Assisted purchase scheme for musical instruments

The scheme lets you buy new or second-hand musical instruments VAT free if you receive lessons from us in a local authority school.

Although it may be possible to arrange the loan of a musical instrument, it will usually be necessary to buy or hire one.

If your child is having lessons from a county music service teacher in a North Yorkshire local authority school, you can buy an instrument without paying VAT, thanks to the assisted purchase scheme.

Under the scheme, instruments can be bought new or second-hand from many local shops. Alternatively, you can buy through us from a panel of suppliers who have agreed, for example, to make some instruments available on four-month approval. It's for you to decide whether or not taking advantage of such a purchase outweighs the benefits of local after-sales service. You should take advice from music service staff at County Hall and the music service teachers before purchase is made by either method.

New students should not commit to buying before availability of lessons has been confirmed. Existing students can obtain an assisted purchase scheme form from their tutor.

To make use of our online payment facility below, you must have completed an assisted purchase scheme application and had this accepted by the county music service.

Find out more about the assisted purchase scheme for musical instruments.

Pay for your musical instrument or instrumental lessons

You can pay for a musical instrument VAT-free as part of the Assisted Purchase Scheme online. Please ensure you have completed the form and checked your entitlement with the music service team before making payment.

If you have already ordered an instrument you can make payment of £15 using the button below. You should disregard the delivery address option as delivery will be to your child's school.

Pay for an Assisted Purchase Scheme musical instrument

If you want to pay for music lessons, instrument hire, or music service please use the payment link on the music lessons and instrument hire page.

Contacting the county music service

Contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Does it make any difference where I purchase my instrument from?

We are happy to operate the scheme for purchases from all shops - it is for the purchaser to decide where the order will be placed bearing in mind such things as after-sales service, price, repairs etc.

Are there any costs involved in the local education authority organising the purchase for me?

A standard charge of £15 is made for each purchase. This is applied at the time the order is placed irrespective of when you choose to pay for the instrument (various options are available).

Further Information

Further information is available from North Yorkshire Music Hub website.