FAQ

SIGN UP FAQs

  1. Which level should I sign my child up for?
  2. Do I have to pay the whole tuition at once?
  3. Are scholarships available?
  4. Can I sign up for lessons at another school even if my child doesn’t attend there?
  5. Does SWMS provide violins?
  6. My child is in kindergarten but really wants to play the violin. Can I sign him/her up?
  7. What are your cancellation policies?

CLASS FAQs

  1. Are there classes held on school out days?
  2. How many classes will be offered each year?
  3. Is there childcare available between the end of school and the beginning of lessons?
  4. What does my child need to bring to his/her first class?
  5. Will you be offering a class at my child’s school?

OTHER FAQs

  1. Do you have any openings for teachers?
  2. Do you have any other job openings?

SIGN UP FAQs

  1. Which level should I sign my child up for?

Children with no prior experience should register for Level One. Children who were enrolled in our program last year should register for the next level unless your instructor tells you otherwise. (Usually children who have completed Level Three are ready for Orchestra.) If you’ve had private lessons or lessons through another program, please contact us and we’ll help you decide what level is right for you.
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  1. Do I have to pay the whole tuition at once?

No, we have several options for paying tuition. You can pay in full at once (before the first day of class) and get our low rate of $360 for the year, which is $12 per lesson. If you prefer to pay through credit card, you can pay via PayPal. There is a $10 fee PayPal charges us for this service. We are also starting a monthly deduction plan. If you sign up for this service, we will have $35 deducted from your checking account each month for 11 months.
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  1. Are scholarships available?

YES! Click on the Scholarships link to find out more and to apply.
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  1. Can I sign up for lessons at another school even if my child doesn’t attend there?

Yes, absolutely. Please sign up for any location that is convenient.
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  1. Does SWMS provide violins?

You are responsible for renting or purchasing a violin for your student. There are a very few instruments available to rent from the school for those who need them; contact us for more information. We recommend renting your instrument from a local music store. Here are a few that we can recommend: (Clicking on these links will open up a new window.)
Portland Music Company
10075 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway
(503) 641-5505
David Kerr Violin Shop
4451 SE 28th Avenue
(503) 238-4515
Allegro Violin & Music
3940 NW Echo Court
(503) 702-7254

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  1. My child is in kindergarten but really wants to play the violin. Can I sign him/her up?

Unfortunately, these group lessons are better suited for children in first grade or above. You might want to check into private lessons with our instructors.
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  1. What are your cancellation policies?

If you withdraw before the first day of classes, we will issue you a full refund less a $25 administrative fee.
If you withdraw after the first but before the second day of classes, there is the $25 administrative fee and a $25 teaching fee.
If you withdraw after the second class, no refund will be issued.
We can make special plans for students who know ahead of time that they will not be in town for the full year. These exceptions must be made at the time of registration.
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CLASS FAQs

  1. Are there classes held on school out days?

If it is a teacher work day or conferences, there will be violin class. If it is a holiday or the entire school is closed for weather, there are no classes. Go to our Events page to see a calendar of our classes.
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  1. How many classes will be offered each year?

Our tuition is based on 29 classes plus the Grand Concert in the spring. Each teacher will work with your specific class to make a schedule to accommodate any holidays and ensure the 29 classes.
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  1. Is there childcare available between the end of school and the beginning of lessons?

No. Every parent is responsible for supervising their children between school and the start of lessons. Many of our parents carpool to share the responsibility, however, SWMS does not make these arrangements.
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  1. What does my child need to bring to his/her first class?

You will need to bring a violin. In Level One, the instructor will ask you to purchase the Suzuki Violin Method Book One (with CD), but this is not necessary until after your first lesson. If you’ve played with SWMS before, bring your materials from last year.
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  1. Will you be offering a class at my child’s school?

If we do not currently offer classes at your child’s school, you can help make it happen. Contact us to find out how.
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OTHER FAQs

  1. Do you have any openings for teachers?

We do not have any openings at this time. However, we are constantly expanding, adding new classes and looking for new programs. Please feel free to contact us if you are a teacher or if you have any ideas for collaborations and partnerships.
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  1. Do you have any other job openings?

Currently we do not have any paying job openings. We are always looking for volunteers, and would consider other internship opportunities. For example, if you are a high school student who has to complete a volunteer project for school or another program, click here to find out what opportunities we may have for you.
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