Anonymous wrote:Partially agree with those saying private instructor. I did a pre-Suzuki class at Levine for one of my kids, and while the class itself was very inexpensive and well-organized, I wouldn't go to Levine for individual lessons. One of the features of the pre-Suzuki classes is that each week a child in individual lessons comes in to demonstrate their instrument. I was very taken aback when a child came in who had been studying piano there for something like 8 years, and could not make it through a very simple Suzuki Book 2 song without a ton of mistakes. One of the instructors also came in to demonstrate her instrument herself, and the piece she chose was actually too difficult for her--she was trying to do lots of advanced techniques, but the underlying rhythm of the piece was inconsistent and just all over the place, and I questioned her judgment in choosing to perform such a challenging piece.

Now, there are some really good teachers at Levine. I seem to remember that Olga Khroulevitch (one of the very top violin teachers in the DMV) actually taught there years ago. But I'd rather pay a private teacher who can take home most of what I'm paying them than have Levine take a significant cut of the tuition (which, by the way, is high enough that there's no good reason not just to go to a top private instructor).

So short answer: yes, the group class that introduces kids to music and gets them excited is totally fine, but once you're going for individual lessons you probably want to go elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Partially agree with those saying private instructor. I did a pre-Suzuki class at Levine for one of my kids, and while the class itself was very inexpensive and well-organized, I wouldn't go to Levine for individual lessons. One of the features of the pre-Suzuki classes is that each week a child in individual lessons comes in to demonstrate their instrument. I was very taken aback when a child came in who had been studying piano there for something like 8 years, and could not make it through a very simple Suzuki Book 2 song without a ton of mistakes. One of the instructors also came in to demonstrate her instrument herself, and the piece she chose was actually too difficult for her--she was trying to do lots of advanced techniques, but the underlying rhythm of the piece was inconsistent and just all over the place, and I questioned her judgment in choosing to perform such a challenging piece.

Now, there are some really good teachers at Levine. I seem to remember that Olga Khroulevitch (one of the very top violin teachers in the DMV) actually taught there years ago. But I'd rather pay a private teacher who can take home most of what I'm paying them than have Levine take a significant cut of the tuition (which, by the way, is high enough that there's no good reason not just to go to a top private instructor).

So short answer: yes, the group class that introduces kids to music and gets them excited is totally fine, but once you're going for individual lessons you probably want to go elsewhere.

Makes sense. No idea if he’ll even want to take music classes after this one. I wanted to expose him to different instruments and see if he’s interested.

Also, any difference between Levine’z NW DC, Strathmore, and Silver Spring locations? We can get to any easily so would like to know if one is better than the others for any reason.

We did the DC location, which is a beautiful campus. They do have an instrument petting zoo at the end of the class, so he'd get a chance to try out a bunch of different instruments (in our case, flute, violin, cello, piano, and guitar). And I like that they have other kids demonstrate the instruments, which is probably more motivating for your kid and will give you a sense of the quality of the instruction.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Partially agree with those saying private instructor. I did a pre-Suzuki class at Levine for one of my kids, and while the class itself was very inexpensive and well-organized, I wouldn't go to Levine for individual lessons. One of the features of the pre-Suzuki classes is that each week a child in individual lessons comes in to demonstrate their instrument. I was very taken aback when a child came in who had been studying piano there for something like 8 years, and could not make it through a very simple Suzuki Book 2 song without a ton of mistakes. One of the instructors also came in to demonstrate her instrument herself, and the piece she chose was actually too difficult for her--she was trying to do lots of advanced techniques, but the underlying rhythm of the piece was inconsistent and just all over the place, and I questioned her judgment in choosing to perform such a challenging piece.

Now, there are some really good teachers at Levine. I seem to remember that Olga Khroulevitch (one of the very top violin teachers in the DMV) actually taught there years ago. But I'd rather pay a private teacher who can take home most of what I'm paying them than have Levine take a significant cut of the tuition (which, by the way, is high enough that there's no good reason not just to go to a top private instructor).

So short answer: yes, the group class that introduces kids to music and gets them excited is totally fine, but once you're going for individual lessons you probably want to go elsewhere.

Makes sense. No idea if he’ll even want to take music classes after this one. I wanted to expose him to different instruments and see if he’s interested.

Also, any difference between Levine’z NW DC, Strathmore, and Silver Spring locations? We can get to any easily so would like to know if one is better than the others for any reason.

Anonymous wrote:Partially agree with those saying private instructor. I did a pre-Suzuki class at Levine for one of my kids, and while the class itself was very inexpensive and well-organized, I wouldn't go to Levine for individual lessons. One of the features of the pre-Suzuki classes is that each week a child in individual lessons comes in to demonstrate their instrument. I was very taken aback when a child came in who had been studying piano there for something like 8 years, and could not make it through a very simple Suzuki Book 2 song without a ton of mistakes. One of the instructors also came in to demonstrate her instrument herself, and the piece she chose was actually too difficult for her--she was trying to do lots of advanced techniques, but the underlying rhythm of the piece was inconsistent and just all over the place, and I questioned her judgment in choosing to perform such a challenging piece.

Now, there are some really good teachers at Levine. I seem to remember that Olga Khroulevitch (one of the very top violin teachers in the DMV) actually taught there years ago. But I'd rather pay a private teacher who can take home most of what I'm paying them than have Levine take a significant cut of the tuition (which, by the way, is high enough that there's no good reason not just to go to a top private instructor).

So short answer: yes, the group class that introduces kids to music and gets them excited is totally fine, but once you're going for individual lessons you probably want to go elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:Neither. Pick an instrument and go with a private instructor.