FALL 2024 UPDATE

Dear Parents,

Here's an update for Fall 2024:
  • After 28 years, we have recently rebranded as "Park Ridge Music Academy", which is the new home of ParkRidgePiano.com and ParkRidgeStrings.com (these websites will continue to be active). The new umbrella-website is ParkRidgeMusicAcademy.com
  • We are almost done scheduling our lessons for the new school year (September 2024 - June 2025). For any schedule adjustments please TEXT (847) 877-0846 as soon as possible. We have opened up more evening and weekend times, including Sunday evening.
  • WHAT IS NEW???
  • Due to demand, we have added BEGINNING GUITAR to our offerings for students Gr. 3 and up, considering the fine motor control required.
  • After two years, TUITION is up a little bit, but STILL BELOW THE GOING RATE in the area (see charts below and details HERE). The NEW tuition now includes ALL sheet music (binder and/or books; no need to buy anything), still 10% sibling discount (applies to two or more siblings, or one student learning two instruments), still NO extra fees that others charge (registration, materials, etc.).
  • As before, monthly tuition is required at the beginning of each month, no exceptions!!! Payment to (847) 877-0846 using Cash, Zelle, Venmo, or personal check/cash. Your monthly payment secures your RESERVED lesson time - ALL other studios require this... We will try to accommodate make ups for lessons that you miss; if I miss a lesson, you will receive a credit, of course. Thank you for your attention to this point!
  • PRORATED MONTHS are the starting month (if applicable), then June, July, August, November, December, and March -- considering vacation time and school break time. All other months are $150/mo./student, $270/mo. for two siblings, and $405/mo for three siblings. Prorated months are: three lessons/month = $112.50, two lessons/month = $75, one lesson/month = $37.50. Students taking the whole summer off will be considered "new" students for the Fall session starting in mid/late August.
  • CALENDAR: Following the school calendar, WE ARE CLOSED Thanksgiving week, two weeks for the holidays, one week for Spring Break, and July 3rd & 4th, but WE ARE OPEN on Labor Day, Memorial Day, Presidents' Day, MLK Day, and Indigenous Peoples' Day.
  • WOULD YOU LIKE A FREE LESSON? For every referral that signs up, you'll get a FREE 30min. lesson. Thank you for spreading the word about our piano, violin, viola, cello, and guitar lessons - I appreciate your referrals, as always...​
  • HOW CAN YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF LESSONS? 1.Bring all necessary materials to our lessons, have fingernails trimmed 2.Be on time, with hand exercises already done in the car. 3.Be open to a learning/growing experience; be open to advice/correction, to fixing mistakes. 4.Ask good questions and listen to the answer 5.Push yourself a little - that's where growth really happens, in the discomfort zone 6.Follow up with practice at home between lessons, focusing on the current goals, as mentioned in all our lessons.​
  • PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS: ONLY 10min. 4-5 times a week. I remind the students frequently that (A) we all get 1440 minutes EVERY single day (1440-10 = 1430!), (B) practice is for the brain, not the hands, and (C) every skill and habit takes MINDFUL repetition in order to be learned, and progress to happen. It's not magic, it's a mindset and a method (of thinking/learning) that works. We ALWAYS emphasize quality over quantity, commitment over indifference, and consistency/focus over chaos.
  • WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PRACTICE? 1.Practice the BASICS (technical exercises, scales, patterns, loops, etudes). 2.Review recent material that has checks already. 3.Finish with the NEW material (started, but no check yet). 4.Use the note-reading app and (any) metronome 5.Ensure that there's NO distractions in the practice environment at home (siblings, pets, electronics).​
  • Wishing everyone a rewarding new school year, full of personal growth, progress, and joy!!! Thank you for all you do at home, and your continued dedication to your children's well-rounded education! 
 
  • P.S. More dedicated string students are encouraged to audition for the following elite programs in the area: Midwest Young Artists and Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. I've had dozens of violin, viola, and cello students in both programs, up the the highest level, for many years. It's a very rewarding experience, with concerts downtown and even international tours (at the highest level).
  • P.P.S. For very young beginners: please practice saying the (music) alphabet forward A-G and backwards G-A, right vs. left hand, concepts like before/after, up/down, again/next, thumb vs. pinkie. Thank you!
  • See below for FREE music theory worksheets that you can print. More coming soon!