Aberdeenshire Youth Music Sessions
Aberdeenshire Youth Music Sessions (AYMS) provide ensemble music-making opportunities outside of school for children who:
- attend schools in Aberdeenshire
- are currently learning to play an instrument - this includes pupils that don't receive lessons through the council's music service
The sessions will offer your child the opportunity for musical and social development in an ensemble setting.
Please note the service does not provide transport for these sessions.
String ensemble
Instruments that are suitable for string ensemble:
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Double Bass
Concert band
Woodwind instruments that are suitable for concert band:
- Flute or piccolo
- Oboe
- Clarinet
- Saxophone
- Bassoon
Brass instruments that are suitable for concert band:
- Cornet
- Trumpet
- French horn
- Tenor horn
- Euphonium
- Baritone
- Trombone
- Tuba
Percussion suitable for concert band: tuned and untuned percussion.
Sessions
Inverurie Academy
These sessions are for strings, brass and woodwind - grades 1 to 3. We recommend participants have been receiving lessons for at least 2 terms and ideally a year.
The sessions are held on the following dates:
- Saturday, 8th November 2025 - 10am to 12pm
- Saturday, 22nd November 2025 - 10am to 12pm
- Saturday, 29th November 2025 - 10am to 12pm
- Saturday, 6th December 2025 - 10am to 12pm
- Saturday, 13th December 2025 - 10am to 12pm
Culminating in an informal mini concert at end of the session.
Mackie Academy
These sessions are for junior strings orchestra up to grade 3 and concert band up to grade 4. For junior strings orchestra we recommend that participants have been receiving lessons for at least a term and ideally a year.
The sessions are held on the following dates:
- Sunday, 9th November 2025 - 1pm to 3pm
- Sunday, 23rd November 2025 - 1pm to 3pm
- Sunday, 30th November 2025 - 1pm to 3pm
- Sunday, 7th December 2025 - 1pm to 3pm
Culminating in an informal mini concert at end of the session.
Fees
The total fee per participant is:
- £32 for Inverurie Academy sessions
- £25.60 for Mackie Academy sessions
Aberdeenshire Youth Music Sessions are free for children who are registered for free school meals. If your child is in receipt of free school meals, please email us at instrumental.music.service@aberdeenshire.gov.uk for a code before enrolling.
How to register
You can register for sessions via the instrumental music service portal. You will have to sign in with myAberdeenshire to access the portal.