Enjoyment First
Students make the best progress when they enjoy the music they are learning and feel excited to come back.
About Cirencester Music Academy
A Friendly Place to Learn, Play and Love Music
Cirencester Music Academy is a community-focused music school and instrument shop in the heart of Cirencester.
Created by husband-and-wife team Stuart and Nicki Elwin, the academy brings music lessons, instruments, advice and performance opportunities together under one roof.
Our aim is simple: to make learning music welcoming, enjoyable and accessible for children, teenagers and adults — without the stuffiness, pressure or unnecessary jargon.
Why We Created the Academy
A local music academy built around real people.
Cirencester Music Academy grew from a shared belief that music lessons should feel inspiring, personal and genuinely enjoyable.
Stuart has spent years performing as a singer and guitarist, teaching guitar and helping people grow in confidence through music. Together, Stuart and Nicki wanted to create the kind of place they would be happy to recommend to their own friends and family: friendly, organised, supportive and rooted in the local community.
Proudly based in Cirencester
Friendly, personal support
Music for every age and ability
A place to grow for the long term
The result is more than a collection of teaching rooms. It is a place where students can learn, musicians can connect, families can get honest advice and people of all ages can feel comfortable making music.
What Matters to Us
Every decision we make — from choosing teachers to designing our studios — comes back to a few simple principles.
Personal Learning
Lessons are shaped around each student’s age, experience, interests, pace and ambitions — not a rigid one-size-fits-all programme.
Confidence Without Pressure
We create a relaxed environment where asking questions, making mistakes and trying something new are all part of learning.
Local Community
We want the academy to be a positive part of Cirencester: supporting local musicians, families, schools and events.
Lessons, Instruments and Support in One Place
Everything you need to keep making music.
Cirencester Music Academy combines purpose-built teaching studios with a welcoming music shop, so students and local musicians can get lessons, instruments, accessories and straightforward advice in one place.
We offer personalised tuition across a growing range of instruments, with friendly teachers who understand that every student arrives with different goals.
Comfortable, purpose-built teaching studios
Friendly teachers and personalised lessons
Instruments, accessories and practical advice
Opportunities to perform and celebrate progress
Whether you need help choosing a first instrument, replacing a broken string, preparing for a performance or finding the right teacher, we are here to make the musical bits easier.
Meet Stuart and Nicki
Cirencester Music Academy is owned and run by Stuart and Nicki Elwin, a husband-and-wife team who care deeply about creating a welcoming, well-run place for local people to enjoy music.
Stuart Elwin
Co-founder, Musician and Guitar Teacher
Stuart is a singer, guitarist, performer and teacher with a long-standing love of helping people enjoy music.
Alongside performing at pubs, venues, weddings and private events, he teaches acoustic and electric guitar to children and adults. His approach is friendly, practical and centred on helping students play music they genuinely enjoy.
At the academy, Stuart helps shape the teaching experience, supports the teacher team and brings a working musician’s perspective to lessons, instruments and performance opportunities.
Musical life: Singing, acoustic and electric guitar, live performance and teaching
At the academy: Teaching, musical direction, instruments and student experience
Nicki Elwin
Co-founder and Business Partner
Nicki is Stuart’s wife, business partner and a driving force behind Cirencester Music Academy.
She helps turn the academy’s ideas into a welcoming, organised experience for students, parents, teachers and shop visitors. From planning and recruitment to the many practical details behind the scenes, Nicki’s focus is making sure people feel looked after from their first enquiry onwards.
Together, Nicki and Stuart are building the academy around care, community and the belief that music should feel accessible to everyone.
Focus: People, organisation, community and the day-to-day academy experience
At the academy: Operations, student and parent support, recruitment and planning
More Than Weekly Lessons
A musical community that can grow with you.
Learning an instrument is not only about what happens during a lesson. It is also about discovering new music, meeting other musicians, building confidence and having opportunities to share what you can do.
As the academy grows, we want to create regular performances, workshops, local partnerships and events that give students something exciting to work towards — always in a friendly and supportive setting.
Friendly performance opportunities
Workshops and musical experiences
Connections with local schools and events
A place to celebrate every kind of progress
Some students will want exams and performances. Others will simply want thirty enjoyable minutes of music each week. Both are equally welcome here.
Come and Meet Us
Whether you are looking for music lessons, choosing an instrument or simply curious about the academy, you are very welcome to get in touch or visit us in Cirencester.
Tell us what you are interested in and we will point you in the right direction — without making it complicated.