Fees and payment
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 for a KMS bursary?
You can apply for a KMS bursary if all of the follow 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)
Types of KMS Bursary
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.
To be eligible:
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
FKMS Hardship fund
Who are we?
FKMS (Friends of Kingston Music Service) is a registered charity that manages a hardship fund to support families struggling to pay the full cost of music tuition in the short term. Music lessons can seem like a luxury but the benefits to children go much further than simply playing an instrument, so we aim to help out where we can. To make a donation, use Just Giving, or sign up to support them via the Kingston Lottery.
How do FKMS do this?
FKMS is run by a committee* which meets 3 times per year to consider applications from parents and carers for subsidised music lessons and ensemble membership. Deadlines for applications are:
- 1st September
- 4th January
- 20th April
The application process includes a form to fill in with some financial details plus a mini report from a KMS tutor. Our procedures are GDPR compliant. Successful applicants are usually awarded music lessons at 50% cost plus free membership of an ensemble for a year in the first instance. We like our applicants to play in ensembles as we know the social side of music making is just as important as the music making itself!
To apply for FKMS Hardship Funding comlete their application form.
Keep in touch with FKMS news and fundraising.
FKMS fundraise at KMS concerts and events and we hope to do more fundraising to support more and more students. If you would like to volunteer to help fundraise, we'd love to hear from you. You can also donate £5 to FKMS at any time by texting FKMS to 70085.
*we're always pleased to have new committee members so do get in touch if you want to be involved.
E-mail address - fkmskingston@gmail.com
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572215987429
X (Twitter) – @FKMSKingston
Instagram - @FKMSKingston
Schemes run in partnership with KMS:
London Music Fund
The London Music Fund award four-year music Scholarships to children who have started learning an instrument and are doing really well but whose families find it difficult to pay for music lessons, meaning that without our support they would have to give up their studies. Look out for nomination information in February each year and let your KMS teacher know if you are interested in applying.
To be nominated, students must:
- Be in Year 3 at the earliest and Year 5 at the latest (at the point of nomination)
- Attend a junior school in London where there are no school fees
- Have been learning a musical instrument for a minimum of one year
- Show potential and commitment to learning
- Be in a family where the ongoing cost of tuition would be prohibitive
See the LMF website for more details.
ABRSM Exam Discounts
Grade exams are a great way for your child to get recognition for their musical learning and receive objective feedback. They are recognised qualifications and the higher grades can count towards UCAS points.
We are lucky to be part of a scheme that enables us to offer a number of discounted exams (50% or 80% depending on eligability) to students who meet one of these certain conditions:
- Eligible for a KMS Bursary
- Eligible for Free School Meals
- Looked After Child
- Pupil Premium
- Temporary hardship, such as family bereavement or loss of employment in the household
- Holder of a London Music Fund Scholarship
If you believe you may be eligible for a discount, please ask your KMS tutor to apply for a discount on your behalf - you will receive an email for you to confirm you are happy for the application to be made. Please note, KMS have a certain amount of allocation for discounts each year and discounts are given on a first come first served basis once eligibility has been confirmed.
Third-party organisations who might be able to help...
Trinity College London Music & Drama Access Fund
The Music and Drama Access Fund provides small grants for Trinity candidates based in the UK and Ireland who experience barriers to accessing music and drama education and our qualifications. These barriers could include having special educational needs and disabilities, living in areas of rural isolation and/or socio economic deprivation or being in a specific minority group, plus a range of other factors. The grants can be used in order to help these candidates achieve one of our Music or Drama qualifications.
View the Trinity website for more information, guidance and to apply.
Young Sounds UK
Young Sounds UK (formerly Awards for Young Musicians) believes that all talented young people deserve the chance to progress in their music making. They award £100,000 in grants to exceptional young instrumentalists in need of support. If you love making music and money and other things hold you back, a Young Sounds UK Award could help. Maybe you play an instrument, produce, compose or write songs? You could get between £100 and £2,000 for your music. And you'll join a community of talented young musicians from across the UK and get free musical opportunities and advice too.
Find out more and apply for Young Sounds funding
Future Talent
Future Talent supports musicians from any genre of music be it classical, folk or rock and on any instrument from violin to voice and drums to beat boxing.
Christine Brown Trust
If you are under 19 years of age, a UK resident and can demonstrate evidence of exceptional musical talent, you can apply for funding from the Christine Brown Trust.
Help Musicians UK
Help Musicians UK is a UK charity for professional musicians of all genres. Here is a section on supporting young musicians.
London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO)
LPO Junior Artists is a free year-long programme for eight young musicians from backgrounds currently under-represented in professional UK orchestras, offering an immersive, behind-the scenes experience with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Martin Read Foundation
The Martin Read Foundation supports young musicians through workshop, performance and mentoring opportunities.
Peter Handley Percussion Award
The Peter Handley Percussion Award is a charity that helps young percussionists. Students have had funding towards instrument purchases, one off specialist lessons, summer schools and workshops.
The Universal Music UK Sound Foundation
Assistance with the purchase of musical instruments and/or equipment for schools, teachers and students in full time education. Apply for assistance on the Universal Music UK website.
British Horn Society
The British Horn Society are now welcoming applications to the Sue and Freddy Walding Bursary. These are available to help promising young UK horn players under the age of 18 in need of financial support.
Valentine Alcock Scholarship
The Valentine Alcock Scholarship is a small charity that helps 14 to 18 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds by paying for them to attend residential instrumental music courses, ranging from short local authority ensemble workshops to international summer schools. Email enquiries@valentinealcockscholarship.org.uk