FAQ's
+ What to Expect at the Center
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What would be better for me: Group classes or Private lessons?
Group classes often work best for social learners who are motivated by the energy of classmates and a flow of set topics. Private lessons are typically for the most serious of students who have their own goals set, or for students who thrive with the personal focus that private lessons provide.
Do you work with gifted students?
Yes, we welcome any student who wants to learn, and many of our instructors have worked for years with all kinds of students, including students with special needs such as ADHD & autism, students competing at the national level, and professional-bound musicians, actors, and artists.
Can my child benefit from musical instruction at their young age (1, 2, 3, 4...?)
Absolutely. At Encore the potential of little ones is never underestimated. Musical study has a huge impact on babies' and toddlers' foundation for both musical and life skills. With parents on board at home, very small children are even able to play simple songs independently. This age is really the best for instilling good pitch and rhythm so that it is normal to them instead of what becomes a difficult skill to learn if introduced later.
Is there a waiting area on site? Lesson and class start/end times are prompt. If you arrive a few minutes earlier than your booked time, you may wait in the library, on the entry benches, or at the seating in Starlight Stage (if the stage is not being used for a class at the time). These are also quiet waiting areas available to parents/guardians and siblings who are waiting during lessons/classes. Students who were dropped off must be picked up within 5 minutes of lesson/class ending time.
Can I observe my child in the classroom? Parents/guardians are welcome to observe lessons or classes at any time. It is highly recommended that parents/guardians of children at least 6 years old and younger attend lessons with their children to know how to help with practice at home.
What is the expectation for practice at home? Students who take classes or lessons on an ongoing basis are expected to practice at home 5 or more days per week. Recommended minimum daily practice lengths per instrument are 15 minutes for ages 2-5, 30 minutes for ages 6-9 and 45 minutes for ages 10 and up. Prizes are awarded for faithful practice. Assignment sheets are provided. During private lessons, your instructor writes directly on your assignment sheet. During group classes your instructor writes the assignments on a whiteboard, then at the end of class, students take a picture of the board for transfer onto the assignment sheet.
Can I attend a class on trial? Class space is reserved for paying, ongoing students, but if there is space we offer a drop-in trial rate for trying group classes. One-time private lessons are also given at the trial rate without committing to ongoing lessons. Once per month we hold an open house exploration event where prospective students may try new instruments with guidance and participate in short free workshops that give a preview of what ongoing classes are like. Follow Facebook.com/encorecreativecenter/events to see when the next open house will be.
What recitals and performance opportunities are provided at Encore? We believe sharing what we've learned should be a frequent, low-stress habit. We hold periodic open mics, formal showcase festivals in December and May, our Broadway showcase in August, and more pop up community performance opportunities where all our students and groups are encouraged to perform. We strongly encourage all music students to book recording studio time twice per year or more, to mark their progress and hone in their observant listening skills.
What is Encore's stance on Diversity? Encore provides equal, kind support to each of our students. While each individual instructor may lean politically or religiously in one direction or the other in their personal lives, Encore respects all backgrounds and is a place where we focus not on our differences, but on what brings us together with the power of creativity. We spend our time teaching art, music, theatre, and other creative skills, as opposed to teaching sexual orientations, or religious views, or other social matters that we believe is each family's privilege to educate their family about. If you do have particular requests, such as special support for LGBTQ or prefer lack of exposure to it for your child if possible, or prefer your instructor does not wear a mask (only a few of our instructors tend to wear a mask on rare occasion), for example, please talk to the student relations manager at either center and/or the particular instructor you work with. We are here to support each student's needs and requests, and with a wide team of leaders and instructors, we endeavor to find a safe place for each student to feel at ease to further the artistic goals that bring them here.
What kinds of tuition help do you have available? Encore is an approved vendor for Idaho's Empowering Parent Grant funding ("WithOdyssey"). We also meet all the criteria as providers with the major homeschool funding and reimbursement projects: Tech Trep (Braintree), Harmony, and Overture.
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