The Castle Heights Elementary School Instrumental Music Program
REGISTRATION BEGINS ON AUGUST 1, 2023
The 2023 – 2024 Castle Heights Elementary School Instrumental Music Program is open to all students in grades one through five.
Weekly classes are offered after school for 30 to 40 minutes each Tuesday that school is in session beginning on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 and running every Tuesday until our spring concert on Tuesday, MAY 7, 2024.
Instrument Choices
• First and second graders may choose the violin or piano/keyboard. (Violins are sized to fit each individual student.)
• Third through fifth graders may choose ukulele, piano/keyboard, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, alto sax or trumpet.
Classes are for beginning students with no prior experience on their chosen instrument as well as for students with prior lessons and experience.
Thirty and forty minute classes will take place on Tuesdays between the hours of 1:45 and 4:00 PM beginning on Tuesday, September 19 and concluding on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The final schedule and room location of classes on campus will be announced via email after enrollment is complete.
Please clear your child’s schedule on Tuesdays from 1:45 – 4:00 PM so that he/she is available for their particular lesson time when it is announced. (First grade violin and piano classes will be offered immediately following dismissal at 1:45 PM.) For students in grades 2 – 5 who have a later music lesson, yard supervision is available through the Beyond the Bell program. Please contact them for more information.
Program Costs
A fee of $695 is requested from each participant to cover the entire 2023 – 2024 school year.
This fee covers not only instructional costs but all music, books and basic supplies which your child is given throughout the year. The only other expense will be the lease, rental or purchase of the instrument. Instruments are available at special discounted prices for participating music students through our instrument supplier. Even if you have a piano at home, your young musician will need a portable keyboard to bring to school each week for the music lesson. Whatever model you choose, it must work on batteries and be easily transportable from home to school and back. Some of the keyboards are actually smaller and lighter to carry than a guitar or trumpet. For ease of transport, we recommend the 37 or 44 key models.amazon is a great resource and here are some options.
Students who are enrolled in the STAR Program
If your child is enrolled in the after school STAR program on Tuesdays, please be aware that STAR has particular rules regarding signing in and out. Please make any special arrangements that might be necessary for your child’s after school care on Tuesdays so that they can attend music.
Free Music Tuition and Instrument Rental
A parent volunteer is needed to assist with administrative logistics on Tuesdays. If you are available every Tuesday from 1:45 PM – 4:00 PM to help, please email us. Parent volunteers receive a full tuition waiver and free instrument rental.
Honor Orchestra
Students who play violin, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet or trombone may be eligible to participate in the All Schools Elementary Honor Orchestra at UCLA. In addition to experienced players, we will be accepting a limited number of first year players as we rebuild the orchestra after a pandemic induced hiatus. Learn more at the honor orchestra webpage.
COVID-19
The music program follows all school and CDC guidelines. In the event that in person classes are cancelled by the school, music instruction will continue uninterrupted online via Zoom — including possible additional online days/times to help with student schedules.
Class size is limited. Priority is given to the earliest applicants.