Royal Arsenal School of Music, London | Fees, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

I have been a student of the Royal Arsenal School of Music since June 2021, and it is one the best decisions I have ever made! I enjoy every single lesson with Jack and the adult choir (so much so I can count on one hand the amount of sessions I have missed since I joined!). Jack is simply brilliant and makes the sessions so fun! Ros and Sally are so kind, helpful and amazingly talented. Their passion for music and teaching all types of students is clearly evident. They always respond quickly to any queries and I have never experienced any problems or felt unhappy with any processes in place in my time at the school. The invoicing system is great, it is much easier to make a monthly payment and then I can enjoy all the lessons without any worry! My other half has been having drum lessons with Billy since September last year, and is enjoying every single lesson! I have even just started one to one singing lessons with the wonderful Molly! I would not hesitate to recommend RASM!

A lovely small independent school, run by two young talented teachers who employ other local talented musicians. They run individual classes for various instruments and singing and there are also group classes and a choir. There are concerts every term, when students can show what they learned and play their conservatory exam pieces. The choir is very active too, especially around the winter months, singing at farmers markets, and local events and venues.

Would recommend as the environment is very relaxed and family friendly – often you’ll see many members of the same family doing different classes at the same time!

What a joy it is going to the RASM and being taught by Jack and Ros. Both have endless patience – coaxing me to become a little better each lesson. And, believe me, that takes real application! The knowledge they have and the way they teach is really inspiring. I have no hesitation in recommending the Royal Arsenal School of Music to anyone wishing to improve their musical skills.

I’ve been attending piano lessons for a year now at the Royal Arsenal School of Music and I really love my lessons with Sally, she is very patient and kind.

They also now have an amazing baby grand piano which makes piano playing so much more authentic.

It is with regret to write this review. Whilst I was hoping for my daughter to have a first class lessons at the school

1. Firstly the Riverside building where the lessons are held has a buzzer to get into the building which is fine. However, parents/students are not given a code to access, and you have to have your phone available with you every-time to either call/message the class teachers for access who’re always in lessons. Students are stuck waiting long periods of time especially in the winter rain waiting to be buzzed in. It also means you cannot leave the building as you wish as every time you’d have to buzz in again.
2. Whilst Sally has quite a large teaching room some of the other students have a very small cramped teaching room aswell as Rosiland bringing her dog to work and has not considered those who might be alergic.
3. There is a lack of seating in the waiting area. The slot I had two sets of parents had to sit on the floor to wait for their children.
4. It is an issue with rats in the building which can often be seen walking through the hallway.
5. Teachers can be quite impatient and you can see their frustration when teaching the younger children which i could see with my daughter and not encouraging. She was reduced to tears and reached just continued the lesson.
6. The lessons are expensive for the quality of the lessons which is the most important thing. The lessons are quite boring and not enriching for young learners.
7. Sally has introduced a new payment system where parents pay the month in advance. If you choose to cancel a lesson before 48hours it gets removed from the next payment monthly payment. It is very confusing and a new system introduced I believe to stop people from cancelling their lessons and make money.
8. There is a PS5 late payment fee which I have seen added to my invoice numerous times without having made any late payments. I’ve always had to check my invoice and email Sally. Why it was added is very strange.
9. The businesses ‘Cancellation policy’: it says students have 48 hours notice to cancel lessons or they will have to pay for their lessons which remember is paid for now in advance of the lesson. Students can be sick especially children, whilst the Teachers can cancel ON THE DAY of lessons sometimes had this done right before the lesson was due to start. Sally and Rosalind should make up their minds whether people pay for a full month or are paying per class. They’re accounting for the money they have to pay the teachers but what about the students time when were cancelled on… that is strangely not included in that policy.
10. Too often my daughter was given a cover teacher at any given time without being informed. Often a lot less experienced teacher. These cover teachers have asked the parents to do the lessons over a zoom call because they cannot be bothered to attend at Riverside for the same price!
11. There is no lesson structure. Students can spend the whole year on the same piece of music wasting time like a driving school so you can pay more money.
12. There is a lot of favouritism which goes on from specific teachers and gives a bad vibe

Whilst having raised these concerns with Sally she appears to prioritise the money of her business and has chosen not to take the feed back on board.