Parent Involvement & Practice Expectations

The Suzuki Method is built on a partnership between the child, teacher, and parent. Learning violin is a team effort, and parental involvement plays an important role in a child’s success.

Parents are expected to attend their child’s private lessons, take notes, and help reinforce what's taught in lessons--at home. You don’t need to play the violin yourself! Simply being familiar with your child’s current goals and offering gentle reminders (or asking questions) during practice sessions can make a tremendous difference. Young children often need help building consistent practice habits. Parents are responsible for establishing a daily routine that includes both violin practice and listening to Suzuki songs.

Parent responsibilities include:

Attending private lessons and taking notes

Helping establish a daily practice routine

Encouraging daily listening to Suzuki songs

Paying tuition by the first of each month

Parents are also welcome to attend group lessons, though attendance is not required.

My goal is to partner with parents to make learning violin a positive, rewarding experience. You can do this! With consistency, encouragement, and teamwork, we can totally help each child thrive! Miss Bethany's mom was not at all musical; she wasn't a string player, she doesn't play piano, and was often very busy with church responsibilities and raising her 6 kids. Yet somehow, she raised three successful string playing daughters. The key? Bethany's mom was present, and very supportive of her girls in their music education.

As a parent, you just need to care and put in some effort.

The Importance of Listening in the Suzuki Method

Listening is an integral part of the Suzuki Method. Just as children naturally learn to speak their native language through daily exposure—long before learning to read or study grammar—they can develop their musical ear through consistent listening. For this reason, students are expected to listen to their Suzuki repertoire regularly (Gold star would be each day. While that is the goal, I realize often times it might not happen). This daily immersion helps children internalize melodies, rhythms, and pitch, laying a strong foundation for their musical development.

The Suzuki philosophy emphasizes learning by ear first, followed by note reading. With her Master's degree in Music Learning and Teaching, Miss Bethany deeply values music literacy and believes that reading music and understanding music theory are essential components of a well-rounded musical education. Rest assured, both learning by ear and by note reading will be incorporated into your child's instruction!

However, because the violin is an especially challenging instrument to master, it is important that young beginners initially focus on developing proper posture, bow control, intonation, and foundational technique. By introducing note reading once these essential skills are more firmly established, students can build confidence without becoming overwhelmed by too many new concepts at once.

Ultimately, the goal is to develop well-rounded musicians who can play beautifully by ear, read music confidently, and understand the music they perform.

Most Popular Learning Model: $185/month

a combination of weekly privates & also weekly group lessons

Format: Weekly 30-Minute Private Lessons + weekly 50 minute Group Lessons

Total Instruction: Your child will receive four, fifty-minute monthly group-lesson instruction, paired with weekly half hour lessons.

Tuition: $185 /month. Think of it like a gym membership, if they can not make it to all 4 group lessons, that is okay! They are welcome to attend a different day/time if that works for your schedule. You come as often as you are able.

(Spring Semester: 4 equal monthly installments, Jan–Apr). This already accounts for school breaks.

If your child starts mid-month with Miss Bethany (private and/or group) the tuition cost will be prorated and priced accordingly.

See Other FAQ: Payment Breakdown in Detail to see the breakdown.

Direct payment accepted via ESA / Classroom Wallet. 3% surcharge fee will apply.

Intermediate/advanced players

(Mid Book 2 and above) &

High Schoolers:

Stand alone, weekly 45-minute private intensive lessons only: $215/month (Valued at $225/month at Miss Bethany's stand alone privates only rate)

Multi-Program Discount: Students also enrolled in group lessons are at my lower per hour teaching rate, and so if they elect to also do groups, in addition to their weekly private instruction, it is $245 month.

Private Voice Instruction (Ages 12+):

Weekly Stand Alone 30-minute private lessons:

$150 / month (works out to $35/lesson when you factor in the 5th week every semester)

Wee Violin stand-alone group class starting NOW! Perfect for ages 3–6

First group lesson is completely free, so you can try it and see if you like it before you commit! Introduce your little one to the joy of music through play! Only running now through the end of the 2026 year, this interactive, low-pressure, group music and violin class develops early rhythm, posture, pitch listening, and musical focus through play-based games.

Tuition: $20 per class (billed monthly). Classes will be prorated accordingly for Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks.

Registration & Materials Fee: $25 (one-time deposit to reserve your spot) this covers a practice box violin, a bow, and cute studio tote bag.

Wee Violin Advanced Academy! Starting in January!

Tailored for Ages 3–6 (Wee Violin) toddler, preschooler through first grade.

This sweet program combines individual private attention for your little combined with fun, group lessons. This group will meet weekly along side dedicated 1-on-1 instruction. This track is geared for the little ones who love violin and want to get off a box violin, and onto a real violin, and to play with us in our studio recitals!

Format: Weekly 30-Minute Private Lessons + weekly Wee Group Lessons.

Total Instruction: Your child will receive four, fifty-minute monthly group-lesson instruction, paired with weekly half hour lessons.

Tuition: $185 /month

(Spring Semester: 4 equal monthly installments, Jan–Apr).

If your child needs to start with less time (20 minute private lessons) it will be prorated and priced accordingly.

Program Perks: One excused absence per term. School/fall/spring/Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks are already factored into the equal payment model.

See FAQ: Pricing in Detail

Direct payment accepted via ESA / Classroom Wallet.

Professional string teachers with Suzuki training or equivalent field experience typically charge $70–$85/hour across the valley, with rates up to $90/hour in Gilbert and Mesa.

Local Private Lesson Rates (30 Min Only):

Hammer & Strings: $215/month

AZ School of Music (Tier III instructor): $205/month

Prestige Music Academy: $180/month

Desert Ridge Music Academy: $155/month (privates only) or $199 for weekly private and ONE monthly group lesson

Desert Hills Conservatory: $150--only if you pay the entire semester upfront– or $200/month if you pay per month for and this is for private lessons only.

Miss Bethany’s Violin Studio:

$185/month for 30 min of private lessons AND bi-monthly 50 minute group lessons.

Significantly more instruction time--and less money!

Valued at $220, this package is the best rate for you as a parent, and the best model for kids to learn their instrument.

ESA Direct Pay / ClassWallet vendor accepted (*3% increase will be added to monthly tuition).

Life happens!

Family life gets busy, and unlike many studios with strict "no-makeup" policies, Miss Bethany will try her best to accomodate.

Advance Notice (24+ Hours): If you anticipate a schedule conflict (school concert, family trip, etc), please provide at least 24 hours’ notice.

She will try her best to coordinate a makeup lesson based on studio availability. This is not a guarentee however; as the studio fills up it will be harder to accommodate.

*Upon request, she can also provide her Google Calendar and you can ask if you can swap times with another family within the studio on any given week.

Student Illness & Emergencies:

To support families during cold and flu season, each student receives one courtesy sick credit per semester (credited toward tuition).

Miss Bethany also has one courtesy sick credit built in to the semester payment model as well. If she doesn't get sick, then it won't be used! If no one gets sick, then everyone wins.

For additional absences, you are welcome to have a virtual lesson during your time spot, or, she will do her best to offer a makeup lesson times (based upon availability). It is not guaranteed, but we will try! If Miss Bethany is sick more then one time, she will make it up at the end of each semester.

Group Classes: If your child misses their regular group class, they are welcome to drop in on an alternate group session that week.

Teacher Cancellations & Studio Breaks:

Monthly tuition is billed at a flat $185/month, which accounts for standard scheduled school breaks (Fall, Winter, and Spring).

If Miss Bethany ever needs to cancel a lesson due to personal illness or an emergency, that lesson will be made up or credited to the last month of each semester (December or May).

You will be charged the flat rate of the monthly for $185 August-May. It is like a gym membership. You will use what you can, when you can.

Summer Tuition:

You are welcome to choose either

Summer Special-- $150/month

It will be something along the lines of an offering of bi-weekly 30-minute private 1:1 lessons, June and July. This is 50% off savings!!

It's a 2 for the price of one deal!

OR

you could opt for a la carte lessons and each are priced at $35/ea

Summer Minimum:

To ensure retention and prevent regression heading into the fall semester, there is a

5-lesson minimum attendance requirement across the summer term. Students lose up to 6 months of progress from taking the summer off entirely.

Travel Flexibility: If you are traveling or out of the country, lessons can easily be held remotely via FaceTime or Google Meet during your regular slot.

Most kids who start lessons with Miss Bethany are beginners!

Miss Bethany finds joy in fostering a patient, positive space where children feel supported every step of the way.

She focuses on meeting each child where they are to build lifelong musical confidence.

Come see for yourself! Reserve your complimentary trial lesson to meet Miss Bethany in person!

Awesome!

A lot of students also come in already having some music experience from piano, some might have had experience with school orchestra class, or with another private teacher.

During the intro/trial session, Miss Bethany will get a sense of how far along your child is and find a good class for you that isn't a beginner class. 🙂👍

There is SO much benefit from having group lessons!

•Motivation — Kids practice harder when they know they’ll play in front of peers.

•More material, better paced — Twice-weekly instruction covers far more ground (scale patterns, rhythm, technique) than a single 30-minute private lesson can hold.

•Fun, game-based learning —statistically speaking, kids learn quickest by means of play. I see this first hand ALL THE TIME. Groups = faster progression!

•Confidence — Group settings normalize mistakes, ease performance anxiety, and sharpen intonation through regular ensemble playing.

*If you live far away, Miss Bethany makes every effort to schedule your private lesson and group lesson back to back, so you aren't having to go to her house twice during the week.

When a student reaches high school, Miss Bethany does not require weekly group lessons. But, she will ask them to do longer weekly private lessons instead (45 minutes instead of 30 minutes).

Talk to Bethany if you have any special concerns for your child that would inhibit group learning; she is willing to work with you on a case by case basis.

Privates alone would most likely be scheduled longer so she can cover some of the group material in your child's private lesson. But, group learning really is in your child's best interest, and is also most cost effective for the parent, if it is at all possible.

For pre-K students, weekly GROUP ONLY Wee Violin is priced at $80/month (plus a one-time $25 materials/registration fee). This group only class model is only being offered in November and December. Come January, Wee Violin group will also incorporate private lessons in the model as well. Why? Kids who do not take the private lessons, do not progress.

The Wee Violin class is designed as a hands-on parent-and-child class, they will begin on complimentary training box-violins to build rhythm, focus, and violin posture through educational games and songs. Taking Wee Only Group right now, affords you the opportunity to see if your child likes the group class, prior to renting or investing in your own violin.

Wee Violin is an enriching, research-backed boost for early brain development—and most importantly, it's super fun for the kiddos!

Yes! She does! You can read several adult testimonials from adult students who have taken from Miss Bethany, and have had a wonderful experience!

She charges her stand alone private rate of $150-$200 for the month.

Depending on playing level or ability, that will determine if you are at 30 minute lessons for book 1 players-- it's $35 each lesson (paid monthly).

Intermediate +/mid-book 2 and beyond, and those lessons are typically 45 minutes, pricing at $46.50 each (also paid monthly).

Also worth noting, she prefers to teach adults between the hours of 12-3, before kids come home from school.

Yes, with a Masters of Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Arizona State University, Miss Bethany does indeed teach voice.

However, she is electing to focus on building and marketing for her violin/viola studio at this time.

However, if someone wants to take voice lessons, Miss Bethany also teaches voice as well!

YES! Please! Come and see how Miss Bethany makes violin a joyful experience!

There are lots of videos uploaded to the following social media accounts:

Instagram: @miss_bethanys_studio

Facebook: Miss Bethany's Studio: joyful learning of the violin, viola and voice

YouTube: @MissBethanysSuzukiStudio

Miss Bethany's Studio Policies

Nov 2, 2026 

Tuition at a glance

Think of your tuition much like a gym membership: your monthly tuition reserves your place in the studio and provides access to the scheduled lessons. The more consistently you attend, the greater the value you receive from your membership.

Please note that tuition is a flat monthly commitment, and missed lessons are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend a group lesson, you are welcome to attend an alternate group session on another day, when available. Otherwise, the missed lesson is forfeited.

Keep in mind:

My Privates-only rate, for voice, is $150/month. So for $185, you are getting more than double the instruction, for a fraction of the cost. So, even if you need to come to 3 group lessons one month due to scheduling, instead of 4, you are still getting an excellent deal.

$1,850.00 per school year, paid over 10 months. The rates factors in all week-long school breaks.

How tuition follows the school calendar

Lessons follow the Paradise Valley (PVUSD) 2026–27 calendar, so families do not pay for school breaks.

The school year runs Aug 4, 2026 to May 26, 2027, about 43 calendar weeks. I factor in for all school breaks (Fall break, Thanksgiving, Christmas break, Spring break and the last week of May).

The 10 monthly payments (August through May) are equal, so the amount stays the same whether a month has five lesson weeks or two.

School calendar at a glance (PVUSD 2026–27).

Single-day holidays do not reduce the 36 weeks of lessons. If one lands on your lesson day, I still intend to teach if at all possible, on that given day. (For example, MLK day, I still hold lessons. Yes, I teach on Veterans day, etc).

Sick days and makeups

One makeup lesson per student is built into the year, so ONE sick day per semester won't cost your family extra.

If I need to cancel a lesson, I will make it up to you.

Group classes cannot be repeated, so a missed group class is not made up.

Monthly payments stay the same all year.

Summer Tuition will be at a reduced rate.