Grand Oaks Cluster Private Lesson FAQs

 

Why should we enroll in private lessons?

Enrollment in private lessons is the most significant predictor of a student’s success in music. While not mandatory, the individual attention available through private instruction provides tremendous enhancement of your child’s skills, motivation, and musical enjoyment.

 

Who takes private lessons?

Each student in the Grand Oaks cluster has the opportunity to study privately with a professional musician in our private lessons program. This enrichment opportunity is available to all band students.

 

Don’t we already get rigorous and stimulating instruction in our band classes?

Yes! However, while the instruction provided in the GO cluster band classes can lift a student to a high level of musical competency, there is no substitute for the individualized instruction that is only available through private study. The individual nature of private lessons means that instruction is catered directly to your child’s ability level, and supplementary materials are provided to expand on the full class curriculum. Students enrolled in lessons are able to move at their own fast pace instead of being tethered to the pace of the class as a whole.

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Isn’t private tutoring just for kids who are struggling?

No! On the contrary, the purpose of the private lessons program is not to provide remedial instruction -- its purpose is to provide supplementary instruction for students seeking to get the most out of their music education.

 

Who will be my child’s private lessons teacher?

Our private lesson instructors are carefully selected by the GOHS cluster band directors and receive the same scrutiny as full-time teachers at the district level before being hired. Most of our teachers hold graduate degrees (masters & doctorate) on their instrument and are professional performing musicians in the area. Click the Link at the bottom of this page to see a PDF of our private lessons teacher contact info!

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Why should I take lessons at my child’s school?

Couldn’t my child take lessons from someone else, like a relative who played guitar back in 1992? With private lessons, just as with any worthwhile product or service, you get what you pay for. By studying with a GO cluster-approved private lessons teacher, your child will receive instruction that aligns with the philosophy and quality of the vertical team. The band directors are able to collaborate with our lessons teachers and work together to give every student the best experience possible -- this is not possible with non-GO approved instructors.

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When do lessons happen?

Private lessons are currently scheduled with your private lessons teacher and offered via Zoom.  This creates a wonderful scheduling opportunity, so that your child can coordinate times that work both for them and their private teacher!

 

Shouldn’t we try to avoid missing band class to take a private lesson?

No! (for when Private Teachers are allowed back on campus) Taking a private lesson is the best possible reason for a student to miss a bit of band class. In this scenario, a student is trading group instruction for individual instruction -- a good tradeoff by any measure! It’s important to remember, too, that lessons are only once per week, and during-class lessons take only half of one class period.

 

How long is a lesson?

A lesson during band class is usually about 25 minutes long. If you would like to have a longer lesson, that can be discussed with your students’ private lesson teachers. Rates will vary based on lesson times.

 

What is the cost?

Our lesson teachers set their own rate in Conroe ISD. The financial range of a lesson in the GO cluster usually falls between $25-30 dollars per lesson.

 

How does payment work?

Payment details will be communicated by your lesson teacher, and payment is made directly to them. Please understand that our private lesson teachers make their living teaching our students and students at other schools; in many cases it is the primary source of their livelihood, in addition to performing. As such, timely payments and 24 hours notice of a missed lesson are important facets of private lessons enrollment. A missed lesson without notice will be charged at the full rate. With proper notice, alternative scheduling can be arranged.

 

Can we just take a few lessons to get started and then discontinue lessons?

Absolutely not. The purpose of private lessons is to provide continuous, enhanced instruction to students seeking to get the most out of their music education.

 

How do we enroll?

Private lessons enrollment is part of the Band Registration process done at the beginning of the school year. You must fill out and sign the contract to be enrolled. It is not too late to enroll if you decline lessons at the time of registration, but it is best to enroll early to ensure teacher availability. Because we hire only the best, our lessons teachers are in high demand, and their schedules fill up quickly! The Grand Oaks cluster is fortunate to be able to provide this exceptional opportunity for students and band families. Private lessons at school are a convenient and economical way for your child to receive individualized instruction. We hope you will take advantage of this powerful program!!

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