Our vision is to ensure every child in Nottingham has access to high-quality, inclusive music education. Music making supports young people’s confidence, wellbeing, social interaction, and engagement with school. The longer students stay involved in musical learning, the greater these benefits.
Primary Schools
Whole Class Teaching and Follow-on
Nottingham Music Service (NMS) offers Whole 
Class Ensemble Teaching (WCET) in Year 4 and Follow-On programmes (Year 5+) at discounted rates to schools across the city. These programmes are designed to meet the expectations of the Department for Education’s National Plan for Music Education, helping schools to build strong, inclusive, sustainable music provision.
WCET gives a whole year group (almost always Year 4) the chance to learn an instrument together in a one-hour, weekly lesson. Pupils play alongside their teacher, supported by a member of NMS staff. Children learn instrument care, technique, and musical skills aligned with the Model Music Curriculum. There are exciting opportunities to perform at large-scale events such as the Great Orchestra Experiment. After Year 4, pupils can keep learning in small group or one-to-one lessons, usually in Years 5 and 6. This is a great way to make sustained progress and even work towards
music grade exams.
Curriculum Delivery
NMS can provide music curriculum support and music delivery beyond the whole-class model (where staffing is available), offering teaching for year groups other than Year 4. This can include whole class singing, tuned percussion, djembe, and more. To find out more, please email claire.nichols@nottinghammusichub.org.uk or download the information leaflet below.
Hourly Paid Provision
If you’d like something more flexible, we also offer hourly teaching. This can include small group or one-to-one instrumental or vocal lessons, choirs, ensembles, or singing assemblies.
For more information on our school offer, including packages and pricing, please download our information leaflet.
Extra-Curricular: Area Bands
NMS is proud to offer the Area Band Network—a collaborative initiative with Nottingham City primary schools to give pupils the chance to play in an ensemble and take part in exciting live performances.
From September 2026, we are introducing a new termly area band format. We have made this change to provide schools with greater flexibility, and to better align with the traditional, termly, after-school club models already familiar to schools, however we’ll also be allowing greater flexibility for the yearly subscription to continue to align with school after school clubs.
Secondary Schools
NMS works in partnership with secondary schools, colleges, and academies across Nottingham City to provide high-quality music education and enrichment. We offer a wide range of musical opportunities, from small group tuition and music technology sessions to choirs, ensembles, and city-wide performance events. Our aim is to help schools support continued musical progression beyond primary school, keeping students engaged, inspired, and developing key skills through music. Our music technology provision is delivered in partnership with Education & Bass and Noise Academy.
Hourly Paid Tuition
We offer small group (up to 6) or 1-1 instrumental vocal tuition and School choirs/ instrumental ensembles.
Education & Bass
Education & Bass deliver innovative and accessible music education, specialising in music production, DJ skills, sound design, and the wider music industry. Pathways include both accredited and non-accredited routes, such as RSL-accredited music production grades. Delivery is available in-person, online, or through a blended approach.
Noise Academy
Noise Academy specialise in empowering young people through engaging sessions in DJ skills, music production, sound engineering, and songwriting. Sessions are led by active industry professionals who aim to unlock creativity, foster confidence, and support personal and academic growth, blending creative learning with emotional and academic support, rooted in inclusion, equality, and collaboration. Lessons can be weekly during school hours, as an after-school club, or as a one-off workshop to spark creativity and explore new skills.
Prices are bespoke for these packages so please email claire.dyer@nottinghammusichub.org.uk for more information or download our leaflet.
For more information about our secondary school offer, please see the leaflet below.
SEND Schools
NMS works with SEND, PRU and SEMH schools. Bespoke to suit the individual learning styles, emotional, and physical needs of students, NMS offers instrumental tuition and experiences that can be delivered across all key stages as a whole/half class or individuals/small groups.
Our staff offer a variety of instruments, including music technology, for the students to learn and experience throughout the year, or specialise in one instrument. We also work with partner organisations, Education & Bass and Noise Academy, who specialise in teaching in these settings to suit the needs and abilities of the students across all key stages. Both organisations can provide weekly sessions or short-term interventions. See above for more information on Education & Bass, and Noise Academy.
East Midlands Inclusive Choir
A FREE inclusive choir with both online and in-person rehearsals, celebrating that everyone has their own way of sharing their voice. The Inclusive Choir is open to anyone up to age 25 and is free to join. Find out more here.
- For professional development opportunities with NMS, please see our CPD & Training page.
Instrument Hire
Instruments can be hired at £8 per instrument. Schools receiving core provision with Nottingham Music Service are entitled to a free class set of instruments. Additional class set can be hired at £110.