Lessons

Violin and viola lessons are offered at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Beginning lessons are typically 30 minutes, twice weekly, all other lessons are one hour.  Please read below for more detail regarding schedule, make-up lessons and tuition.

SCHEDULE

Private lessons begin September 9, 2013  and continue through July 31, 2014.  Holidays and vacation periods occur throughout the year resulting in a different number of lessons in some months than in others. However, all students receive at least 35 lessons over the course of the year regardless of what day their lessons are scheduled. The schedule will be updated after the winter break.

MAKE-UP LESSONS

All students are expected to regard their lesson time as a serious ongoing commitment. Good progress depends on this attitude. From time to time absences may be necessary due to illness or unavoidable conflicts. When this occurs, students are expected to notify the studio in advance of their lesson time. An opportunity will be provided to make up such lessons on a scheduled make-up day. Lessons missed without advance notice are forfeited. Students planning lengthy vacations during the study year may arrange to make up lessons before or after their absence. However, there will be no reduction or waiver of tuition for such absences.

TUITION

Tuition is paid in eleven monthly installments and payments are due, in advance, at the first lesson each month. The yearly tuition covers one -hour private lessons, periodic performance workshops, and music theory tutoring for students preparing for the Certificate of Merit written examination. All beginning students and very young students will normally be scheduled for two half-hour lessons each week. All others will be scheduled for one-hour lessons unless they prefer the twice weekly schedule.

COMPETITIONS, AUDITIONS and RECITALS

Students may wish to participate in various competitions and events available during the year. The audition and final performance dates are not known at this time. When information is received it will be passed along to interested students. Parents should plan on both an entry fee and an accompanist fee ($40 - $50) for the audition phase of these events. Should any student reach the finals of any event, thestudio will pay the additional accompanist fee.

Students who wish to audition for any of the various youth orchestras should discuss their interest and obtain teacher approval and assistance as early as possible. 

The Spring recitals will be scheduled in June 2014. All students are expected to participate. The studio will arrange for a professional accompanist for this event. There will be an accompanist fee of approximately $40.

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

This yearly event, sponsored by the Music Teachers’ Association of California, is scheduled in March. This program is optional and should be considered an enhancement rather than a goal of study. Only those students willing to commit the additional practice and study time needed to prepare for this event should enroll. Participating students should not schedule any other potentially conflicting activities as performance times are assigned by the MTAC and no changes are permitted.

Please plan on a registration fee of approximately $35 -$98, depending on level. Fees will be due in October, 2013. Parents should also plan on an accompanist fee of approximately $40 for this event.

Individual theory tutoring will be offered in January-February, 2013, to help students prepare for the written examination.