Create Music Academy FAQs

Create Music Academy aims to bring together young musicians from across the region to safely experience the joy of making music together. We believe passionately in the many benefits of taking part in music and aim to support all children and young people to achieve their musical potential through our programme of high quality, creative courses. 

Courses start at £39.00* for a one-day course and are available for a range of instruments/voices, with opportunities for children and young people from year 2 to year 13. 

No experience necessary - our Open Access Courses (Sing Together!, One Day One Voice, Samba Band, GarageBand and Debut Music Production) require no previous experience – just sign up and come along! 

Performance opportunities - there are great opportunities for children who have been learning an instrument for 1 year or more to play in bands and ensembles for more experienced musicians. All courses will build towards an informal celebration performance for family and friends.

Tech courses - from GarageBand for beginners to our specialist Composing and Scoring for Film and Games courses for ages 13-18, we have something for students at all levels.

*if you are currently a Create Music student you will automatically receive a 10% discount and if your  child receives income-related Free School Meals, or your annual family income is below, £26,000, you will be entitled to a further 25% bursary.

All courses are listed by ability level, and there are several "beginner" levels which are described in more detail below. If you have any questions about whether the course is suitable for your child, please speak directly to their music teacher for further clarification.

Open Access - no prior experience needed

Beginner – in the first year of learning

Beginner to Grade 1 - for children in their 2nd and 3rd year of learning

Up to Grade 2 – for children in their 2nd and 3rd year of learning

Whatever your current level, we have a course for you. Each course is assigned an ability level. For complete beginners, our Open Access courses are most suitable!

Our courses are run by our team of highly-trained and friendly music leaders here at Create Music, the music hub for Sussex. 

Our courses are offered at different venues in Brighton & Hove, Lewes and Eastbourne.

In Brighton & Hove we are returning to the Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts and Sound Rooms.

In Eastbourne we are offering courses in St Andrew's Prep and East Sussex College

In Lewes our courses are based in Lewes Performing Arts Centre.

Please see Our Venues page for more information

Course fees begin at £39 for 1-day courses. Every course includes a performance and for the majority of performances there is no additional charge*

Pupils already learning with Create Music will automatically receive a 10% discount on all course costs. 

In addition, pupils who are currently receiving a bursary (any level) will be awarded an additional 25% bursary for up to three days of activities. 

We provide a bursary for low-income families of 25% as well as the 10% discount for current Create Music learners. Payment can also be made in instalments, as long is it is paid before the start of the course.

All courses run from 9.30am - 3.30pm daily, with most informal performances at 3.45pm on the last day of the course.

As a Music Hub we are also part-funded by the Department for Education to deliver the National Plan for Music Education, and our summer school provision is part of our broader music education programme.

Historically both the local authority and the vast majority of schools have worked in partnership with us to enable children to come out of school to attend our summer school activities. The activities are educational and considered to be an opportunity to both enrich and further learner progress and as such, are often viewed to be of similar benefit to a school trip.

Our application process recommends that parents/carers seek permission from their child’s school to attend the courses. In our experience, the majority of headteachers are happy to give this permission and therefore a child coming to summer school would be classed as an authorised absence. If helpful, Create Music can also verify your child’s attendance at summer school, to their own school, after courses have taken place.

Young musicians will get the most out of their experience if they attend every day of the course. However,  we do understand that sometimes a  young person may need to miss part or all of one of the days. 

If you cannot attend on every day of the course, please notify us in advance by email. Please note that the full course fees will still be due.  

We recommend that you check in advance if any of the course dates clash with other activities such as sports days or other school events.

You will receive confirmation of your child's place, with an invoice, 4-6 weeks before the course start date. You will receive more detailed course information 2 weeks before the start date. 

Our cancellation/refund policy can be found on our Terms and Conditions page under '7. Create Music Academy'.

For withdrawals please contact events@createmusic.org.uk as soon as possible.

We have a waiting list system in place for all courses. If the course you are interested is full, your child will be placed on a waiting list. Students are contacted on a first come first served basis. You will only receive an invoice if a place is confirmed.