Sixteen Mile School of Contemporary Music
Where Anguilla's next generation of guitarists, pianists, and bassists get their start
Why Go
Tucked into the Mason Complex in The Valley, Sixteen Mile is the small, unassuming music school quietly shaping the sound of Anguilla ΓÇö one after-school lesson at a time. It's not a tourist stop in the traditional sense, but if you're on-island long enough to care about the local cultural fabric (or you're a musical family in need of continuity while you travel), this is the door to knock on.
The Experience
Walk into #6 Mason Complex on a weekday afternoon and you'll hear a scale exercise drifting out of one room, a shaky first attempt at a chord progression from another, and ΓÇö if you're lucky ΓÇö an advanced student running through a jazz standard or a soca-inflected groove. The vibe is warm, patient, and refreshingly serious: instructors treat students like real musicians in training, not weekend hobbyists. Lessons focus on modern guitar, piano, and bass guitar, and the curriculum pulls technique and repertoire from across genres so students leave able to actually play, not just recite. Beginners are welcomed with zero prior experience; more experienced players get pushed toward performance, recitals, and appearances at schools, churches, and community events around the island.
What to Try
Book a trial lesson on guitar, piano, or bass ΓÇö even a single sit-down with an instructor gives you a real sense of the teaching style. Visiting families should ask about short-term instruction blocks so kids can keep progressing during a longer Anguilla stay. If you're around during a certificate recital or a community performance, go: it's one of the best windows into island youth culture you'll find, and the students are genuinely good.
Insider Tip
Slots are limited and the after-school window (3:15ΓÇô7:00 PM) fills up with regulars during the school year, so call +1-264-476-8080 well before you arrive rather than walking in cold. Ask specifically about their fully funded tuition program ΓÇö the school occasionally opens scholarship spots for motivated kids, and they're always happy to chat with parents about fit before committing.
The Practical Stuff
Located at #6 Mason Complex, The Valley (AI-2640). Open MondayΓÇôFriday 3:15 PMΓÇô7:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AMΓÇô12:00 PM; closed Sunday. Phone: +1-264-476-8080. Instruments taught: modern guitar, piano, and bass guitar. Parking on-site at the complex. Bring your own instrument if you have one, or ask about loaner options for trial lessons.
Pair It With
- Shoal Bay East — Pair an afternoon lesson in The Valley with a morning at Anguilla's most iconic beach ΓÇö it's a 15-minute drive north and the natural bookend to any Valley errand.
- 20 Knots — If you're staying nearby, this is a convenient base that puts you within easy reach of The Valley for weekly lessons or a one-off trial session.
- Anguilla Music Academy — For serious musicians who want to layer in production, recording, or masterclass experiences on top of instrumental lessons, the AMA complements Sixteen Mile's private-lesson focus.