Scheduling: ”When are the lessons?”

Typical lesson times are from after school until about 9 pm., Sunday- Thursday. Mr. Chris Mattingly is a certified Childbloom Instructor and program director.

We generally teach in small groups, minimum 2 kids per groups – maximum 4. These groups are great for developing ensemble skills, camaraderie and improvement of long-term motivation (as well as a competitive cost factor). We group the students according to age and experience level. 98% of all our entering students are beginners. If your child has experience with a non-Childbloom teacher we then will organize an assessment lesson to see where he or she can be placed in the curriculum.

If we don’t have a another student to start right away, there are several options available: 1) we can take your child privately for a few lessons and merge him into a class; 2) put you on a call-back list – the wait is usually just a few weeks; 3) or if you wish to start right away we may be able to schedule your child in a private lesson. Because of our small-group structure, scheduling is often the most difficult part. But a good Childbloom class, at a time convenient for your schedule, is sure worth any wait!

”How much does it cost?”

There is a $25 enrollment fee per family into the Lexington Childbloom Program. When you enroll we give you 2 things: the initial enrollment materials, which includes a CD of the music, lessons, exercises that the student will be learning. This material provides a key ingredient to the Childbloom success – listening to the music before, during and after learning it. We also provide easy-to-read music for the non-musician parent to help at home. You also receive a subscription to The Childbloom Monthly Newsletter. This helps parents deal with the many ups and downs of motivation that will occur in the musical education process. The newsletter also has local events and contests your child can participate in. Contests are geared to every skill level.

Tuition is $70/month for the group class. The lessons are scheduled on a yearly basis, with 46 lessons and two recital performances per year, a total of 48 services per year. This means some months will have 3 lessons, some months 4 and some months may have 5 lessons. It is the same tuition each month. You don’t commit a year or a semester at a time. You pay tuition the first lesson of each month. We do need notice of withdrawal by the 15th of the month prior to the month of withdrawing. The Childbloom Guitar program is one of the most affordable entrances into private music education in the Lexington area. We are also the best.

For a family with two children in the program, the cost per student is $55 per month. For three kids, $165/mo.

Private lessons are generally $90 per month. Private lessons in the Central Kentucky area are typically $100.00 per month.

Getting the Right Instrument – What you should know.

It is so very important that your child have an appropriate guitar on which to learn. Please call us for recommendations (859 513 0304) before you purchase one. We are not in the business of selling instruments  so we can give you an unbiased view of the marketplace. We try to keep abreast of what the good instruments are and where you can get them close to you. We’ve been in this business for over 20 years and know that kids learn best on an instrument that fits them. Consult with us before you buy. Its a free service!

Young children will outgrow their instrument. Count on getting a new one every two to three years until the child can use a full-sized instrument – usually around age 13-14. But an old instrument can be be sold as used. The market price (at least in Lexington) for a used one is about 30-50% of the full retail value of a new one.

We highly recommend a nylon-string instrument for all childbloom guitar students. That is what is necessary  for the high-skill technique that we teach the children. Don’t know which to buy? Contact us.

The highest cost of music education

We take music education seriously. Begun in 1980, the Childbloom Program is one of the longest running guitar programs for children in the world.  That is why we know that parents must be involved in their child’s musical growth. We want a parent to be present in the lesson with the child. You need to know the details of what the child is learning; the goals for the week, the technical aspects that the child can’t see from his or her viewpoint and help encourage practice in an effective way.  The quality of that involvement will change as the child matures but parental involvement has been a key ingredient to the success of the students in our program from age 5 -18. This is the the highest cost – YOUR time and attention. It will  will provide the greatest value to your child.