Ealing Music Service (EMS) is increasing their fees for instrumental music tuition by 20% in September. We want to give our families choice about this fee increase:

• finish instrumental lessons at the end of this term in July,
• continue with EMS instrumental lessons in September with a 20% fee increase,
• switch to a new provider, TotallyRAD, save between £3.50 - £10.50* per session. Limited range of instruments - drum, guitar, piano and ukulele.

 

(*costs are not directly comparable due to differences in group size and lesson duration. Savings are our best-fit calculations and indicative only)

 

EMS require half-a-term's notice of cancellation. If you would like to cancel or switch to TotallyRAD, please tell us by Friday 23rd May, 3pm.

• Cancel, continue or switch form

Families of year 6 pupils, moving on to high schools, do not need to tell us. If there is no notification, tuition will automatically roll-over to September and parents will be liable for EMS fees.

 

Ealing Music Service says that since 2021, their charges have deliberately been kept as low as possible despite declining grant funding and increasing service delivery costs. It is for these reasons EMS says that it needs to increase charges by 20% this September. EMS promised to write to parents but I am still waiting for their letter to you.

 

We are worried that this fee increase will result in fewer pupils learning a musical instrument. 

 

TotallyRAD is a nationwide provider, offering in-school musical instrument tuition. References from other schools are positive. The current range of instruments is limited to drums, guitar, piano and ukulele. This matches our most popular instruments with the addition of ukulele and separate vocal tuition. Instruments are provided by TotallyRAD. TotallyRAD offers 4 lesson options:

• Little Legend, group of 3 tuition, 20 minutes, £7.20
• Upcoming Star, 1:2:1 tuition, 15 minutes, £12
• Chart-topper, 1:2:1 tuition, 20 minutes, £15.60
• Touring Pro, 1:2:1 tuition, 30 minutes, £22.80

We will offer ukulele and vocal tuition to all pupils once preferences for existing instruments are known.

 

Every year, some families cancel instrumental music tuition because children no longer want to learn an instrument. This year, cost of tuition is also a key decision-making factor.

 

We have tested the market several times over the last few years. So far, each time, we have remained with EMS, balancing cost, quality and security of a known local provider. Given the proposed fee increase, we now want to give parents more choice.

 

If you appreciate the known quality and want consistency of instrumental music tuition, then the EMS fee increase maybe less of a decision tipping factor. EMS also provide a much broader range of instruments, essential to the survival of our ensembles and orchestra.

 

However, if cost is a factor and you are prepared to take the risk of the ups and downs of us starting with a new provider, then switching to TotallyRAD might be your best option. Choice of instrument is also limited. Progression and more advanced opportunities, such as playing together in an ensemble are not guaranteed.  

 

For those families who want to switch to TotallyRAD, we will offer places on a first-told, first to switch basis. Much will depend on TotallyRAD's ability to meet our demand. There maybe a break in tuition between the end of EMS and start of TotallyRAD.

 

Once parents of existing instrumentalists have made their  decision, we will offer remaining places to pupils wanting to start new instruments.