About the Business

It's time to progress. Next term we are offering 1-2-1 lessons on our normal range of instruments, daytime options on guitar and drums, evening courses in beginner and intermediate rock guitar and bass, Saturday Band Workshops and a concert in Dec.

At the Institute of Contemporary Music we are proud to have some of the best qualified and most experienced tutors in Northern Ireland. We believe in teaching pupils, not only the technical and theoretical skills required to proceed into the world of professional music making, but also developing the necessary performance capability through live gigs at the end of term.

This exposure to the 'real world' of live music making is invaluable to students eager to develop performance skills. We only have one requirement for new students, that they want to learn. We are now in our 11thyear of operation and hope you enjoy studying with us at our new bigger and better institute.

Business Services

Our Services

Our Services

Tuition:

Most lessons are taught on a one-to-one basis with your tutor but we also do group lessons for beginner guitar and vocals. The price for tuition is £17.50 per half-hour lesson and if you are happy with your initial lesson you are required to sign up and pay for the term in full or by instalments. Students can start at ICM at any week in any term. Note that there is an installment charge of £5 / installment. Student discount of 10% is available upon production of a valid student ID. The 10% discount is only applicable for full-term payments when the bill is settled in full.

By learning at the ICM performance opportunities are available as we organise regular concerts and performances, such as our upcoming Christmas concert. Every year at ICM the best pupil also receives the Music Matters Cup for Student Of The Year.

Guitar:

We teach the following guitar styles…Blues, rock, pop, jazz, finger-style, acoustic, classical, heavy metal, reggae, funk. Techniques include chord playing, soloing, alternate picking, sweep picking, slide playing, open tunings, and many more. ICM has 4 guitar tutors, some of the best players in Ireland, all having music teaching diploma qualifications or higher and all are performing musicians with many years teaching experience.

We can help you get a grade – Rockschool, AB, RGT, other boards, or help with the basic or advanced techniques. We’ll teach you to read music on guitar, how to transcribe from CD, or simply come to be inspired and revitalise your guitar playing with a dose of enthusiasm and excitement. Students must have their own guitar – electric (and a lead) or acoustic.

Bass:

We have a dedicated bass tutor. Many other schools use guitar teachers to teach bass: Bass students deserve a Bass teacher. We do styles – rock, pop, reggae, James Jamerson, jazz, slap, Jaco Pastorius, Musical Theatre, etc plus reading skills using Bass Clef. Students must have their own electroic bass + lead.

Drums:

ICM teach RockSchool syllabus and also stylised playing – rock, pop, blues, funk, rocabilly, country, jazz, metal plus others. Our drum dept teachers are fluent sight readers and incorporate reading music into their lessons. The drum studio has 2 kits for teacher and pupil so that all points may be easily demonstrated without having to move from the kit. There is also a PA in the drum booth for play-along to CD’s. Enrolled students can practice at ICM free of charge.

Students don’t have to have their own kit initially, but it will be essential to have a drum kit to practice on in order for progress to made or grades taken. As a guide, expect to have a kit in your second term of lessons.

Piano:

Diploma qualified teachers can help you get a grade, AB, Trinity or RockSchool. We teach up to Diploma / Licenciate level in either classical or modern styles. Most piano students tend to work through the AB grades including the newer AB Jazz syllabus, all of which are predominantly for solo piano. Some prefer to play keys in a rock and pop style using the RockSchool syllabus which is aimed at band players.We teach piano with sight reading but also use ear training to assist progress. We also offer training in the art of accompanying choirs, ensenmbles, bands and soloists. For keyboard work, students can learn about chord spelling and voicings.

Vocals:

Our vocal dept is one of the most exciting places to improve singing. We have 5 top vocal coaches who have a wealth of experience and cover pretty much all singing styles. Classical, rock and pop, jazz, musical theatre, worship music, barber-shop, singer-songwriter, harmonies screaming for punk & hardcore, beatboxing and belting. All of the teachers help develop range and vocal support for healthy singing (including breathing and posture) to develop secure technique. Our tutors work full abdominal breathing for strong breath support as well as expansion of the controlled vocal range.

We can coach you through grades 1 to 8 in classical (AB), rock and pop (RockSchool) and others (Trinity etc) and also offer Diploma preparation for advanced students and aspiring teachers.

Location & Hours

2-4 University Road

Belfast, BT7 1NH
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