifteen minutes of unexpected time - such as “dinner is going to be later than I thought, so why don’t you do your practice whilst your waiting?”

How long should practice last for?

A wise musician once said ‘little and often, make knowledge common’ – remember that you are trying to encourage muscle memory and development in the brain, so practise isn’t always an activity that can be ‘binged’ for hours at a time. 

Not every child will remember to practise, so it is perfectly fine to give them gentle and encouraging reminders.

What does good practice look like?

Firstly, every one of our tutors will keep an organised diary documenting your child’s progress, so you should ask to see the notes they’ve written at any time you wish. You should ask your child what they find difficult, and encourage them to spend more time on developing that skill than playing through songs they may already know really well. 

Warm ups such as ‘scales’ used by the teacher which will help your child’s muscle and brain development. A couple of scales should always be played before your child practises, even if they’re sitting down to play purely for 10 minutes of fun.

Once a student is getting more advanced and confident with a piece/song, it is then a good test to see if they can drop in from any place within the song and play on fluently without feeling the need to always go back to the very beginning when they make a small error.  

How should I best support my child? 

For parents with a musical background, we recommend patience and caution in drawing comparisons or setting expectations based on your own experiences as a child.

For those without a musical background, don’t worry! Stay curious and engaged—ask questions and encourage your child to explain what they are learning and practising. This helps you stay connected to their progress and development.

You have trusted your child’s musical development to the tutor, so use their guidance, and please don’t be afraid to ask for advice. If you feel your child can’t explain what’s been asked of them, get the tutor to repeat it; they will be more than happy to do so. Remember, they are there for your child’s development and to help them reach all their musical goals. 

If application is approved, payment is due by 19th September 2025. Please note, usually payment will be due 3 weeks before start of each term (EXCEPT TERM 1 2025). Lessons will commence no earlier than the second week back of each term.

Application here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pc-PlTPgFw5BeBRzAuOyG8g4zh8lJAbMDBPQh6F7ztU/viewform?edit_requested=true

Terms & Conditions

1.1  Applying for music lessons

Application for music lessons should be made online using the Google Form titled ‘Figo Music Lessons at Mayflower High School' Once you have received email confirmation that your child has been accepted you will be sent a link to make payment. Payment should be made in full no later than 19th September 2025 - TERM 1 ONLY. 

Please refer to 1.2 for the standard payment conditions.

1.2  Payment

Once you have received email confirmation that your child has been accepted you will be sent a link to make payment. Payment should be made in full no later than 3 weeks before the start of the term.  This agreement for tuition continues indefinitely or until the end of the notice period as defined below. Normally there will be 10 lessons per term. However, in some circumstances there may be more, or less, lessons in a term, but this will always be by arrangement and the total number of lessons per year will normally be 30.

Once you have applied for lessons Figo Music will match the student with a tutor at the school on a term by term basis. Figo Music cannot guarantee that the same tutor will be available for every term. If there are no suitable tutors or spaces available then your child will be put on a waiting list until space becomes available. Parents/Carers will be notified when this is the case.

Parents/Carers must advise Figo Music if they no longer wish their child to be on the waiting list. 

Fees will continue to be payable until the end of the term in which they are cancelled in accordance with the notice conditions detailed below.

1.3  Notice Periods & Termination

Once the Parent/Carer has registered their child for tuition they are liable for the payment of the term's tuition.

No refunds will be given and the agreement is binding and will continue until it is cancelled.

Tutors and lessons are organised on a term by term basis. If you wish to discontinue your child's lessons and terminate this agreement then you must give notice to Figo Music at least 6 weeks before the end of the current term. Notice must be given via email to figomusicschool@gmail.com - Verbal notifications or notification by any other means cannot be accepted. If notice to cancel is received after the specified dates, the Parent/Carer(s) will be required to pay the full term’s fees for the following term. If you miss the date to give notice, we can either apply the notice period for the end of the following term, and your child can continue to receive lessons, or you pay a late notice fee of 50% of the next terms tuition. We have to operate with long notice periods and late notice fees in order to ensure we have tutors in place and that they keep themselves available for the duration of the term. We understand that sometimes there maybe circumstances beyond anyone's control and that there may exceptional situations where lessons may stop, whether that be because of the Tutor, the School, the Parent/Carer(s), or the student. In such situations these will be considered by Figo Music on a case-by-case basis. Figo Music may cancel this agreement upon written notice to the parent/guardian no later than 6 weeks prior to the end of the current term.

1.4  Lesson duration

Lessons are available in 15 or 30 minute durations. For group lessons the minimum duration is 10 minutes per student eg for a 3 student group the lesson should be 30 minutes.

Lessons will take place at the school during the normal school day hours excluding lunchtimes.

1.5  Pupil Absence

It is not the responsibility of Figo Music to ensure students attend lessons, however the tutors and Figo Music will do their best to encourage high attendance levels.

The Tutor has to right to decline to teach any Student without giving a reason by providing the parent written notice at least 48 hours prior to a lesson.

Refunds will not be given for non-attendance of students.

Students are responsible for updating Tutors as to any changes within their diary/calendar.

Where events are added which affect Tutors (e.g. Non-Student Days, School trips, exams etc.) should be expressly notified to them no later than two weeks before, so that the lesson may be rearranged.

If the Tutor is not notified of an event until they arrive on the day, they will attempt to teach any students who are available as far as reasonable. There will be no further expectation on the part of Figo Music that the Tutor makes up the lesson.

Where appropriate, lessons may be taken in advance; for example in the run up to exams, or before a long scheduled absence and time taken off in lieu afterwards. Such requests are at the discretion of the Tutor and Figo Music.

1.6  Tutor Absence

Should a tutor be absent, then providing Figo Music has been given reasonable notice then they will aim to provide a cover tutor. Should it not be possible to provide a cover tutor then Figo Music will endeavour to reschedule the lesson for another time during the same term or issue a refund for the missed lesson.