The Walpole Public School’s Music Department offers students the opportunity to study instruments and voice after school with a private teacher. Private lessons are taught by highly qualified professional instructors who have demonstrated excellence in their performing and teaching. The mission of the private lesson program is to help children develop a lifelong love of music and joy in music-making.
Why Take Private Lessons?
Personalized Instruction - Each music student learns at a different pace and private lessons provide differentiated instruction to cater to their learning style.
Minimize Frustration - Learning an instrument can be challenging and group lessons often don’t provide enough of the individual attention that is needed.
Succeeding is Fun! - A Child will learn the fundamentals of music at a quicker pace and build self-confidence.
Learn How To Practice - Students spend the majority of their time alone with their instrument and need to know how to be the most productive with that time.
Motivates The Student - It’s easier to stay motivated with a private instructor. Students are inspired when they can hear a professional model a quality performance.
Pursue Individual Interests - Private lessons allow the students the opportunity to pursue individual music interests. Students take ownership of their musical path.
Private Lessons Are For All - not just students planning a career in music.
Develop Skills - Each student will develop the following skills: Tone Production, Technical Facility, Rhythmic Reading, Sight Reading, Musical Expression, and Music Theory & Harmony.
Who Is Eligible For The Program?
The Private Lesson Program is open to all students in grades 4 - 12 (brass, woodwind, percussion, strings, and voice). Most students start instrumental study beginning in grade 4. However, lessons are available for older beginners as well. Students who have begun lessons elsewhere are welcome to continue their study through our program.
What Instruments Are Taught?
Lessons are offered on the following instruments:
Violin Flute Oboe Baritone Horn Viola Clarinet
Bassoon Trombone Cello Bass Clarinet French Horn Tuba
String Bass Saxophone Trumpet Percussion Voice Guitar
Program Curriculum
Private instructors teach from specific books that are recommended by the Walpole Public School Music Department. Instructors are also coached in lesson planning, strategies and techniques. Part of the private lesson time is dedicated to teaching the ensemble literature.
Program Schedule and Tuition Costs
Private lessons are offered for 30, 45 or 60 minutes and are scheduled after school between 2:30 and 9:00. Some lessons may be taught virtually through an online platform. In this case, students will take their lesson from home.
Lessons are offered in two fourteen-week sessions. Session I is from September 21st to January 29th and Session II is from February 1st to June 18th. The following is the fee per semester based on either a 30, 45 or 60 minute lesson and consists of 14 lessons:
30 minute lessons $420.00
45 minute lessons $630.00
60 minute lessons $840.00
Lesson tuition must be paid in full before instruction begins. Tuition can be paid by submitting a check made payable to Walpole Public Schools.
A tuition assistance scholarship is available in cases of financial need. Please contact Tim Fleming (K-12 Music Coordinator) at (508)660-7257 ext. or tfleming@walpole.k12.ma.us for more information.
Lesson Times
Lessons are scheduled based on the enrollment of students for each instrument and the availability of the private teacher.
Lessons can be scheduled from 2:30 to 9:00 any weekday.
When a lesson slot has been assigned, teachers cannot reassign that slot to another student once the semester has begun.
When filling out the Private Lesson Program registration form, provide as many open times/days as possible to ensure flexibility in scheduling.
Attendance Policy
Student Absence:
Each private lesson student is eligible for 1 makeup lesson over the course of the session for an excused absence. An absence is considered excused when instructors have received at least 24 hours notice of an upcoming missed lesson. Last minute, day-of cancellations will not be eligible for makeups. In the event of an emergency situation, please communicate with your teacher directly and the lesson may be made up at the discretion of your teacher.
There are designated makeup lesson days built into the calendar at the end of each session, however makeups can be scheduled at any time agreed upon by the faculty member and the family. All makeup lessons must be scheduled at least 36 hours in advance of the desired makeup lesson day/time.
If the student becomes unable to attend a scheduled makeup lesson, the student forfeits the lesson and no further action is required to reschedule.
Students who are in school but incapacitated in some way (broken arm, etc.) or students who have forgotten their instrument on lesson day should report for their lessons as usual. Teachers will provide individualized lessons in musicianship and music theory for students who are temporarily unable to play.
Teacher Absence:
Missed teacher lessons will be made up at a convenient time determined by both the teacher and the parents or will be made up during the two week lesson make-up time at the end of each semester.
General Policies:
Students are expected to report promptly to lessons. Instructors will begin and end lessons on time. Tardiness will result in shorter instructional periods.
Generally, lessons will occur on the day before a holiday break unless the teacher cancels them. Cancelled lessons will be made up. Lessons are not taught on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, any day schools are closed, and the last day of school.
If at the end of the day, after-school activities are cancelled due to inclement weather, music lessons will also be cancelled. Those lessons may or may not be made up at the discretion of the private teacher.