Music tuition

We offer tuition on the following instruments:

• Bassoon
• Clarinet
• Flute
• Guitar (acoustic, electric and bass)
• Oboe
• Piano
• Saxophone
• Singing
• Songwriting 
• Violin
• Viola
• Woodwind (other)

If there's an instrument you're keen to receive tuition on which isn't featured above, please email us at LUArts@lboro.ac.uk and we will explore possible options.

Tuition is open to all Loughborough University students and staff members (including Imago staff). 

When: Different tutors work at Loughborough on different days and at different times and will work to find a day and time that works for both of you. On rare occasions this may not be possible, but they'll always do their best!

Where: Music tuition usually takes place in our music rooms, located in Martin Hall and Edward Barnsley Building (to the rear of the Cope Auditorium). Your tutor will confirm the precise location with you on booking.

We can offer online tuition if required due to access needs, and may be able to offer it in other circumstances. You will be asked about this when filling in the online enquiry form prior to booking.

Find out more about the music practice rooms

Music tuition rates for 2023/24 are:

• £27 per hour subsidised rate (for Loughborough University students only including PGT & PGR)
• £34 per hour full rate

You will need to sign up and pay for an initial block of eight hours; this will be split into regular lessons of either 30 minutes, 40 minutes or an hour (to be agreed between you and the tutor). After your eight hours has been used up, you can top-up at 2 hours a time. 

Payment is made online using the link provided by the tutor. You should only pay once you have confirmed arrangements for your lessons with the tutor. 

We'll do all we can to meet any accessibility needs. This could include providing large print scores; scheduling lessons at a particular time of day; or providing online tuition as standard or when required. Please outline what you need in answer to the accessibility question on the online enquiry form.

Unless you're taking singing or piano lessons you will need to bring your own instrument with you. If you're playing electric guitar, please discuss with our tutor what additional equipment you'll need to bring.

If you don't have an instrument or don't have one with you but would really like lessons please flag this on the online enquiry form. Occasionally our tutors are able to loan instruments, but there may be a charge for this.

Yes! You might be a complete beginner or have years of experience and qualifications: our tutors will be able to adapt to your ability. They'll discuss what you'd like to learn or develop and build an appropriate programme for you. You don't even need to be able to read music.

Our tutors will be happy to teach any and all styles of music. They may be more experienced in one or another, but will be happy to give anything a go! If you have any particular ideas or goals, please include them when filling in the Expression of Interest form.

Before booking you'll need to fill in a quick enquiry form which will be live soon. This gives the relevant tutor some information about what you're looking for. They'll get in touch to arrange a suitable day and time for your tuition and, once that's confirmed, share the payment link with you.

You'll need to join Music VIP to take lessons as it will enable you to access our music practice rooms. There's no charge to do so. Find out more about Music VIP and how to become a member.

Lessons are paid for in bundles of 8 or 2 hours. Our tutor will talk with you to decide how these are divided up: your lesson may be an hour, half an hour or forty minutes. 

If you play a large instrument then you you may find it convenient to store your instrument by the music rooms to save you carrying it about. There is a locked store cupboard opposite the main entrance to the music rooms. You can request a key to this cupboard but please note that access is shared with other students, our music tutors and Domestic Services staff. Instruments stored in here are done so at the owner's risk, LU Arts cannot be held liable for any loss or damage of instruments or equipment.

If you are interested in using this cupboard then please email LUArts@lboro.ac.uk. You will need to show your campus card as proof of identity when you collect and sign for your key.

If you're unable to attend a lesson, please let your tutor know as soon as possible. Provided you give more than 24 hours' notice the lesson will not be deducted from those you have paid for. Except in case of illness, lessons cancelled at less than 24 hours' notice will be deducted from those you have paid for.

Alex Bowen has taught piano, music theory, song-writing/composition and musicianship since 2002, with pupils aged 4 – 75, from beginner to Grade 8 standard, and is particularly experienced in working with neurodivergent students. Alex achieved a First Class honours degree in Music from the Open University, and holds two diplomas (performance and teaching respectively) in piano. Additionally, Alex holds an MSc in Psychology, and is involved in academic research in neurodiversity. Alex draws upon extensive training in Music, Psychology and Yoga (including breath work and a particular focus on integrating healthy posture and movement with musicianship) to create person-centred learning, meeting each student's ambitions, skills, preferences and mood, to generate bespoke lessons which help each student reach their unique potential.

"Working at the University is a wonderful job for me. I get to meet so many different people - staff and students - at various points in their journeys as musicians and as people. It's a privilege to support and nurture those who work with me."

Ian can offer tuition in:

• Acoustic and electric guitar (all styles)
• Electric bass (fingerstyle, slap and pick)
• Excellent success rate of teaching beginners
• Specialising in jazz, improvisation and theory
• Can offer individual tuition in songwriting
• Can offer individual tuition in music production

Ian is an experienced guitar and bass tutor able to teach a wide range of styles and abilities. He has Grade 8 in Classical Guitar and holds a BA in Jazz Studies from Leeds College of Music and is also a fully qualified teacher. He is very experienced in starting beginners, and also developing intermediate to advanced players. He has extensive experience in jazz and blues and has special interests in improvisation techniques and theory for guitar/bass players.

Ian has also been part of a Eurovision Song Contest writing team and works for a number of publishers writing music for tv/media placements. He regularly undertakes session and live work in a variety of genres, and is an experienced producer/engineer recording many artists at The Cabin Studio. Musicians he's performed or recorded with include pioneering jazz trumpeter Eddie Henderson, Simon Webbe (Blue), and The Voice finalist Sally Barker.

Mat Davis is a Saxophonist and Conductor from Nottingham. He studied classical performance and conducting at The University of Hull and has since built a varied career as a performer, conductor and educator in the East Midlands.
Mat is an experienced woodwind teacher, working with students of all ages and abilities for many years, and enjoys blending a range of styles in his teaching from classical to contemporary and jazz. He is currently the Musical Director of J26 Sinfonietta in Derbyshire and his own ensemble, The Mat Davis Orchestra.

Janet studied at the Birmingham School of Music with James Cole’s and Josef Aronoff gaining graduate diplomas in both Violin Teaching and Violin Performance.

A professional musician for over 40 years, she teaches all standards from beginner to diploma level and asks only for enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. As an orchestral player herself, she is committed to encouraging her students to learn to read music from the beginning and to help them to develop a strong technique which will enable them to really enjoy their playing, whether on their own or within an ensemble. 

Jenny was a Scholarship student at the Royal Academy of Music and won many prizes including The Great Grimsby International Singers Competition.

Jenny is a very experienced singing teacher, teaching all styles including Pop, Musical Theatre and Classical Singing and covering all Grades and Diplomas. She is also an Examiner for the London College of Music and is lucky enough to tour the country extensively examining.

Jenny has worked as a soloist with many distinguished conductors and orchestras, including Sir David Willcocks and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Lazslo Heltay and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Neville Marriner and The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Ian Watson and the Mozart Festival Orchestra in the National Tour of Four Seasons by Candlelight.

Her international singing career has taken her to Japan, Norway, Brazil, America, Germany, Spain and France.