Success does not happen accidentally.

• How does the teacher decide what material will be covered?
• How are lesson objectives and at-home assignments communicated to the student and parent?
• How and when will I know if private lessons are "working"?
• How does the administration monitor the effectiveness of the instructors?
• And then GO LOOK AT THEIR FACILITIES. This is important!!

How Our Three Step System Encourages Success

Step One: The Plan

Early in each student's enrollment, and at the beginning of each subsequent semester, the teacher and student (and parents, when applicable) work together to determine what the student's goals are for the term. We call this written document "The Plan," and a copy of it is kept in each student's music notebook. We refer to it throughout the term to make sure that we are spending time in the ways that will give you what YOU are looking for, not just what the teacher feels like teaching.

                           

Step Two:  Weekly Progress Reviews

Each week, we document how your lesson time was spent and what can be done between lessons to move you toward the goals outlined on The Plan. For younger students, parents can review what is happening during lesson time and exactly what the student should be doing to make progress. Copies of these weekly reports are also kept in both the students' and the teachers' notebooks.   

                           

Step Three:  Semester Reviews

At the end of each term, the teacher and student record their progress against the goals set in The Plan. This also provides an open forum to talk about what needs to be adjusted to provide the most effective learning experience. What does the teacher need to do differently to motivate the student? What does the student need to do to make more progress? Does it make sense to continue with lessons? Our experienced staff uses this opportunity to take inventory of what is and isn't working, preventing the all-too-common experience of lessons that go on for years without producing results.

Ask any teacher at your child's school and you'll be told that it is nearly impossible to make meaningful progress without these three critical elements. First Chair was founded by a music teacher and an elementary school teacher, dedicated to providing families with a place where education was paramount and retail sales were not permitted to get in the way.

We know that an unsuccessful experience with private lessons not only wastes a family's time and money, it risks damaging a child's view of music as a positive and fulfilling experience forever. We won't let that happen.

• Get the service agreement. The lifestyle of a child just mandates having a back up plan!
• Talk to someone NOT associated with the rental about what size instrument to get. If your child needs a 1/2 size violin, but the store only has a 3/4 in stock, they are not likely to emphasize the importance of getting the right size. (First Chair offers a free consultation with one of our music education professionals before you rent your instrument.)