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 she (or he!) is interviewing you.

After the "getting to know you" portion is 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, and they will teach for you.

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 tell you why and will offer recommendations on other teachers who may be better for you.

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

The 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.

Voice Lessons

  • All 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 (no CD or self accompaniment, please. Sheet music or unaccompanied singing is fine). If you have no ideas for a song, a patriotic song, 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 Lessons

  • 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 on basic musicianship and instrumental techniques, including accuracy, phrasing, pedaling, hand position and fingering.

Clarinet Lessons

  • 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 speak with Dr. McIntire before hand.

Percussion Lessons

  • When you interview with Dr. Jennifer Wagner for percussion lessons, you will need to bring a short example 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. You will be notified following the demo if you are invited into the studio.

Composition and Songwriting

  • When you interview with David for composition lessons, submit an example of your work at least a week before your appointment. Notated scores, recordings, or sound files are all acceptable. You will receive a demo lesson and detailed feedback on your work. Following this you will receive a recommendation for further study.

  • A composition interview has an evaluation fee of $100. 

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

Bouquet of burgundy and pale blue watercolor flowers with blue music staff interwoven separating private music lesson admission and tuition information.

Tuition

Billing and Tuition Policies


Tuition adjusts each August.

Voice and Piano Tuition with Michelle McIntire for 2022-2023 is set at $80/hour for voice and piano lessons, pro-rated according to the length of your lesson. Tuition is due monthly before lessons are taught. Tuition reserves your time slot and includes my planning time and "office hours."

Composition Tuition for 2022 - 2023 with Dr. David McIntire is $750 per month. Tuition includes at least 4 hours with David (in person or Zoom), as well as David's time analyzing your work, which is significant, usually at least two hours per piece per session. It is a lot of time.

Percussion Tuition with Dr Jennifer Wagner is set at $70/hour, prorated according to lesson length. Tuition is due monthly before lessons are taught. Tuition reserves your time slot and includes my planning time and "office hours."

Vocal coaching with Barbara Jurgensmeier is $70 per hour. Accompanying for contest, including 2 songs, 2 rehearsals/coachings and 1 performance, $90. Collaborative pianist work as with NATS, including 3 songs 2 rehearsals and 1 performance, $100. Collaborative pianist work as with NATS, including 4 songs 2 rehearsals and 1 performance, $120. Additional rehearsal are available at the hourly rate of $70/hour. Recording services are available at $70/hour with a 1 hour minimum.

Tuition Assumptions

Your tuition reserves your regularly scheduled time slot and membership within the studio. There will be no make-up lessons for student cancellations with less than 24 hours notice. Teacher cancellations will be made up. Please make note of the previously scheduled holidays so you can plan around the lessons that are already scheduled to be missed.

BILLING OPTIONS and MMS (www.mymusicstaff.com)

  • All students are enrolled into the studio platform via www.mymusicstaff.com

  • Invoices generate and are emailed automatically 10 days before the first of the month.

  • You may go online to your account at any time and view or pay your bill.

  • Tuition is due by the first of each month. If tuition is 7 days late, a $10 late fee will be assessed.

  • If there are discrepancies, please contact me immediately. Remember that all my training is in music; as an accountant/bookkeeper/business owner I am completely self taught and I do make errors. I will do whatever I can to fix the problem.

Ways to Pay Tuition:

  • Auto-pay via MMS. There is a 5% fee for this service. With autopay, your card is charged automatically when the invoice is created.

  • PayPal or Credit Card via your emailed invoice or directly from your account. There is a 5% fee for this service.

  • Venmo: @mcintirestudios. Beginning October 2022, there will be a 5% fee for this service.

  • Check, Money Order, or your bank's Bill Pay feature

  • We do NOT accept cash payments. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Make music a part of your life!