Primary Winds

Close up of clarinetOur Primary Winds Programme runs on Saturdays during school term time and enables children aged eight and upwards (Primary years 4-6) to learn a woodwind instrument in a fun and nurturing environment.

Students may join the Primary Winds Programme at:

Tier 1: Beginners 

or 

Tier 2: Grade 2 and above

Each tier will normally comprise: 

  • a 30-minute shared lesson on flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon or saxophone
  • Woodwind Workshop (1.5 hours to include recorder club, woodwind ensemble and musicianship games and activities)

For the Primary Winds Programme, RBC has a small stock of beginner woodwind instruments which students may borrow free of charge, initially for one year. These instruments are available on a first-come first-served basis. Alternatively, there are a number of musical instrument hire purchase schemes available nationally. 

We also have a limited number of bursaries available for children from low-income families. These include

  • Five ringfenced Future Talent bursaries of £500 each for young woodwind players who have already passed Grade 1 or higher
  • A small number of full or partial awards funded by the Decca Bursary (a restricted fund of Universal Music UK Sound Foundation: Charity Number: 1104027) for absolute beginners who wish to learn to play a woodwind instrument. To be considered, please tick the bursary box on the Junior RBC application form.

Closing date for applications for September 2025 entry: 31 July 2025. (Applications received after this date will be considered for September 2026 entry.)

For further details about the Primary Winds Programme, please contact Primary Winds Programme Leader - Dr Luan Shaw: luan.shaw@bcu.ac.uk

Apply for a place

Details of how to obtain financial support