New Students
For more information, check out the quick links at the bottom of this page.
- Ready to Register? Submit an online registration and pay the $125 registration fee before August 10*.
- An email confirmation will be sent after receipt of registration information.
July 1 - August 10 registrations accepted for the upcoming school year.
Young Beginners' (ages 4 - 7) Three Part Start
#1 --Orientation 4 weeks for young beginners:
- Tues and Thurs. Aug. 19, 21, 26, and 28; 5:30 - 6:30 Location to be announced in Russell Hall at UNI. These sessions are for violin, viola, and cello students and at least 1 parent. Guitar students will have a reduced schedule to be announced. Sessions consist of group building activities for students and parent classes for information about the Suzuki method and the Suzuki School. Acquiring an instrument before these sessions is NOT required. Instrument information will be provided during the parent classes.
#2 --Group only for young beginners:
- Sept. 2, 4, 9, 11 from 5:30 - 6:00 (violin and viola) Cello and guitar times to be announced.
#3 --Group and individual lessons for young beginners:
- Beginners join the rest of the students who receive an individual and group lesson each week. This begins the week of Sept. 15 - Sept. 20 with individual lesson times to be determined and group lesson on Thursdays at 5:30 - 6:00 for violins and violas. This schedule including individual and group lessons continues throughout the remainder of the school year except for vacation, special events weeks, recital weeks, and spring concert weeks as indicated by the school calendar. NOTE: Cello and guitar group and individual lesson times to be announced.
Older Beginners: Ages 8 and up
- A later start is planned for these students and will be announced soon. (pricing for this particular group will be reduced from the 30 minute price listed in the FEES section of the website.)
Summer Lessons for new registrants? Accepted May 1 through July 31 for students who have already begun their instrument studies. Please contact contact Cathy Craig at (cathy.craig@uni.edu) to inquire about summer lesson availability.
Click instrument or ensemble below for more information.
- Violin or viola
- Cello
- Guitar
- Ensembles Info: Verismo, Northern Iowa Youth Orchestra, Northern Iowa Junior Orchestra or Cedar Falls Chamber Orchestra
Choosing the right instrument for a young child.
- Have they expressed an interest in one of the above?
- Do they have a friend or relative that plays an instrument?
- Size of child may not matter. Instruments come in sizes to fit all sizes.
- Have they indicated a preference for low sounds or high sounds?
- Violin and viola students stand to perform, cello and guitar students sit. Will that make a difference?
- Student may change their mind after being in the program for awhile.
To buy or not to buy?
- Rental from the Suzuki School is available for $20 per month. View the Rental Agreement for more information.
- Check out instrument purchase and rental options at the bottom of the Resources page.