Summer schools 2023
Your summer in music starts here
Calling young performers, producers, and songwriters: create and connect with like-minded performers and producers at our fantastic summer schools.
Each year at BIMM Institute, we run a range of summer schools for young people aged 11-17 looking to develop their skills, be creative, gain confidence or simply to just have fun.
We run courses for all genres and tastes of music, so whether you love indie, pop, R&B, rock and metal or electronic music, there’s a summer school for you.
Each summer school runs over five days and consists of:
- Dedicated tuition for your chosen discipline
- Live performance workshops on stage for performers
- Access to music software and hardware for producers
- Special guests throughout the week
What are you waiting for?
Where can I attend a BIMM Summer School?
The BIMM Institute London Summer Schools take place Monday 7 – Friday 11 August 2023:
Contemporary Pop, Indie & R&B Summer School – Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Drum and Keyboards
You’ll learn and develop the key instrumental or vocal skills in discipline-specific groups each morning led by a specialist tutor. Each day you’ll focus on contemporary or classic songs learning your part first before forming bands in the afternoon to workshop the song in one of our live performance rooms. At the end of the week, you’ll take part in an end-of-school gig!
Rock Metal Summer School – Bass, Guitar, and Drums
You’ll learn and develop the key instrumental skills in discipline specific groups each morning led by a specialist tutor. Each day you’ll focus on contemporary or classic song learning your part first before forming bands in the afternoon to workshop the song in one of our live performance rooms (alongside a session singer). At the end of the week, you’ll take part in an end-of-school gig!
Music Production Summer School
You’ll learn and develop key production skills using Ableton to create tracks which you’ll perform at the end of the week. Each day you’ll get hands-on with the Ableton Push controller to create beats and sequences by applying effects and live looping techniques. You’ll have the opportunity to work with a vocalist within a recording studio to add additional elements to your track.
Songwriting Summer School
You’ll learn and develop the key skills needed to create original songs that connect with people. Gain an understanding of contemporary song forms and writing techniques that are used in commercial songwriting, combined with practical methods of vocal recording & production. Techniques include how to create memorable melodies and irresistible lyrics, and how to make your vocal demo stand out with vocal arrangement and dynamics.
Course fee: £299 (bursaries also available – see below)
Location: BIMM Institute London, Barclay House, Effie Road, London SW6 1EN
Time: 10:00-16:00
For more information on the BIMM Institute London Summer Schools please email: [email protected]
Contemporary Rock & Pop Summer School – Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Drum and Keyboards
You’ll learn and develop the key instrumental or vocal skills in discipline-specific groups each morning led by a specialist tutor. Each day you’ll focus on contemporary or classic songs learning your part first before forming bands in the afternoon to workshop the song in one of our live performance rooms. At the end of the week, you’ll take part in an end-of-school gig!
Music Production Summer School
You’ll learn and develop key production skills using DAW software to create a track from the ground up. Our fully equipped Mac suite will have everything you need to create loops and samples to build your final track. You’ll be guided on how each layer builds into a final mix that you can take home with you at the end of the week.
Dates: Monday 7th August to Friday 11th August
Course fee: £299 (bursaries also available – see below)
Location: BIMM Institute Birmingham, Floodgate Street, Birmingham B5 5SR
Time: 10:00-16:00
For more information on the BIMM Institute Birmingham Summer Schools please email: [email protected]
Rock Metal Summer School – Bass, Guitar, and Drums – 14th August – 18th August 2023
You’ll learn and develop key instrumental skills in discipline-specific groups each morning led by a specialist tutor. Each day you’ll focus on contemporary or classic songs learning your part first before forming bands in the afternoon to workshop the song in one of our live performance rooms (alongside a session singer). At the end of the week, you’ll take part in an end-of-school gig!
Music Production Summer School – 14th August – 18th August 2023
You’ll learn and develop key production skills using Ableton to create tracks which you’ll perform at the end of the week. Each day you’ll get hands-on with the Ableton Push controller to create beats and sequences by applying effects and live looping techniques. You’ll have the opportunity to work with a vocalist within a recording studio to add additional elements to your track.
Contemporary Pop, Indie & R&B Summer School – Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Drum and Keyboards – 21st August – 25th August 2023
You’ll learn and develop the key instrumental or vocal skills in discipline-specific groups each morning led by a specialist tutor. Each day you’ll focus on contemporary or classic songs learning your part first before forming bands in the afternoon to workshop the song in one of our live performance rooms. At the end of the week, you’ll take part in an end-of-school gig!
Dates: Monday 14th August to Friday 25th August
Course fee: £299 (bursaries also available – see below)
Location: BIMM Institute Brighton, 38-42, Brunswick Street West, Hone, BN3 1EL
Time: 10:00-16:00
For more information on the BIMM Institute London Summer Schools please email: [email protected]
Contemporary Rock & Pop Summer School – Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Drum and Keyboards
You’ll learn and develop the key instrumental or vocal skills in discipline specific groups each morning led by a specialist tutor. Each day you’ll focus on contemporary or classic song learning your part first before forming bands in the afternoon to workshop the song in one of our live performance rooms. At the end of the week, you’ll take part in an end-of-school gig in our in-house professional venue.
Music Production Summer School
You’ll learn and develop key production skills using Ableton to create track which you’ll perform at the end of the week. Each day you’ll get hands-on with the Ableton Push controller to create beats and sequences applying effects and live looping techniques. You’ll have the opportunity to work with a vocalist within a recording studio to add additional elements to your track.
Songwriting Summer School
You’ll learn and develop the key skills needed to create original songs that connect with people. Gain an understanding of contemporary song forms and writing techniques that are used in commercial songwriting, combined with practical methods of vocal recording & production. Techniques include how to create memorable melodies and irresistible lyrics, and how to make your vocal demo stand out with vocal arrangement and dynamics.
Dates: Monday 7th August to Friday 11th August
Course fee: £299 (bursaries also available – see below)
Location: BIMM Institute Bristol, St James’ House, Moon Street, Bristol BS2 8QY
Time: 10:00-16:00
For more information on the BIMM Institute Bristol Summer Schools please email: [email protected]
Contemporary Pop, Indie & R&B, and Production Summer School – Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Drums, and Studio Production
You’ll learn and develop the key instrumental or vocal skills in discipline-specific groups each morning led by a specialist tutor. Each day you’ll focus on contemporary or classic songs learning your part first before forming bands in the afternoon to workshop the song in one of our live performance rooms. You’ll participate in an end-of-school gig at the end of the week!
You can also learn and develop key production skills using Ableton to create tracks that you’ll perform at the end of the week. Each day you’ll get hands-on with the Ableton Push controller to create beats and sequences by applying effects and live looping techniques. You’ll have the opportunity to work with a vocalist within a recording studio to add additional elements to your track.
Dates: Monday 31 July – Friday 4 August 2023
Course fee: £299 (bursaries also available – see below)
Location: BIMM Institute Manchester, Bank Chambers, Faulkner St, Manchester M1 4EH
Time: 10:00-16:00
For more information on the BIMM Institute Manchester Summer Schools please email: Creative Industries Manchester at [email protected]
2023 BIMM Summer Schools Participation Bursary
A Participation Bursary can be offered to students from backgrounds identified in our Access and Participation Plan. The bursary enables participation in the BIMM summer schools by providing the full fee to cover the course cost, as well as travel, lunch and access to instruments* where needed. This is a fantastic opportunity to get a taste of BIMM life and to find out what it is like to study a music course at BIMM.
*subject to availability
The Participation Bursary is for UK residents between the ages of 11 and 17 years with full consent from their parent and/or guardian.
You must meet ONE of these criteria to be eligible:
- Be in care, a recent care leaver or care experienced
- Be a young carer
- Be an asylum seeker or refugee
- Be from a military family
- Be from a minority ethnic background
- Live in a household that receives income assessed benefits (these include free school meals, income support, income-related job seekers allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, carers allowance, universal credit, local authority housing benefit, council tax support)
- Live in an area considered a low socio-economic background (we can review this with your postcode)
- Have a registered disability
If you believe you are eligible, please make sure you tick the ‘I believe I am eligible for a bursary’ box on the register your interest form and we will be in touch to assist you further.
You can read our Access and Participation Plans here.
We are committed to being inclusive of disabled people and anyone with access requirements. You are welcome to get in touch to discuss how best we can support you to make the most of the week.
For more information contact: [email protected]
International applicant guidance
According to the current Immigration rules in the UK, international visitors can undertake a short course for study in the UK on a Standard Visitor visa. Download our Advice for International Applicants HERE
Please contact our team if you require further guidance: [email protected]
