SUMMER AT MERIDEE WINTERS – IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!
Summer lessons at MW are customizable to your interests and schedule. Have fun, keep your spot with your teacher, and avoid the dreaded "summer slide."
Did you know? Summers at MW mean you can have a more flexible lesson schedule or even stack lessons to complete a customized summer project (like your own one-on-one summer camp)! Projects include songwriting, electronic music, band/artist study, audition prep and more!
To accommodate summer schedules of all types, we offer Full, Half and Flexible Summer Sessions help you get the most out of our summer of music and keep you on track and ready for Fall!
Read more about summer projects and schedule options below, or sign up below to reserve your spot early!
Summer at Meridee Winters Music School includes lessons in July and August. Much like our regular school year policy, you have a comfortable month-to-month commitment with our Full and Half Summer Sessions or the option to plan your own personal summer camp or music project with our Flex Summer Session. Whichever you choose, you get a customized experience of music you love and the chance to stick with an instructor you value.
Click here to review our summer policy.
What you look forward to in summer with MW:
Fun! Summer lessons can be treated like a "camp" focusing on a project or area of interest. See “Summer Projects” below for options!
Accomplishment! Completing a music project with your teacher.
Flexibility! Shifting your lesson day, working in-person or online, or flexing your time (more on that below).
Pride! Maintaining and celebrating your progress. The ability to play for friends and family.
Why you don't want to skip summer lessons:
Use it or lose it! Even 8 weeks off can result in you losing a semester's worth of skill.
Keep that awesome teacher! If you take off, your teacher will need to take on new students. In order to maintain a spot on your teacher's schedule, continue lessons or try our Flex Session to schedule flexibly. (See below.)
Connection! Stay connected with your instructor, be ready for the year ahead.
Art heals! As students decompress from school, continuing with music allows for reflection, expression and creativity.
You Have Options!
FULL SUMMER SESSION
You know consistency is important.
Keep your weekly lessons going this summer and we’ll make sure you have not only a great summer but a great success with music. Find a day and time that work for you and your teacher and continue with regular weekly lessons through July and August. You’ll be billed as normal on the first of each month. We can credit your bill, up to three lessons, to account for any summer vacations.
HALF SUMMER SESSION
Keep on track with half the time!
For students who are available only part of the summer, try our half-time commitment. Half Sessions are available for weekly lessons in either the month of July OR the month of August. Just 4-5 weeks around your other scheduled events keeps your music skills fresh and your summer relaxing. Fit your lessons in around your other plans! Let us know which month you can commit to (sorry, no vacation credits or make-ups in our Half Sessions) and your teacher will set you up with a day and time that work for you!
FLEX SUMMER SESSION
Get really flexible this summer.
Lots of commitments? Busy schedule? But you know how important sticking with music is over the summer! No problem. Join our Flexible Summer Sessions and make lessons work for you! Families can purchase six to eight lessons* to share over the course of our summer semester. Schedule each lesson flexibly with your teacher, no need for vacation credits or make-ups because you help choose the times! By flexing your music projects and progress around your other activities, you get the win-win of growth and future music opportunities and the freedom to get away!
Have questions? Contact our office!
*Flex Session lessons will be purchased at the family’s current lesson length or the longest lesson length for families with multiple students.
**Driving Dollar charges are $25 for the summer semester with our Flex and Half Sessions, $50 for Full Sessions.
***Because Summer Semester is short, there are no guaranteed make-up lessons available.
Summer Projects
Available for current MW students AND non-MW students! A personalized one-on-one summer music project is a powerful way to boost musicianship and enthusiasm to the next level, and is the perfect complement to other summer experiences, camp or day camp experiences. Current students can use their Full and Half Session weekly lessons or the Flex Session lessons to complete a project, or non-MW students can sign up for just the summer!
What makes the program so effective?
Customized Program Unlike most camps designed for groups, MW Summer Projects and lessons are custom designed by the student and teacher.
Focus = Progress By focusing on YOUR exciting ideas or turning YOUR stuck spots into strengths you create faster progress.
Convenience and Flexibility Programs are offered in the comfort of your own home and are flexibly scheduled in single sessions or ongoing lessons customized to your schedule and availability.
Even more project ideas:
Songwriter Workshops ▼
What would music be without songwriters? (Well… silent, we suppose.) Whether you’ve tried your hand at songwriting or are a complete novice, you can learn how to arrange and create your own unique songs with the guidance of one of our expert teachers. Take the summer to focus on creativity — you may just be the next great songsmith!
Try these options:
- Pop/rock/folk Songwriting: work on creating your own music in your own style.
- Score a Movie: Pick your favorite movie and re-write the soundtrack.
- Make a Musical: Create your own characters, story line, lyrics or choreography.
- Classical Composition: Study the form and formula of classical composition and learn how to create rich, textured, beautiful music.
Digital Recording and Sound Effects ▼
Do you want a professional recording of your music to share with others or post online? Are you excited to capture your songs and show off your skills? We all have the ability to record music, so take the summer to work with an experienced teacher, learn about recording and take your recordings to the next level.
Try these options:
- Garageband Tutorial: Learn how to work this versatile recording program, and create your own single or album. Learn the tips and tricks to sounding great!
- Recording Sessions: After working with your teacher to prepare a body of work, sign up for recording sessions. During the sessions you can add additional instruments and effects to your songs. You’ll have your own album to give to friends, post on the web or sell at gigs.
- Sound Effects: From guitar effects racks and pedals to keyboard/synthesizer sounds — there is a lot to choose from and program to get your own unique sound. Learn how to get the sounds effects the masters have on their professional recordings.
- Music Video Apps: Master creative recording through apps like Acapella, iMovie and more to complete a collection of music videos for your portfolio or music channel.
Portfolio ▼
Do you want to create a time capsule of your music lessons for the future? Would you like to display all of your accomplishments in a fun way to show others? Do you want to celebrate what you have accomplished and then take it further? Create an amazing custom portfolio this summer! Focus in on one topic — or cover a wide range of things that inspire you. Portfolios have traditionally been used in the visual and performing arts as a way for an artist to showcase their accomplishments and designs. We are excited to offer young artists the opportunity to showcase and document their work, to deepen their own learning process and most importantly to ENJOY to ENJOY and SHARE their unique accomplishments as they study music.
“Focus on Favorites” Workshop ▼
Summer is a time when scales and lesson books can be put aside to work on new topics and areas of interest. Would you love to learn the songs from your favorite band, musical or genre? In a “Focus on Favorites” Workshop, you will do an in depth study on a particular group, composer, genre or generation.
Examples include:
- Band/Songwriter Study: Learn the songs, roots, influences and history of your favorite band or recording artist.
- Style Study: Do you love Punk? Pop? Blues? Rock? Take the summer to dig into your favorite genre. Learn the greatest hits, how to improvise and even how to write your own songs in that style.
- Album Study: Learn and play an entire album with your teacher and/or a friend. Learn about the artists’ influences and the impact of their music on society.
- Musical Theater: Choose your favorite show and spend all summer learning the hits! Learn Les Miserables, Rent, Wicked, Hamilton or classics like Oklahoma, Music Man, Cinderella, Carousel and more.
- Composer Study: Study any composer or songwriter in depth — their music, personality, influences, thoughts, history and more. From Bach to the Beatles, Debussy to Dylan – learn from the masters.
Performance Workshops ▼
Do you want to perform awesome music for friends or an audience? In Performance Workshops, you will have the chance to develop a mini stage show! Work on developing a body of work and schedule a show for friends and family that showcases all your hard work.
- Soloing: Learn to solo in a favorite style like a favorite performer, artist or band. Learn others’ solos and how to create your own. Jam with your teacher.
- Chords: Learn to powerfully play chords in a favorite style, to accompany voice, play in a band, write songs or just boost your playing. Jam with your teacher.
- Project Band: Create a band, duo or trio with a new friend or two. Learn to play together — from a punk band to a classical quartet, a blues trio to a harmonic duo.
- My Show: Prepare a show of any style music. Perform it in front of an audience.
- My Book: Make your own book of any theme you like (exercises, solos, history theory or any project).
- My Greatest Hits: Create a show, list or portfolio of all of your greatest accomplishments.
- Riff Encyclopedia: Create a glossary of all of your favorite riffs that you can play.
Power Tutor ▼
Do you want to jump ahead one or more levels quickly? Do you want to turn your weaknesses into strengths? Do you need to focus in on one area? There is a reason many people hire a tutor in the summer: it works. Our one-on-one summer tutoring is catered and designed to fit your specific needs, working intensively on one topic so it can be mastered, helping you jump up a level or preparing you for more challenging repertoire. Even students not in our school can benefit from this — tell your friends.
Topics include: Playing Chords, Rhythm, Sight-reading, Improvisation, Theory, Notation, Musicianship, Technique, Scales, Modes and more. We have a wide variety of games and repertoire to focus on any topic.
Band & Pre-Band Skills ▼
Do you play in a band — or want to? Use your summer to gain skills that will make you an MVP in any band!
- Band Prep and Performance: Because lessons are held in the privacy of your home, you can powerfully focus in on problem areas to keep advancing yourself to the next level — and the best band. Our professional performing band teachers can coach you on learning songs and sets, playing by ear, learning and creating solos, keeping solid rhythm, building stage presence, prepping for performances, songwriting and improvisation. Your teacher can also help you with your personal equipment and effects set up.
- Pre-Band Prep and Performance: Never been in a band — but hope to be? Take the leap with an experienced one-on one coach in the low pressure privacy of your home. Learn all of the above skills from Band Prep and Performance, plus how to audition for a band, start your own band or join an existing one. (All with the support of an understanding, experienced professional performing musician.)
- Band Songwriting: Behind the greatest bands are great songwriters. Learn the craft of songwriting, and write songs for your band with your own songwriting coach.
Audition Workshops ▼
Auditions can be nerve wracking, but they don’t have to be! Get a jump start on audition season by working with one of our skilled teachers to address technique, nerves, audition tips and more. Work on repertoire to perfect a few showstopping songs to have at the ready, and watch your performance opportunities grow.
Create Your Own Workshop Project On Anything ▼
Mix and match from all the options, or create your own unique workshop on something you are highly interested in. From conducting to sound effects, anything goes! Past topics have included: conducting, writing dance music, scoring for high school theater (Dracula), writing a waltz for a family member’s wedding, and more!
Additional Information on Summer at MW
A Note on Billing Weekly Lessons:
Since your summer schedule may not be finalized by the July 1st billing date, we hold your year round lesson day on the schedule for calculating July's tuition charge. Any change to your summer lesson day and time can be adjusted after July 1st and credits or charges for an extra lesson week can be reflected in your August tuition charge.
A final note. To maintain progress, we recommend that families who are busy or traveling during the summer consider Flex or Half Sessions and scheduling lessons (even extended “super lessons”) to suit your schedule. If you do opt to take a break, we will gladly welcome you back in the fall. While we won’t be able to guarantee a spot with your current teacher upon return (they may take on new students to fill the gap while you are away), we are happy to place you with another one of our talented teachers in the fall in the event that you lose your slot. All students wishing to stop lessons must contact the office before the next month's billing date of the 1st.
For more information on cancellations, summer options and more, view the summer section on our Policy Page.