Enrollment & Fees

VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO, HARP and PIANO

Lessons are available for violin, viola, cello, harp, and piano for children ages 4-18.  Adult and parent music lessons are also available.  Children 18 months to 4 years can participate in our early childhood education program.

The SMID program consists of one individual (private) lesson per week, one group lesson per week, and one theory lesson per week.  Group lessons are assigned based on instrument, level, and age of the student.  Theory lessons are assigned based on age and grade level in school.  The lengths of the group and theory classes vary; the length of the private lesson does not always reflect the length of the group and theory classes. Teachers assign group and theory lessons.

The school year consists of 40 weeks of individual lessons and 33 weeks of group and theory lessons.  Late admissions to the school will be prorated accordingly.

TUITION BY LEVEL, WEEKLY PROGRAM, & TUITION PAYMENT PLANS for the 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR

Level   Weekly Program      1-Payment    2-Payments    3-Payments    6-Payments

    I        30 min. private,           $2,327.80        $1183.90        $805.93           $427.97

group, & theory

    II      2-20 min. private,         $2895.33         $1467.67        $995.11           $522.56

group & theory

   III      45 min. private,             $3,236.26        $1,638.13      $1,108.75        $579.38

group & theory

   IV      60 min. private,             $4,088.07         $2,064.04     $1,392.69        $721.35

group & theory

   V       80 min. private,              $5,336.43        $2,688.22      $1,808.81        $929.41

group & theory

ADULT TUITION (Instrument-only) for PARENT INSTRUMENT LESSONS & INTERESTED ADULTS

(Students enrolled in this category do not participate in Group/Orchestra/Chamber Music or Music Theory/Composition classes).

    Level    Weekly Program        1-Payment         2-Payments       3-Payments       6-Payments

       I               30 min. private                          $1,708.77                       $874.39                       $599.59                       $324.80

       II               2-20 min. private                       $2,278.36                       $1,159.18                    $789.45                       $419.73

      III              45 min. private                           $2,562.64                        $1,301.32                   $884.21                       $467.11

      IV              60 min. private                           $3,417.54                        $1,728.77                   $1,169.18                    $609.59

      V               80 min. private                           $4,556.72                        $2,298.36                   $1,548.91                    $799.45

ELECTIVES

Students who are not registered for instrument lessons at the SMID are eligible to enroll in elective courses offered by the school, such as Music Theory, Composition and Group Instrument classes. These courses are $703.49 each for 33 classes.

KODOMO MUSIC FEES

$228 per child for a 12 week season.

$15 annual enrollment Fee

$149.35 per second child in the same family.

REGISTRATION & TUITION POLICIES

The Registration Fee is due upon registration with subsequent tuition payments due according to the payment option chosen. Lessons may commence only after registration has been turned into the business office and payment received by the school.
Invoices will be sent to families in advance of the payment due date.   Unless arrangements are made with the General Manager, a late fee of $10.00 per week will be charged if the payment is more than 10 business days late.    Payments may be mailed or left in the Business Office.   Please mark clearly on the bottom of your check what the payment covers.   If you are paying cash for any item, please insert the money in an envelope and write your name and nature of payment on the envelope.

SMID CURRICULUM

Individual Instrument Lessons
The core of the Suzuki Institute of Dallas instrumental program is the individual lesson where a student participates in a one-to-one learning experience with a teacher. The European master class format, where individual lessons are observed by other students and parents, is encouraged and plays a key part in the Talent Education system.

Group Activities
Group activities can be very motivational as well as instructional and are essential to the development of a learning community.

    * Group Lessons: Group classes are organized by instrument, age and level. These classes enhance the learning process, reinforce the individual lesson and broaden the student's musical expression.

    * Group Activities: Other group experiences such as play-ins, chamber music, ensemble rehearsals, home concerts, all-school festival concerts and assorted private and public performances offer students a great variety of opportunities to develop socially while refining musical skills.

  * Ensembles: String orchestras, chamber music and various other instrumental combinations create a learning environment for the development of ensemble skills and provide the opportunity for practising, understanding and integrating established routines.

    * KODOMO Music .

KODOMO Music
What is Kodomo Music? "Kodomo" is the Japanese word for 'Children'.

Kodomo Music is a weekly class for children ages 18 months to 4 years old that combines the use of the Suzuki repertoire with musical awareness, pitch, rhythm and movement activities.   Kodomo Music is an excellent preparation for instrument study and helps the child to respond in a group situation, follow musical instructions and enjoy music with their family and friends.

Live piano accompaniment provides a dramatic and spontaneous backdrop for the exploration of musical skills.   Improvisation and free expression encourage children to use their whole bodies to experience musical concepts like high and low, soft and loud, and slow and fast.

Kodomo Music does not emphasize performance.   Everyone is invited to join in the fun or watch quietly from their parent's lap.   Our goal is to create a joyous environment where families can create and share musical fun.

Classes are 45 minutes long on Saturday mornings, either from 10:00 am - 10:45 am or from 11:00 - 11:45 am. The fee is $228 for a 12-week course, with an annual enrollment fee of $15.00. This course can be taken multiple times as it becomes more beneficial as the child develops.

New Students
Observation of class lessons is required of all beginning students and parents before instruction begins. Parents are to log observations on the Observation Form provided by the Business Office. Beginning students may commence lessons when the assigned teacher determines the child has achieved readiness for instruction and all appropriate fees have been paid.

Parent Responsibilities
The triangular relationship between the teacher, student and parent is fundamental to the Talent Education system. The active role of the parent is fundamental to the success of the child. Parents are responsible for:

     *Maintaining consistent attendance at all lessons, including group lessons, play-ins and any other recommended activities.

    * Supervision of their child's daily practice and daily listening.

    * Obtaining a proper size and quality instrument for their child, as well asotherequipment and supplies deemed necessary by the teacher.

    *Pursuing continuing education through workshops, appropriate parent education meetings and group discussions as well as the standard training provided at SID.

    *Appropriate supervision of their children while at the Suzuki Institute of Dallas.

Music Theory and World Music Studies
The SMID Music Theory program centers on the concept that learning to read and write music, to understand how music works and to hear and read is both an essential tool for every musician and a means to an end - music students should be able to use their music theory skills to sight-read, learn their music quickly, play their instrument in a more informed manner and to compose their own music.

Our Music Theory presentation is fourfold. We present:     

       * Ear Training via structured music games 

       *Practical music theory via an attractive primer called Theory Time

       * The integration of aural and theoretical concepts via state-of-the-art computer programs

       * Composition, for students ready for this activity, in a structured course using an excellent computer notation and sequencing program.

SMID students of music theory are encouraged to participate in the TMTA (Texas Music Teachers Association) theory examinations which are routinely held in the Fall and Spring of each year.

World Music Studies:

SMID has embarked on the introduction of World Music into the music theory program. The rationale behind this idea evolved with the realization that there is a wide diversity of cultures resident in the SID's student/parent body. Some 27 different countries of the world are typically represented in our school, united by a common love of music and a firm belief in the Suzuki ethos. We are presently including a World Music platform for our students. An ambitious but realizable plan to create companion repertoire based on World Music resources has been set in motion. A collection of African, including South African, Koisan, Moroccan, Japanese and Chinese music is already a part-outcome of this idea.

Scholarship Applications

The Suzuki Institute of Dallas is actively engaged in fund-raising for scholarships. The scholarship review committee meets once a year, and depending on the size of the fund, awards scholarships in May for the following year.

1. The applicant's parents must furnish the Board with the family's Tax return for the past year (which the Executive Director will retain until the next Scholarship meeting).

2. The parents of the applicant must submit a "Letter of Appeal", stating why the scholar needs the funding.

3. The teacher/s of the applicant must recommend the student.

4. The students receiving scholarships, or even partial scholarships, must perform at outreach and community service events, arranged by or representing Suzuki Institute of Dallas.

Parent/s of the applicant should submit the Tax Return and Letter of Appeal in a sealed envelope to the Executive Director, no later than 30th April of every year. This will be presented at the next Scholarship review meeting.

Registration

The following must be completed prior to commencing classes each school year:

•  Student Registration Form

•  Payment of one-time Admission fee, ($200.00);

•  Payment of annual Registration fee, ($150.00),

•  Payment of any prior account balance.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
Our aim in our studios is to provide the best possible environment for you and your child.

If a student misses or cancels a lesson, the teacher is NOT required to make up the lesson.

When a student knows in advance that he or she will not be able to make his or her lesson, the student may trade lessons with another student of the same level, providing that the teacher is made aware of the trade.

School Closure (Weather/Snow or Ice related)

SMID follows the RISD and PISD decisions regarding weather related closings. Our teachers are afforded one missed lesson per student per year under these weather related school closings. Teachers are not obliged to make up these lessons.