The DaCapo Music Foundation

What The DaCapo Music Foundation does

The DaCapo Music Foundation is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1136051) founded in 1991 by Jane Cutler and Michelle Groves that delivers music education grounded in Kodály and Eurhythmics (Dalcroze) methodology. Its core product is the Saturday Centre at Wren Academy in North London, which serves approximately 150 children and adults weekly through ensemble classes, musicianship training, individual instrumental lessons, and cafe concerts, with free taster sessions driving acquisition. Complementing the Saturday Centre, DaCapo delivers classroom music and instrumental lessons directly inside 11 primary schools in North London under contracted partnership arrangements, reaching pupils during school hours.

Beyond direct delivery, the organisation operates a proprietary six-Tool-Box curriculum and a one-year teacher training placement programme that produces DaCapo-certified teachers, addressing a chronic music teacher quality gap in UK primary schools. DaCapo Online (DaCapo Primary Music) is a subscription whiteboard platform launched in September 2022 at £50 per class per year, enabling class teachers without music backgrounds to deliver lessons alongside pupils. The charity also runs Dovetail DaCapo (free music-making for asylum seekers and refugees in Barnet), the Attacca orchestra programme for under-served school children, and short INSET/CPD courses.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: recurring programme fees from Saturday Centre families, subscription revenue from DaCapo Online, contracted fees from primary school partnerships, professional services revenue from teacher training and CPD, and donations plus grants supporting bursaries. The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates with approximately 16 core musicians and 11 additional Saturday musicians plus administrative staff.

Name

The DaCapo Music Foundation

Legal name

The DaCapo Music Foundation

Website

https://dacapo.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The DaCapo Music Foundation is a UK-registered music education charity, founded in 1991, that delivers Kodály and Eurhythmics-based music education through a Saturday Centre, 11 primary school partnerships, online classroom resources, and teacher training programmes across North London.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7) (EDAMANAD), Online / Virtual Music Instruction & Platforms (EDAMANAI), Music Theory, Ear Training & Musicianship (EDAMANAF)

Keywords

• Music education services
• Primary school music
• Teacher training programs
• Kodály music method
• Online music platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Borehamwood

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Programme Fees: Fees charged for Saturday Centre music lessons and programmes for children and adults
2. School Partnership Contracts: Providing classroom music and instrumental lessons in 11 primary schools in North London through contracted partnerships
3. Teacher Training Courses: Revenue from one-year placement training programmes and INSET/CPD training courses for musicians and class teachers
4. Donations and Bursaries: Charitable donations supporting bursaries for children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and free music-making for asylum seekers and refugees
5. DaCapo Online Subscriptions: Subscription-based access to DaCapo Primary Music whiteboard technology for classroom music delivery

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The DaCapo Music Foundation is a UK-registered music education charity (Charity Number 1136051) that delivers Kodály- and Eurhythmics-based music education through three primary channels: a Saturday Centre for individual children at Wren Academy, classroom music partnerships with 11 primary schools across North London, and a subscription-based online platform called DaCapo Primary Music. The foundation also runs teacher training courses, a bursary programme, and the Dovetail DaCapo initiative for asylum seekers and refugees.

Product overview

DaCapo Music Foundation offers a unified music education ecosystem comprising the Saturday Centre as its core programme for learners of all ages, supplemented by Classroom Music for primary schools, Instrumental Lessons in Schools, and comprehensive Teacher Training. The DaCapo Primary Music subscription service provides online whiteboard technology for classroom delivery. Additional offerings include Dovetail DaCapo for asylum seekers and refugees, and INSET/CPD Training courses. All programmes are grounded in Kodály and Eurythmics principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dovetail DaCapo: Free weekly music-making sessions for asylum seekers and refugees in Barnet, providing a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Attacca

Products and services

• DaCapo Saturday Centre Weekly Saturday music classes for primary-school-aged children held at Wren Academy, delivering Kodály- and Eurhythmics-based musicianship training through the foundation's six Tool-Box curriculum. Designed for individual children and families in North London.
• School Partnership Programme (Classroom Music)
• DaCapo Primary Music (Online Platform)
• DaCapo Teacher Training
• Dovetail DaCapo Community Programme
• DaCapo Music Shop

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 pupils taught over 30+ years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Young People's Puppet TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration to launch the Afternoon of Music and Puppets (AMP) - a Saturday afternoon programme combining music and puppetry. Includes family workshops, a summer school, and a final performance with professional musicians. Funded by Lottery Community Fund with approximately £10,000 grant.
• The Yehudi Menuhin SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022DaCapo appointed as consultants for Yehudi Menuhin School's early years programme launching in the next academic year. Headmaster Ben Gudka commented: 'We are thrilled to be working with DaCapo on this project and feel that we have found the perfect partner to help us develop a world-class offering.' Awarded just under £10,000 by the Lottery Community Fund to realise this programme.
• Wren AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWren Academy is the host venue for DaCapo's Saturday Centre and is a key partner for instrumental lessons. The partnership is fundamental to DaCapo's operations as it provides the physical location for weekly Saturday sessions serving approximately 150 students.
• Fantasia OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner on the DaCapo website. The partnership may involve collaborative concerts or performance opportunities for DaCapo students.
• Proms at St. Jude'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner on the DaCapo website. May provide performance venues or collaborative music projects.
• Dovetail DaCapocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free weekly music-making sessions for asylum seekers and refugees in Barnet. Co-creates music bringing together musical ideas, memories and sounds from participants' homelands, building towards high-standard concerts. Light refreshments and informal conversation spaces provided.
• Trinity College of MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed among 9 organisations partnered with DaCapo for creative partnerships including Trinity College of Music, Aurora Orchestra, and Learning Horizon.
• Aurora OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed among 9 organisations partnered with DaCapo for creative partnerships.
• Learning HorizonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed among 9 organisations partnered with DaCapo for creative partnerships.
• London Borough of CamdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed among partnered organisations including Coram Fields and other creative partnerships.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Youth Music: UK charity funding music-making projects for children and young people facing barriers to access. Comparable in mission (inclusive music education) and grant-making role, although it operates primarily as a funder rather than a direct delivery organisation like DaCapo.
• Music Mark: UK subject association for music education, representing music education hubs, schools, and organisations. Not a direct service provider but a relevant comparable for understanding the broader UK music education ecosystem in which DaCapo operates.
• ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music): UK-based music examination board and music education resource provider. Operates in adjacent music education infrastructure (grading, teacher development, digital resources), though DaCapo differentiates by explicitly avoiding exam-driven pedagogy.

Direct peers

• Sing Up: UK charity providing singing and music education resources to primary schools, with a strong online resource library. Comparable to DaCapo in the primary-school music education segment, particularly relevant as a competitor to DaCapo Online.
• London Music Masters: UK charity providing high-quality music education to children in primary schools and nurseries across London. Directly comparable to DaCapo's school partnership model and Saturday/weekend enrichment delivery, with similar focus on access for disadvantaged pupils.
• The Voices Foundation: UK charity promoting Kodály-inspired singing-based music education in primary schools. Closest methodological peer to DaCapo, with overlapping Kodály heritage, primary school focus, and teacher training programmes.
• Sistema England: UK charity delivering inclusive, ensemble-based music education to children in under-served communities. Highly comparable to DaCapo in its child-centred, ensemble-focused, charity-run model, although Sistema focuses on social impact via orchestral programmes rather than classroom delivery.

Emerging players

• In Harmony: UK government-supported programme using ensemble music-making to support children in deprived communities. Comparable in ensemble-based, inclusive music education approach, though with a more narrowly focused social-impact mandate than DaCapo.
• Charanga: Commercial UK digital music education platform providing primary school resources. Comparable to DaCapo Online as a digital resource competing for school subscription budgets, with a more commercial go-to-market and broader content library.

Regional players

• Music Generation (Ireland): Ireland's national music education programme providing access to performance music education for children and young people. Operates a similar public-private partnership model with broad geographic reach across Ireland; comparable in mission and structure though not UK-based.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dacapomusic
• Facebookfacebook.com/DaCapoMusicFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-dacapo-music-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/dacapomusicfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The DaCapo Music Foundation