Music Education: Enhancing Your Life
We believe that instruction in the arts is fundamental to enhanced learning. Key research findings published in music education journals link strong arts education programs to:

  • Improved performance in reading and math
  • Improved student engagement and motivation in school
  • Development of critical and reflective thinking
  • Improved social and civic development
  • Broader understanding of diverse cultures

For young people experiencing vision loss, developing musical talent can have a positive impact on all aspects of life, both personal and academic. For adult students, acquiring or retaining musical skills is important to maintaining quality of life, and underscores the value of lifelong learning.

Music Technology: Working for You
Complementing the highest quality music instruction, our Music School has an assistive music technology center that levels the playing field for people with vision loss.

The Lighthouse also plays a leading role in designing and testing new technologies, which maximize your learning opportunities. No other community or university music program in the region offers this technology.

In addition, our school maintains a unique, accessible library of more than 25,000 musical scores in braille, large-print and regular staff notation — an invaluable resource for our students and faculty alike, as well as for educational institutions nationwide.

Playing Our Part in the Community
A member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education and the New York City Coalition of Community Schools of the Arts, the Music School offers a full curriculum — from individual lessons in voice and a multitude of instruments to an intensive comprehensive music education program for young people.

Through several ensembles — vocal, percussion, pop/rock and jazz — students share their musical interests and prepare for performances as part of the Catherine Kramer Concert Series, as well as in the community and region. Highlights of the upcoming 2011–2012 season include performances by the Vocal Ensemble at various venues in New York City, our Youth Percussion Ensemble and “Jam 59” at our Double Up 4 Vision tandem bike ride/walk fundraiser; lunchtime concerts with the Jazz Ensemble; our children’s spring showcase and end-of-semester recitals; the fifth annual Performathon; and our signature concert, “Lighthouse at the Met,” celebrating 16 years of collaboration with The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Performing and enjoying music are life-enhancing activities with profound connections to intellectual development and spiritual well-being for people of all ages. Through high-quality instruction, varied performance opportunities and state-of-the-art technological support, our Music School can help you develop your musical talents to the fullest.

Join us for the 2011–2012 academic year ... register today!

Admission Criteria

  • Admission is open to individuals with documented functional vision impairments.
  • Priority admission is given to individuals who are receiving, or who have received, vision rehabilitation services from Lighthouse International.
  • Based on an assessment of needs and abilities by our clinical and musical staff, admission is provided without regard to race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation or veteran status.
  • Admission to advanced classes and performance groups requires completion of prerequisite classes and/or an audition demonstrating the required level of knowledge and skill.
  • The Comprehensive Music Program for Young People is open for enrollment on a limited basis to students from the community who are sighted. For fee information, call (212) 821-9660.
  • Our staff is available to consult with you on establishing goals and selecting the courses best for you. To make an appointment, call (212) 821-9660.

Registration

  • You must register in person during the specified dates listed on our calendar. If you can't, due to special circumstances, please call (212) 821-9660 prior to registration, so that alternate arrangements may be made.
  • If you are visually impaired and requesting a scholarship, you must provide the required financial documents (SSI, SSDI, SSA award letter; income statements from taxes, including Form 1040 or W-2). Financial assessments will only be made during the registration period.
  • Completion of registration does not guarantee availability of instructors, individual lessons or classes.

Late Registration

  • If you register after the fourth week of the semester, tuition will be appropriately pro-rated, and the entire remaining semester amount must be paid before the start of the first lesson/class. Please be aware that scholarships will not be available for those who register late.

Fees and Payments

  • Fees are semester-based and determined by the type of course offered.
  • Please note that the fees listed in this catalog reflect a substantial tuition subsidy for people who are visually impaired.
  • The registration fee is $10 per semester (non-refundable). For families with more than one child enrolled, the registration fee is $15.

Fall 2011/Spring 2012 semester (16 weeks)

  • Individual lessons: $320
  • Group classes: $225
  • Performance ensembles: $75
    • (If you're enrolled in individual lessons, one performance ensemble fee will be waived)

  • Comprehensive Music Program for Young People: $310*

    • *Through the generosity of Lighthouse International donors, all students who are visually impaired benefit from a tuition subsidy. Tuition packages are available upon request for students who are sighted.

Payment Procedures

At the time of enrollment:
New students must pay the registration fee plus 50% of the tuition cost in order for class/lesson requests to be processed.

Returning students must pay the registration fee and 20% of the tuition cost unless a payment plan is negotiated at the time of registration. The remainder of fees is expected to be paid upon receipt of the tuition invoice.

  • Payment can be made by cash, check (payable to Lighthouse International) or credit card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express). If paying by cash, please make every effort to use exact change.
  • Payment can be made in person at the Music School or by mail.
  • To ensure that your payment by mail is correctly processed:
    1. Include a check or money order only
    2. Include the invoice stub
    3. Use the enclosed Music School pre-addressed return envelope to ensure your payment is not misdirected to another Lighthouse department

Cancellation Policy
We may cancel classes if enrollment is insufficient, or if an instructor is unavailable. In the event of cancellation, registered students will be notified and given a full refund. If you choose to withdraw, a full refund will be made before the first class. There is no refund after the third class. Registration fees are non-refundable and apply only to the semester for which you enroll.

Make-up Lessons
All lessons must be paid for, whether taken or missed. Instructors are not required to make up lessons that are cancelled by students. If an instructor cancels, a make-up lesson will be arranged.

Scholarships and Awards:

Need-Based Scholarships: Eligibility Criteria

  • Scholarships that are awarded based on financial need are applicable toward one lesson or class per semester. If you wish to take additional classes or individual lessons, you must pay full fees for these. Multiple individual lessons are subject to administrative approval and instructor availability.
  • Eligibility is determined prior to your first semester of course work.
  • Applications are required only once per academic year. These applications may be accepted or renewed only during the two-week registration period prior to the fall or spring semester.
  • If attendance and effort are not evident, or if student evaluations do not meet expectations, scholarships will be withdrawn and/or not be renewed.

Need-Based Scholarships: Application Procedure

Submit a scholarship application to the Music School. Scholarships are available to individuals who:

  • Have documented functional vision impairment
  • Verify financial eligibility based on the Lighthouse sliding-scale fee policy, which adheres to the federal poverty guidelines
  • Present acceptable financial documents: SSI, SSDI, SSA award letter; income statements from taxes, including Form 1040 or W-2
  • Demonstrate a commitment to the Music School and to your music curriculum

Scholarship renewals are evaluated on the basis of progress, ability, diligence, commitment, attendance and performance.

Irwin H. Widelitz Scholarship

  • This scholarship is awarded once annually to a young student enrolled in the Comprehensive Music Program for Young People who shows talent, merit and commitment to the Music School. It is intended to help defray the high cost of a music education.

Florence Dix Kronsky Award

  • This award is presented once annually to a student who has made significant contributions to the Music School community and to the community at large, promoting advocacy and outreach through performances and/or philanthropy.

Florence Dix Kronsky was a generous benefactor who believed in providing equal access to print music. She achieved her vision by establishing a volunteer program dedicated to producing large-print music, which has evolved into large-print production at the Lighthouse through advanced music technology. Her legacy and vision of equal access remain strong — and lie at the core of our school.

For more information, call our Program or Administrative Assistant at (212) 821-9660.

Catherine Kramer Concert Series

Catherine Kramer was a long-time volunteer and friend of our Music School. A concert series in her name features the diverse talents of students, faculty, alumni and guest artists. Production of this concert series is supported in part by funds received by the C.L.C. Kramer Foundation. For specific dates, times and programs, call (212) 821-9660, visit us at lighthouse.org and watch for our seasonal postcard announcements.

D'Agostino Performance Hour Series

In-house and public performances reflect your achievements as a musician and performer. Our performance hour series is held on various afternoons of the semester. It will provide wonderful opportunities for you to try out new pieces, test recital and audition repertoire, and learn firsthand about the challenges of performance anxiety. Enrolled students, faculty, visiting guest artists and those who rent our studios on a regular basis will be eligible to perform.

With your instructor’s recommendation, you will be requested to participate in at least one recital during the semester. If you’re enrolled in individual lessons and performance ensembles, you may also be asked to perform in recitals at the Lighthouse or other venues in the community. These performances are part of your performance training. Dates and times for recitals will be determined at the start of each semester.

Lighthouse Music Studios

Our sound-treated music studios are available for practice and can be reserved during business hours when staff members are available. Call the Music School Administrative or Program Assistant at (212) 821-9660 to schedule time, which will be granted by our Assistant Director on a space-availability basis.
(Please note: no food or beverages are allowed in the studios)

Individual performers and non-profit organizations are also invited to take advantage of our state-of-the-art facilities at highly competitive rental rates. Learn more. To schedule time, contact the Music School rental space hotline at (212) 821-9711 or via e-mail at musicschool@lighthouse.org.

The Music School Student Council: Make Your Voice Heard

Elected by students to represent their interests, the Council reviews student and organizational issues, and offers recommendations to the Executive Director and Lighthouse administration. It meets on the second Tuesday of every month. Individual comments are welcome; call the Council at (212) 821-9660.

Since its inception in 1996, the Student Council has contributed greatly to the promotion and operations of the Music School. A few of the notable achievements include:

  • Establishing the annual Performathon — a venue in which the students themselves have generated over $23,000 in support for our school within the first four years
  • Other fundraising events, such as annual bake sales and raffles
  • Coordinating student/family advocacy efforts to address Access-a-Ride issues

Members of Our Student Council for 2011 -- 2012

  • Enid Bourne
  • Fred Dalidowicz
  • Brian Maguire
  • Salvatore Moscato
  • Rosa Ramirez Pedulla
  • Maria Rios
  • William Robinson
  • Joseph Russo
  • Lynnette Tatum

 

 

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