The Piano Detectives Club is a program for children 5-6 years old, designed to give beginners a positive first experience at the piano. The program offers both group and private instruction and has received national acclaim.
Students entering the Piano Detectives Club program have no previous piano study and may begin their journey at the beginning of our academic year each August.
The Piano Detectives Club was created by Janet Hart for The Music Clubhouse and has received national acclaim. The program was showcased at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. It is also used by The New School for Music Study, a leading institution in music education and a division of the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy and by other institutions and private teachers throughout the United States.
Academic Year Program
These weekly classes are structured to advance musical growth at the piano over the 10-month academic year. Students enrolled in the academic year program need daily access to a piano outside of class.
The program includes 35 weekly class sessions. The weekly classes are one hour in length. Students will explore elementary musical concepts through age-appropriate activities. These activities are designed to develop the following: rhythm skills, piano playing skills, theory understanding, and music reading ability. Each weekly class includes a short private lesson for each student.
Students in the Piano Detectives Club learn to share their developing musicianship with others while enrolled in the program. At specific class sessions in the fall, family and friends are invited to attend while students give performances and show his/her class work. Depending on student readiness, one or two recitals during the year provide the opportunity to play in front of a larger audience. Students of all levels participate, and participation is optional for our Detectives. Piano Detectives who choose not to play are welcome (and encouraged!) to attend.
After the first year, private summer study is available for detectives through June and July. The schedule can be flexible, allowing for family vacations and other events.
Need more information? Please contact us and we’ll answer any questions you may have or send you additional details about our programs.
Enrollment: Academic Year Program
Piano Detectives Club (ages 5-6)
This is a 10-month course during the academic calendar year starting in August and concluding in May.
Class length:
60 minutes each, including 7-10 minutes private instruction
Schedule:
35 weekly class sessions on Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. beginning on August 15, 2024.
Tuition:
$950.00 per student per year (or 10 monthly installments of $95.00 each)
2024-2025 Piano Detectives Club policies, tuition and calendar (PDF)
Tuition Payment Options
The academic year’s tuition for Piano Detectives Club classes may be paid in full upon enrollment or in ten monthly installments at no additional charge. Installments are due by the tenth of each month, August through May. (Exception: The August installment will not be considered late if paid by the student’s first class.)
Please note that a $10 FEE WILL BE ASSESSED FOR LATE PAYMENT. Classes will be discontinued when the student’s account becomes more than 15 days past due. Learn about payment options.
Materials Fee
The materials fee for Piano Detectives Club is due upon enrollment and is non-refundable. It covers the cost of in-class and take-home materials for the entire academic year. The take-home materials include a personalized carry bag and three-ring binder, Time to Begin book, Time to Begin Activities book, card games and other card packs for use at home. The materials fee is $85 (one-time fee).
Piano Detectives Club Policies
The policies stated below have been carefully constructed to ensure a quality relationship between the student and the instructor. The intent is to provide a sound educational environment for the student.
Attendance
An academic year of study includes 35 classes. It is very important that students arrive promptly for each class. Late arrivals are disruptive and cause lost class time.
No make-up classes will be given to compensate for a student’s absence, and no refund of fees will be made. However, you may request a make-up private lesson at the instructor’s half-hour rate ($40 fee). The fee will be due at the time of the make-up lesson. Any class canceled by the instructor will be rescheduled. Students who need to withdraw permanently from classes are obligated to pay tuition for four classes following notification of the instructor.
Discontinuation
If a student chooses to discontinue the Piano Detectives Club program during the academic year, a four-week notice is required. Even if the student chooses not to attend those final four classes, tuition will still be due for those four classes beyond the date of notification.
Inclement Weather
If Lawrence Public Schools close due to inclement weather, then The Music Clubhouse will be closed as well. Our website will also be updated in the event of a weather closing. All classes and lessons cancelled due to inclement weather will be rescheduled to the end of the academic year.
Parents’ Class for First-Year Detectives
At the end of the first semester, a class period is set aside for parents to attend with their student (see calendar). Students will perform pieces and the parent(s) will participate in class activities that are representative of class activities the students complete each week. We ask that parents attend without younger siblings because of limited space and so they can be fully attentive to the Piano Detective during this special “show-off” time.
Music Clubhouse Recitals
There are several student recital opportunities offered each year. Typically, first-year Piano Detectives do not perform on these programs until the end of the first year of study at the spring recital in May. Students beyond the first year of study are welcome to perform throughout the year in as many recitals as they choose. We will always make our students aware of performance opportunities and encourage them to participate, but no student is ever required to perform.
Summer Study
Piano Detectives who have completed at least the first year of study can enroll in private lessons through the summer months and still return to Piano Detectives Club in the fall (provided the class continues). The schedule can be flexible, allowing for family vacations and other events.
Parking and Music Clubhouse Entrance
The Music Clubhouse is located inside the old portion of the Trinity Lutheran Church building at 1245 New Hampshire Street. Student parking is in the east lot of the church. To access the Music Clubhouse entrance, park in the large lot on the east side of the church, walk along the south sidewalk (13th Street), and look for the Music Clubhouse entrance sign at the far southwest corner of the building.
There is a short flight of stairs at our entrance. If you need a handicap-accessible entrance, please contact us and we will arrange an alternate entrance for you.
