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
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. Nicki has been a performing singer for years and loves seeing the difference music, encouragement and passion can bring to people’s lives.
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.
A local music academy built around real people.
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.
Proudly based in Cirencester
Friendly, personal support
Music for every age and ability
A place to grow for the long term
What Matters to Us
Every decision we make, from choosing teachers to carefully curating the instruments in our shop, 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
Cirencester Music Academy combines teaching studios with a music shop at 15 Dyer Street. We teach acoustic and electric guitar, singing, drums, ukulele, piano and violin to children, teenagers and adults.
Visit for instruments, accessories and advice whether or not you take lessons with us.
Everything you need to keep making music.
Comfortable, purpose-built teaching studios
Friendly teachers and personalised lessons
Instruments, accessories and practical advice
Opportunities to perform and celebrate progress
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 & All Things Music
Stuart brings together years of performing, teaching and playing music with a genuine passion for helping other people discover how much fun making music can be.
A singer and guitarist, Stuart has spent many years performing at pubs, venues, weddings, festivals and private events, both solo and as part of various bands and collaborations. Alongside performing, he teaches acoustic and electric guitar to children and adults, with a relaxed and practical approach that focuses on getting people playing music they actually love.
Stuart is a familiar face on the local music scene, regularly gigging around the area and hosting open mic nights alongside Nicki. He is passionate about supporting local musicians and creating opportunities for people to play together, perform and build confidence; whether they are picking up an instrument for the very first time or have been playing for years.
At the academy, Stuart leads on the musical side of things, from teaching and supporting the teacher team to choosing instruments for the shop and developing workshops, performances and opportunities for students. His focus is on making music accessible, enjoyable and never intimidating.
Musical life: Singing, acoustic and electric guitar, piano, live performance, open mic nights and teaching
At the academy: Teaching, musical direction, instruments, teacher support and student experience
Nicki Elwin
Co-founder, Musician & All Things People
Nicki brings together a background in business and people management with a lifelong love of music and the local music scene.
A former HR Director, Nicki now runs her own successful HR consultancy, working with businesses to build great teams and create places where people enjoy being. She brings that same experience to Cirencester Music Academy, leading much of the business, people and operational side of the academy and making sure that, behind the music, everything works as it should.
Nicki is also a singer and performing musician herself, regularly gigging locally and hosting open mic nights alongside Stuart. She has long been a supporter of local musicians and is passionate about creating more opportunities for people of all ages to learn, play, perform and be part of a musical community.
At the academy, Nicki’s focus is on making sure students, parents, teachers and visitors feel welcome and looked after from the moment they walk through the door and on helping turn Nicki and Stuart’s slightly crazy idea into the thriving, friendly music hub they imagined.
Musical life: Singing, live performance, open mic nights and championing local music
At the academy: Business operations, people, recruitment, student and parent experience and community
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.