Our Origins: The Foundation of Solihull Music School

As lifelong residents of Solihull, Jane, Philip, and their daughters have deep roots in the local community.

Their youngest daughter, Kate, demonstrated exceptional musical talent from an early age. In 2002, responding to local demand, Kate began offering keyboard lessons from their family home.

Her teaching quickly became popular, leading to an overwhelming request for more lessons.

In 2003, Philip and Jane, after deciding to retire early and live a quiet life, instead changed their minds and decided they wanted a new venture!

Inspired by their close relationships with Kate's students and their families, they established Solihull Music School.

The Birth of Solihull Music School

Finding the ideal location on Barston Lane in Eastcote, just outside Knowle, Solihull Music School was set up to initially offer keyboard lessons. As demand increased, the school expanded its offerings to include guitar, drums, and vocal training, employing passionate and skilled teachers.

Our Teaching Philosophy

The school's teaching philosophy has been heavily influenced by the Yamaha method, which Kate studied from a young age. This method emphasizes learning music by listening, imitating, and then reading—mirroring the natural language learning process. This method is taught throughout each lesson in the current school and we are still affiliated with Yamaha Music.

Growth and Recognition

Endorsed by Yamaha Music Schools (Europe), Solihull Music School quickly established a reputation for excellence. Within just two years, Yamaha endorsed the expansion of their course offerings and provided specialized training and master classes for their teachers at their headquarters in Milton Keynes.

Our Current Location

In 2006, the school moved to The Barn Studios in Catherine-de-Barnes, Solihull, featuring five spacious studios that welcome numerous students weekly. The serene, barn-conversion setting offered ample parking and a peaceful learning environment… In late 2024 we were given notice by the farmer/ landlord as they loved the building we were in so much that they wanted it as their own home. This change meant that Kate was facing a big move, with over 300 students to relocate and only 6 months to do it.

After careful consideration, and a lot of planning, Solihull Music School found it’s new home in Knowle on the High Street. This means that 5 generations of Kate’s family have now worked in Knowle!

Adapting to Challenges

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic prompted significant changes, disrupting traditional teaching methods.

Kate’s husband, Brendan, an IT expert, developed an online platform that allowed teachers to upload live lessons for students to access anytime, facilitating uninterrupted learning and exam preparation during the pandemic.

This idea of never missing a lesson was where our latest slogan comes from. “Never Miss a Lesson!”

The Future of Solihull Music School

Despite resuming in-person lessons post-pandemic, the online portal continues to be an invaluable resource. All lessons are recorded and made available to students to ensure they never miss a learning opportunity due to illness or other commitments.

Join Our Family

Discover what makes Solihull Music School a leader in music education. Sign up for a free taster lesson, meet our dedicated teachers, and experience our unique teaching approach firsthand. We look forward to welcoming you to our musical family.