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Costs and payment
Find the costs for music lessons, instrument hire, and studio hire and pay online, and find out if you can get help with fees.
Help with fees
KMS bursaries
Pupil Premium and Pupil Premium Plus funding is made available in English schools to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and to close the gap between them and their peers. Kingston Music Service (KMS) does not receive Pupil Premium or Pupil Premium Plus funding.
KMS is however committed to giving every young person access to a music education and to supporting eligible young people to develop their musical talent where possible.
KMS provides a fee remission of up to 100% off KMS fees on specific provision, to those children who are eligible for free school meals. Currently children who attend a London primary school are entitled to a Universal Infant Free School Meal. This is not the same as free school meals from the Local Authority.
Who can apply
You can apply for a KMS bursary if all of the following applies:
- the child attends a Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames school
- the child is in year 3 or above
- you have an annual income of less than £16,190
- you are eligible for free school meals - i.e. you receive at least one of these benefits:
- income support
- income-based job seeker's allowance
- income-related employment and support allowance
- the guarantee element of state pension credit
- support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- child tax credit (but not working tax credit)
- working tax credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
- Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
KMS Develop Bursary
The KMS Develop Bursary is available to any child, year 3 and above, who is eligible for pupil premium. There is a specific amount of money available for these bursaries each year and they are awarded on a first come first served basis.
Successful students are offered 50% off a KMS beginner group (STARter Group, Percussion Jam or UpBeat) or 60% off 20min individual or 30min group KMS lessons for piano students in their first year of learning, plus 60% off KMS instrument hire. After their first year of learning, they are offered 60% off 20min individual or 30min group KMS lessons and ensembles.
How to apply
Once you have applied for lessons with KMS, for lessons at school or a music centre, please complete this KMS Develop Bursary application form and we will be in touch. We may contact you for further information.
Once a bursary has been granted it is the parent/guardian's responsibility to let KMS know of any changes in financial circumstance straight away. If something changes and you no longer meet the criteria for the bursary we will ask you to pay the full amount for the lessons. We reserve the right to recover any underpayment of fees.
KMS Promise Bursary
The KMS Promise Bursary is a one year programme and is available to two students per year, year 3 and above, who show notable potential in their musicianship and are eligible for pupil premium (see website). Parents apply for the award by February each year via an application form. Decisions are made via the application form, supporting statement from School Music Lead and KMS Selection Workshop, normally held in March.
Successful students are offered 100% off a STARter Group, Percussion Jam or UpBeat in their first year of learning, plus free instrument hire. Students will be allocated a mentor who will monitor progress on a regular basis to help with their development as musicians.
The Promise Bursary is for Orchestral instruments and not suitable for piano students.
How to apply
Applications for Promise Bursaries open in November each year.
Once a bursary has been granted it is the parent/guardian's responsibility to let KMS know of any changes in financial circumstance straight away. If something changes and you no longer meet the criteria for the bursary we will ask you to pay the full amount for the lessons. We reserve the right to recover any underpayment of fees.
KMS Talent Bursary
The KMS Talent Bursary is a four year programme and is available to two students per year, year 3 and above, who show great talent and potential in their musicianship and are eligible for pupil premium (see website). Parents apply for the award by February each year via an application form. Decisions are made via the application form, supporting statement from School Music Lead and KMS Selection Workshop, normally held in March.
Eligibility
Be in at least year 3, Have been learning a musical instrument for a minimum of one year, Show potential and commitment to learning, Be eligible for pupil premium grant funding (see website), Be learning with a KMS tutor in school, online or at a centre, Live in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Attend a school in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Successful students are offered 100% off a 20min individual or 30min group KMS lesson, plus free instrument hire and free KMS ensembles. Students will be allocated a mentor who will monitor progress on a regular basis to help with their development as musicians.
How to apply
Applications for Talent Bursaries open in November each year.
Once a bursary has been granted it is the parent/guardian's responsibility to let KMS know of any changes in financial circumstance straight away. If something changes and you no longer meet the criteria for the bursary we will ask you to pay the full amount for the lessons. We reserve the right to recover any underpayment of fees.
Ending bursaries
We reserve the right to withdraw students from the bursary programme if they are not regularly attending lessons or making satisfactory progress.
View the Charges, Remissions and Subsidy Policy
Friends of Kingston Music Service (FKMS)
FKMS is a charity that raises funds to support young musicians in the Royal Borough of Kingston. FKMS awards bursaries to KMS students each term. These bursaries help families with low income to continue lessons with KMS if they do not meet the criteria for the KMS Develop, Promise or Talent Bursaries.
How to apply
If you are a KMS student, have had at least one term of lessons with KMS and are struggling to afford fees, we encourage you to apply for an FKMS bursary.
Complete the FKMS Bursary form and email it to: kingstonmusicservice@kingston.gov.uk
Third-party funding
If you are struggling financially, it is also worth contacting your school to see if they have additional funds they can use to help. The following organisations may also be able to support you. You may need to apply directly or via your school.