Music Conservatory
The Convent & Stuart Hall Music Conservatory offers lessons to students interested in gaining proficiency — and eventually mastery — of a musical instrument in a positive instructional setting. Lessons offered include:
- Kindergarten: 30-minute lessons on violin, guitar and ukulele
- Grades 1–12: 1 hour or 30-minute lessons on violin, viola, cello, guitar, bass guitar and piano
- Grades 4–12: 1 hour or 30-minute lessons on french horn, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, electric bass and saxophone
The program, designed for serious music students, offers a safe and fun environment for learning an instrument as well as music theory and creative expression. The Music Conservatory program integrates instrumental music with daytime music class offerings.
2023–24 Program Overview
- Lessons will begin on Monday, September 25, 2023 and end on Friday, June 7, 2024.
- Performance in recitals is a key component of the Music Conservatory program, and all students with one or more years of study are eligible and encouraged to participate. Students with less than one year of study may participate with the approval of their Music Conservatory teacher.
- Recital dates: Sunday, January 28, 2024 and Sunday, June 2, 2024. Recitals are held on campus in the Flood Mansion from 1–3 p.m. and are included in the lesson fee.
- Students enrolled in the program are expected to have their own instrument and to regularly practice it at home.
- Families are responsible for providing the instrument of choice and other music materials for lessons.
- Parents are encouraged to attend one or two lessons per semester.
Program Policies
- Unless a student is sick, lesson cancellations require 24 hours notice. Families should reach out to Extended Program Director Jason Yee and your child's music teacher for cancelation. If no notice of cancelation is given, you will be charged for the lesson. With 24-hour notice, a makeup lesson may be arranged according to the teacher's schedule.
- If a scheduling conflict arises due to a school sport or other recurring school-related conflict, a student may change the day of their music lesson (once per year) if the requested date is still available. Please use this form to request a change in schedule.
- After School Program care is no longer included with the cost of music lessons. Please see below for details.
- Please email Music Conservatory Director Bonnie Fraenza with questions.
After School Program (ASP) Information
The After School Program helps facilitate music lessons. How it works:
- If your student has a music lesson, please send them to ASP.
- If your student needs after school care before or after a music lesson, they may:
- Register for a general ASP Plan (see the ASP page for plan options).
- Register for a full-year Music Conservatory ASP Plan. The special rate for Music Conservatory students is $720 per year and only applies on the day of your lesson.
- "Drop-in" to ASP. The daily drop-in rate is $55/day and there is no need to pre-register.
Practicing at Home
A critical step in gaining performance aptitude is practice. Practice develops muscle memory, a musical ear, and is the path to artistry. If you do not have a piano at home, piano students may utilize a keyboard with full size keys. Let us know if you do not have a piano or keyboard, and we will do our best to help.
For guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, violin, viola, cello, trumpet, trombone, clarinet and saxophone students: Please rent, acquire or purchase your instrument.
Rental recommendations:
- Union Music: 1710 Market St. in San Francisco
- Sunset Music: 2311 Irving St. in San Francisco
- Rolland Feller String instruments: 551 Divisadero St. in San Francisco
Daily practice at home (a minimum of five days per week) is required to be considered a Music Conservatory student. Parents are encouraged to keep a daily practice log, which music teachers will review with students each week. There are different ways to keep a log; older students may use an app while younger students may use a printed log provided by their teacher.
