Private lessons are encouraged for students to ensure success with proper tone production, technical facility and a higher level of enjoyment for playing. Students in private lessons provide the proper modeling of instrumental performance while participating in the school program and usually perform at a higher level of performance than students without lessons.
Students will benefit from their lessons as they set goals with their instructor that will include participation in solo festivals and auditions for chair placements in class and for honor groups in the community. They also benefit when remedial instruction is necessary to maintain playing skills for classroom goals while providing additional motivation and encouragement.
Private instructors provide continuity with the school program as well as helping with personal goals for each student. Every student should expect to prepare weekly assignments for their instructor. Assignments will include instruction in tone production, technical facility, reading skills, solo literature, review of classroom assignments from school and preparation for any chair placement or honor group auditions.
Information Provided by Private Instructors:
* List of solo pieces or collections for beginning, intermediate or advanced playing.
* List of recording artist with discography information for purchase.
* Recommended custom mouthpiece and instruments for advancing playing.
* List of recommended accompanist for recitals at solo festivals.
* Written explanation of proper tone production and formation of a proper embouchure.
(Percussion includes hand positions for all mallets and sticks.)
* Teacher Biography including formal education, playing and performance experience, years of private instruction and list of student achievements resulting from private lessons.
Materials requested for students to purchase when beginning lessons:
* Lesson plan book that includes music staff paper for weekly planning.
* Method Book and (or) Supplemental Materials including Classroom Book
* Metronome and a Korg Ca-30 or comparable tuner for 2nd year players.
* List of recommended accompanist for recitals of solo festivals.
* Locker size mirror to check embouchure.
* Recommended sticks, mallets and stick bag for percussionists.
Lesson Format for Weekly Assignments:
* Tone production exercises and vibrato for advanced players. (Stick control for percussion.)
* Technique exercises that may include scale studies, interval studies, arpeggios, chromatics
and any applicable articulations. (Rudiments for drummers.)
* Reading development and rhythm studies.
* Review of classroom assignments or literature.
* Solo literature for recitals and festivals.
* Audition materials for chair placement and (or) honor bands and orchestras.