Information

This page gives the following detailed information about SaMS:

Where we meet
Dates of our meetings and concerts
How to join SaMS
Voluntary helpers
SaMS trustees and committee
Financial support

There are details of our workshops and lessons and the SaMS staff on other pages. All this information is in the SaMS information sheet which you can download from here. You may also be interested in the SaMS leaflet.

Where we meet

SaMS meets at the Ariel Centre, the arts centre of King Edward VI Community College (KEVICC) in Totnes, Devon. The Ariel Centre is in the KEVICC main school site on the west side of Ashburton Road (the left side coming out of Totnes). There is ample parking. Here is a map showing you how to find us.

If you are new to SaMS please come to the reception desk in the Ariel Centre foyer, sign-posted from the car park. A helper on the reception desk will answer your query or direct you to the room you need.

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Dates of our meetings and concerts

Weekly meetings

SaMS meets every Saturday morning during term time from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

The dates of our meetings this year are:

Concerts

The last meeting of each term is followed by a concert. All the SaMS young musicians perform for the benefit of parents, relatives, friends and anyone else who is interested. This is your chance to see what the students have learned so please come along and enjoy the music.

Concerts start at 1.00pm and finish at about 2.30pm. The dates of our concerts this year are as follows; please make a note in your diary now.

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How to join SaMS

Decide which workshops and/or lessons you want to do. You can do this in advance or come along and decide when you get here. If you are unsure please talk to us; we can suggest what is suitable for you.

Registration

Before you begin you will need to complete a registration form. You can download it from here or fill one in at the reception desk. It must be signed by a parent or guardian (unless the student is 18).

It is important that you do this before joining a workshop or lesson. The form contains essential contact information which we must have in an emergency. It is also includes our conditions for accepting students and it is important that you have read and understood these before signing the agreement.

Membership fees

Students who take part in SaMS workshops will need to pay an annual membership fee, at the same time as they register. This is £65 for one session per week, reducing to £50 and £25 for those joining in the Spring and Summer terms. For students attending two or three sessions per week, the annual membership fee is £130, reducing to £90 and £45 for those joining in the Spring and Summer terms. If you pay in advance, before the Summer Concert in July, you get a discounted rate of £60 for one session per week and £120 for two or three sessions per week. Students who only have lessons and do not attend any workshops do not to pay a membership fee.

Gift Aid

SaMS is a registered charity and can reclaim income tax on your subscriptions. If you are a taxpayer, please ensure you complete the Gift Aid declaration on the registration form. This will allow us to reclaim tax at no cost to you.

Tuition costs

Instrumental lessons are charged at £27 an hour, pro rata. They should be arranged directly with the tutor who will agree the time, duration and sharing arrangements with you. Please contact us if you need any assistance with arranging lessons. Tutors will invoice you directly for instrumental tuition.

Bursaries are available for those on low incomes; please contact us for details.

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Voluntary helpers

SaMS relies on voluntary helpers to man the reception desk, answer enquiries, run the tuck shop, organise concerts, act as stewards and provide admin support. We are particularly grateful to Rachel Lester who mans the reception desk and runs the tuck shop each Saturday morning.

If you would like to help please contact us. You could help on Saturday mornings (it doesn't have to be every week or all morning), or you could help at concerts, or provide admin support in your own time.

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SaMS trustees and committee

The policies and activities of SaMS are guided by the trustees working with the SaMS committee. The board of trustees is responsible for the general control and management of the charity, setting it's vision, strategy and polices, and ensuring that it remains accountable, complies with the law and manages its finances effectively. The committee include representatives of KEVICC music department, students, parents and tutors. They meet regularly to review progress, provide guidance and plan for the future.

The members of the SaMS committee are:

Our most recent Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 29th January at the Ariel Centre; here are the minutes of the meeting.

Our next AGM is at 12.30 pm on Saturday 25th February 2012. AGMs are open to all students, parents, helpers, staff and supporters; please come along and support us. As well as the usual business, the main topic of discussion will be our recent application to Youth Music for funding for the next 18 months. By then we should have heard whether or not we have got through the first round and the implications of the decision either way. Here is the agenda of the AGM.

The trustees of SaMS are Jill Bird, David Blood, Jacqui Milstead and Sue Snell.

New trustees would be most welcome. Becoming a trustee provides an opportunity to use the skills and experience you have gained in your life and career to help a charity to improve people's lives. As a trustee you will be working as part of a team, meeting new people from all walks of life, sharing skills and ideas, and overcoming challenges. An effective board of trustees is crucial to the difference a charity can make. You would meet with the SaMS committee 5 or 6 times a year, for 2 hours. If you feel you can give the time please contact us. Thank you.

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Financial support

SaMS was started in November 2000 with funding from Youth Music and King Edward VI Community College Foundation Governors. In the past it has been largely funded by KEVICC as part of their Performing Arts Specialist status. From September 2011 SaMS has been financially independent and needs to raise funds to cover its costs and keep fees at a reasonable level.

We continue to receive a small amount of funding from KEVICC and are able to use the college facilities. The Meadowbrook Charitable Trust and individual donors have given us grants, for which we are very grateful. We are actively seeking other sources of funding. If you have any queries or suggestions about SaMS funding please contact the Friends of SaMS, or Lewis, or any member of the Committee.

SaMS is a registered charity, number 1121759.

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