Now Registering
*We are currently offering private lessons both online and in-person. Click HERE for distance learning resources. For more information about CCSM's Covid-19 response, please visit our COVID-19 Updates page.
CCSM is proud to be able to offer personalized private lesson instruction to students of all ages and ability levels! Our talented and diverse faculty is comprised of over 50 music instructors, all of whom have professional or advanced degrees in music and are skilled teachers as well as musicians. Regardless of whether a student is a complete beginner or conservatory-bound, our teachers are equipped to provide the information, environment, and inspiration necessary to help students reach their goals and musical potential.
We currently offer private instruction in the following instruments:
Piano, voice, guitar, strings, woodwinds, percussion, harp, recorder, bagpipes, and brass instruments.
Suzuki Method instruction is also available in violin, viola, cello, guitar, and piano.
CCSM uniquely operates as a tuition-based academic year music school. With the exception of school holiday breaks, lessons take place once per week from the time of enrollment through the end of the academic year. (Summer term schedules are set up separately. Contact the office for more information regarding summer lesson arrangements.)
Private lesson students joining CCSM for the first time will register for the full academic year and will have a four-lesson consultation period. If a student chooses to withdraw prior to the 4th lesson taught, a full refund will be given minus the cost of the initial lessons given. It is expected that students will commit to weekly lessons for the remainder of the academic school year after the consultation period has concluded. There are no makeups or refunds for student-missed lessons.
Scheduling arrangements are made between families and instructors directly, and a time, day of week, and room/location will be established at the time of registration. Instructors and students will respectfully commit to this regular weekly arrangement, fostering a positive, comfortable, and productive learning environment. Students may sign up for private lessons at any time of year, and tuition is pro-rated based on week of entry.
The referral process
New and current student referrals for private lessons are carefully handled by our staff and teachers, and are coordinated by the president of the CCSM Board of Directors. Careful thought is given to schedule, availability, level, and experience when selecting a teacher/student match. It is our goal to provide the best possible educational experience for every student enrolled in our programs.
CCSM has a 3-step registration process for private lesson referrals that generally takes between 3-5 days
upon submission of the registration form.
1) Begin a private lesson referral in-person at the school or at www.claremontmusic.org/Registrationand-Payments.
2) A CCSM teacher will contact you to set up a start date/time and email you a brief overview of their
background, experience, qualifications, and any additional information.
3) Complete registration by contacting the office with your start date/time. A registrar will process the
registration and email an invoice.
Private lessons are open to new and continuing students, and all lesson arrangements are made directly with the corresponding instructor. Private lessons are available on most instruments. Suzuki instruction is available for violin, viola, cello, guitar and piano.
Virtual Lessons: For students not wanting to have in-person lessons, virtual lessons are possible via Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime.
Included with tuition are:
- 38 weeks of private music lessons (later start dates are pro-rated)
- A reserved time and space to meet with your instructor weekly
- Multiple performance opportunities during the academic year (including monthly recitals, festivals, community events, competitions and ensemble programs)
- Access to master classes with renowned visiting artists
- High-quality video and audio recording access
- Fun events for students and families
- A dedicated and supportive musical community of instructors, staff members, and other student families
Summer Term
Private lessons in the summer have a slightly more variable format. The number of lessons scheduled for Summer term will vary depending on travel plans and schedule agreements made between each teacher and student individually. Summer Term 2021 begins June 18th, 2021, and must be registered for specifically; students registered for the academic year will not automatically be enrolled for Summer Term. Please fill out a registration form HERE to request summer lessons! Our office will be in touch to explain the summer lesson scheduling process.
CCSM has two classifications of teachers: Master and Standard. Both offer 30, 45, and 60 min lessons, and are happy to work with any student eager to learn and explore music. Cost of tuition differs depending on lesson length and teacher classification.
Master teachers are our most highly qualified instructors and possess at least a Master of Arts degree in music (or comparable certification and/or experience teaching at CCSM), widespread performing experience at the artist level and very strong pedagogical skills. Master Teachers are available to instruct students of any age and ability, including students who are considering career paths in the world of music, wishing to progress at a highly-motivated pace, and those desiring to reach top-level proficiency on their voice or instrument of choice. Students will be encouraged to explore varied repertoire, prepare for performances, auditions and competitions, and and may be placed in demanding arenas to accelerate their study of music.
CCSM partners with many charter and home-school programs throughout our community and the surrounding area, with well over 14 different partnerships. Charter and Home-school lessons are available with both Standard and Master Teachers. As these programs require extensive reporting per lesson and vary in administrative scope and sequence, a single-lesson rate structure applies accordingly. If you will be taking private lessons through a charter school, we must receive the purchase order/enrichment certificate BEFORE your student will be allowed to start lessons. Please make sure to allow plenty of time for your charter school to generate the PO and send it to us.
View our Tuition and Policies page for Charter-specific tuition breakdowns.
