Are you the parent of a homeschool child?
Are you looking to give your child an excellent music education?
Would you like your child to learn in a way that is fun and ensures consistent progress?
If you said yes, you’re going to love the Classical Guitar Program at The Olympia School of Guitar. I have designed this program to help your child become a well-rounded musician and excellent guitar player.
Here are some of the benefits of a classical guitar education:
- Playing music develops spatial reasoning
- Improves test scores
- Increases coordination
- Students learn pattern recognition
- Develop a sense of achievement
- Better SAT scores
- Children stay engaged in school
- Higher IQ
- Students learn discipline and patience
- Better test scores
- Mastery of memorization
- Music can be a great way to relax and destress
- Children can learn teamwork
- Music is a lifelong gift you can give to your child
- Music carries far less risk than contact sports
- A great place to make friends
- Classical guitar is quieter than most instruments and is easily transported
- Playing a musical instrument is one of the few activities that has been shown to use the entire brain, which is why it is so beneficial to a child’s education
5 Big Mistakes Parents Make When Choosing A Music Instructor
1. Choosing based on location (convenience)
2. Choosing based on the lowest price (this program is expensive and there are no tuition refunds, no makeup lessons, and no discounts)
3. Choosing an instrument the child does not enjoy
4. Choosing an instructor who “teaches all styles”
5. Choosing an instructor who will come to your home
By choosing the Classical Guitar Program at The Olympia School of Guitar, you will avoid making all of these mistakes and ensure your child receives an excellent education.
What will my child learn?
1. Proper playing technique
2. How to read music
3. How to practice effectively outside of lessons
4. Music terminology
5. How to prepare for a performance
6. Performance in a small ensemble and solo setting
7. Comprehensive music literacy
8. Carefully chosen repertoire
What does the program include?
1. One weekly 45 minute private lesson
Private lessons ensure student receive instruction specifically for their level, experience, and needs. Students will learn proper technique, music terminology, how to read music, and repertoire in their private lessons. Parents are encouraged to attend these private lessons so they can guide their children at home and understand how they are progressing. Parental involvement is vital!
2. A minimum of one weekly 45 minute group guitar training session
Group training sessions allow the students to practice with the aid of an instructor. These sessions are critical to the development of good technique, excellent practice habits, and they ensure the student develops consistently. Many guitar students practice inefficiently because they do not receive proper training from their instructor; this session solves that problem.
3. One weekly 1 hour ensemble performance session
As soon as the student has achieve basic guitar technique, they will enter a performance ensemble. While playing solo repertoire is important to the developing musician, playing music in a group session helps develop musical skills that may lag behind or develop slower when a student is not involved in a group setting. Rhythm, dynamics, playing parts, working together with other musicians, and performance technique are the focus of this session.
What are the expectations in this program?
This program is not for everyone as expectations are very high. The goal of the Classical Guitar Program at The Olympia School of Guitar is to create competent musicians of a high calibre, not merely guitarists who can strum a few chords and play songs.
- Children should be dedicated to practicing every day for at least 30 minutes. Older children will be expected to practice longer.
- Performances (at least two, solo and ensemble, per year) are mandatory.
- Students are expected to achieve certain milestones depending on their age. Students who do not achieve these milestones will be required to enroll in additional lessons or be removed from the program.
- Parental involvement is absolutely necessary. Do not expect to drop off your child and run errands during their lesson. You need to attend at least one lesson per week with your child (usually the private lesson). Children are almost always more successful when their parents are deeply involved in their music education.
- Playing music is fun, but there is also work involved. Children will be expected to put forth effort in order learn how to properly play guitar. While we will have fun, there will be challenged and difficulties that must be overcome by hard work. Developing the tenacity to persevere through these difficulties will serve your child in all areas of life.
- You need a good quality instrument. You do not need to spend thousands of dollars on an instrument, but a cheap guitar will make learning and playing unnecessarily difficult and unenjoyable. I can recommend several quality guitars to choose from depending height of your child.
- Long term commitment. If there is any thought of enrolling for a time frame of less than one year, please do not apply. Playing guitar is akin to learning a foreign language – it takes commitment and time. For students to reach their maximum potential, they should be enrolled in lessons for years, not months.
Apply today to enroll your child in the exclusive Classical Guitar Program at The Olympia School of Guitar.
Please note: At this time I am accepting a vey limited number students into the Classical Guitar Program.
Here’s what you need to do to apply:
1. Fill out the form below. After I have received your contact information I will call to schedule a phone interview.
2. Complete an application form and pay the non-refundable $25 application fee.
3. If you and your child are accepted into the program, tuition will be due prior to lessons beginning.