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
Strings, brass and woodwind
Grades 1 to 3. We recommend that participants have been receiving lessons for approximately a year, a minimum of 3 terms.
The sessions are held on the following dates:
- Saturday, 17th January 2026 - 10am to 12pm
- Saturday, 31st January 2026 - 10am to 12pm
- Saturday, 14th February 2026 - 10am to 12pm
- Saturday, 28th February 2026 - 10am to 12pm
- Saturday, 14th March 2026 - 10am to 12pm
Culminating in an informal combined mini concert at the end of the sessions with the intermediate orchestra. Parents are welcome to attend the concert.
Intermediate orchestra
These sessions are for strings, woodwind, brass and percussion - grades 3 and above.
The sessions are held on the following dates:
- Tuesday, 3rd February 2026 - 4.30pm to 6.30pm
- Tuesday, 17th February 2026 - 4.30pm to 6.30pm
- Tuesday, 24th February 2026 - 4.30pm to 6.30pm
- Tuesday, 3rd March 2026 - 4.30pm to 6.30pm
- Tuesday, 10th March 2026 - 4.30pm to 6.30pm
- Saturday, 14th March 2026 - 10am to 12pm
Culminating in an informal combined mini concert at the end of the sessions with strings, brass and woodwind. Parents are welcome to attend the concert.
Mackie Academy
Concert band
These sessions are for woodwind, brass and percussion - up to grade 4.
The sessions are held on the following dates:
- Sunday, 18th January 2026 - 1pm to 3pm
- Sunday, 1st February 2026 - 1pm to 3pm
- Sunday, 22nd February 2026 - 1pm to 3pm
- Sunday, 1st March 2026 - 1pm to 3pm
Culminating in a concert at end of the sessions. Parents are welcome to attend the concert.
Junior string orchestra
Up to grade 3. 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, 18th January 2026 - 1pm to 3pm
- Sunday, 1st February 2026 - 1pm to 3pm
- Sunday, 22nd February 2026 - 1pm to 3pm
- Sunday, 1st March 2026 - 1pm to 3pm
Culminating in a concert at end of the sessions. Parents are welcome to attend the concert.
Fees
The total fee per participant is:
- £32 for Inverurie Academy strings, brass and woodwind sessions
- £38.40 for Inverurie Academy intermediate orchestra 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.