Frequently Asked Questions
At The Underwood School, lessons are one-one, private instruction. We tailor each lesson to the individual goals and desires of the students. A students’ age, experience, personality, and learning style are all utilized by the instructor to form a personalized lesson plan. Students in private lessons are able to learn the type of music they personally are most interested in.
In private lessons, the teacher can focus 100% of their attention on that one student to ensure that hand positioning, posture or the understanding of a particular concept are correct.
Our school is equipped to offer music lessons for students of all ages and abilities, from beginners to very advanced students. We offer every style of lessons; classical, jazz, pop, rock, blues, country, and more.
REMEMBER - BEGINNERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!
WHAT DO YOU LEARN IN YOUR MUSIC LESSONS?
Our teachers make it a priority to get to know you on a personal level and to become familiar with your personal musical needs and goals. Each student is not treated the same-- we tailor how we teach and what we teach to your individual needs.
As an example, elementary age students taking their first piano lesson will have very different needs from a retired person taking up guitar again after having taken lessons as a teenager.
The main reason to choose The Underwood School as your music school is that we believe every student is an individual.
During your initial lesson, your instructor will open a dialogue with you, and discuss your favorite types of music, and establish a lesson plan to help you accomplish those goals
At The Underwood School we ENGAGE students with friendly instruction, a fun, exciting, yet professional atmosphere. We offer a comprehensive Performing Arts School. We EQUIP students with training, experience, technique and theory of music. Our Instructors have a combination of University training, real word experience and teaching credentials. We EMPOWER students to use the things they learn to express their dreams through music. We have free music recitals and community performance opportunities for our students.
WHAT AGE SHOULD MY CHILD/I BEGIN LESSONS?
For most children, age 5-6 is the perfect time to start lessons. Some children show a great interest and enthusiasm, and can start earlier. Others will need to wait a while. During a trial lesson or the first month of lessons the student, instructor and parent will know if the student is truly ready. And since our lessons are month-to- month, you don’t have any long term contracts to worry about
WHAT STYLES OF MUSIC DO YOU TEACH?
We teach all styles from rock, pop, jazz, country, blues and classical.
ARE YOUR INSTRUCTORS QUALIFIED?
Our instructors are highly qualified, holding degrees in music and many have extensive performance experience. Most importantly, our instructors strive to relate their teaching to each individual student's learning style. Many of our teachers have years of professional performance and teaching experience. In addition to their teaching credentials, our teachers have warm personalities, are extremely friendly, and strive to get to know each student and their parent on a personal level.
GUITAR LESSONS –Acoustic, Electric and Bass
Our guitar teachers teach rock, blues, metal, country and classical guitar lessons on electric and
acoustic guitars. Beginner students can expect to work on chords, simple songs and melodies, sight reading, and theory. We balance musicianship and fun by making sure that each lesson you are challenged with a new technical or theory concept, but always end with something fun such as your favorite riff or song. We encourage and provide opportunities for students to “Sing Along” with the appropriate songs. We use a variety of guitar method books to accomplish this and encourage students to bring CDs or their iPod to their lesson to learn their favorite tunes.
PIANO LESSONS
For our younger beginning piano student, we start with one of the well - known and accepted piano method series. As the basic theory and technique are developed, our teachers will begin to add popular music and other styles of playing to keep the younger ones engaged. Older students have the option to begin “Classical” study, or to go right into pop style playing, using chords and “Lead Sheets” to quickly begin to play songs. Our piano teachers teach a variety of styles from classical to popular music. Whether you want to learn Bach, chords, or Alicia Keys, our teachers are happy to help you become the pianist you want to be. We also encourage the students to “Sing Along” with appropriate songs. Our piano faculty will show you the fundamentals of sight reading, technique and theory, but they will also incorporate your favorite songs into your lessons. Our piano teachers have warm personalities and enjoy sharing their love for the piano with you.
DRUM LESSONS
We have University trained Percussion/Drum teachers. Our drum instructors will teach rock, metal, jazz, funk, blues and many other styles. Drum language can be complex and our instructors will challenge any drummer with a wide variety of technical exercises designed to improve your speed and comfort. All drummers may bring in their favorite drum parts to learn in their lessons and theory is encouraged. You do not have to purchase a drum kit to take lessons. Beginning students can learn with a drum pad and sticks. Students use our drum set at their lessons and do not have to bring anything except their drum sticks and a notebook. We also offer Percussion Lessons, which is a wonderful addition to any school band program, rock band, or worship band.
VOICE LESSONS
Our primary goal with voice lessons is to get the student singing songs as quickly as possible. We teach classical, pop, rock, blues, country and jazz. As the students learn songs they want to sing, we use the songs as exercises to teach technique and fundamentals. We can prepare a student for a career in classical singing, or help them get ready to be a performer in other styles. We can also help with auditions, musical theater, and coaching for an audition or role for the non-singer. Voice students spend time each week doing physical exercises to improve their vocal range, ear training, breath control, vibrato, tone production, enunciation and more. All voice students set goals with their teacher to work on being able to control their voice to sing all styles of music, and also to develop their own unique voice.
BAND and ORCHESTRA INSTRUMENTS
We have many options for students who want to increase their skills in percussion,
woodwinds, brass, or reed instruments! Our teachers are passionate about the instruments they teach and want to help you succeed, whether your goals are for personal enjoyment, to improve your skills for the school band, or become a wonderful asset to your rock band.
Rates:
Tuition is $115 per month for a 30 minute lesson each week.
we are closed 5 weeks out of the year (Announced). You receive 47 lessons in a calendar year. Tuition is based on a yearly amount that you are able to pay in 12 equal installments. Payment is in advance, through our convenient auto-pay. Tuition is due on the last lesson of the month for the following month. Your payment reserves your lesson time only, you are not buying a group of lessons to use throughout the month. We are open through the summer. Tuition cannot be credited, is non-refundable, and cannot be carried over to another month.
Students will receive at least 47 lessons in a year.
Missed Lessons
If a student misses a lesson for any reason, or are on vacation, the lesson time cannot be made up. We have directed study and other activities the student can participate in. Contact us for more info. If an instructor misses a lesson, and a substitute instructor is not available, a one-on-one make - up lesson will be scheduled. it is the student/parents responsibility to make themselves available for a makeup during the instructors open times.
All Lessons are held once a week, at the same day and time.
What would you give to be able to share your child's experience of being a pop star for a night, performing for family, friends & peers?
Call us today to start on the road to a lifetime of achievement!
