Course FAQs

No, anyone can book onto a course, being a member brings certain benefits including priority booking. Find out more about membership.

Are my playing skills ready for a Benslow course?

The answer is almost certainly yes! We pride ourselves on bringing the very best out of our students, whatever their level of ability. We specify an approximate ability range which will help you choose your course - and we will gladly offer advice. Where a course is particularly demanding we say so in the course description, and our carefully selected tutors are expert at giving equal attention and respect to everyone. 

Find out more about ability levels.

Residential courses

The Residential course fee includes tutoring, standard accommodation, all meals and tea/coffee breaks (with our famous cakes), access to the library, use of music stands and practice rooms during the course.

If you wish to occupy an en suite room or single occupancy of a double or twin room, the supplement you will need to pay can be found here.

Non-residential courses

Non-residential fees include everything except accommodation and breakfast. Non-residents are welcome to pay for and join us for breakfast.

Day courses

The fee for a non-residential one day course includes tuition, use of facilities, lunch and breaktime refreshments.  

We accept course payments via most major debit or credit card (excluding American Express) or by bank transfer. We regret that we cannot accept payment by cheque. 

Your course fee includes a non-refundable deposit which must be paid within seven days of booking. You place is not secured until we have received your deposit. 

Your deposit is determined by the length of your course as follows: 

• 100 series  |  1 day course  |  Full fee
• 200 series  |  2 night course  |  £40
• 300 series  |  3 night course  |  £50
• 400 series  |  4 night course  |  £60
• 500 series  |  5 night course  |  £70
• 600 series  |  6 night course  |  £80

Your balance is due is due one month before the start of your course. 

We offer a 25% discount on our standard course fee to participants who are aged under 27. In addition, we run a bursary scheme which is open to anyone who financial circumstances may make attending a course challenging. Please find further information on our Bursaries page. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer discounts for senior citizens or members.

When will I get my booking confirmation?

We aim to contact you within two working days to confirm your booking.

Waiting lists

If there is no available place for your course when you go to book, we will add you to a waiting list at your request. 

If a place becomes available, we will contact you by phone. You will then have until 5.00pm the following day (or next day of opening should our office be closed) to accept the place offered. If we do not hear back from you within this time, your place will be offered to the next person on the waiting list. 

No deposit is required if you are placed on a waiting list and we do not share the names of any other people on waiting lists.

Usually, yes. Bed, breakfast and other meal rates apply to non-participating guests and places are subject to availability.

If the non-participating guest wishes to attend sessions an observer’s fee may be payable. Please contact us to discuss your options.

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information about our Essential Companion’s policy. 

On a few courses part-time attendance might be possible. Please contact us to enquire.

Full details of our cancellation policy can be found in our terms and conditions.

Yes. If the course you would like to book is full, let us know you would like to be added to the waiting list. 

If a place becomes available, we will contact you by phone (leaving a voice message if you are unreachable at the time). You will then have until 5pm the following day (or next day of opening should our office be closed) to accept the place offered. If we do not hear back from you within this time, your place will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.

Standard rooms have a washbasin in the room and share a bathroom (normally between up to three rooms).

Our en suite rooms come with their own bathroom with a shower or a bath, wash basin and toilet. Please let us know when you book which you would prefer.

The room has, bedding, towels tea and coffee making facilities. If you need a hair dryer or iron please contact reception or the duty manager.

The site has disabled access, and we have two wheelchair-accessible en suite bedrooms. Find out more about our accessible campus.

Travel instructions can be found here.

This depends on the course. Some courses will ask you to prepare music of your own choosing, some courses require preparation of particular repertoire and other courses require no preparation at all. Please read the course description for further details or contact us.

Please bring your instrument, pencils and any music you wish to work on or have prepared. Please talk to us if it is difficult for you to bring your instrument as occasionally, we may be able to let you borrow one for a small fee (if arranged at least a week in advance). 

No. Our Reception team are there to help you from 9.00am to 5.00pm during your stay.

Either our Duty Manager or security company will be on site out of hours while you are with us. If you have any problems please do not hesitate to call our out of hours contact number: +44 (0)1462 429205.

If the fire alarm sounds during your stay, we have to treat it as a genuine emergency. In each room (including bedrooms), there is a map showing the quickest exit route. The fire assembly point is in the car park at the front of the building, on the left as you leave through the front door.

Absolutely! We have a wonderful library of music scores and music-related books which is run by a small team of brilliant volunteers on most weekday afternoons.

During your stay you are welcome to use the library, which is on the first floor of the main house. If you would like to borrow anything, please record the loan using the form and remember to return any borrowed items before you leave. 

If you are a Benslow Music member, you can borrow things from the library at any time of the year. See our library page for more details.

No, although we do offer some rooms to the public as bed and breakfast rooms. We ask those guests not to use the bar or gardens, which are reserved for music course participants. These activities help to raise funds that support the wider work of our charities.

Your room key will allow you to access all common areas on the site, including practice rooms and the library, as well as your bedroom. 

The lock on the door of Peter Morrison Hall is operated by a numeric keypad. The current code for this door is on the back of your name badge.

Smoking and e-cigarettes are not permitted anywhere on site, including the grounds and gardens, except in the designated smokers’ area. This is situated on the way to Fieldfares - just head towards Waldeck, go through the gate on the right-hand side, and you’ll find two grey benches allocated for smoking. Smoking is not allowed elsewhere on site. 

Breakfast is served between 7.45 and 9am on weekdays, and from 8am on Saturdays and Sundays.

Yes. A free Wi-Fi internet connection is available to laptop, tablet and smartphone users. The password will be displayed on the digital screen in the main foyer.

We have them available for you to borrow. Just ask at Reception.

Please try to keep noise levels low between 11pm and 7.30am. Others might be trying to sleep and we need to respect our neighbours. This includes playing and singing. 

The Benslow Music shop is found in Reception and stocks a small range of toiletries, stationery and Benslow Honey. If you wish to buy anything please ask a member of staff. Within walking distance, there is also a small Tesco store by the station and a convenience store on Walsworth Road.

String and woodwind players who may have difficulty in transporting their own instruments may also be able to borrow from The Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme on short term loan/hire. Please contact the Scheme at least a week before your course by phoning 01462 420748.

Yes, our chefs provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for all residential course participants (lunches and dinners for people on day courses). Tea and coffee are always available, along with fresh fruit. Cakes are laid out in the afternoons. All our food is cooked from scratch by our chefs in our kitchens. Breakfasts and lunches are buffet meals, and dinner is served at the table so you can choose what and how much to eat. 

Yes, we are happy to cater for dietary requirements when we are asked in advance so please let us know when you book if we need to plan something different for you. 

If you have requested a special diet (including vegetarian) please ensure that you are provided with the correct meal. 

If you can’t remember what you asked for, please ask a member of the catering or Reception team so they can check for you.

Unfortunately, with the exception of assistance dogs, we do not allow pets onto any part of our campus. 

You can see our sample timetable here – but please check your course description for any arrangements for your specific course.

Bed and breakfast stays before and/or after the course are often available. Please call us on 01462 459446 to check rates and availability.

Please contact our Reception team. We will do all we can to find it and return it to you. If the item needs to be posted with more than a regular stamp, we will ask you to cover the cost of the postage.

As a course member you are able to book a pre-course practice room between 2.30pm and 4.30pm on the day your course starts, subject to availability. 

Practice rooms are charged by the hour and a price will be confirmed with you, unless you are a current Benslow Music members when we will waive the fee. To book a practice room, please use our enquiry form.
 

Find out more about membership.

You can also consider a Play and Stay option, where practice rooms and bedrooms are reserved for you. Contact us to find out more.