Generally

Dates

There are three courses each year, starting in January, May and September. A course lasts 12 weeks. Exact dates are below.

Costs

The cost of taking the course comprises:

• Course fee (tuition) This is a fixed amount.
• Materials A variable amount
• Accommodation

Details are below. All amounts are quoted and payable in Pounds Sterling (GB pounds; £).

(Approximate equivalents of these costs in other currencies, and related notes are in information for students coming from outside Britain).

In the coming year, 2017 - 2018

Dates

• 25th September - 15th December 2017
• 8th January - 30th March 2018
• 7th May - 27th July 2018

Costs

The Course fee (tuition) for each of these is £4,750.

Materials are initially budgeted at £395. This is the average cost of high quality materials for one instrument. It does not account for extras (eg a case, or more expensive hardware). Any available materials, hardware and accessories can be supplied at the student's request. The exact cost is tallied near the end of the course. A balancing payment (occasionally, refund) is then made. Students are kept informed of the costs they are incurring all through, so that no nasty surprises are in store at the end.

Accommodation - staying with a family in Totnes currently costs around £130 per week. That is, around £1,560 for the twelve weeks. A room, all meals (except lunch), and bills are generally included in this price. Students can, if they prefer, make their own arrangements.

In the following year, 2018 - 2019

Dates

• 24th September - 14th December 2018
• 7th January - 29th March 2019
• 6th May - 26th July 2019

Costs

The Course fee (tuition) for each of these is £4,800.

Materials are initially budgeted at £425. This is the average cost of high quality materials for one instrument. It does not account for extras (eg a case, or more expensive hardware). Any available materials, hardware and accessories can be supplied at the student's request. The exact cost is tallied near the end of the course. A balancing payment (occasionally, refund) is then made. Students are kept informed of the costs they are incurring all through, so that no nasty surprises are in store at the end.

Accommodation In keeping with 2017-18, but with, inevitably, year-on-year increases.

Enrolment procedure and payment

We don't (yet) have facilities for online enrolment. To enrol in a course you need to send an application form by post, along with the deposit on fees of £850.

The application form can be printed out from this website, or you can have one mailed to you from the school, with a copy of our printed prospectus.

Places are allocated in the order of our receiving applications. However, if you are in the process of applying, email or phone us and a place will be kept for you until your application form and deposit arrive.

Formal confirmation of your place will be sent by return of post / email.

At the beginning of the course, the balance of fees is due (tuition fee and materials budget, less the deposit already paid). In the year up to May 2018 this will be £4,295.

Near the end of the course any balance due for materials is paid. If, that is, materials add up to more than the £395 included in the earlier payment. On a few occasions materials might total less than £395. In this case a refund is made.

The cost of accommodation is paid, usually every 4 weeks, directly to the family. The School acts here as an intermediary in setting up accommodation, but plays no financial part.