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MUSIC IN A HOLISTIC ENVIRONMENT |
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Beginners between age 3 and 5 with no prior instruction may be admitted into the class under the condition that the PARENT be committed to attending all the scheduled lessons as well as maintaining the motivation to practice with their child every day at home. The beginners have lessons either in small groups with up to 3 other children in the same age group and at the same playing level, or they have a 15 minute individual lesson. If possible, twice-weekly lessons for the very beginning stages are strongly recommended (but not required). In addition to these weekly or twice-weekly lessons, the children participate in larger group lessons which take place on the average of twice a month on Saturday mornings, or altogether 7 - 8 times per semester. Parents do not need to have any prior musical training themselves. In the lessons, they will be shown everything they will need to know and do when they practice with their children at home. In the beginning stages, no note reading is taught. Note reading takes place once basic position and technique are established and when the teacher decides the child is ready.
One of the advantages to having children start with lessons at such an early age is that by the time they reach school age, they cannot remember NOT ever having played the violin! If the parents have helped their children establish good practice habits from the start, school age children can readily learn to balance violin practice with their other activities. Depending on their age and playing level, the students will have a 30-minute, 45-minute or 60-minute individual lesson each week. They continue to attend group lessons up to twice a month. By now, the students are reading music and studying group as well as solo repertory. The students become valued members of their school orchestras and demonstrate confidence, technical proficiency and high musicianship at solo festivals and talent shows. Participation in the not-for-profit performance group, Magical Strings West, is an integral part of the program. Children are expected to maintain the required level of playing for participation in Magical Strings West, and the parents are expected to ensure that their children attend the Magical Strings West activities. By the time the children graduate high school, even though most of them will not pursue music as a career, the training, discipline and artistic expression they have experienced through years of playing the violin will have had an immense and positive influence on their development.
A semester consists of 17 weeks. Vacation periods and holidays are not included. Every student registering for a semester of lessons will receive 17 lessons. Fall semester generally starts end of August or beginning of September and goes through the end of January; Spring semester goes from the end of January to the end of May or the beginning of June. In addition to the weekly individual lessons, the students are expected to enroll in the twice-monthly group lessons (Repertory Classes), which take place Saturday mornings. (The Saturday Repertory Class dates are set at the beginning of the semester). Payment is due in full at the beginning of the semester. Upon request, payments in segments may be arranged. Summer lessons are scheduled on an individual basis. Students are generally expected to register for at least 8 lessons during the summer session in order to remain eligible for a lesson slot for the following fall. They pay only for the lessons that they sign up for. The lessons are paid for in advance and will not be made up if canceled by the student. For Tuition rates please contact Sue Mann.
There are quite a few sources for rental violins in all sizes. Generally, the rental costs anywhere between $25 and $35 per month, plus a deposit. Upon enrolling your child in the program, I will gladly make recommendations. I receive no commission from any businesses I may recommend.
The instructor will make up any lesson that she herself has to cancel . If a student must cancel, he or she is allowed ONE excused absence per semester . An excused absence is one which the instructor is informed about well enough in advance to be able to make other arrangements with the student’s lesson time. At least 24 hours advance notice should be given. Last minute cancellations do not count as being excused. If the student knows in advance that he or she will not be able to attend a lesson, they are encouraged to try trading lesson times with another student. Upon request, the schedule is made available to each student. Group lessons that the student cannot attend for whatever reason will not be made up or rescheduled. A make up lesson missed by the student for whatever reason will not be rescheduled. Summer lessons: A summer lesson which is canceled by the student will not be made up. One advance reschedule request may be honored.
To help me prepare for an initial conversation with you, the parent, it would be helpful to have the following information:
Please include the above information in an email or in a voice mail (phone 630 877 5099). Sue is generally available by phone weekday mornings. Once the daily teaching starts, however, phone calls go to voice mail and messages are not retrieved until the next business day. After we have a chance to have an initial conversation, sitting in on an individual and on a group lesson is recommended. Those times are arranged on an individual basis. For very young beginners, I recommend a trial lesson (at the cost of a single lesson) before committing to the entire semester.
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