Guildhall Young Artists Online - FAQs

GYA Online is for students aged 7 to 18 who are looking to access top-level music and drama training wherever they are in the world.

We have group courses available in music and drama, as well as one-to-one lessons.

The Music Course gives you the opportunity to choose from one of three classes in Music Theory, Singer Song-writing and Folk Music, or for those aged 14 and above, with previous experience, choose from a class in Composition, Music Production or GCSE Music. 

In addition, you will receive a weekly 30-minute one-to-one instrumental or vocal lesson, and a weekly group Musical Awareness class.

Alternatively you can choose a stand alone group class lesson from any of our classes listed.

The Drama Course comprises of six hours of one-to-one acting tuition each term (one hour per session).

You will get four hours of class teaching each term (one hour per session). These classes are an opportunity to meet and collaborate with like-minded participants from around the world. 

All GYA Online classes, including group sessions and one-to-one lessons, take place via Zoom.

For the majority of our courses you will need:

• An email address
• A reliable internet connection
• A computer/laptop/tablet with a microphone and a camera
• Your browser fully updated to be able to use the most recent version of Zoom (if using an Apple device we recommend installing an alternative browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla)
• A notebook and pencil

The following items are recommended, but optional:

• Headphones
• Manuscript paper and a pencil

Please ensure you are able to work in a well-lit and quiet environment so that your tutor is able to fully assess your work and performance.

For more specific course requirements, please check the course page.

Find our term dates here.

We encourage all of our students, where possible, to join us for three terms over the academic year starting from the week commencing 23 September. This is to ensure that students benefit from a continued period of study where their skills are developed and consolidated.

We understand that circumstances may arise that may need you to pause or withdraw from your classes. With sufficient notice provided in writing to gyaonline@gsmd.ac.uk, this is not a problem! For further details please read our Parent/Carer Agreement.  
 

Yes you can join GYA Online once the term has started and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Both our Drama and Music courses comprise a mixture of group and one-to-one teaching.

Our tutors are drawn from Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s extensive network of professionals across the UK and around the world. They are practitioners, educators and performers in their fields ready to help you access the next level in your artistic journey. 

Group classes generally take place during the early evening on weekdays. Your one-to-one sessions can be arranged at any time that is mutually convenient between you and your assigned tutor.

Absolutely! We encourage you to let your tutor know your personal goals and requirements so that they can help you achieve them.

Group classes are recorded and made available via our online platform, Moodle, for students who are unable to attend. One-to-one classes are not recorded.

Yes, read more about the benefits of being a GYA member here.

We welcome beginners at our online centre.

Beginning a new hobby can be overwhelming but we are here to help! If you are unsure where to start get in touch with us at gyaonline@gsmd.ac.uk and we can help point you in the right direction.

For safeguarding purposes, we recommend that online lessons are taken in a communal area in the home where parents/carers are in the vicinity to overhear or see the lesson. Please read more about our Remote Teaching Guidance for Parents/Carers here.

Please note that our online classes are for students aged 7-18. If you are 18+ and would like to develop your music and drama skills, Guildhall also offers a wide range of Short Courses and Summer Schools, both in-person and online, throughout the year.

Email gyaonline@gsmd.ac.uk to let us know your issue and we will be happy to help.

Fill out our quick enquiry form here to let us know what you are interested in. We will be in touch with any questions we might have and an application form, so that we can get you booked on to the right course or one-to-one tuition as smoothly as possible.

There are no formal entry requirements for our courses but some of our courses need a level of experience, for example the GCSE music course is designed to be a companion support for students taking GCSE Music exams. You may be asked to provide a brief outline of your musical and/or drama experience to check your suitability for some of our courses.  

We are happy to arrange for you to attend a group class session of your choice for free before you sign up.

Trial one-to-one lessons with a teacher can be arranged upon payment of the appropriate fee.

Please discuss with us further by contacting gyaonline@gsmd.ac.uk.
 

We will be very sorry to see you go! If your reason for leaving is due to reasons within our control (such as lesson times for example), please do get in touch with us in the first instance and we will do all we can to accommodate. 

If you still wish to withdraw, half-a-term’s notice must be given in writing to gyaonline@gsmd.ac.uk. If sufficient notice is not provided, you will remain liable for any unpaid tuition fees for the half-term following your withdrawal.
 

Students on the Music Course take part in three classes over the course of the week. These are an instrumental/vocal one-to-one lesson, a Musical Awareness class, and another class of your choice (e.g. Music Theory, Singer Songwriting, Folk and Traditional Music, GCSE Music support).

This will depend on you! During your first session you will discuss your experience and requirements with your tutor who will put together a personal development plan for you.

You will develop your technical ability and musicality, learning new repertoire and exercises. 

This course explores what music is made of, how it is put together and the fundamental skills and techniques music-making requires. Everything you learn here will be put into practice through composition and improvisation, as well as sight singing and taking aural dictations.

Apart from having your own instrument, you will need:

• An email address
• A reliable internet connection
• A computer/laptop/tablet with a microphone and a camera.
• Your browser fully updated to be able to use the most recent version of Zoom (if using an Apple device we recommend installing an alternative browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla).
• A notebook and pencil

The following items are recommended, but optional:

• An external microphone

Please ensure you can work in a well-lit and quiet environment so that your tutor is able to fully assess your work and performance.

For more specific course requirements, please check the course page.

During your first session, you will discuss your requirements and experience with your tutor who will put together a personal development plan for you.

You are also invited to discuss any acting requirements that you would like to focus on. For example, if you have an audition to prepare for or are looking for the perfect monologue, your tutor will tailor the one-to-one sessions around this. 
 

Group workshops will take place at the beginning and end of each half-term. These are an opportunity to meet and collaborate with like-minded participants from around the world.

In the final workshop of each term, students will be invited to informally present their work to the group and receive feedback from staff and peers on their performance.   

Students will be placed in classes based on prior experience and ability.

• An email address
• A reliable internet connection
• A computer/laptop/tablet with a microphone and a camera.
• Your browser fully updated to be able to use the most recent version of Zoom (if using an Apple device we recommend installing an alternative browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla).
• A notebook and pencil

The following items are recommended, but optional:

• Headphones

Yes, please discuss your requirements with the course tutor, who will make sure you make the most of the online opportunities to prepare for auditions.

Yes, our online courses are designed to be accessed from anywhere. All group lessons take place live in the evening in UK time, but 1:1 lessons take place at a time that is mutually convenient to student and teacher.

Classes will be taught in English. However, many of our online students do not have English as their first language and come from all over the world.

The current fees can be found in the details for each course or via our Finance and Funding page.

Means-tested bursaries are available. More details are on our Finance and Funding page.

An invoice is sent out and then payment is made by bank transfer.

You can pay annually or on a termly basis.

The number of weeks missed from the beginning of the term will be deducted from the fee.

A 30-minute instrumental lesson is included in the Music Course fee. You can choose to extend the lesson at an additional cost.

Please get in touch with any further questions at gyaonline@gsmd.ac.uk