Finding the best music schools in Tauranga starts with knowing whether you want private lessons, group classes or a formal qualification. A good music school in Tauranga will teach piano, guitar, drums and vocals to children, teens and adults, with performance opportunities that build real confidence on stage. Mount Music School in Mount Maunganui and Upton Music School in Ōtūmoetai are two places to start.
1Mount Music School
Mount Music School runs private and group music lessons for all ages and levels from the Mount College music department on Maunganui Road. Lessons follow a personalised but structured curriculum, with each student’s programme built around their own interests and goals. It suits beginners through to experienced players, including students keen to join or form a band.
Services
- Private 30-minute lessons in piano, bass, drums, guitar, vocals, brass and saxophone
- Group 45-minute classes in beginner guitar, ukulele and drums
- Piano lessons for casual playing or Trinity exam preparation
- Band formation and band development support
Highlights
- Published term pricing: $360 per nine-week term for private lessons, $220 for group lessons
- Co-founder Matt Bodman taught secondary school music for 20 years, including 12 as Head of Department at Ōtūmoetai College
- Vocal teacher Emily Bodman is classically trained with a musical theatre background
- Performance opportunities for individuals, groups and student bands
Location & Contact
Name: Mount Music School
Address: Mount College Music Department, 565 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui 3116
Phone: 027 466 8558
Website: mountmusicschool.co.nz
2Upton Music School
Upton Music School teaches vocals, piano, guitar, bass and drums both inside partner schools, using its portable music trucks, and after school from the Ōtūmoetai College music studios. Its Jam Bus programme lets tamariki try different instruments and play together as a band. It suits primary and intermediate aged children and families who want lessons delivered during the school day.
Services
- Vocal, piano, guitar, bass and drum tuition
- In-school lessons from portable music trucks
- The Jam Bus group band programme
- Holiday programmes in the Term 2 and Term 4 school holidays
- Student concerts with professional sound, stage and lighting
Highlights
- Partners with a large number of kura across Tauranga
- Student to kaiako pathway that trains senior students as tutors
- Director Andrew Upton holds a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)
- Uses its trucks and bus each year to deliver Christmas presents to Oranga Tamariki
Location & Contact
Name: Upton Music School
Address: Ōtūmoetai, Tauranga
Website: uptonmusicschool.co.nz
3McNeilly Music
McNeilly Music is a guitar-focused tuition business run by Adam McNeilly, offering acoustic and electric guitar lessons for students of all ages at his studio and in local schools. Its team of musicians also teaches guitar and drums in schools around Tauranga, Pāpāmoa, Te Puke and Mount Maunganui. It suits guitar students who want lessons tailored to the music they want to play.
Services
- Acoustic guitar lessons
- Electric guitar lessons
- Private studio sessions
- Guitar and drum lessons in schools
Highlights
- Founder has over 20 years of playing experience
- Eight years running McNeilly Music
- Teaches in schools across Tauranga, Pāpāmoa, Te Puke and Mount Maunganui
Location & Contact
Name: McNeilly Music
Address: Tauranga
Website: mcneillymusic.com
4Mauao Performing Arts Centre
Mauao Performing Arts Centre (MauaoPAC) is a registered charitable trust running a music academy from 11 Totara Street in Mount Maunganui, alongside its TOTARA ST live venue. Tutors are working musicians, and lessons build towards performing at one of four end of term student concerts on the TOTARA ST stage. As a community trust rather than a private studio, it combines tuition with choir, drama and holiday programmes under one roof.
Services
- One-on-one lessons in drums, guitar, bass, voice, piano, keyboards, percussion, saxophone, violin and ukulele
- MauaoPAC Contemporary Choir and kids choir
- School holiday music programme and DJ Academy
- Group drama classes
- Special needs workshops
Highlights
- Founded in 2010, registered with the Charities Commission in 2012
- Five teaching studios plus an audio recording and video editing suite
- 400-capacity TOTARA ST performance space used for student concerts
- Four end of term student concerts each year
Location & Contact
Name: Mauao Performing Arts Centre
Address: 11 Totara Street, Mount Maunganui
Phone: 0800 11 22 41
Website: mauaopac.co.nz
5Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology
Toi Ohomai is the public institute of technology for the Bay of Plenty, and it delivers the New Zealand Diploma in Music (Level 5) in Tauranga and Rotorua. Unlike weekly lesson providers, this is a one-year tertiary qualification with an audition for entry, suited to school leavers and adults aiming to work in music. The Tauranga campus is on Windermere Drive in Poike.
Services
- New Zealand Diploma in Music (Level 5)
- Advanced performance, composition and music theory
- Advanced music technology
Highlights
- One-year full-time programme of 120 credits, with part-time study available
- Entry by audition on your instrument or voice
- Course meets StudyLink requirements for student loans and allowances
- Campus facilities include a music recording studio and radio station
Location & Contact
Name: Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Windermere Campus
Address: 70 Windermere Drive, Poike, Tauranga
Phone: 07 571 0190
Website: toiohomai.ac.nz/locations/tauranga/windermere-campus
Music Schools in Tauranga at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Mount Music School | Published term pricing |
| Upton Music School | Partners with a large number of kura across Tauranga |
| McNeilly Music | Founder has over 20 years of playing experience |
| Mauao Performing Arts Centre | Founded in 2010, registered with the Charities Commission in 2012 |
| Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology | One-year full-time programme of 120 credits |
How to Choose the Right Music School in Tauranga
- Private or group: one-on-one lessons move at your pace, while group classes and band programmes are a cheaper, social way to start.
- Instrument and style: check the school teaches your instrument and the style you want, whether that is rock guitar, musical theatre vocals or classical piano.
- Exams and qualifications: if you want Trinity or ABRSM grades, or a tertiary diploma, confirm the teacher or provider prepares students for them.
- Performance opportunities: regular student concerts and band support give learners a goal to work towards and build stage confidence.
- Location and timing: lessons held at school during the day, or at a studio close to home after school, make it far easier to stick with.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tauranga Music Schools
How much do music lessons in Tauranga cost?
Most providers charge by the term rather than per lesson. Private 30-minute lessons commonly run to a few hundred dollars for a school term, and group classes cost noticeably less. Ask whether the fee covers every week of the term and what happens with missed lessons.
What age can children start music lessons?
Many children start group classes or ukulele in the early primary years, then move to private lessons on piano, guitar or drums once they can practise independently. Adults of any age can start as beginners too.
Where can I find a music school near Mount Maunganui or Ōtūmoetai?
Mount Maunganui has music tuition on Maunganui Road and at Totara Street, while Ōtūmoetai has after-school lessons in local college music studios. Several Tauranga music teachers also teach inside primary and intermediate schools, so ask your child’s school which tutors already visit.
Do Tauranga music schools prepare students for exams?
Some teachers prepare students for graded exams such as Trinity College London, while others focus on contemporary playing, bands and performance. If exam grades matter to you, ask the teacher directly before enrolling.
Can I study music at tertiary level in Tauranga?
Yes. A Level 5 music diploma is available in Tauranga through the regional institute of technology. You can check that a provider and qualification are approved on the NZQA website, and see whether you qualify for fees help or a student loan through StudyLink.
Are group lessons or private lessons better for beginners?
Group lessons are a low-cost way to find out whether an instrument suits you, and band programmes teach students to play with others. Private lessons give more individual feedback and usually lead to faster progress once a student is committed.
Which instruments can I learn at a music school in Tauranga?
Piano, keyboard, guitar, bass, drums and vocals are widely taught across the city. Some providers also teach saxophone, brass, violin, percussion and ukulele, along with choir and holiday programmes.
How We Chose the Best Music Schools in Tauranga
Every business in this guide was found by searching for music schools in Tauranga, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Tauranga, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.