NYOS Development Course Guidelines

NYOS encourages all participants to travel to and from the course as sustainably as possible. Coach transport is available from Perth Train Station to assist with this. However, with larger instruments, this may not be the easiest option.

If you drive and are planning on bringing your own car for the duration of the course, please inform us in advance and we can support with parking whilst you are onsite.

Participants driving their own cars to the course are permitted to give other participants that at over 18 and/or siblings to the course. However, participants are not permitted to give another participant a lift to the concert venues or at any other time during the course - all musicians must make use of the concert transport provided by NYOS.

On arrival, you will be allocated a key card which will give you access to a specific house and a floor within that house where your room is situated. Your key card will not let you access any other spaces in the accommodation blocks. Do not lose your keycard.

It is strictly prohibited for participants to enter accommodation that they have not been assigned, unless for social activities managed and organised by the Pastoral team.

Participants should only be in their own bedroom and should not enter the bedrooms of other participants at any point during the course.

NYOS reserves the right to send a participant home from the course if they are found in a room, on a floor, or in an accommodation block that isn't theirs without permission.

When in your bedrooms, if you are wearing headphones, please make sure the volume is not too loud, so that you can hear any fire alarms or the pastoral staff knocking on your door. Your safety is important, and we don’t want you to miss anything urgent.

There is no smoking in any of the buildings on campus. This also includes the use of electronic cigarettes / vapes. If you do wish to smoke, please speak to a member of Pastoral staff for the designated spot.

Participants should not bring alcohol or illegal substances onto the campus, and should not be consuming these in their rooms.

There are limited washroom facilities on each floor of the accommodation blocks which we all must share. Please be mindful of each other including the Pastoral team when using these facilities.

Each floor has a block of private showers. Within each shower cubicle, there is enough space for you to wash, dry and dress in privacy.

Please note: Each morning, between 7:00am and 7:30am, the showers will be closed and are only for the use of Pastoral staff. Please DO NOT enter the shower rooms during this time.

Towels are provided by Strathallan but please remember to bring:

• Shampoo
• Shower gel
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Any other toiletries you might require

Yes, NYOS will provide a common area for all participants to use at break times and evenings, and this will be supervised by the Pastoral staff. The Head of Pastoral staff will give details of this on the first day of the course.

Yes, NYOS will provide snacks during the breaks throughout the course.

There is also a café onsite where you can purchase snacks, hot and cold drinks should you wish. However, visiting the café should not disrupt you attending rehearsals on time - if you find yourself in the café and still not served 15-minutes before rehearsals, you should leave as you will be late for rehearsals.

On concert days, NYOS will provide packed lunches and onsite catering at the concert venue and dietary requirements will be accommodated.

Strings

• Spare strings and a mute (spare strings not required for double basses)
• Cellists/double bassists must bring spike blocks
• Double bassists must bring a double bass stool
• Spare bows

NYOS will provide double bass boxes to participants for transportation to the performance venues. 

Woodwind

• Reed instrument musicians must bring reeds

Percussion

• Please bring a selection of sticks and mallets

Harps

• Please bring appropriate shoes for pedal harp

NYOS will provide harp boxes to participants for transportation to the performance venues.

The Pastoral team will carry out a fire evacuation practice at the start of the course. However, we also ask that you please look at the fire evacuation instructions and any safety signage on arrival at your accommodation.

When in your bedrooms, please be careful as the fire alarms are sensitive. We particularly advise if you are drying your hair and might create excessive steam to open the window and dry your hair near it to avoid accidentally setting off the alarm.

When in your bedrooms, if you are wearing headphones, please make sure the volume is not too loud, so that you can hear any fire alarms or the Pastoral staff knocking on your door. Your safety is important and we don't want you to miss anything urgent.

There is no smoking in any of the buildings on campus. This also includes the use of electronic cigarettes or vapes. If you wish to smoke, please speak to a member of Pastoral staff for the designated spot.

Students that are under 18 must be in their accommodation by 22:00

A member of Pastoral staff will do a check-in each night. All students must comply with the agreed curfew times.

In the evenings and occasionally during the breaks from rehearsals, the Pastoral team will provide social activities for you to participate in with your fellow musicians. These are not always compulsory but you are encouraged to participate where you can.

NYOS Development Spring 2026 Concert

Sat 18 Apr 2026, 18:30 | City Halls, Glasgow - tickets

NYOS participants and their families receive 15% off full price tickets for all our concerts - use the code NYOS2026 at checkout.

Under 18s can attend our concerts for free and anyone under 26, students, and those on universal credit get discounted tickets for just £5.

Find out full details of our upcoming concerts on our Performances page.