Junior Music School
Nurturing your child's creative potential through the magic of music
The UWA Conservatorium of Music’s Junior Music School nurtures your child's creative potential through the magic of music. We believe all children are musical. The extent to which musical ability develops, however, depends greatly on the input children receive in very early childhood.
Our group music classes are designed for children aged 18 months to 12 years. The program is focused on nurturing your child's musical potential in a stimulating and rich musical environment, supporting you and your family in developing and maintaining a lifelong love of music.
In addition to group music classes, we also offer 1-1 tuition on a huge range of instruments and voice. 1-1 lessons are available to students of all ages, including adults.
The Junior Music School employs highly skilled music teachers from diverse musical backgrounds. This ensures our program is based on the best and most recent research, and a supportive and lively University music community.
Music Playground Classes
Playground classes take young children and their parents or caregivers on a journey of musical discovery in a fun-filled, challenging and supportive environment.
Music Playground is for children 18 months to five years.
Toddlers
Our Toddlers class is a group music session for children aged 18 months to three years. Under the direction of professional music educators, these classes encourage your child’s musical development through singing, moving, creating and playing a variety of age-appropriate instruments, laying the foundations for a lifelong love of music.
Through play, children:
- learn basic concepts such as rhythm, dynamics, tempo and the variety of moods in music
- are introduced to a variety of musical styles such as nursery rhymes, light classical and action songs
- explore the timbre of instruments through the use of untuned percussion
Held on Friday or Saturday mornings over 16 weeks, the 45-minute lessons are limited to 12 children. The cost is $360 for the 16-week semester. Parents must attend with their children.
Pre-Kindergarten
The Pre-Kindergarten program is designed for children aged three to four years. Under the direction of professional music educators, these classes encourage your child’s musical development through singing, moving, creating and playing a variety of age-appropriate instruments, laying the foundations for a lifelong love of music.
Through play, children discover the variety of rhythms used in music and learn to keep the beat. They will:
- develop confidence in performing in groups and individually
- be introduced to a variety of musical styles such as nursery rhymes, children’s songs, classical and folk music
- begin to interpret moods in music and reflect this in their choice of movement to music
Held on Friday or Saturday mornings over 16 weeks, the 45-minute lessons are limited to 12 children. The cost is $360 for the 16-week semester. Parents must attend with their children.
Kindergarten
The Kindergarten musicianship classes are suited to children aged four to five years. Under the direction of professional music educators, these classes encourage your child's musical development through singing, moving, creating playing a variety of age-appropriate instruments, laying the foundations for a lifelong love of music.
Our highly trained teachers take the children through a range of activities designed to foster a love of music and to develop skills in an enjoyable setting.
They will:
- be introduced to a variety of musical styles such as children’s songs, classical styles, world music and folk music
- begin to interpret moods in music and reflect this in their choice of movement to music
- have the opportunity to play a variety of percussion instruments and compose in an ensemble setting
Held on Friday or Saturday mornings over 16 weeks, the 45-minute lessons are limited to 12 children. The cost is $360 for the 16-week semester. Parents must attend with their children.
Classes for Children Aged 5+
- Soundscapes
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Soundscapes is designed for children aged five to six years. Our experienced and enthusiastic teachers help instil a lifelong love and appreciation of music.
Children will spend 40 minutes in a small group, exploring untuned percussion instruments, as well as learning to play xylophones and ukuleles. Through games and activities, children learn the basics of musical notation. They develop the ability to create their own music based on previous musical knowledge as well as that gained during the semester.
Each session has a combined Soundscapes choir. Choir repertoire is fun, lively and filled with actions and body percussion. Experience gained in Soundscapes is of benefit to children who take up an individual instrument, such as violin or piano.
Held on Saturday mornings over 16 weeks, lessons are one hour and are limited to 12 children. The cost is $440 for the 16-week semester.
Note: only enrolled students may attend with parents/caregivers.
- Soundbird
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Soundbird is designed for children aged six to seven years, many of whom will have completed our Soundscapes program or have had some previous musical experience.
Under the direction of professional music educators, your child’s musical development will be guided through singing, moving, listening and composing. Through enjoyable games and activities, children spend 40 minutes in a small group, improving their skills on the xylophone and ukuleles.
Children continue to develop skills in reading and writing music. They will develop the ability to create their own music based on previous musical knowledge, as well as that gained during the semester, and to enjoy many different music styles, including classical of various ages, jazz, folk and pop music.
Each session has a combined Soundbird choir. Choir repertoire is fun, lively and part singing is explored. Experience gained in Soundbird is of benefit to children who take up an individual instrument, such as violin or piano.
Held on Saturday mornings over 16 weeks, lessons are one hour and are limited to 12 children. The cost is $440 for the 16-week semester.
Note: only enrolled students may attend with parents/caregivers.
- Firebird
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In a fun and challenging environment, students continue to explore and develop literacy and aural skills introduced in the Soundscapes/Soundbird Musicianship classes. Firebird is a developmentally based program for children eight years and older. Each Firebird class is a prerequisite for the following Firebird class.
In a fun and challenging environment, students continue to develop musical literacy and aural skills introduced in previous classes. Appreciation of the many exciting styles and forms of music are explored.
Activities include singing in major and minor keys. Children develop a good ear for pitch, using the solfege system. Elements of music such as ostinato, improvisation, canons, partner singing and using pentatonic scales are introduced in an enjoyable and supportive setting.
Experience gained in Firebird is of benefit to children who take up an individual instrument, such as violin, piano, clarinet, flute or trumpet, and particularly for those who wish to join a choir.
Held on Saturday mornings over 16 weeks, lessons are one hour and are limited to 12 children. The cost is $440 for the 16-week semester.
Note: students should have completed Firebird 1 to enrol in Firebird 2, and completed Firebird 1 and 2 to enrol in Firebird 3.
- Phoenix
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Phoenix caters for young musicians at the most advanced level of the Junior Music School literacy program. Phoenix is an advanced musicianship class for young people who have come through the Firebird 3 class (or who show particularly high levels of musical skill and literacy).
Phoenix participants will be challenged to step out of their comfort zone and into the wider world of music beyond primary school. The Phoenix class develops skills in improvisation, composition, singing, music literacy and performance, with the aim of making each participant a well-rounded, confident, capable and creative musician.
Individual Instrumental Tuition
The UWA Junior Music School offers individual lessons on a huge range of instruments including: piano, violin, viola, cello, classical guitar, flute, clarinet, saxophone, percussion, trumpet, trombone and voice. Standard lessons are 30 minutes long, with the option of upgrading to 45 or 60 minute lessons for more experienced students. We also offer 1-1 lessons in Music Theory.
For information about costs and lesson availability please email [email protected].
Enrolment information
Enrolments are now open for Semester 2, 2024.
Book now for Perth’s premier music program for little people!
Designed for children aged 18 months to 12 years, the UWA Junior Music School nurtures your child's musical potential in a rich musical environment, supporting you and your family in developing and maintaining a lifelong love of music.
Enrolment policy
Ensure you read our Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 152 KB) prior to enrolling. Information regarding our refund policy is contained within this document.