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Continuing Education

Elementary Strings Program

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For almost 50 years, the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Strings Instruction Program has been available to elementary students.  Offered through Continuing Education, the Strings Program provides an opportunity for children enrolled in grades 4 to 8 who are currently attending HWDSB schools, to learn to play the violin or cello.  Strings is a fee-for-service program.

About our program

During the 2023-2024 school year, we will be offering the option of either in person or online lessons in the evenings or Saturday mornings. Parents have the option of enrolling students in either group (up to 5 students) or private lessons.  There will be 24 weekly, 45 minute lessons.  For an additional fee, students can enroll in our Orchestra program.

Orchestra Program

For an additional fee, our Orchestra program is available as an additional opportunity to enhance your child’s skills beyond their regular lessons.  The Orchestra component will consist of one hour lessons for groups of approximately 15 students (24 Orchestra lessons total) – an additional 24 hours of lesson time!  Please note that Orchestra will only be available in person (no online Orchestra option), for students that are participating in weekly lessons.  Orchestra will take place at the Hill Park Learning Centre on Wednesday evenings.

Fees

The following fees will apply for the 2023-2024 school year:

Group Lessons (3 to 5 students) = $ 365.00

Private Lessons (1 student) = $ 825.00

Group Lessons with Orchestra = $ 595.00

Private Lessons with Orchestra = $ 1055.00

What does our program fee include?

Your fees include the use of either a violin or cello and your own instructional music book as well as weekly lessons.  There will be 24 weekly 45 minute lessons.

REGISTER NOW - DEADLINE September 20 at 1 p.m.

STEP 1BY 1 p.m. SEPTEMBER 20th – Complete the On-Line Strings registration form

STEP 2 – Complete the On-Line payment form – you will receive a link to the payment form in your registration confirmation email.  If you prefer to send a cheque or pay in person, please contact our Strings Administrator at [email protected] or by phone (905) 561-2190, ext 4770 to make arrangements.

Once registration and payment are received, we will do our best to accommodate requests and to structure group lessons according to a student’s skills and abilities.

Scheduling will take place the week of September 26th and be confirmed to families on or about September 29th.  Instrument pick-up/exchange will be the week of October 2nd and lessons will begin after Thanksgiving.

Musical Instruments

Families will be asked to sign an “Instrument Use Agreement”.

Students/Parents will be responsible for the care and maintenance of the instrument while in their possession.

Families may be required to compensate HWDSB for lost or damaged instruments that exceeds normal wear and tear.  Should the instrument require repair during the period of use, a replacement instrument will be provided if available.

Students who are not returning to the Strings Program in the next school year will be required to return their instrument during office hours of 8:30-4:00, between June 17-21, 2024.

Students who are returning may keep their instrument for use over the summer months.  For inventory purposes, parents are requested to email [email protected] to confirm the instrument size and ID number.

PLEASE NOTEIf a student is not returning and the instrument is not returned by June 21, 2024, there will be a $20/month late fee assessed.

Withdrawals and Refunds

Families who wish to withdraw a child from lessons should inform our Strings Administrator via email at: [email protected] or by phone (905) 561-2190, ext 4770

All instruments and accessories are to be returned immediately to the Hill Park Learning Centre.

Withdrawals from the program prior to November 27th — registration fees will be refunded minus fees for lessons received and a $25 administration fee.  No refunds will be processed after November 27th, 2023.

Make up lessons are provided if the program cancels a lesson because no Instructor is available. Make up lessons are not provided when your student misses a lesson due to your personal/family/other commitments. 

Refunds will be returned in the form in which payment was received.  Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing of refunds by cheque.

If HWDSB is unable to accommodate your child for lessons, a full refund will be processed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the program cost?

The following fees will apply for the 2023-2024 school year:

Group Lessons (3 to 5 students) = $ 365.00

Private Lessons (1 student) = $ 825.00

Group Lessons with Orchestra = $ 595.00

Private Lessons with Orchestra = $ 1055.00

When do lessons start?

Lessons begin in October. There will be 24 lessons 45 minutes in length each.

When / Where will lessons be held?

Lessons in the 2023-2024 school year will take place weeknights and on Saturday mornings at Hill Park Learning Centre or On-Line.

Will you be offering online lessons or in person lessons this year?

In an effort to offer more flexibility for families, lessons for the 2023-2024 school year, will be offered both in-person and online lesson options.  Online lessons will be offered via MS Teams.

When will my child be having their lesson?

Once registration closes, scheduling will begin.  We do our best to accommodate registration requests.  Please note that scheduling is based on instructor availability and available space.  If we are unable to accommodate and are unable to mutually agree on a lesson day / time, a refund will be offered.

When are Orchestra lessons held?

Orchestra lessons will be offered on Wednesday evenings at the Hill Park Learning Centre.   Orchestra lessons will be one hour in length.  Please note that there is an extra fee to enroll your child in Orchestra.  Students will be placed in either Junior or Senior Orchestra based on skill level.  Orchestra is only available to students enrolled in weekly lessons. Orchestra lessons are available to in-person students only.

What does our program fee include?

Your fees include the use of either a violin or cello and your own instructional music book as well as weekly lessons.  There will be 24 weekly 45 minute long lessons.  For an additional fee, Orchestra lessons are also available.  Students must be registered for weekly lessons in order participate in Orchestra.

What happens if my child is unable to make their lesson, will it be made up?

Make up lessons are only provided in the event that the instructor is ill / unable to make the lesson or when buildings are closed due to inclement weather. The instructor will inform students when lessons will be made up.  Make up lessons are not provided when your student misses a lesson due to illness/personal/family/other commitments.      

How will I know what size instrument my child will need?

During the instrument pick up time, your child will be fitted for their instrument by one of our instructors.  Please be sure to bring your child to the instrument pick up.

We have a broken string or our instrument is in need of repair.  What do we do?

New this year, we will be offering instrument support on Wednesday evenings at Hill Park. An instructor will be available at a specific time in order to assist with minor repairs / adjustments or tuning.  This will be especially helpful to families whose children are enrolled in online lessons.

My child is returning to the program in the fall, what do we do with our instrument?

Students returning to the program for the Fall session are welcome to keep their instruments over the summer.  Students not returning are required to return their instruments no later than June 21st.  Instruments not returned by that date will be subject to a $20.00 per month late fee.

My child has decided that they no longer wish to continue.  Can I get a refund?

Families that wish to withdraw a child from lessons should inform our Strings Administrator via email at: [email protected] or by phone (905) 561-2190, ext 4770.

All instruments and accessories are to be returned immediately to the Hill Park Learning Centre.

2023-2024 Program Withdrawals prior to November 27, 2023 — registration fees will be refunded minus fees for lessons received and a $25 administration fee.

No refunds will be processed after November 27th, 2023.

Strings Tutorial Videos

 

 

 

Updated on Monday, September 18, 2023.
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