Culture school in Oslo: music, art and stage

12 options are listed under culture school for children in Oslo, across 9 districts, for ages 4 to 18. Below is the full overview with age, district and a link to sign-up.

Districts with an offering: Frogner, Gamle Oslo, Grünerløkka, Nordstrand, Sagene, Sentrum, St. Hanshaugen, Vestre Aker, Østensjø.

The culture school is the municipality's own tuition in music, art, dance and theatre, with teaching that follows the school year and formally qualified teachers. Oslo culture school has branches in many districts, and there are also several private culture schools with a similar set-up.

For many families the culture school is the most affordable route to serious instrument tuition: the price is set by the municipality and lower than private lessons, with sibling discounts and free-place schemes. In return there are admissions and waiting lists for the most popular instruments.

Worth knowing about the culture school

Apply early, and apply broadly. The waiting lists for piano and guitar are long, while violin, cello, woodwind and brass often have places free. An instrument the child never considered often becomes the one they stick with.

The marching bands are the other way in. School bands lend out instruments and provide free or cheap tuition, and for brass and woodwind they are effectively an alternative to a culture school place. See our choirs and bands guide.

Every option on a map and list

Want every discipline in one list? See the full overview of organised activities

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12 activities

AKKS Oslo

Kulturskole

Brenneriveien 9, Grünerløkka

A non-profit music education organisation in Brenneriveien by the Akerselva river, with band courses and rehearsal rooms for children and youth. The junior band course is for ages 9-13 (all genders), while LOUD Bandskole is a dedicated programme for girls and queer youth aged 12-19 - both with real band playing from the first session. AKKS works for gender balance in music, and no prior experience is needed.

ages 9-18

Arco Kulturskole

Kulturskole

Slemdalsveien 131, Vestre Aker

A family-oriented music school at Slemdal with personal one-to-one tuition for children, youth and adults. The instrument list is unusually broad: piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, harp, ukulele, banjo, electric bass, flute, saxophone, recorder, singing - and even songwriting and music production. Short lessons adapted to the very youngest (guitar typically from age 7-8), in a safe setting with engaged teachers.

ages 5-18

Barratt Due musikkinstitutt - Musikkskolen

Kulturskole

Lyder Sagens gate 2, Fagerborg, St. Hanshaugen

One of Norway's most respected music institutes, with its own music school for children at Fagerborg. Beginners aged 5 to 9 get individual tuition and ensemble playing on violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, oboe and bassoon - and those who want to go further can apply to Unge Talenter, the institute's programme for school-age musicians. A serious, warm doorway into classical music with long traditions.

ages 5-18

Kolibri Musikkakademi

Kulturskole

Josefines gate 17 (Majorstuen) og Munkedamsveien 66 (Sentrum), Frogner

A private music school with branches in Josefines gate near Majorstuen and Munkedamsveien in the centre, teaching children and adults piano, guitar and singing. The school splits pupils into three age groups, from four and five year olds via six to eighteen and on to adults. Tuition is one-to-one with dedicated teachers, adapted to the pupil's age and level, and dedicated summer courses run in the holidays. A flexible option for children who want to learn an instrument at their own pace.

ages 4-18

Nordstrand kulturskole

Kulturskole

Kastellet skole, Nordstrand

A local school of music in the south of the city, teaching in the premises of Kastellet school. Piano pupils can start from age 6-7, and the school also runs its own children's choir for ages 6-11 - with an emphasis on starting early with good technique and ear training. A rare neighbourhood option for music tuition on the Nordstrand side of the city.

ages 6-18

Oslo Gitarskole

Kulturskole

Toftes gate 69, Grünerløkka

A guitar school at Grünerløkka run by guitarist and composer Frode Barth, with tuition adapted to children from around age 8 - the age when most have developed enough finger strength and coordination to get properly started. Pupils get close follow-up from a working musician, and the teaching spans from the first chords to advanced playing. For children who want to learn guitar properly, from someone who does it for a living.

ages 8-18

Oslo Kulturfabrikk

Kulturskole

Grefsen, Hasle, Smestad og Vålerenga skoler, Sentrum

A private school of arts teaching right after school hours at Grefsen, Hasle, Smestad and Vålerenga schools, plus in its own premises. The programme spans music play for the very youngest (from age 1) via singing, drawing and instruments to musical theatre with real performances, for children up to around 12. Practical for families: children go straight from the classroom to arts class.

ages 4-12

Oslo kulturskole, Grønland kulturstasjon

Kulturskole

Tøyenbekken 5, Gamle Oslo

The main site of Oslo's municipal school of the arts, the city's resource centre for arts education since 1980. Teaching covers music, dance, theatre, visual art and gaming, with dedicated groups for children and teenagers. The school has around 9,000 pupils across nearly 90 teaching locations in the city, and admission goes through the municipality's shared application portal.

ages 6-18

Oslo kulturskole, Manglerud kulturstasjon

Kulturskole

Plogveien 22, Østensjø

A culture station at Manglerud teaching music, dance, theatre and visual art for children and teenagers in the east of the city. Courses follow the school year, and pupils play and perform together throughout it. Registration via Oslo kulturskole's shared application portal.

ages 6-18

Oslo kulturskole, Schous kulturstasjon

Kulturskole

Trondheimsveien 2, bygg L «Malteriet», Grünerløkka

A culture station in the old malt house at Schous plass, teaching music, dance, theatre and visual art for children and teenagers. Its location in the middle of Grünerløkka makes it easy to reach by tram and metro from much of the city. Registration via Oslo kulturskole's shared application portal.

ages 6-18

Oslo kulturskole, Voldsløkka kulturstasjon

Kulturskole

Uelands gate 85, inngang D, Sagene

The newest culture station, opened in 2024 in the fully renovated 1918 cement factory by Voldsløkka. Music, dance, theatre and visual art are taught in purpose-built premises, shared with Voldsløkka school. Registration via Oslo kulturskole's shared application portal.

ages 6-18

Oslo Private Musikkskole

Kulturskole

Huseby, Kampen, Kjelsås, Vinderen og Øraker, Sentrum

A private music school established in 2003, with around 200 pupils and 20 teachers across five teaching locations: Huseby school, Kampen community house, Kjelsås school, Vinderen school and Øraker school - so most families find one nearby. Tuition covers guitar, piano, singing, violin, drums, cello and saxophone, and new pupils get up to two trial lessons before deciding.

ages 6-18