Program Description

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Tomas Rodriguez offers a comprehensive, honors-level guitar program for young people that is rooted in the Suzuki Method. The curriculum consists of private lessons, an ear training component and group classes. Parents learn and practice alongside the child, functioning as home teachers and custodians of an optimal home environment that encourages the young student. The program consists of 32 private lessons and 16 group lessons occurring between September and June. In addition, there are two formal recitals, in the winter and the spring. Participation in the program requires a full year commitment. The features of the program include:

Student Community and Private Performances - Beginning in mid-October of the fall semester, students are given monthly opportunities to perform publicly in solo, duo/trio and ensemble settings.
Ear Training Program - Through a partnership with master music educator Rick Beato, a complete and systematic approach to improving students’ capacity to hear music off of the instrument is realized through use of a sophisticated web-based program.
Student Composition - Each semester students have the option to apply the skills that they are learning on the guitar to compose their own song or instrumental piece under the guidance of the teacher.
Recording Studio Session - All students have the opportunity to record in a professional studio an original composition or a selected piece from the academic year’s repertoire to document and demonstrate their progress.
Intensive Student Assessment and Support - through use of a web-based learning management system, students record their practice time. Each week the teacher monitors progress and offers additional support where needed. A leaderboard for the ear training program allows students to track their progress along with other students
Ongoing Parent Support - Parents are offered ongoing support in the form of four mini-conferences during program year in which a vision for each student is developed and three-month goals are set. In these conferences the teacher shares resources and practice ideas.

CLASS FORMAT AND DURATION

There are two class times available: 50 minutes and 80 minutes. There are two formats: all remote instruction and hybrid remote/in-person instruction. Remote only instruction is only available to students 8 years and up and does not include group classes. All students enrolled in hybrid instruction participate in a bi-weekly group class and in at least two community-based public performances each semester. All students participate in the winter and spring in-person recitals.

If you are interested in enrolling in the program, you must attend a parent orientation, complete a class observation and do an in-person interview with the teacher to be considered for the program. If you are interested in beginning this process, please fill out the Family Information Form.

TOMAS GUITAR STUDIO