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Private Instruction  4 years and up
2010-2011

Private lessons are the cornerstone of music education. Brookline Music School welcomes students ages 4 years to adult, with the belief that the right match of student and teacher is vital to a student’s progress, pleasure of learning and enjoyment of music. After an initial consultation, the student is assigned to a faculty member whose teaching style most closely complements the student’s learning style and personality. New students are asked to complete a registration form and contact the office to schedule lessons.

For Piano contact: Margaret Denton (Ext. 243)
For Brass, Guitar, Strings, Winds and Voice: contact Frank Pesci (Ext. 233)
For Percussion: contact K Sickels (ext.221)

For a 2010-2011 School Calendar click here
For tuition rates, registration forms and more, visit: Registration & Payment

Private tuition includes:
~ Weekly private lessons (16 weeks in Term I, 15 weeks plus a workshop week in Term II))
~ Workshop Week in place of one lesson during Spring semester
~ Multiple student recitals and concerts
~ Special workshops and master classes
~ Written progress report in Term I
~ Phone conference evaluation in Term II

2010-2011 Private Lesson Tuition Rates
                       Per Term   Per Year
30 minutes:      $648         $1296
45 minutes:      $924         $1848
60 minutes:      $1176       $2352

Private Lesson Locations
Private lessons are held in Kennard House and in the following Brookline Public Schools: Baker, Brookline High School, Devotion, Driscoll, Heath, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pierce and Runkle (Old Lincoln).

Instruction available for:
Accordion, Baritone/Euphonium, Banjo, Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Composition, Creative Movement, Drum Set, Flute, French Horn, Guitar & Bass Guitar, Harmonica, Harp, Harpsichord, Marimba, Music Technology, Oboe, Percussion, Piano, Recorder, Saxophone, Theory, Trombone, Trumpet, Ukulele, Viola, Violin and Voice.

Workshop Week - April 11-16, 2011
During the week of April 11th, all students who take private lessons will participate in a one-hour workshop with BMS faculty in lieu of their regular lesson. Students are placed into groups based on ability level and age, and will be prepared for the workshop by their private teachers. Workshop sessions will be one hour long and all will take place at Brookline Music School's Kennard House.

Parent Workshop for New Students
New to Brookline Music School? Join us for a discussion led by BMS staff and faculty on how you as a parent can best support your child’s musical education. We’ll cover many of the common issues, such as practice expectations and roles of the parent, student and teacher as a student moves from the beginner to more advanced levels. Workshops will be held in late August and early September. 

Parent Workshop for Current Students
Join other BMS parents for a discussion of common issues that arise as students transition from beginner to more advanced levels.  Led by BMS staff and faculty, we’ll cover topics including practice, recitals, and especially how to make it through “speedbumps” that inevitably arise for every student. Workshops will be held in late August and early September, as well as January and February. 

When is my Child Ready to Start Private Lessons?
Many factors determine whether or not your child is ready to start private instruction. Some instruments such as trumpet or tuba require a certain level of physical maturity in order for a student to even begin to produce a sound. Others, such as piano, flute, or violin, are approachable as early as age 3 with the Suzuki method. Things to consider are the child’s personality, whether or not they are starting to read, physical coordination level, and attention span. In general, students should be able to stay focused for at least 30 minutes for traditional lessons. If at all in doubt, it is far better to wait until a child is older to start individual lessons. Children who start too young or with an instrument not appropriate for the age risk becoming frustrated and may lose interest in music lessons altogether. BMS offers many options for Early Childhood group learning experiences that will lay the foundation for a successful transition to private lessons.

Woodwinds (clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone)                  9-10+ yrs (physical maturity required)            
Brass (trumpet, trombone, horn)
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