One App for your 11+ Music Aptitude Test (MAT) Preparation
Welcome to Music Aptitude Maestros developed by Ashbea Music LTD. Train your child’s ears to ace the FIRST STAGE of the 11+ MAT test with this app
🌍 Who Is It For?
Year 4 & Year 5 pupils preparing for the 11+ Music Aptitude Test (Music Scholarship route)
Children applying to music places at UK grammar or state secondary schools
Students of any musical background—no instrument needed
Watch the Music Maestros App in Action
🎓 Helping Children Aiming for Top UK Secondary Schools Like:
Parmiter’s • Queens’ • Rickmansworth • St Clement Danes • Watford Boys and Girls • Croxley Danes • Ashmole • Dame Alice Owen’s • Tiffin • Wilson’s • Marylebone • Twyford • Camden School for Girls • Herts and Essex • The Coopers’ Company and Coborn • Bristol Cathedral School – and many more!
🎵 Meet Jemima – one of our Music Aptitude Maestros students!
She’s using our app to prepare for the 11+ Music Aptitude Test for Hockerill, Moulsham, and Herts & Essex schools.
The Music Aptitude Maestros app is the UK’s only dedicated MAT prep tool – covering Pitch, Melody, Rhythm & Texture with real sound samples and expert-guided exercises.
Train your child’s ears to ace the 11+ MAT test with Music Aptitude Maestros App
Key features available on this fun and affordable app:
Unlimited random tests: Challenge your child with endless test variations, keeping them engaged and learning!
Practice anytime, anywhere: Access 1000+ randomly-generated questions on the go, fitting seamlessly into your busy schedule.
Training mode with combos: Explore different question types with a focused learning approach.
11+ MAT prep tips: Gain valuable insights to help your child excel in the Music Aptitude Test.
Streak mode: Game-like quizzes: Make learning fun and engaging with a scoring system that motivates kids.
Save vs. expensive lessons: Get effective ear training practice for a fraction of the cost of weekly 1-on-1 sessions. Save over £100 per month.
Results view are NOT included with the 3-day trial!
Trusted by families across the UK
This app is supporting hundreds of families across the UK and Western Australia, helping children aiming for top secondary schools like — Parmiter’s, Queens’, Rickmansworth School, St Clement Danes, Watford Boys and Girls, Croxley Danes, Ashmole, Dame Alice Owen’s, Tiffin, Wilson’s, Marylebone, Twyford, Camden School for Girls, Herts and Essex, The Coopers’ Company and Coborn, Bristol Cathedral School — and many more!
Everything you need in one app to help your child ace the 11+ Music Aptitude Test!
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Get Started with Free Trial
Try it Free for 3 Days! Then, subscribe for continued access.
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Save 20% on Annual Subcription
£16 per month, charged annually.
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Monthly Subscription
£19.99 per month.
🌟 Our Journey: From a Spark of Inspiration to a Thriving App
Every groundbreaking idea starts with a moment of inspiration. For us, it was the encouragement of parents and teachers who recognised a real need: a tool to help children prepare more effectively for the 11+ Music Aptitude Test. They planted the seed that would eventually grow into Music Aptitude Maestros — the only UK app that covers all four areas of the standard stage 1 Music Aptitude Test.
🚀 The Inception
The idea for Music Aptitude Maestros began over five years ago, when parents of students preparing for the test suggested creating an app to make preparation more efficient and accessible. Their encouragement, alongside the support of Ivelina Dusheva-Martial, a concert cellist and the director of the Dotted Note School of Music, gave us the motivation to embark on this journey.
At first, we explored and tested various platforms. We even built a brand-new website, ready to host the training materials and mock tests. But during testing, it became clear that the website wasn't fast enough — especially when it came to audio loading speeds. We knew that children aged 9–10, growing up in an instant era, wouldn’t have the patience to wait for sounds to buffer! (Haha, we completely understood — attention spans are shorter when you're used to instant everything!)
This important realisation pushed us to rethink the delivery completely and invest the time and effort into developing a proper, fast, and responsive app.
🛠️ Building the Dream
Building Music Aptitude Maestros was a true labour of love — and a real team effort. With Ashley’s background in audio engineering and deep knowledge of a variety of professional audio software, we were able to mirror the sounds of the real test as closely as possible.
We spent hours carefully crafting and optimising every audio file, ensuring that the listening experience would feel authentic, seamless, and professional — just like the actual exam.
Alongside the sound engineering, we focused heavily on user experience. We wanted the app to not only simulate the real test but also keep children motivated, confident, and engaged throughout their preparation.
🌐 Launching to the World
In July of last year (2024), Music Aptitude Maestros officially launched! Within months, it began supporting hundreds of families across the UK, helping children aiming for top grammar schools like Parmiter’s, Queens’, Rickmansworth School, St Clement Danes, Watford Boys and Girls, Croxley Danes, Ashmole, Dame Alice Owen’s, Tiffin, Wilson’s, Marylebone, Twyford, Camden School for Girls, Herts and Essex, The Coopers’ Company and Coborn, Bristol Cathedral School — and many more! Our app even supported children based in Western Australia.
🤝 Our Community
Hearing from families who used the app has been incredibly rewarding. Many parents have shared that Music Aptitude Maestros not only matched the format of the real MAT exam but that it made a real difference — helping their children succeed and secure places at their dream schools!
Some called it a "lifesaver" during a very competitive and often stressful preparation period.
We are proud to be part of their success stories and grateful to all the families who continue to recommend us.
See what parents are saying about our app!
🔮 Looking Ahead
At Music Aptitude Maestros, our mission remains clear: to make Music Aptitude Test preparation accessible, effective, and enjoyable for every child aiming high.
We’re excited about the future — we’re already working on new features and updates to make the app even better. Thank you for being part of our journey so far!
Music Aptitude Test Preparation
Understanding the Music Aptitude Test (MAT) and Scholarship Process
Each year, we successfully prepare and coach students across the UK through the State Secondary Music Scholarship process. For most schools offering places under the Music Criterion, the Music Aptitude Test (MAT)forms a key part of the selection process. Students typically complete two stages, provided they are successful in the first.
A Different Kind of Music Preparation
Many of our students — and their families — come to us with questions and uncertainties. That’s completely natural! The MAT process is unlike traditional music training, which can make it feel unfamiliar or even daunting at first.
Instead of focusing on instrumental technique or music theory, the MAT is designed to assess a student’s innate musicality, including their aural awareness, musical perception, and rhythmic sensitivity.
Two Stages of Assessment
The MAT generally includes two stages:
Stage 1 usually involves a listening test assessing pitch, melody, rhythm, and texture.
Stage 2, for those who are successful in Stage 1, often includes a performance element and sometimes additional aural tests.
These stages aim to identify musical potential rather than simply measuring existing skill or training
Music Aptitude Test Stage 1:
Stage 1 is a type of hearing or listening test where students are required to write down their answers. This test contains 60 multiple choice questions and is often split into four different sections. However, some schools may include a couple of extra sections where graphic scores are being used to determine volume and tempo changes as well style of music.
Each student will need to use their ears to discern small changes in pitch, rhythm and texture (the ability to hear multiple notes at the same time). This test is usually in the main hall of the test centre and takes around 45 minutes.
Here is a brief description of the 4 main sections that are frequently used across State Grammar schools :
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In this part, two notes will be played, one after the other. The student must determine whether the notes were the same both times, or if the second note was higher or lower than the first. There are twenty of these questions and some of the pitches are less than a semitone apart (which are called microtones) - tiny steps which can be difficult to identify as the change in pitch is very subtle.
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In this section, 2, 3 or 4 notes will be played at the same time; this is called a chord. The student must be able to recognise how many notes were played. There are twenty questions in this section.
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In this part, a melodic sequence of 5 notes will be played. Then the 5 notes are played a second time, either exactly the same as before or with a change to one of the notes. The student has to determine whether the melody was the same both times, or if it changed, which one of the 5 notes changed the second time. There are ten questions in this section.
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A short rhythm of 4 beats (pulses) will be played. Then the rhythm is played again, either exactly the same or with a change in one of the beats. The student has to determine whether the rhythm was the same both times, or if it changed, which one of the 4 beats was different. There are ten questions in this section.
Additional Notes on Stage 1 of the Music Aptitude Test
As mentioned earlier, some state schools may include additional sections in the Stage 1 test that are not part of the standard MAT format. These may vary from school to school.
If you're unsure about any extra requirements, please don’t hesitate to get in touch — we’re here to help you navigate the process with confidence.
What Happens After Stage 1?
All applicants who take part in Stage 1 — whether successful or not — will receive their results within one week.
Those who are successful will be invited to progress to Stage 2 of the Music Aptitude Test, unless their chosen school does not require a second stage — for example, Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, The Hertfordshire & Essex High School, Moulsham High School or Hayesfield Girls’ School in Bath.
Music Aptitude Test Stage 2:
Stage 2 of the Music Aptitude Assessment: What to Expect
Many schools include a performance element in the second stage of their Music Aptitude assessment. In this stage, children are usually required to perform one piece on their chosen instrument, which may include singing. The piece should typically last no longer than three minutes, although some schools may request more than one piece, extending the performance time.
What Are Examiners Looking For?
The performance is assessed by experienced music examiners, who will usually award marks based on three key areas:
Accuracy (up to 15 marks)
Musicality (up to 15 marks)
Musical Communication (up to 15 marks)
This gives a total score out of 45.
Importantly, most schools do not require prior knowledge of music theory or formal training beyond the ability to perform the piece with expression and confidence.
When Does the Performance Take Place?
Performances are typically scheduled during the school day, and the process is designed to be encouraging and supportive.
Additional Aural Tests
Some schools may include an additional aural component during Stage 2. These may involve:
Clapping the pulse or rhythm of a short tune
Singing back a melody
Recognising different musical instruments by sound
Responding to graphic scores to describe music they hear
Please Note
This format does not apply to all Grammar or Private School music scholarships. Requirements can vary significantly between schools. It is essential to check the specific admissions criteria of each school you’re applying to.
Frequently Asked Questions about 11+ Music Aptitude Test (MAT)
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There's no strict requirement, but some schools recommend starting preparation in Year 5. Ultimately, it depends on your child's musical experience and comfort level.
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Students might hear musical excerpts, rhythmic patterns, isolated notes or multiple notes played at the same time (which is called texture in this exam).
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Registration: This usually opens in Spring (April/May). Parents can register their children for the test through the specific school or consortium conducting it.
Testing: The first round of tests happens either in late Spring/early Summer (May/June) and most schools will conduct their first stage in the first week of September.
Results: Parents are notified of the first-round scores either in Summer (June/July) or September, depending on which month they sat their exams.
Second Round (if applicable): Some schools may have a second round of assessments in Autumn (September/October). This might involve a practical performance or a deeper dive into aural skills.
Note: These are general timelines, and the exact dates can vary depending on the school or consortium. It's important to check the admissions website of the schools you're interested in for specific deadlines and testing schedules.
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While it can be helpful, music reading is not essential for the 11+ Music Aptitude Test. Entry to the test does not require any instrumental or music theory grades. Requirements may differ based on area and type of grammar school.
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Marking criteria can vary, but generally, they assess accuracy, musicality, and the ability to communicate musical ideas.
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You will be informed via email about the total mark for the stage 2 performance test. You will be advised whether the mark was sufficient enough for the chosen grammar schools.
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Each school might have slightly different test formats or expectations. It's best to check their admissions website or contact them directly for specific details.