The Akranes School of Music (TOSKA) was founded on 4th of November 1955. Its objective is to provide general musical education and work towards enriching musical life in the township of Akranes. A lot of water has flown under the bridges to the shining sea since the school was established and much has changed for the better, especially when we moved to the present gorgeous new premises at #1 Dalbraut in the fall of 2007. Today the school is well equipped to teach music and can without doubt boast highest standards of technical excellence, which makes it a dream place for music teachers and students to work and study in. Our special strength is our diversity of teaching methods and activities. We have built a highly educated team with diverse backgrounds and work experiences who succeeded in making the school a creative and multi-faceted arts institution. A strong emphasis is placed on meeting each student’s needs – whether they are young or mature – giving every student a strong insight into the world of music. One of the school’s key benefits is the opportunity for each student to enjoy private tuition, i.e. learn one on one with a teacher for ½ or 1 lesson per week. This gives both the student and teacher an opportunity to proceed at pace consistent with each student’s talents and ability. Classroom teaching and exercise are by no means neglected in the school’s activities, but is should not replace individual teaching. Our teachers have always clearly subscribed to the viewpoint that group study only complements individual instruction where appropriate, whereas focus on individual teaching makes the group stronger. The school stresses joint play and song sessions by its students, for it has, for example, an active brass band, a string band, a Maribu orchestra, percussionist groups, song groups and many smaller ensembles performing on various instruments. These complex music ensembles have throughout these years did their best to liven up community life in and around Akranes through their exciting and creative musical performances. In this manner everybody in the school – students and instructors alike – has stood as one to make the school more prominent and to demonstrate how a music school serves as a cohesive force in the society.

In its first year the school only had 23 students. Its entire staff consisted of just one person, Anna Magnúsdóttir, acting both as a teacher and school principal.

A total of 323 students were registered at the school for the academic year 2008-2009. In all, 23 teachers work at the school in addition to the school secretary and sanitary technicians. Teaching is mostly conducted in the school’s main building, as well as two secondary schools of the Akranes municipality, i.e. Brekkubæjarskóli and Grundaskóli. The Heiðarskóli school on Leirá river in Borgarfjörður is also taught at by our staff. The Akranes School of Music productively cooperates with secondary schools in teaching their pupils during school day.

The Akranes Music School has always sought to make schooling lively and enjoyable, as well as demanding. The school is comprised of eight faculties teaching to various instruments – from clarinet to electric bass guitar. Popular and classical music are given equal attention in the school programme.

Cooperation between different faculties is rapidly increasing, demonstrating how learning music can be both interesting and creative.

The faculties are the following: 

Faculty of wind instruments

Preparatory faculty

Piano faculty

Special faculty

Percussion faculty

String instrument department

Vocal arts faculty / classical / rhythmical

Faculty of musicology / music education

The current principal of the Akranses Music School is Lárus Sighvatsson. 

Skúli Ragnar Skúlason is the Assistant Principal. 

The faculty deans are:   wind instruments –Halldór Sighvatsson

Piano and preparatory, as well as the Faculty of musicology .