Individual Lessons

Brass instruments might be heard in an orchestra, in a marching band, in a jazz band, or in other ensembles, as well as solo. They can be played very loudly!

Learning a brass instrument will allow you to play many types of musical styles, from classical to jazz.

• Trumpet

• Coronet

• Tuba

• Trombone

The instruments in the string family all look very similar, but are different sizes. The smaller instruments make higher pitched sounds than the larger instruments. The wooden bodies of the string instruments are hollow, allowing the sound to vibrate. The strings (made of nylon or steel or even gut) are usually played by drawing a bow across them. The bow is made of wood and horsehair. Sometimes the strings are plucked with the fingers, instead of played with the bow.

• Violin

• Viola

• Cello

• Double Bass

Instruments from the Percussion family make their sound by being hit, scraped or shaken. They are played all over the world, in all types of music.

Percussion instruments can be tuned. This means they can play lots of pitched notes, like a xylophone or glockenspiel. Or they can be untuned, like drums, playing only one pitch.

• Drum kit

• Djembe

Pianos are versatile instruments, used in all types of music and ensembles, as well as solo and to accompany other instruments and singers.

To learn the piano, you need to have access to a piano or to a good-quality keyboard with weighted keys for practice at home.

• Piano

• Organ

• Keyboard

• Piano Accordion

Woodwind instruments used to be made of wood, which gives them their name. Today, they can made of wood, metal or plastic. They are made of pipes with holes along their length, a mouthpiece at the top, and an opening at the bottom. Air is blown through the instrument to make a sound (the wind part of their name). Some of the holes are covered by metal caps called keys.

The mouthpieces of the clarinet, oboe, and bassoon have a thin piece of wood called a reed, which vibrates when it is blown. The clarinet uses a single reed made of one piece of wood, while the oboe and bassoon use a double reed made of two pieces of wood bound together.

• Clarinet

• Oboe

• Bassoon

• Flute

• Saxophone

Acoustic guitars have hollow bodies so that the sound can vibrate within. Electric guitars have solid bodies, and the instrument's soft sound is amplified through an amplifier.

Classical guitars have nylon strings, and there are half-size and three-quarter-size guitars for younger/smaller players.

Acoustic guitars have steel strings, making a brighter, louder sound than classical guitars.

Bass guitars usually only have 4 strings, and their sound is very low.

• Guitar Electric, Acoustic, or Bass

• Ukulele

YRC offers vocal lessons for students of all ages, and in all styles. Vocal lessons include an emphasis on using the correct technique for the style of song being performed. YRC teachers specialise in particular styles - you can learn classical, popular, country, jazz or aspects of all these styles. Many of our vocal students study from musical theatre repertoire.

• Classical

• Popular

• Country

• Musical theatre

Theory lessons can complement a student’s instrumental or vocal studies, helping to build an understanding of the music’s structural components or historical influences.

Students sitting instrumental or vocal examinations in higher grades are required to pass theoretical examinations as well.

Students wishing to learn theory can choose to study via a program such as AMEB Theory or Musicianship, or lessons can be tailored to suit interest or needs of the student.

YRC also offers lessons in composition in all styles of music, to support students’ creative aspirations.