Welcome to the STAGES Private Lessons Studio!
Private lessons at STAGES balance the rigor of professional instruction with a uniquely mission-based STAGES approach allowing teaching artists to meet students exactly where they are at – whether that means diving into Chopin’s Nocturnes, preparing monologues for a college audition, or slaying a Taylor Swift ballad!
Our process-based instruction model is designed to build skills and instill an lifelong appreciation for the performing arts. With each lesson customized for the individual needs of each student, creative expression and student-teacher collaboration is encouraged and all repertoire is welcome!
STAGES Private Lessons families can expect:
- One dedicated teaching artist committed to your student’s lessons journey
- A customized instruction model based on your student’s unique interests and goals
- The music, scripts, scores, and other materials for use in lessons and in home practice
- Access to online/Zoom instruction when/if the need arises
- An opportunity (optional) to continue lessons during summer months
More Information about STAGES Private Lessons
Ages – STAGES Teaching Artists are offering piano lessons for young people ages 6-17, and voice lessons for ages 10-17. These age ranges are based on a variety of factors including attention span as well as physical/physiological and general readiness. If your student is under the minimum age listed above, and you believe they are ready for private instruction, please use the form below to inquire about scheduling a one-time lesson during which our Teaching Artists will decide how/when/if to continue with instruction.
Location – Private Lessons are held at the STAGES Youth Theater venue in Portland’s Woodfords Corner neighborhood. There is free parking onsite. Please note that private lessons are drop-off. Families/Guests are not permitted into the classrooms.
Family Sharing – There is no formal recital at the end of the school year season. While some students love performing in recitals, the fear of doing so keeps others from starting/continuing with with music instruction. For interested students, STAGES teaching artists are happy to help find a fun and appropriate way to joyfully celebrate their progress!
COVID Safety – Nothing is more important to us than the health, safety, and happiness of our students. Our COVID polices and procedures continue to evolve as the pandemic continues to evolve. You can read our most up to date general policies here at any time.
Our Private Lessons Faculty
Teaching Artists in the STAGES Private Lessons Studio are qualified practitioners of their craft and, importantly, are passionate about working with young people to unlock self-discovery. The STAGES private instruction model was developed and refined over the past two years by Rebecca Caron, Lauren Murphy, and Colin Whiteman — all of whom continue to teach students in the studio (click on a photo below to learn more about our teaching artists)!
REBECCA
CARON
Piano
LAUREN
MURPHY
Voice
COLIN
WHITEMAN
Voice
There are additional teaching artists on our roster who are qualified and would be delighted to provide short-term coaching (acting, dance/movement, vocal) for students seeking support for professional or college entrance auditions. Please use the inquiry form below to initiate this request. Please note: STAGES will not provide coaching for any student specifically preparing for a STAGES production. Students in our private lessons program will NOT be given casting preference in STAGES productions.
Private Lessons Schedule/Tuition Logistics
We’d love to work with your student for the entire school year, as consistent, ongoing instruction and practice provides the best opportunity for learning a new skill. We also know that kids and families are busy, and hope our four-session model will help to accommodate the shifting schedules of our students and families during the school year.
The lessons schedule for the upcoming semester appears below. If you are looking for short-term private coaching, or if you desire a time/day that is not listed, please contact us using the form at the bottom of this page, as there are possibilities on other days with certain instructors.
2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR LESSONS CALENDAR – FALL SESSION (Sept, Oct, Nov)
| MON | TUE | WED | FRI | SAT |
| 2:00PM-5:30PM Piano w/Rebecca | 3:00PM-8:00PM Voice w/Colin | 2:00PM-5:30PM Piano w/Rebecca | 3:30PM-6:30PM Voice w/Lauren | 10:00AM-3:00PM Voice w/ Lauren |
REGISTRATION FEE: A class/materials fee of $2.50/scheduled lesson will be invoiced on each monthly invoice. There are no other registration/overhead fees assessed by the Lessons Studio at this time.
TUITION: Pricing for STAGES Private Lessons is as follows:
- weekly 30-min lessons: $35/lesson (e.g., 4 lessons/month = $140)
- weekly 45-min lessons: $50/lesson (e.g., 4 lessons/month = $200)
- weekly 60-min lessons: $65/lesson (e.g., 4 lessons/month = $260)
- Audition coaching – pricing available upon request
SCHEDULING & BILLING: STAGES Private Lessons are scheduled in monthly packages of 30, 45, or 60 minute lessons. A monthly lessons package automatically includes all of the available days in the month ahead (e.g., if you take lessons on Mondays, and there are 4 Mondays in the month ahead, you will be scheduled and invoiced for all 4 of the Mondays).
The STAGES lessons year is divided into four 3-month sessions: Fall (Sept, Oct, Nov), Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb), Spring (Mar, Apr, May) and Summer (Jun, Jul, Aug). You must commit to at least one month of lessons in order to register, and payment must be received before the first lesson takes place. You may pre-register for as many as 3 months (one full sesssion) at a time. That schedule can be continued into the next session at the mutual agreement of the student/family and the teaching artist.
Invoicing takes place the final week of each month for the lessons scheduled for the next month. Payments will be due on the first of the billable month. (If you pre-registered for an entire 3-month session, you will be billed as those months take place – you will not have to pay for all of it up front).
HOLIDAYS: STAGES observes all of the federal and Maine state holidays, as well as creating space for the observance of additional cultural and faith observances of our students and staff members. (A list of those holidays can be found here). If your lesson day falls on a date where STAGES is closed, you will NOT be scheduled or billed for that date.
ABSENCES & MAKE-UP LESSONS: If you are unable to make it to your pre-paid, scheduled lesson due to an emergency, illness, or other absence, please contact your instructor directly by 10AM on the day of your lesson. If you cannot reach your instructor, call the STAGES office at (207) 699-3330 and leave a message with a staff member (or in a voicemail). If it is your first absence in the current 3-month session, your teaching artist will do their best to schedule a make-up lesson for you on a future date. STAGES will not schedule make-up lessons and will not provide refunds for additional absences in the term, or for no-shows.
Every effort will be made to make-up lessons missed due to snow days or teaching artist absence/emergencies. Note that the STAGES snow cancellation policy follows that of the Portland Public Schools, and is further influenced by the discretion of STAGES management for storms that begin during late afternoon/early evening hours or on weekends.
As mentioned above, STAGES will not schedule or bill you for lesson dates that take place on holidays observed by our organization; therefore there will be no make-up lessons scheduled for holidays.
Begin the Private Lessons Registration Process Below!
To begin the registration process (for ongoing regular lessons or short-term coaching sessons) please submit the following form — please include as many details as possible about your student’s interest in private instruction, and your general schedule constraints/preferences.
