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 current year, 2012 - 2013

Dates

• 17th September - 7th December 2012
• 7th January - 29th March 2013
• 6th May - 26th July 2013

Costs

The Course fee (tuition) for each of these is £4,250.

Materials are initially budgeted at £350. 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 £125 per week. That is, £1,500 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, 2013 - 2014

Dates

• 23rd September - 13th December 2013
• 6th January - 28th March 2014
• 5th May - 25th July 2014

Costs

The Course fee (tuition) for each of these is £4,360.

Materials are initially budgeted at £375. 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 2012-13, 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 £750.

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 2013 this will be £3,850.

Near the end of the course any balance due for materials is paid. If, that is, materials add up to more than the £350 (£375 from September 2013) included in the earlier payment. On a few occasions materials might total less than £350. 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.