PRIVATE
LESSON PROGRAM

The Ashley Hall Private Lesson Program is open to Ashley Hall students and non-Ashley Hall students in the greater Charleston area. Our program offers private lessons, group classes, masterclasses, and seminars with renowned faculty members. Students are able to participate in performance opportunities throughout the school-year including solo recitals, group concerts, and community performances.

2026-27 Private Lesson Program Calendar

Fall 2026
August 24 \| Private Lessons begin August 28 \| Composition Seminar begins Every other Friday Beginner Seminar 3:15-4:15 pm, Advanced 4:30-5:30 pm September 3 \| String Academy Group Class begins Thursdays after-school: Beginner Class 2:45-3:15 pm, Advanced Class 3:15-4:00 pm September 12 \| South Carolina Cello Choir September 26 \| Region 4 Orchestra Auditions October 23 \| Piano Masterclass November 13 + 14 \| Region 4 Orchestra Event December 3 \| Last String Academy Group Class of the Semester & Holiday Party December 2 + 4 \| Piano Solo Recitals — 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 pm December 14, 15, + 16 \| String Solo Recitals — 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 pm
Spring 2027
January 5 \| Private Lessons resume January 9 \| All-State Orchestra Auditions January 14 \| String Academy Group Class resumes January 22 \| Piano Masterclass February 19 - 21 \| All-State Orchestra Event February 26 \| Piano Masterclass March 19 \| Composition Seminar Concert 5:00 pm April 8 \| String Academy Spring Concert 4:00 pm April 13, 14, 15 \| String Solo Recitals— 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 pm April 19 + 21 \| Piano Solo Recitals— 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 pm April 23 \| Piano Masterclass May 6 \| Last Day of String Academy Group Class May 22 \| Last Day of Private Lessons

Fall 2026

August 24 | Private Lessons begin

August 28 | Composition Seminar begins
Every other Friday Beginner Seminar 3:15-4:15 pm, Advanced 4:30-5:30 pm

September 3 | String Academy Group Class begins
Thursdays after-school: Beginner Class 2:45-3:15 pm, Advanced Class 3:15-4:00 pm

September 12 | South Carolina Cello Choir

September 26 | Region 4 Orchestra Auditions

October 23 | Piano Masterclass

November 13 + 14 | Region 4 Orchestra Event

December 3 | Last String Academy Group Class of the Semester & Holiday Party

December 2 + 4 | Piano Solo Recitals — 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 pm

December 14, 15, + 16 | String Solo Recitals — 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 pm

Spring 2027

January 5 | Private Lessons resume

January 9 | All-State Orchestra Auditions

January 14 | String Academy Group Class resumes

January 22 | Piano Masterclass

February 19 - 21 | All-State Orchestra Event

February 26 | Piano Masterclass

March 19 | Composition Seminar Concert 5:00 pm

April 8 | String Academy Spring Concert 4:00 pm

April 13, 14, 15 | String Solo Recitals— 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 pm

April 19 + 21 | Piano Solo Recitals— 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 pm

April 23 | Piano Masterclass

May 6 | Last Day of String Academy Group Class

May 22 | Last Day of Private Lessons

Program Offerings

Instrumental Lessons
Private music lessons are open to students who wish to study the piano, violin, viola, cello, voice, music theory, and composition in a one-on-one setting once or twice a week. Piano students may opt to join the Royal Conservatory of Music Curriculum, a comprehensive approach to music training.
String Academy Group Classes
The String Academy Group Class is required for students grades 2-4 who are enrolled in private violin, viola, or cello lessons. Weekly Group Classes are held Thursdays after-school and focus on music theory, chamber music, and offer performance opportunities at school and in our community. Two Group Classes are offered for grades 2-4 designated by level. Beginner Group Class Thursdays 2:45-3:15 pm Advanced Group Class Thursdays 3:15-4:00 pm This specialized program allows students to start expressing themselves musically and artistically while playing with others. Students develop concentration, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation of music.
Voice
Private voice lessons are available for students in grades 5-12. New students are required to audition. Students will have the opportunity to sing various styles of music, including musical theater, pop, folk, jazz, R&B, and classical. Voice students will have the opportunity to participate in yearly voice recitals, concerts, and compete in vocal competitions. New Students: All new voice students must audition. Please contact Maggie Cook before registering.
Composition & Composition Seminar
Composition lessons are open to students in grades 5–12 who currently study piano and/or have a minimum of 2 years of study on their primary instrument. Each semester, students will compose and notate at least one composition, to be performed by the student and/or other musician(s). Composition Seminar Class Styled after a college composition seminar, this group class will feature 12 sessions that include a composition workshop with Ashley Hall music faculty, a composition masterclass with a notable composer, and a public premiere of student compositions by Ashley Hall music faculty. Class is offered for students grade 4 -12 with a minimum 2 years experience playing their primary instrument. Interview is required before registering. Classes meet roughly every other Friday. Beginner Class: 3:15-4:15 pm Advanced Class: 4:30-5:30 pm Friday Class Dates: 8/28, 9/18, 10/2, 10/16, 11/13, 12/11, 1/8, 1/22, 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, and 3/19 Interested Students: Please contact Dan McCurry before registering. Dan McCurry’s students have received local, statewide, regional, and national recognition for their compositions with MTNA, NFMC Junior Composers Contest, NFMC Lynn Freeman Olson Composition Award, Piano Guild, Piano Inspires Kids Magazine, Piano Explorer Magazine, SCMTA, and Charleston Sonatina Festival. His students have been accepted into music composition summer camps such as Brevard, Interlochen, and UNCSA with merit scholarships.

Important Information

Tuition
2026-27 Academic Year (August 24 - May 21) - Registration will remain open for the entire year. 26 lessons are recommended for the academic year. 12 lessons are recommended for the Fall semester. 14 lessons are recommended for the Spring semester. Additional lessons (1+) may be manually added by program director. Lesson length and lesson count should be determined by the student’s private lesson teacher and student-teacher schedule(s). Private Music Lessons (all instruments) Tuition 30-Minute Lesson 12 lessons \| $540 26 lessons \| $ 1,170 40-Minute Lesson 12 lessons \| $720 26 lessons \| $1,560 45-Minute Lesson 12 lessons \| $810 26 lessons \| $1,755 60-Minute Lesson 12 lessons \| $1,080 26 lessons \| $2,340 String Academy Group Class Tuition 30-minute private lesson + group class 12 lessons + group \|$660 26 lessons + group \| $1,430 40-minute lesson + group class 12 lessons + group \| $840 26 lessons + group \| $1,820 45-minute lesson + group class 12 lessons + group- $930 26 lessons + group- $2,015 Composition Seminar Tuition 12 Sessions \| $600
Registration
Registration for the academic year opens on July 14th, 2026 and will remain open for the entire school year. Additional lessons may be added as needed. AH STUDENT REGISTRATION: Please Click on the Learning Commons "After School & Summer Programming" Resource Board to Register NON-AH STUDENT REGISTRATION* *New Students- Please contact program director, Zoe Walker, via email before registering.
Student & Parent Expectations
Practice Students are expected to practice outside lessons daily at the same time as their lessons. For example, a student who takes a 30-minute private lesson is expected to practice 30 minutes a day at home. Parents are expected to help students establish a daily practice routine, providing necessary materials and a quiet place free from distractions, especially with younger students (ages 5-10). Lessons Parents of students in pre-kindergarten – grade 1 are required to attend private lessons to take notes. Instrument Details & Rentals Instrument Rentals Strings Ashley Hall offers violin, viola, and cello instrument rentals in select sizes. AH rentals are priced at $20.00/month. Piano For Piano or Keyboard needs, please reach out to designated piano faculty. A piano or keyboard is required to have at-home before starting lessons.