Voice

We have tutors that offer many different syllabi from Classical ABRSM to Trinity Musical Theatre or Rock and Pop singing. Your lessons will develop your technique and skills as well as your music theory, aural and sight-reading abilities. You can sing at any age and our tutors can take you through to diploma level and audition level for conservatoires and university entry.

Ali Langer

Ali Langer

Teaches Voice lessons.
  1. I have an Opera singer husband a toddler who is louder than him!
  2. I can do the splits and can cartwheel!
  3. My guilty pleasure is reality tv and I'm waiting for my audition for the Real Housewives of Harpenden!
Lawrence Thackeray

Lawrence Thackeray

  1. I've walked along the Great Wall of China at sunrise.
  2. I'm from Manchester and am a big Manchester United fan.
  3. My favourite food is Pizza and I like to make my own in my outdoor clay oven.
  4. I have an Opera singer wife and a toddler who is even louder than her!
Katie Metcalfe

Katie Metcalfe

Katie Metcalfe teaches ABRSM Singing from beginners, Grade 1 to Grade 8 and to diploma level. She also teaches ABRSM and LCME Musical Theatre Singing and the Trinity Rock and Pop Syllabus. Along with other Musicale staff she has started the Musicale Community Singing Days which take place each holiday and provide valued musical entertainment to local care home residents. Katie grew up in the world of choral music, singing on the Eton Choral Courses ( now the Rodolfus Foundation ) and with the Rodolfus Youth Choir. She went on to sing with the BBC Symphony Chorus and the Elysian Singers in London, and locally, Voix de Vivre in St Albans. Katie is Director of Music at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Harpenden and directs 25 choristers and a full SATB adult choir. Having conducted several local choirs she now focuses her time running a charity project , 'Sing For … ', to support two local charities in Luton. When asked for a fun fact about favourite food - Jelly Babies, Skittles and Colin the Caterpillars ….. usually a bag of one tor the other lurking nearby .
Graham Thomson

Graham Thomson

Graham teaches singing, piano and guitar.
  1. I am from Scotland.
  2. I love chips, gravy and beans.
  3. I played rugby for 30 years.
  4. My Scottish accent means no one understands me!
  5. My previous jobs have included milkman, chef and working on an oil base.
Diana Varvariha

Diana Varvariha

Diana teaches piano, singing and guitar.
  1. I am Ukrainian (from the city of Mariupol)
  2. I play piano, guitar, drums and singing
  3. I speak four languages
  4. I was a worship team leader in Ukraine and I am a youth team leader in England
  5. I always have Nutella for breakfast 

Who will teach me?

You will be assigned a professional musician with certified teaching qualifications, an enhanced DBS and safeguarding training. All of our staff are working musicians, trained at accredited music colleges and many perform with internationally renowned orchestras and bands. Our tutors only teach the instruments that they are qualified to play. They will teach you, encourage your performing, advance your technical skills and, if appropriate, enter you for graded exams and performance opportunities.

What do I need?

Students need to bring their own instruments and music for lessons (with the exception of piano and drums that are provided) and to be able to practice at home. Our onsite Musicale shop  has all the music, accessories and knowledge to support your studies.

You can hire or purchase an instrument here.

What age can I start?

We have created an interactive musical programme called Roundabouts for 4 – 7 year olds that gives children the opportunity to start playing percussion, string and woodwind instruments.

We recommend starting individual music lessons at 7 years old when children are ready to focus, absorb the information and have an understanding of practice at home and caring for their instrument.

How do I start lessons?

Click on the Sign Up To Lessons and fill in our new student form. We will then be in touch with available lesson times. Occasionally, there is a short waiting list for some instruments.

You will be sent a log in to Teachworks, our music school parent portal, to access times and dates of scheduled lessons and ensembles, lesson notes from the tutor and see your family profile.

There are ten 30 minute lessons a term costing £310 (from January 2025)

Musicale provides the peripatetic music lessons for several local schools including St George’s School. Lessons for St George’s School students take place during school hours and are rotated weekly so that students don’t miss the same school subjects each week.

For information about learning in one of our school settings please head to our Schools page.

Little by little build up the habit of playing your instrument. Five minutes daily for beginners, then 10 minutes per grade daily is usually a good indication of a well-practiced student.

What if I miss a lesson?

If a student misses a lesson the tutor has no obligation to make it up and it is usually forfeited. However, we understand that sometimes students are ill or have extenuating circumstances and tutors try to be flexible. Please contact your tutor directly with at least 48 hours’ notice about a student’s future lesson absence and they will try to offer an alternative time, this may include an online option. Please note, whilst every effort is made to accommodate changes, rescheduled lessons are not guaranteed as tutors have tight schedules and external working commitments.

If a lesson is cancelled by the tutor or Musicale the student will be offered another lesson time (face to face or online). Where rescheduling has not been possible, the student will be offered a credit note on their account.

How do I pay?

Invoices are emailed out automatically before the start of each term or shortly after you have been sent confirmation of your lessons if you are a new starter. These will include details about the payment options and we recommend signing up to a direct debit.

If you wish to stop lessons you must give half a term’s notice in writing or pay half a term’s fees in lieu. For all invoice queries please contact accounts@musicale.co.uk

We are passionate about every child being given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and we have a fantastic relationship with both The James Marshall Foundation  and the Harpenden Music Foundation. These incredible local charities provide grants to individual students living in Harpenden and the surrounding villages where financial commitment for music lessons is a barrier. For more information please email grants@jamesmarshallfoundation.co.uk or if you are an advanced student head to harpendenmusicfoundation.org/apply/

Sign up to Lessons

Did you know that the higher graded exams (Grades 6-8) earn significant points towards University and College Admissions Service (UCAS)? In order to get these higher grades, students usually need to start at primary school, although a dedicated student can work towards these grades even when starting at secondary school.