Parent Guide

Parent Guide

Parents, you’ll find everything you need to know - here! Please read over this information carefully. After that, review the Student Information for each of your students by category: Piano, Strings, Half day, or Enrichment only. Then, you’ll be ready to register.

If you already have the information you need and are ready now to register, you can register online by clicking here. If you are new to the Idaho Suzuki Institute, please continue reading.

Attending Suzuki Institute is a family experience and parent/guardian participation is essential to the success of the Suzuki Method. For young children, it is ideal to have one adult for each child enrolled. All students under age 12 must have a parent or other responsible adult on site throughout the Institute week. Parents attend each child’s Master class to take notes so they can help their student prepare and practice for the next day’s classes.

In addition, parents are strongly encouraged to attend the parent classes. These sessions are free to the parents of our registered institute students and are an invaluable resource. To reap the full benefit from the Institute experience, it is recommended that families make the commitment to be available for the many activities that occur throughout the week.

Registration Information: Before you register, you should talk with your teacher and your student so you have the answers to a few key questions.

1. What is my student’s reading level: beginning, elementary, intermediate, or advanced?
2. What is my student’s current polished piece (the current piece that is error free and of performance quality at the time of registration): Book # and Song #? When scheduling, our directors take into account the time that passes between registration and institute.
3. What is my student’s current working piece at time of registration: Book # and Song #?
4. Should I register for Full Day Institute or Half Day? Half Day is available only for children who are 6 years old or younger on the day that Institute begins. If they are past Aunt Rhody in Book 1, you may wish to place them in Full Day Institute even if they are young. This should be discussed with your teacher.
5. What scholarships are available to apply for? See our Scholarships page.
6. What enrichment (elective) class or classes do my children want to participate in. See our Enrichments page. You will need to check the student program to find out how many they get to choose and to see the descriptions of these fun and enriching classes! During the registration process you will be asked for their choice(s) and an alternate. Our schedulers do their best to get everyone into their first choice(s), but this is never a guarantee.

Tuition:
We have continually worked hard to keep our prices low. Idaho is still one of the lowest cost institutes in the country (if not the lowest). These costs include all of the core and enrichment classes corresponding to the student program in addition to our parent classes. Everyone also receives one t-shirt (with the exception of students who register for Enrichment classes only).
When you register, there will be some optional items to purchase: on campus housing or lunches, extra t-shirts for family members, additional enrichment classes for siblings or half day students, and donations.

What happens after I register?

After you register with our online form your must pay your invoice either by check or PayPal to complete your registration. You will receive an email confirming your registration, but payment may still be outstanding. Be sure to confirm with your financial institution that your payment has been completed or if you have questions, please call Kris Ball (our registrar) at 208-340-7093 or e-mail info@idahosuzuki.org.

Next, you should consider the Honors Recital opportunity. (Applications required, see page for details.) Finally, you and your students should arrive at the College of Idaho between noon and 1pm on the Monday that Institute begins. (Lunch is not available for purchase that day). At this time, your student will receive their schedule for the week, t-shirt, and name tag. Orientation will start at 1pm. All of your questions will be answered here. Full day students and half day students with added optional enrichment classes will start classes at 2pm. The remaining half day students will return at 8:50am on Tuesday for their first classes.

Classes will end each day at 5pm. Your student will need some time in the evening to prepare for the next day’s classes. On Friday, classes will wrap up at 12pm and after lunch will begin an exciting culmination of our week with final concerts to showcase what your students have been working on. Family, friends, and the community are invited to these final concerts and they are free to all attendees.

NOTE: Proper dress is required at all concerts, string students wear black pants or skirts (knee length or longer) and white tops (no sleeveless, please) with black shoes and socks. Piano and Flute student dress code: females perform in all black, males in a white shirt and tie with black pants, socks and shoes.

Lodging/Food On campus housing is available on a limited basis.

Lunch will be available students and families participating in Institute. The cost is $31.00 per person for lunches Tuesday-Friday.

Music Store During Institute:
Welch Music provides a store that has core materials of the Suzuki method and a variety of other music related educational items. If you have specific books or items you are looking for, please let them know at least two weeks prior to institute and they will do their best to make them available. lynette@welchmusic.com

Location:
Institute will be held at College of Idaho, 2112 Cleveland Blvd., Caldwell, Idaho 83605

Terms and Conditions:

At registration, you will be required to read and agree to these terms:

I understand that a parent or guardian must be on the grounds of the College of Idaho at all times when a registered student 12 years old or younger is in attendance.

I understand that the student’s current polished piece is memorized and can be played with no stops and no mistakes. The student(s) can start at any place in the piece. It is the current polished piece. The directors will take into account the time passed between registration and institute when assigning students to classes, so I do not need to forecast future polished or working pieces; only the current pieces at the time of registration.

I understand that I am not guaranteed to receive my first choice in any classes I choose. The directors will do their best to give me my first choice(s), but scheduling limitations based on enrollment demographics may make it necessary to receive an alternate.

I understand that piano students are expected to have at least 3 of the most current pieces in their repertoire polished at the time of institute. Book 1 piano students can play with only right hand or hands together.

I understand that I am not registered for the Idaho Suzuki Association Summer Institute until my entire invoice is paid in full. If it is not paid in full by April 27, I will be assessed a $35 per student late charge. If I have not paid in full by June 1, my pending registration will be dropped. Should I choose to re-register after that date, my place at institute is not guaranteed and I will be assessed an additional $35 late fee.

I understand and agree to the following refund and cancellation policies:
String and Piano Full and Half Day Students: Invoices are fully refundable up to May 1, with the exception of a $25 processing fee per invoice. After May 1st, until June 1st, the invoice is refundable with the exception of a $25 processing fee per invoice and $35 late fee per student. After June 1st, no refunds will be issued.
Enrichment Only: (this policy applies to students who are NOT registered for any other classes at Institute – if an additional Enrichment class was added for a half day student, refunds will be issued based on the previous policies) Invoices are fully refundable up until May 1, with the exception of a $10 processing fee per student. After May 1, the tuition is non-refundable.
Scholarship Recipients: If a scholarship is received and the invoice is later canceled, the scholarship is forfeited in its entirety. The remainder of the refund will be subject to the above policies. ISA scholarships are only valid for the current year and cannot be applied to subsequent years.

Ready to Register? Click here to register online now.