Companion Database
Welcome to the We Make Music Companion database!
This is a compendium of good practice in vocal and instrumental music education, opportunities for collaborative music making, signposts towards advice and support, and recommendations for further study and upskilling. It has been compiled to support learners, aspiring musicians, music students, professional musicians, parents and carers, teachers and students alike.
Looking for opportunities near you? Visit the map to search geographically.
Notes on Filters
You can filter the database by a range of criteria including age and stage, genre, aspirations and more. Price ranges indicate the following:
£ = £0–5
££ = £5–15
£££ = £15–30
££££ = £30 and over
Sound and Music Theatre
This course links sound and music with theatrical forms, ranging from opera and musical theatre to experimental and hybrid theatrical forms.
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Soundbase
Music-making project open to young musicians (of any genre) aged 12-18 supported by a team of professional musicians and guest artists to develop skills in song creation, guitar playing, drumming, keyboard, collaborative music making.
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Soundplay Projects
Using technology, sound and art to make accessible interactive installations, objects and events
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Soundwave
Monthly jam sessions for young and emerging musician to play and make music together. Based at Studio Moffat
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South Ayrshire Council IMS
Local Authority instrumental music service, delivering high quality music tuition in schools
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South Lanarkshire IMS
Local Authority instrumental music service, delivering high quality music tuition in schools
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SPaRKs Project
The SPaRKs (Songwriting, Performance and Recording Kickstarter) Music Project started in 2022 and is aimed at, but not exclusive to, creative students who are neurodivergent or who may be experiencing difficulties with mental health. The students are offered the opportunity to gain skills relevant to the music industry through workshop-based learning.
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Specialist Evening Classes
10-week specialist classes in Bellows, Whistle and Piobaireachd 101
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SQA Guidance on Music Qualifications (Scotland)
Guidance and overview of National 5/Higher/Advanced Higher
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St Andrews Music Participation (StAMP)
St Andrews Music Participation (StAMP) is a music education project in Fife that aims to support and invigorate the cultural heritage of brass playing in schools, in the community, and across the world.
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St Andrews Music Participation (StAMP)
St Andrews Music Participation (StAMP) is a music education project in Fife that aims to support and invigorate the cultural heritage of brass playing in schools, in the community, and across the world.
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St Andrews Music Participation (StAMP)
St Andrews Music Participation (StAMP) is a music education project in Fife that aims to support and invigorate the cultural heritage of brass playing in schools, in the community, and across the world.
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St Mary’s Cathedral Choir
The Choir of St Mary’s was founded in 1879 to provide choral music for the daily services at Edinburgh’s new St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, with its own choir school. This tradition, of singing regular weekday and Sunday services in the Cathedral, continues to this day – the only place in Scotland to do so. All the choristers attend St Mary’s Music School, rehearse every weekday morning before school, and sing five services a week.
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St Mary’s Music School
St Mary’s Music School is one of five Government-supported specialist music schools in the UK and the only one of its kind in Scotland. We offer a world class standard of music and academic education to musically gifted children aged 9-19 years in an inspiring, inclusive and supportive environment. We are also the Choir School of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh. St Mary’s Music School is co-educational, non-denominational and we attract day and boarding pupils from across Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally.
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Stirling IMS
Local Authority instrumental music service, delivering high quality music tuition in schools
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Stirling Strings Music Centre
Opportunity for children in Primary 4 and 5 to receive instrumental tuition in violin, viola, cello and mini/double bass (classical) supported through funding from the Youth Music Initiative.
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Stirling Traditional Music Centre – McLaren High School
Opportunity for children in Primary 4 and 5 to receive instrumental tuition supported through funding from the Youth Music Initiative.
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Stockbridge Music Hub
A place for people to share music – listening, playing and creating.
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STOMP, Body Percussion, Samba Drumming
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Strathclyde Youth Jazz
Youth jazz orchestra based in the west of Scotland
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Strathmore Schools Pipe Band
Strathmore Schools Pipe Band provide free weekly specialist tuition to learners in Blairgowrie High School and its 9 feeder primary schools. Lessons take place at schools during the school day. Learners then come together from across the ten schools to participate in a pipe band practice. SSPB aim for all lessons, equipment and uniform to be provided for free.
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Stride
Inclusive music workshops that take place in Berkeley 2, Sunday nights. Inclusive of young adults with ASN
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Stringbabies
Tutor directory and resources for early years/beginner string players and teachers
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Summer Schools 2024
Range of Summer Schools for Children and Young People (Aged 5-18) and Adults (Aged 16+) to be announced soon. Sign up to the Mailing List , following the link, for further information.
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Tara The Tugboat
Online concert and resources for early years. Downloadable activity pack by Rachel Drury.
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Teaching Primary Music
Free resources, lesson plans and schemas for teaching primary music
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The Brassketeers
Lesson plans and resources for Primary 1-3
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The Carnival Arts Yard
Multi Arts and events space
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The City of Edinburgh Music School
Scottish Centre of Excellence for Music based in two state schools – Broughton High School and Flora Stevenson Primary School in Edinburgh. A specialist Music School covering all instruments and styles of music.
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The Curse of Maccabbra Opera House
Primary School tour for primary 5-7 (30 minute performance) and activities that link with everyday learning
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The Disabled Artist Network
Peer support, mentoring and signposting for disabled artists in Scotland
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The Echo Lab
Commercial recording and rehearsal studio offering music tuition in Perth
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The Elixir of Love
Interdisciplinary lesson plans and resources aimed specifically at S3 students.
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The F List
Online database of UK Female + identifying musicians- useful for promoters/venues/programmers
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The Folks’ Music Project CIC
Pop-up taster sessions and workshops in guitar, clarsach and whistle
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The Folks’ Music Project CIC
Pop-up taster sessions and workshops in guitar, clarsach and whistle
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The Folks’ Music Project CIC
Social Enterprise which aims to offer accessible traditional music tuition and activities to both adults and young people in Communities across Greater Glasgow
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The Linties
The Linties bring senior citizens together online and face to face every week for a singalong.
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The Music School of Douglas Academy
One of the 4 Centres for Excellence in Music in Scotland
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The National Children’s Brass Band of Scotland
The National Children’s Brass Band of Scotland provides an opportunity for young, less experienced musicians (aged 13 or under) to perform and participate at a high level.
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The Pathhead Choir
Community Choir directed by Sophie Bancroft
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The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association
The RSPBA is the recognised Centre of Excellence for the promotion and development of Pipe Band Music internationally. Its services and facilities include: education, training and certification in Piping, Drumming, Drum Majoring and Pipe Band Adjudication; an annual Summer School: a Pipe Band College; organisation of numerous local, regional, national and international competitions and festivals.
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The Sound Lab
A blend of face-to-face or online tuition workshops in any creative discipline.
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The Sound Lab
Helping young people and other communities to fulfil their creative potential through free music, media, digital and arts tuition. Offer a blend of face-to-face and online music tuition workshops across any creative discipline
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The Sound Lab
Face to face and blended tuition in songwriting, vocals, DJ skills, production, guitar, drums, keyboard, digital technology. Further programme of rolling workshops.
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The Touring Network
Subscription based network for touring the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
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The Young Sound- Reeltime Music
Music drop in session run by community arts hub in North Lanarkshire offering a varied range of music and media activities.
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TikTok New Music Hub
Spotlighting music and artists being discovered on TikTok
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Tinderbox Collective
A collective of young people, musicians, artists and youth workers.
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Tinderbox Lab
Creative space for digital musicians/makers
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If your organisation has opportunities and resources for music learners, we’d love to hear from you. Follow the link below to submit your entry.