Perfect Practice Program
The perfect practice program is a great way to motivate students to practice. Students can earn tickets for a wide variety of fun prizes by logging their practice. Students are given 2 tickets upon registration and earn an additional ticket for every hour of recorded practice checked off by our staff. Also, students who visit the office during STUDENT APPRECIATION WEEK are rewarded 5 additional tickets.
Student Outreach Program
As musicians, the best way to get better and improve is to perform. To facilitate this need, every month or so, Utah Conservatory provides the opportunity for students to perform in what we call the Outreach Program. These performances are community service motivated and typically will take place at retirement homes, hospitals, fundraisers, or other community events. Students can sign up on the bulletin board.
Master Classes
Every month or so, Utah Conservatory will hold a free Master Class for the students. There are two types of Master Classes. The first, is the General Master Class which students are allowed to share musical selection, share what they have learned, perform, and self evaluate their growing skills. The class is designed to create musicians by covering basics such as performance, educate stage presence, and master ones craft through positive thinking.
Other Master Classes or Specialty classes can vary. These classes are usually focused on a specific skill and presented by a teacher who has studied it profusely. Just some examples can be, piano composition, suzuki violin, fingerpicking guitar, and so on. Please note that all Master Classes are posted on the bulletin board.
Student Evaluations
Student Evaluations take place twice a year, typically a week or two before the recitals. Student Evaluations are much like college jurys where the student performs a piece in front of our faculty in that department. This allows students to be heard by other professionals and gives our staff an opportunity to find ways to improve in areas possibly overlooked. It is also an opportunity to reinforce work that has improved and encourage things that are being done right. High scoring can also get students honorable mentions in the recitals as this is the perfect way to double check that a students is prepared and ready for a recital.
Student Recitals
Student Recitals take place twice a year. Recital times open the day of evaluations. Recitals are a great way for students to grow as musicians, and for the family to enjoy the growing talents of the student. These events are just the thing a student needs to showcase their hard work throughout the semester.
There is also an informal Summer Pot-Luck Recital that is done at the end of the Summer Semester.
Piano
Our school offers piano lessons for students of all ages and abilities from beginners to very advanced students, and we are also to prepare dedicated students for matriculation into college-level programs. We offer every style of piano lessons from classical to jazz and pop. We have students who want to play just for fun and students who excel with standard classical-style repertoire. As we have so many piano teachers on staff we are able to match students with a teacher that works best with their particular age, ability and interest. We start piano lessons from age 5 onwards. Before age 5 we recommend our group preschool music program or our pre-piano private lessons. Our piano lessons are all private one-on-one instruction and lesson lengths are 30 minutes, 45 minutes or 1 hour. While our piano lessons are all private, parents are more than welcome, even encouraged, to sit in on their child’s lessons. For our advanced piano students we have teachers with master’s degrees and doctorates in piano who can prepare them for university entrance or to compete in piano competitions. All of our teachers attend regular piano pedagogy sessions prepared by the department chair with an eye to stay current of new literature and educational studies, share teaching techniques, and correlate conservatory activities and strategies to promote efficient learning for each student.
Voice
We have many students who take voice or singing lessons at our school. Our voice lessons are private on-one-one instruction, basic group lessons for adults and kids (as early as 5), and advanced performance for the singing actor. Students sing all kinds of music from their favorite artists to classical arias. Our voice teachers all have a university degree in music specializing in voice and sing everything from pop and jazz to musical theatre and opera. Our teachers all have performance backgrounds as well. Just a sample of what a student will learn in singing lessons includes how to breathe properly, how to increase their range, proper pitch, how to project and stage presence. Teachers are available to present a variety of styles, including speech level techniques, bel canto, Richard Miller, Broadway mix and belt, etc., and even choral/emsemble techniques. Although teacher plays the piano during the private lesson, we provide a professional accompanist for the students to play for them at the recitals, outreach concerts, evaluations, and master classes. Many of our students also perform at local festivals, competitions, and in community and professional venues throughout the region. Faculty is able to assist students in matriculation to college and graduate vocal programs, as well as auditions and role preparation for professional-level work. Our vocal program is based heavily in performance as a tool for learning, as well a an emphasis on communication enhancing the effectiveness of the performance.
Guitar and Bass Guitar
Our private guitar lessons include acoustic, electric and bass guitar. We have an excellent guitar teaching staff and teach guitar lessons in everything from rock to jazz, classical to pop, Spanish to chording. Many of our teachers actively perform in bands. Our guitar teachers have college or university music training and degrees so they know the proper theory and technique no matter if a student is interested in metal or in classical. Guitar lessons at our school are enhanced by the opportunity of learning how to jam with other musicians in a live band setting (through our collaboration with The Paul Green School of Rock delivered on site) or how to perform in one of our recitals, monthly master classes or outreach concerts. Teachers collaborate through regular semester evaluations of each student by the entire guitar faculty. No matter what type of guitar lessons you are interested in, we have the teachers to help you. Typically a student would be 8 before starting guitar lessons, due to their hand size, but some younger students start with a junior sized guitar as young as 6.
Violin/Viola/Cello
Our strings program offers private instruction in violin, viola or cello. Our private violin lessons start as young as age 4. Due to the size of the instrument, most cello lessons start at 10 years of age or older. Our teachers are also aquainted with the Suzuki Violin program, the Suzuki Viola program, and the Suzuki Cello program, and regularly use the Suzuki materials for teaching. We have students of all ages from adults to children. For younger children we highly encourage a parent to sit in on the lesson to help the student at home with things such as posture and hand positioning. We supplement our private violin, viola and cello lessons with monthly master classes and concerts, semester evaluations and recitals, where they can play with an accompanist which e provide. Our violin, viola and cello teachers have university or college degrees in their instrument and many perform regularly with local orchestras, quartets, and as soloists.
Drums/Percussion
We offer a wide variety of drum lessons and/or percussion lessons. Students learn on both a full drum set (which is provided on site) or a drum kit, depending on the teacher and goals of the student. We have both male and female students and typically do not start drum lessons before age 7 as students need to be able to reach both the pedal and the high hat. We do have some younger students but suggest they come in for a trial drum lesson to see if they are big enough to get started. Our drums lessons stress proper technique so students become good drummers quickly, and oiur teachers encourage students to "jam" through in-class sessions with the teacher, in recitals, and in the Paul Green School of Rock program with is held on site. Students are encouraged to participate in regular semester evaluations by the entire department faculty, as well as monthly master classes meant to demonstrate comptency on new skills.
Flute
Our private flute lessons generally start at age 7 and older, but sometimes younger students will start with a special curved-head flute. Our flute instructors have university or college degrees in music. Our flute lessons are offered in 30 minute, 45 minute or 1 hour lengths. Our flute students perform in our Christmas and semester recitals, as well as in monthly master classes and outreach concerts where we provide a professional accompanist, if needed. Students are provided a professional accompanist for monthly master classes and outreach concerts, as well as semester recitals and evaluations.
Saxophone/Clarinet/Oboe
Our private saxophone and clarinet lessons start from age 8 onwards. Earlier than age 8, a student typically does not have the lung capacity and strength to handle these instruments. Our saxophone and clarinet instructors are proficient on both instruments so a student can start with clarinet lessons if they wish and switch to saxophone lessons without having to change instructors. Our saxophone and clarinet instructors actively perform in all types of bands and ensembles and as soloists. Saxophone lessons and clarinet lessons are offered in 30 minute, 45 minute and 1 hour lengths. Our sax and clarinet teachers have university degrees and masters degrees. Students are provided a professional accompanist for monthly master classes and outreach concerts, as well as semester recitals and evaluations.
Trombone/Trumpet/Tuba/French Horn
Our brass lessons include private trumpet lessons, french horn lessons, trombone lessons and tuba lessons. Students for these instruments usually are ages 9 or older as they need to have developed a great lung capacity and in the case of the tuba need to be big enough to hold the instrument. Our brass teachers have university or masters degrees in music and perform in everything from salsa bands to local orchestras and/or teach in the public school music system. We can help students enhance their skills for their school band program or develop advanced skills to become soloists.
