Young musicians learning together at York Music Centre — A welcoming place to begin

York's not-for-profit music service

At the heart of music education in York

Bringing together the people, places and partnerships that help children and young people begin, belong and progress through music.

Find your next step Explore York Music Centre

A lasting musical community

Hundreds each year.
Thousands over time.

Each year, many hundreds of children and young people begin, belong and progress through lessons, ensembles, instrument hire and whole-class music in schools. Across the decades, those changing groups add up to many thousands of musical journeys.

Each yearMany hundreds

of young people learn, play, perform and find their place through music.

Across YorkConnected pathways

link schools, individual lessons, ensembles, instruments and performances.

Across the decadesMany thousands

of different children and young people have started, developed and performed with us.

York's music workforceSkills for the future

Supporting teachers and sustainable musical careers protects the quality and continuity young people need.

The people who make it possible

Protecting York's music teaching workforce

As York's largest employer of specialist music teachers, we believe sustaining skilled, rewarding local work is every bit as important as supporting today's students. A strong teaching workforce protects musical opportunity for the next generation as well as this one.

The whole musical journey

A place to start.
People to play with.
Somewhere to progress.

The joy of a first instrument matters just as much as the achievement of advanced performance. Our role is to make every stage visible, welcoming and connected to the next.

Young string players taking their first musical steps — First notes

Children learning instruments together in a whole-class session — Learning together

Young musicians enjoying an outdoor string performance — Joy and friendship

A lively group music workshop for children and young people — Trying something new

A young ensemble performing together on stage — Finding your ensemble

An advanced young violinist performing with an orchestra — Growing in confidence

A group of young musicians sharing music and friendship — Belonging

One service, clearer routes

Where would you like to begin?

Music education can feel complicated. We make the first step clear, then help every musician find a route that suits them.

Families

Find lessons, groups, bursaries and the right next step for your child.

Explore music making

Schools

Tuition, whole-class music, clubs and practical support for school music.

Support for schools

Young musicians

Join an ensemble, meet other musicians and progress as far as you want to go.

Find your ensemble

A complete music education journey

From the first notes to the performance stage.

York Music Education brings tuition, ensembles, school provision, instrument hire and progression together around the needs of each young person.

Talk to our team

Children taking part in a practical music workshop in York — Learning by playing, listening and creating together.

Lessons

Instrumental and vocal tuition in schools and at York Music Centre.

Music Centre

Weekly ensembles and activities for beginners through to advanced players.

Whole-class music

Accessible first experiences of playing and creating music together.

Instrument hire

Affordable instruments supported by an established local hire service.

Progression

Clear routes from a first lesson to ensembles, performances and York Youth Orchestra.

Projects

Collaborative opportunities with schools and York's cultural organisations.

Familiar, but distinct

One family.
Different places to belong.

York Music Education is the complete service. York Music Centre is its weekly musical community. York Youth Orchestra is an aspirational expression of progression and performance.

Weekly ensembles, friendships, rehearsals and shared performances.

Join the Music Centre View term dates

Ambition, achievement and high-quality orchestral performance.

Explore York Youth Orchestra

What’s on at York Music Centre

Find your group.

From first notes to advanced ensembles, York Music Centre offers a welcoming weekly programme on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Groups may change between terms, so please check enrolment for current availability.

Wednesday

17:00–17:30Junior Folkestra
17:00–18:30String Quartet
17:15–18:00First Music MakersFirst Access
17:30–18:30Junior Orchestra
18:15–19:00Drum SquadFirst Access
18:45–20:15York Youth Orchestra

Saturday

09:00–09:45Grade 5 Theory
09:00–09:45First BrassFirst Access
09:15–10:00First StringsFirst Access
09:30–10:30Guitar Ensemble
09:45–11:00Intermediate String Orchestra
09:45–10:45Junior Wind Ensemble
09:45–11:15Senior Concert Band
10:00–11:00Junior String Orchestra
10:00–11:15Intermediate Minster Minstrels
11:15–12:00First UkulelesFirst Access
11:15–11:45First TheoryFirst Access
11:15–12:00First StepsFirst Access
11:30–13:00Senior Minster Minstrels
11:30–13:00Senior Folkestra
11:45–12:30Recorders

View enrolment options

For York schools

A reliable local partner for school music.

Build sustainable provision through instrumental and vocal tuition, whole-class ensemble teaching, clubs, teacher support and progression routes.

Specialist, experienced music tutors
Clear administration and communication
Instrument hire and practical infrastructure
Routes into York Music Centre and city-wide projects

Plan music for your school

Projects and partnerships

More ways to make music — and make a difference.

One-off projects, creative partnerships and community events extend the weekly programme: new people to learn from, new places to perform and new ideas to explore.

Young string players taking part in a school-based Fun Day

Fun Days

A joyful day of playing together.

Focused workshops give beginners and developing musicians time to learn, rehearse and enjoy a shared musical goal.

Young musicians sharing new work created through the Late Music partnership project

Composition and partnership

Creating and sharing new music.

The Late Music project brought partners and schools together around composition, performance and young people's own musical ideas.

York Proms performance in Museum Gardens

Music across the city

Music in the heart of York.

Our York Proms performance in Museum Gardens brought young musicians and audiences together in one of the city's best-loved settings.

Minster Minstrels musicians rehearsing and performing together

YME × NCEM

Meet Minster Minstrels.

A distinctive creative ensemble exploring early music on the instruments young people already play.

Explore Minster Minstrels

Music in York, delivered locally

Built around people, not programmes.

York Music Education CIC is a not-for-profit music service supporting young people across the city through lessons, ensembles, schools, partnerships and affordable access to instruments.

We connect lessons, ensembles, schools and partnerships so that every young musician can find a place to begin, belong and progress.

Primary school children watching young musicians perform in York

York Music Education belongs to the people who make it: students, families, tutors, schools and local partners.

A fuller picture

More than music lessons.

Explore our story, meet the people who make the work possible, find help with costs and understand our place within the regional Music Hub.

Your next step

There is a place for you here.

Tell us what you are looking for and our team will help you find the right lesson, ensemble, school support or instrument.

View enrolment options Email our team

At the heart of music education in York

Hundreds each year.
Thousands over time.

Protecting York's music teaching workforce

A place to start.
People to play with.
Somewhere to progress.