Music lessons for children

We are a music service in the North East covering Durham; Newcastle; Sunderland; Washington; Darlington; Gateshead; South Tyneside; North Tyneside and Northumberland.

Please complete the enquiry form if you would like your child to begin music lessons. This can be arranged as a small group lesson in School, from as little as £3 per lesson! 

There are many benefits to learning a musical instrument; not only developing and improving a child's musical ability, but also developing confidence and team skills as well as improving fine motor control which has impact on other areas of the curriculum.  Research has shown many benefits of learning a musical instrument, including increasing the capacity of your memory! 

We offer high quality instrumental music lessons for children of any age. We offer excellent qualified professional teachers and music tutors.  Our music tutors are quality assured on a regular basis.

All of the teachers and music tutors working through Musical Mates attend regular safeguarding training and have completed rigorous safeguarding checks.  They all have an enhanced CRB / DBS certificate.

Violin lessons for children
Learning the Violin can be fun and is an ideal first instrument to learn.  The Violin is a perfect way for children in Key Stage 1 to begin their instrumental music lessons. Violins come in many different sizes and most children in Year 1 and Year 2 would normally start on a eighth size violin.  By learning the violin at an early age, it is possible to transfer those skills onto other instruments in the future.  If you would like your child to have violin lessons, please complete our application form. Click here to apply

Chalumeau Clarinet lessons for children
The Chalumeau clarinet is a medieval instrument, which was created about 1620.  Musical Mates have developed a new modern version and teach it as a wider opportunity, first access to music instrument specifically, but not exclusively, to children in Year 4.  The chalumeau clarinet is an introduction to learning how to play as an ensemble and develop the skills to be able to read notation, develop composition skills and perform in front of an audience. The chalumeau clarinet is little known, although about 5000 children learn it across the country and it is the perfect instrument to learn for a year before moving onto other woodwind instruments, such as the saxophone (same fingering) and the clarinet.  By teaching the chalumeau in Year 4, there are still 2 years left for children to establish instrumental music in primary school.  If you would like your child to have Chalumeau clarinet lessons, please complete our application form. Click here to apply

Clarinet lessons for children
The clarinet is an instrument that children can make significant progress on in a short space of time. Best started in Year 5, the clarinet is easily carried to and from school and is a perfect instrument to follow on from the chalumeau clarinet.  The instruments are robust and there is a lot of good, high quality music written for the clarinet.  Most children who learn to play the clarinet in Key Stage 2 will achieve Grade 2 from the ABRSM by the time they leave primary school.  If you would like your child to have Clarinet lessons, please complete our application form. Click here to apply

Saxophone lessons for children
The Saxophone is one of the most recent instruments to be developed.  It was created by Adolf Sax, who combined brass and woodwind instruments.  The Saxophone is ideal for children to learn in Year 5 and Year 6. There is a wealth of music, in particular jazz, written for the saxophone.  Most pupils would expect to achieve ABRSM grade 2 in the 2 years that would play in primary school.  If you would like your child to have Saxophone lessons, please complete our application form. Click here to apply

Guitar lessons for children
The guitar is always a popular instrument for children of all ages.  It is usually used to provide rhythm and chord accompaniments for singers or groups and is also a good tool for song composition.  It can be played/strummed with the fingers or a plectrum.  If you would like your child to have Guitar lessons, please complete our application form. Click here to apply

Recorder lessons for children
The recorder is a cheap and accessible instrument for all pupils to learn and enjoy.  It is extremely good value. The recorder is an instrument that would be best taught in Year 3 but some schools teach it in Key Stage 1 and also Year 4.  It is an ideal instrument to teach basic notation skills; ensemble skills and lead onto clubs within school.  There are some fantastic publications available to teach the recorder and it is an instrument easily combined with violins and class percussion.  If you would like your child to have recorder lessons, please complete our application form. Click here to apply

Ukulele lessons for children
The Ukuelele has grown in popularity over the last few years.  It is an instrument that appeals to all children and is suitable for all ages in both key stages.  Children will learn not only how to play chords but also simple melodies.  With bands such as the Ukulele orchestra of Great Britain and the obvious benefits of transferring the skills to the guitar, the Ukulele is possibly the most popular instrument currently being taught.  It is also cheap and widely available in many different cool designs.  If you would like your child to have ukulele lessons, please complete our application form. Click here to apply

Drum lessons for children
The drum kit is a very popular instrument and is always over-subscribed.  Suitable for all children in KS2, the drum kit is always taught as a small group activity.  Tutors will also use practice pads and class percussion when the pupils are not actually playing on the drum kit.  Learning the Drum Kit is a great way for pupils to develop an excellent sense of rhythm and can lead on to forming bands both inside and outside of school.  Most primary schools who offer drum and guitar tuition have started to offer a club for pupils to attend and play in a Rock Band.  If you would like your child to have drum lessons, please complete our application form. Click here to apply

Brass lessons for children
There are many different types of brass instruments.  Musical Mates currently teaches the cornet; Baritone; Eb Horn; Trombone and French Horn.  Brass instruments are suited to children in Key Stage 2 and especially children in Year 5 and 6.  There are many opportunities for children to play outside of schools in Brass Bands, which are still popular in the Tyne and Wear and Durham areas.  Brass instruments are usually taught in small groups of up to 5 pupils.  If you would like your child to have brass lessons, please complete our application form. Click here to apply

Still unsure about what instrument is most appropriate for you to learn?  Read Sam's Story for more inspiration..