Private Tuition

At Third Note, we strive to go beyond the ordinary, offering students opportunities to enhance their ensemble experiences with a selection of distinctive and rare instruments. Our program includes access to instruments like the alto and bass flute, piccolo, bass clarinet, all saxophones, and even unique brass instruments. By exploring these instruments, students can broaden their musical understanding, engage with uncommon sounds, and find their own artistic voice within a collaborative ensemble setting.

These special instruments not only add depth to our ensemble training but also provide young musicians with the chance to experiment, develop versatility, and elevate their performances. With supportive instructors and small class sizes, every child can feel confident and excited to discover the world of music in new and unexpected ways.

Frequently asked questions

My child has never played an instrument before — is that a problem?

Not at all. Our instructors are trained to work with complete beginners, and many of the instruments we specialize in — bassoon, bass clarinet, double bass — are genuinely better learned from scratch than unlearned from bad habits. Starting fresh is often an advantage.

Are these instruments available to try in Hong Kong?

Yes. Third Note is a short walk from the MTR, and we have instruments available for students to try in person. We can also advise on rental and purchase options once your child has found their instrument.

Most children start with piano or violin — and there's nothing wrong with that. But if your child is drawn to the viola, the bassoon, the double bass, or the alto flute, that instinct is worth following. At Third Note, we help young musicians in Hong Kong discover rare and unusual instruments — and the surprising advantages that come with them.

Why rare instruments change everything

Scholarship committees notice what stands out

Universities and conservatories around the world are actively searching for bassoonists, violists, bass clarinetists, and double bassists. A child who plays piccolo or bass flute is not competing against hundreds of equally qualified applicants — they are, in many cases, filling a genuine gap. The scholarship landscape for rare instruments is not a rumour; it is a well-documented reality that parents of young musicians rarely hear about until it's too late to act on it.

The personal reward is something else entirely

There is a particular confidence that comes from being the only person in the room who plays what you play. A child who commits to the bassoon — its reeds, its resonance, its different look to all other instruments — develops a relationship with music that is genuinely their own.

The oboe asks something different of a student than the trumpet does. The double bass requires a physical commitment and the viola new literacy skills. The saxophone family, from alto to baritone, offers a range of personalities within a single instrument.