Forte School of Music

What Forte School of Music does

Forte School of Music is a franchise-based music education company founded in 1993 by Gillian Erskine and Paul Myatt, operating 15+ locations across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The company delivers music instruction through a proprietary multi-sensory methodology, with a structured progressive curriculum spanning early-childhood programs (Jungle Music for ages 6 months to 3.5 years; Music is Fun for ages 3.5 to 4.5 years), foundational keyboard programs (Junior Keys for ages 5 to 7; Piano Keys for ages 8+), and private instrumental lessons. Forte also licenses third-party sheet music content (e.g., the easiLEARN series from Warner Bros Publishing and Alfred Publishing) for use in lessons.

Forte's business model centers on franchising its curriculum and brand to independent location owners, with the franchisor generating revenue from franchise fees, licensed curriculum materials, and centrally operated digital and e-commerce products. Digital extensions include the Forte App and Online Practice Buddy, which support at-home practice, alongside an online music shop selling sheet music and gift vouchers. End customers are primarily consumer learners (children and parents, with adult lesson offerings) paying per-lesson or term-based fees at modest price points (e.g., A$189.75 for five private lessons). The network serves thousands of students system-wide, with individual large locations such as Wantirna enrolling 1,000+ students. Forte has received industry recognition including School of the Year honors across 2015–2018. The company is privately held with no external funding disclosed.

Name

Forte School of Music

Legal name

Forte School of Music

Website

https://fortemusic.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Forte School of Music is a franchise-based music education network founded in 1993, operating 15+ locations across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. It delivers a proprietary multi-sensory curriculum for children and adults, supplemented by digital practice tools and licensed sheet music.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7) (EDAMANAD), Music (Instruments, Voice, Music Theory) (EDAAAGAC), Music Education & Practice Software (Ear training, tutors, metronome tools) (MPAIAIAJ)

Keywords

• Music education services
• Early childhood music
• Piano lessons
• Instrumental music tuition
• Music school franchise

Headquarters

HQ city

Deewhy

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Group Music Classes: Structured group music lessons for children from 6 months to adults, including Jungle Music, Music is Fun, Junior Keys, and Piano Keys courses. Classes run in small groups with regular concerts and performance opportunities.
2. Private Instrumental Lessons: One-on-one lessons for piano, guitar, singing, drums, violin, and other instruments for students aged 7+ and adults. Standard 30-minute lessons with advanced 40+ minute options available.
3. Online Music Shop - Sheet Music: Sale of piano sheet music with backing tracks ranging from A$1.99 to A$2.49 per piece. Includes compositions from the Forte curriculum.
4. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers for music education valid at any Forte school, starting from A$50. Available for purchase online.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forte School of Music delivers group and private music lessons for students aged 6 months through adults via a franchise network of 15+ schools across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. The core curriculum follows a multi-sensory, progressive pathway (Jungle Music, Music is Fun, Junior Keys, Piano Keys) culminating in private instrumental lessons, supported by the Online Practice Buddy platform and the Forte App.

Product overview

Forte School of Music operates a multi-level music education platform offering progressive courses from infancy (6 months) through adulthood. The core curriculum comprises Jungle Music (early childhood, 6 months-3.5 years), Music is Fun (3.5-4.5 years), Junior Keys (5-7 years), and Piano Keys (8+ years), each designed as small-group classes using a multi-sensory approach incorporating auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning. Instrumental instruction is available through private lessons on piano, guitar, voice, drums, violin, and wind instruments. Supporting digital products include the Forte App and Online Practice Buddy. The company also operates an Online Music Shop for sheet music and gift vouchers. Rock School band programs and Glee Clubs provide ensemble performance opportunities for older students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jungle Music: Award-winning early childhood music programme for babies 6 months to 3.5 years, including Jungle Babies, Jungle Tots, and Jungle Friends sub-programmes.
• Music is Fun
• Junior Keys
• Piano Keys
• Creative Keys
• Forte App
• Practice Buddy
• Rock School
• Glee Clubs

Products and services

• Jungle Music Early childhood music program for babies and toddlers aged 6 months to 3.5 years, featuring parent-child classes with musical activities, sensory experiences, and foundational music concepts including beat, rhythm, and pitch through play-based learning. Award-winning program and Forte's flagship introductory offering.
• Music is Fun Music course for beginners aged 3.5 to 4.5 years introducing keyboard basics and foundational music skills through creative activities in a group setting.
• Junior Keys Piano/keyboard course for children aged 5 to 7 years with multi-sensory approach covering singing, reading, and playing, forming part of Forte's progressive music education pathway.
• Piano Keys Piano/keyboard course for children 8 years and older, developing musical skills including reading, aural skills, keyboard harmony, pattern recognition, transposing, theory, and performance over approximately 18 months to 2 years.
• Private Instrumental Lessons One-to-one or small group lessons on instruments including piano, guitar, singing/voice, drums, violin, flute, saxophone, clarinet, ukulele, and bass guitar for students 7 years and older through adults.
• Online Practice Buddy Online practice resource with audio tracks, backing tracks, and video demonstrations at different speeds for students to practice along with at home, supporting piano courses.
• Forte App Mobile application providing access to Forte's music education resources, practice tools, and program materials for students.
• Online Music Shop Online store offering piano sheet music with backing tracks, music education gift vouchers starting from A$50, and other music education materials.
• Rock School Band program for teenagers where students come together to play in bands, with regular performance opportunities, offered at various Forte locations.
• Glee Clubs Singing classes for children in grades 1-6 (approximately 6-12 years) in a group/show choir format with actions, games, harmonies, and age-appropriate songs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children who learn music show improved concentration, behaviour, self-esteem and reading skills
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Forte Cardiff (Franchisee)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJane Coles operates Forte Cardiff as a business partner, implementing the full Forte curriculum including Jungle Music, aural development programs, and teaching solfege methodology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Simply Piano (JoyTunes): Simply Piano is a leading digital/AI-driven piano learning app targeting beginners and casual learners. While not a direct franchise competitor, it represents an emerging threat to Forte's piano lesson enrollment funnel for beginner and adult segments by offering a low-friction digital alternative.
• Yousician: Yousician is a digital music education platform offering interactive lessons for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and voice. It competes indirectly with Forte's private instrumental lessons by addressing beginner and adult self-learners who might otherwise pay for in-person instruction.

Direct peers

• School of Rock: School of Rock is a franchise-based music school with band-performance programs for children and teens, directly overlapping with Forte's Rock School offering. Both operate franchise units targeting children/teen instrumental learning with performance outcomes.
• Kindermusik: Kindermusik is a franchise-based early childhood music and movement program for ages 0-7, directly overlapping with Forte's Jungle Music and Music is Fun offerings. Both operate as licensed franchise networks selling curriculum to independent educators serving parent-child classes.
• Gymboree Play & Music: Gymboree Play & Music is a global franchise network offering early childhood developmental classes including music, serving parents with children from infancy through age 5. Forte's Jungle Music (6 months-3.5 years) competes directly for the same parent-child class spend.
• Music Together: Music Together is an internationally licensed early childhood music program for infants through age 8, offered through independent licensed centers. It is a direct competitor in the parent-child early childhood music category Forte addresses with Jungle Music.
• Yamaha Music School: Yamaha Music School is a global franchise network offering group and private music education for children and adults, with a comparable progressive curriculum (e.g., Junior Music Course, Young Musicians Course). It is the closest direct competitor in the franchise-based children's music education category Forte operates in.
• Helen Doron English: Helen Doron English is a global franchise network providing supplemental education (language) to children using proprietary methodology and franchisee teachers. While language-focused rather than music, it is highly comparable in franchise structure, proprietary curriculum, early-childhood positioning, and multi-country rollout model relevant to Forte.
• Suzuki Music Schools: Suzuki Method schools form a global network of franchised/affiliated music schools providing early-start instrumental instruction (notably strings and piano) for young children. Forte competes directly with Suzuki for parent demand in early childhood instrumental music education.

Broad incumbents

• The Royal Conservatory (The Music School): The Royal Conservatory is a large, established music education institution offering structured curriculum and exam systems that overlap with Forte's AMEB-aligned exam preparation pathway. It serves a similar student base but operates more as a credentialing authority and direct school rather than as a franchise network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/forteWA
• Instagraminstagram.com/fortemusicmorphettvale
• Xx.com/fortemusicsch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forte-school-of-music

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Forte School of Music