McIntire Studios Admissions & Tuition

Admission Interview Process

We want you to have the best experience possible on your musical journey!

To that end, everyone wishing to become a member of McIntire Studios is required to interview with their primary teacher and/or Michelle McIntire in order to understand how our studio works.

Our interview process is low key and fun. We want you to know that you (or your student) are going to have a good experience.

When you arrive for your interview, we will begin with talk:

• why are you interested in lessons,

• what led you to McIntire Studios,

• what are your short and long term goals.

We will also disuss the teacher's background (because you have a right to know they are qualified to teach you), the studio policies and expectations,
and billing and tuition.

You will have many opportunities to ask questions during the interview portion. Remember, you are interviewing your teacher as much as they are interviewing you.

After the "getting to know you" portion of the interview comes the practical portion of the interview, where you will receive a mini/demo lesson with your primary teacher. You will sing/play for the teacher as appropriate (ie, we understand that beginners are beginners), and they will teach for you. This allows student and teacher to get an idea of how the other person will be to work with.

Following the practical portion (outlined in detail below according to instrument), we will end again with conversation and recommendations.

If the student is a child and is invited into the Studio, we will recommend the family sleep on it before committing to joining. An invited adult may sign up immediately. If for any reason we don't feel we are the right teacher for you, we will say so, we will tell you why, and we will offer recommendations to other teachers who may be better for you.

There is no interview fee for voice or piano. The interview process takes about an hour.

Any four of our resident cats may pay a visit. If this is a problem for any reason, please notify us ahead of time and we will secure them elsewhere. If you are allergic or otherwise disinclined to cats, please let me know ahead of time and we will corral the cats elsewhere.

Voice Lesson Entrance Interview Considerations

• All prospective voice students should bring a water bottle and be emotionally prepared to sing. Also, please indicate any cat allergies on your audition request form. Please allow 45 minutes to one hour for your interview/audition.

• Regardless of age, beginning singers should arrive prepared to sing with a song of your choosing . If you have no ideas for a song, a patriotic song, a Christmas carol or a hymn, such as "Amazing Grace" or even "Happy Birthday" are all fine.

• Transfer voice students and experienced singers should prepare a contest/audition quality piece from memory. Additionally, you may also prepare a musical theatre or other genre song of your own choosing if you intend that genre to be a focus in your studies.

• School aged singers should be accompanied by a parent and/or the person responsible for payment. The teacher will give you a mini-lesson and a complete vocal evaluation, which will include a brief warm-up, range and tessatura determining exercises, vocal health evaluation and a brief test of tonal memory. Following this, the teacher will make a recommendation for type and length of lesson and what will be the first focus as well as the long-term goals.

Piano Lesson Entrance Interview Considerations

• Beginning piano students may play a song on the piano or not. This is not a requirement for beginning piano students (especially the very young), but if they like, they certainly may play for the teacher.

• Transfer piano students of all ages should try to prepare a piece to play. They will be evaluated and tentative level assigned, based on their basic musicianship and techniques, including accuracy, phrasing, pedaling, hand position and fingering.

Clarinet Lesson Entrance Interview Considerations

• To enter the clarinet studio, students must be fourth grade or older, have their own clarinet, and have fingers large enough to completely cover the holes.

• Please bring your clarinet and accessories.

• If you want recommendations on what pieces to bring or play, you may reach out to Dr. McIntire beforehand.

Percussion Lesson Entrance Interview Considerations

• When you interview with Dr. Jennifer Wagner for percussion lessons, you will need to demonstrate of your playing for timpani, snare drum, and xylophone or marimba.

• If you are a beginner just bring yourself and a pair of drum sticks. Otherwise be sure to bring your stickbag.

• Following the interview, you will receive a demo lesson.

Composition/SongwritingEntrance Interview Considerations

• When you interview with David for composition or songwriting lessons, you will discuss what your goals are, what your sound medium is, what your musical influences are. You will also have the opportunity to interview the professor about his approach to teaching composition. There is no cost for the entrance interview.

• Students will have the option to submit an example of their work to Dr. McIntire at least a week before your appointment. Notated scores, recordings, or sound files are all acceptable. Should you chose to submit a piece, you will receive a full 90 minute lesson and detailed feedback on your work. Following this you will receive an invitation to join the studio or a recommendation for further study.

• If you opt to submit a piece for evaluation, there is a one-time evaluation fee of $100. This is because of the large amount of time Dr McIntire spends on submitted compositions prior to each lessson. Because of the nature of composition lessons, short demo lessons aren’t practical. It can be said though that it isn’t necessary to submit a piece to get a feel for the way a give composition professor works. Hence, the option.

• Pre-requisites for studying composition include basic proficiency on your instrument and a working knowledge of the elements of music and harmony.