Q: What’s the first step to get started with lessons?
A: Submit a Lesson Placement Form and Placement Fee of $35.00 to the School.
Q: How are students matched with teachers?
A: Students and teachers are matched by the Director or Assistant Director, based on the student’s age and ability level, and the teacher’s experience, interests, and schedule. Please communicate all changes to this information immediately to the office.
Students are placed with teachers in the order of their position on the list. Students will not be taken out of order unless students before them are unavailable. When an opening becomes available and a prospective match has been made, the Director or Assistant Director will call to offer a day/time/teacher for lessons. If the match is agreeable, your new teacher will call, a contract written, payment made and lessons will begin.
Q: How does the Placement List work?
A: When you’ve submitted a Lesson Placement Form with payment, your name is placed on the list according to these priorities:
Priority 1:
- Students currently enrolled who wish to change to another instrument.
- Students who want to change to another teacher for responsible reasons.
- Current Preucil Preschool or Music Together students wanting to add an instrument.
- Preucil Preschool or Music Together students within a year of leaving the school.
Priority 2:
- Students from another Suzuki program moving into the Iowa City area.
- Siblings of students already enrolled.
Priority 3:
- Students already enrolled who want to add another instrument.
Priority 4:
- Former students (lessons, Preucil Preschool, Music Together) who are returning after more than one year.
Priority 5:
- Students from the general public.
Q: How many times can a lesson opportunity be turned down?
A: In the event a parent turns down two proposed lesson times (based on the information provided by the parent) the student’s name will be moved to the end of the list (at the end of priority #5).
Q: Can a particular teacher be requested?
A: Preucil School of Music prides itself in its outstanding faculty. We feel confident we can place your child successfully. If you have any questions or would like to discuss a particular teacher request, please contact the office.
Q: How long does it take to place a student?
A: The school takes seriously our responsibility of scheduling each prospective student as soon as possible. Students generally get placed at the beginning of each new term, depending on teachers’ openings and schedule flexibility.
For quick placement, accepting a lesson time that may not be entirely convenient for a semester is recommended. Faculty schedules change and more desirable times may become available once lessons have begun.
Q: What should we be doing while we are on the Placement List?
A: Observe lessons. Seeing the Suzuki philosophy, commitment, and process in action is vital to the success of your child’s music education. Students who have already been placed will arrange observations directly with their private lesson teacher.
Attend recitals, play-ins, group classes, and special events. See our Events Calendar.
Read to learn more. Nurtured by Love and Ability Development from Age Zero, are two excellent books by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki that explain the Suzuki teaching philosophy. They are for sale at the office, available at the public library or via the Suzuki Association of the Americas at www.suzukiassociation.org
Listen to classical music in your home. Try KSUI radio or recordings from the library.
Q: Any general suggestions to keep in mind while we are enrolling?
A: Get on the placement list as soon as possible! Be sure the lesson time availability information (on your placement form) is accurate and up-to-date. Consider starting lessons with a time that’s not optimum until a more convenient slot becomes available. Consider offered placements carefully. After you’ve refused two proposed lesson times, your name is moved to the end of the waiting list.
For more information on the enrollment process, please visit Lesson Placement.
