WELLESLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Performing Arts Department
2013-2014
MUSIC
EXTENSION PROGRAM
As part of its Music Education Program, the Wellesley School System offers students the opportunity to study instruments
and voice. Private lessons are taught by highly qualified professional instructors who have demonstrated excellence in
their performing and teaching. This information included here answers questions most frequently asked about the
program.
WHAT IS THE MISSION
OF THE EXTENSION PROGRAM?
The mission of the Extension Program of the Wellesley Public Schools is three-fold:
• to help children develop a life long love of music and joy in music-making
• to teach a body of core skills and techniques to a mastery level
• to prepare all students for entry into school-based ensembles and to support continued participation in these ensembles
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM?
The Extension Program is open to all students in grades 4-12 (brass, woodwind, percussion), grades K-12 (strings), and 812 (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 (K-12)
Viola (K-12)
Cello (K-12)
String Bass (K-12)
Flute
Clarinet
Alto Sax
Tenor Sax
Bassoon
Trumpet
French Horn
Baritone Horn
Percussion
Voice (8-12)
Guitar
Oboe
Euphonium
Trombone
Tuba
Mandolin and Fiddle (subject to change
depending on teacher availability)
WHO ARE THE PRIVATE TEACHERS?
Private teachers are drawn from the ranks of the finest professional musicians in the Greater Boston area. Our teachers are
experienced in dealing with children, and they are sensitive to the needs of beginners as well as advanced students.
Teachers teach lessons on their primary instruments, the instruments which they know best. For a listing of teachers,
please call the Music Office 781-446-6250 ext. 5720 or check the department website.
http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/district/performing-arts
HOW DO CHILDREN GET INTRODUCED
TO THE INSTRUMENTS?
In fall, demonstrations are arranged in order to introduce elementary children to the instruments. The instruments are
introduced in music classes and often played by representatives from the Extension or Teaching Staff. Each child leaves
the demonstration with information about instrument lessons and instrument rental options. Parents are always welcome
to make an appointment to discuss individual concerns with any member of the music faculty.
General Music Teachers also introduce the program and guide students throughout the year.
CURRICULUM FOR THE EXTENSION PROGRAM
Private Instructors teach from the specified books Wellesley Public Schools ensemble directors recommend. Instructors
are also coached in lesson planning, strategies and techniques. Another piece of the private lesson is the teaching of
ensemble literature from year to year.
HOW DOES ONE REGISTER FOR LESSONS
AND RENT INSTRUMENTS?
Interested families go online to our website, find a teacher and a matching time, and then contact that teacher.
Instrument rental is also available. http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/district/performing-arts
Instrument Rental
1. This afternoon event gives parents the opportunity to compare the services of more than one instrumental vendor
and to ask any questions they may have for the vendors who will be on site; or contact the vendor directly for
information (see below).
2. Below is a list of recommended local music, stores that provide trial rental periods, some offering the option of
rental costs counting toward the eventual purchase of the instrument.
Johnson String Instruments
Leonard's Music
Rayburn Music Co.
11 John Street, Newton
128 The Great Road, Bedford
263 Huntington Avenue, Boston
617-964-0954
781-271-1189
617-266-4727
3. School-owned instruments: A limited inventory of school-owned instruments is available. Instruments are assigned
for a school year (10 months) on a first-come first-served basis, and a user’s fee is assessed. Those renting school
instruments assume repair costs. Summer extension of the rental period is available and can be arranged in June. For
an appointment to arrange the rental of an instrument, call Mr. Platt at 781-446-6250 ext. 5720 after Rental Day.
4. Searches of attics and storage areas: These often unearth instruments which are of high quality and which can be used
for beginning lessons. However, these instruments should be assessed by a qualified teacher or repair person to
determine if they are appropriate for use by a student. They should be in good repair before lessons start. If in doubt
you can contact your school music teacher.
WHERE DO WE GET LESSON BOOKS AND MATERIALS?
These are available for sale at Rental Day in September. They are also available on-line from vendors.
Woodwind, Brass, Percussion, Guitar
Standard of Excellence I
Supplementary lesson materials to be assigned by teachers
Beginning strings, "traditional" strings
• Preparatory repertoire books and tapes
• Essential Elements
Accessories
A music stand is essential for home practice. Other supplies such as reeds, rosin, valve oil, metronome, and
strings are available from local music stores.
HOW WILL RENTED OR
SCHOOL-OWNED INSTRUMENTS BE REPAIRED?
If an instrument which has been rented from one of our recommended vendors is in need of repair, the student will label
the instrument with his/her name and phone number, the nature of the repair, and designate the vendor. The instrument
will be left in the Middle School Music Office. Parents must notify the vendor that an instrument is being left for repair.
Vendors visit the Office weekly to pick up instruments; instruments will be returned to the Music Office. If the instrument
will be in the shop for an extended period, vendors will supply “loaner” instruments so that lessons are not disrupted.
School-owned instruments needing repair will be handled in the same manner; however, “loaner” instruments will not be
available. Those renting a school- owned instrument must pay all repair costs.
Privately owned instruments can be sent out for repair to our recommended vendors through the Music Office. However,
owners will bear the cost of repair.
WHAT IS THE FEE STRUCTURE FOR THIS PROGRAM?
Students register for two fifteen-week semesters. This can be done all together or in two payments.
Semester I: September - January (fifteen weekly 30-minute lessons)
(fifteen weekly 30-minute lessons)
Semester II: February - May
Lessons are available in the following configurations:
Private: $412.50 per semester (half hour)
Chamber Groups: $270.00 per semester (half hour)
Registration Fee: $25.00 per semester
Teachers may recommend different lesson lengths, in which case a lesson would be pro-rated accordingly.
Forty-five minute lessons with pro-rated tuition are sometimes recommended for advanced students. Sixty-minute lessons
are also available for double the semester tuition. Your private teacher can discuss these options with you. Please note,
tuition assistance is not available for extended lessons.
When a lesson slot has been assigned, teachers cannot reassign that slot to another student once the semester has begun.
Therefore there will be no refunds of tuition or registration fee once a lesson semester has begun.
Lesson tuition must be paid in full before instruction begins. Checks are made payable directly to Wellesley Public
Schools. In addition, a registration fee of $25.00 payable to the Wellesley Public Schools is due each semester and
attached to the registration form when lessons are scheduled.
A tuition assistance program is available in cases of financial need. Please contact the Department at 781-446-6250,
x5720.
WHEN AND WHERE
ARE LESSONS TAUGHT AFTER REGISTRATION?
Lessons begin in September. Students are entitled to fifteen weekly 30-minute lessons each semester. Schedules are
arranged with the teachers by phone or email.
Lessons are scheduled during after-school hours. Scheduling will depend on the availability of each teacher and is done
through the discretion of the teacher.
Lessons are taught at the High School, Middle School, and some elementary schools. Parent arranged car pools have
served well in transporting children to lesson sites.
Children in grades K-8 must be escorted to and from lesson studios by an adult. Teachers have been instructed not to
release students unless an adult is there to pick them up. Students are not to be in the Middle School unaccompanied for
lengths of time before their lessons. These rules are in place for the safety of students.
WHAT ABOUT MISSED LESSON TIME?
Students are expected to report promptly to lessons. Because of their full schedules, teachers must begin and end lessons
on time. Tardiness will result in shorter instructional periods.
Teacher absence: Missed teacher lessons will be made up at parental convenience or parents will receive a lesson refund
from the teacher. In some instances, you will be offered the option of having a lesson taught by a substitute teacher. All
arrangements for make-ups or lessons with substitutes will be made directly by the private teacher.
There are no make-up lessons for students who simply do not appear at lesson time. Teachers should be given a minimum
of 24 hours notice before absences when possible.
Lessons will not be made up when students are absent due to:
• illness unless the illness is long-term
• school cancellations (snow days, etc.)
• family or school sports activity
Students who will miss a lesson may pre-arrange with another student to swap lesson times. The private teacher must be
notified in advance of such swaps.
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 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.
Students who are in school but incapacitated in some way (broken arm, etc.) or students who have forgotten their
instruments 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.
TIME HAS BEEN SET ASIDE
AT THE END OF EACH SEMESTER FOR LESSON MAKE-UPS.
THESE ARE ARRANGED DIRECTLY WITH THE INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS.
HOW WILL PARENTS BE APPRISED OF
STUDENT PROGRESS?
Instructors will advise parents of student progress in several ways:
1. Phone calls may be made to parents to notify them of outstanding progress. If it is determined that a student in a class
or semi-private setting is being slowed in his/her progress, the instructor and parents can discuss a more appropriate
placement.
2. Parents will be notified by phone if there are behavior, attention, or motivation problems.
3. If a student is showing a lack of motivation or interest, the instructor will make every effort to motivate the student by
altering teaching methods and varying lesson materials. If the student or parent is considering dropping from the
program, we request that a conference with the instructor be held first in order to determine if all possible strategies to
re-motivate a student have been tried.
4. Parents will be provided with a written Progress Report from the instructors at the end of each lesson semester.
HOW CAN PARENTS SUPPORT THEIR
CHILDREN’S PROGRESS?
Children progress best in any endeavor when their achievement is valued and celebrated by significant people in their
lives. Parents can help their children remain motivated by monitoring home practice, encouraging children to play
frequently for family or guests, and checking in periodically with the teacher to discuss progress.
Daily home practice is critical to achievement and progress. It is recommended that children maintain a daily schedule of
at least 20 minutes practice time. Parents can help by providing an appropriate space, which fosters concentration. Parents
can also help by encouraging children to practice at the same time every day so that a routine is established. Children may
need periodic rewards from the family in order to continue pursuing this long-range goal. Far too many adults bemoan the
fact that they gave up playing an instrument when they were children because the practicing defeated them. We need to
recognize that daily practice brings the reward of self-discipline and enables children to learn perseverance over long
periods of time.
Taking children to live concerts and playing recordings of music featuring the child's chosen instrument also help to
support learning. BSO Youth concerts, Wellesley Symphony Family concerts, Nicolucci Library Concerts at the
Wellesley Free Library, and other area performances are very interesting for young musicians.
WHEN DO CHILDREN ENTER BAND OR ORCHESTRA?
Students may enter school band or orchestra when their private teacher feels they are ready. This is generally by the end
of Grade 4 but can vary depending on student progress and development. Part of the joy of playing an instrument comes
from participation in an ensemble. While daily practice is solitary by nature, ensemble performance provides children
with an experience in a group whose members share a common goal. Each of the elementary schools supports a band and
string ensemble, which welcome students who have reached the specified level of proficiency. All Town Band and All
Town Orchestra combine players from the seven elementary schools into large and exciting performance groups, which
rehearse monthly.
Students who continue private study during their secondary school years are encouraged to participate in a variety of
ensembles: concert band, orchestra, pep band, chamber ensembles, choirs, and jazz band. Many older students who reach
a high level of proficiency participate in the District and All State ensembles sponsored by the Massachusetts Music
Educators Association. Wellesley students have been members of prestigious performing groups at the district, state,
regional, and national levels.
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
RECITALS AND MASTER CLASSES
In order to provide opportunity for students to showcase their achievements, private teachers sometimes mount recitals
and/or master classes. These events may occur once per semester during an extended lesson block of 45 to 60 minutes. If
piano accompanists are required for such events, a nominal per pupil fee will be assessed to pay the accompanist. This fee
will be pro-rated among the participants not to exceed $10.00 per family per event.
In the spring, a formal solo and duet recital may be mounted for technically advanced students in an off campus venue.
We look forward to assisting students and parents in selecting the best instrument and teacher possible. If you have any
unanswered questions about the program, please contact Julie Verret, Music Extension Program Coordinator at 781-4466265 or Ms. Elizabeth Perry, Director of Performing Arts, 781-446-6250, x 5720.