Application Process

Orchestra registration process:

  1. Go to the New Student Application
  2. Go to “Will this student participate in an orchestra?”
  3. Using the audition guidelines, click on the orchestra that best matches your child’s playing level  (audition guidelines will be linked)
  4. Auditions take place at the beginning of the school year (typically at the end of August). You will receive a link to sign up for an audition time via SignUp Genius.
  5. If your child is interested in a leadership position (which include responsibilities such as sitting at the front of their section), please note any specific directions for leadership auditions as these excerpts change each year.
  6. Results are generally posted within one week of auditions.

 

Private lesson registration process:

  1. Go to the New Student Application
  2. Click  “Yes” to the question  “Will student be taking private lessons?”  You may click on a teacher’s name if you have a preference (though this preference is not guaranteed).
  3. To best help us with teacher placement, please share a short video best representing the student's playing. The easiest way to do this is to share a video via Google Drive to dukestringschool@gmail.com or send an unlisted YouTube link of the video to this same email.
  4. Katharine Whitmore (katharine.whitmore@duke.edu) will help you schedule a 30-minute trial lesson ($30) with one or more teachers.  Trial lessons are very important for the family and teacher to see if they are a good fit for one another.
  5. You can also email the teacher directly to let them know more about your child and let them know your lesson time availability.
  6. After a good match is found, you and your teacher will schedule your student’s lessons.  Lessons with a new teacher begin at the beginning of a semester.
  7. Please note: we do not provide or rent out instruments. There are several local vendors that we recommend who rent and/or sell instruments, including Indie Strings, Triangle Strings , High Strung, Bass Violin Shop and Artley Violins. Please do not to purchase instruments on Ebay or Amazon without teacher consultation. These instruments can often be "violin-shaped-objects" rather than instruments of good quality. Please let us know if the cost of renting or purchasing an instrument is prohibitive.

 

Chamber music registration process:

  1. Go to the New Student Application
  2. Click “Yes” to “Chamber interest”
  3. Note that Chamber is open to Intermediate Orchestra level and above (ISO, CSO, YS level students).
  4. We aim to place all interested students in a chamber group, but are limited by teacher availability and schedule of individual students within each chamber group.
  5. Chamber groups are typically formed in the fall for the year, but can also be added at the beginning of the Spring Semester if there is space.