Playing piano on the computer is fun, but it is even more fun playing the real thing. Through our Budding Musician Scholarship, your student can start lessons tuition-free. See below for more information and APPLY TODAY!
Through our Budding Musician Scholarship your student can receive private lessons tuition-free.
The Budding Musician Scholarship is available to students in Grade K-2 at the ideal time to start. Grades 3-up receive a money back guarantee after two lessons.
Kindergarten students receive one free month of weekly private lessons and curriculum.
Grade 1-2 students receive two free lessons and curriculum.
Students in grade 3 and up receive money back guarantee after 2 lessons.
Lesson times are available weekday evenings and Saturday mornings at most locations.
Hovland Conservatory provides lessons at neighborhood locations in the Twin Cities, Phoenix, Rochester, Philadelphia and Chicago areas. View the map for the location nearest you.
A significant factor determining a child’s success in music is not natural ability, but rather the age at which they start lessons. For this reason our Budding Musician Scholarship provides your student the chance to start lessons at the ideal time for learning.
Click to apply for the scholarship. During the application process you will select times that would work best for your family. After applying you will be contacted with further details about lesson times.
CLICK TO APPLY
WHO
WHAT
WHEN
WHERE
WHY
HOW
APPLY TODAY!
Congratulations on discovering Hovland Conservatory of Music! We are committed to providing the highest quality music lessons to all. Browse around and learn about what we have to offer. Schedules fill up fast so register soon for best availably. The benefits of music lessons can start now! We look forward to meeting you and your family.
AN INTRODUCTION FROM OUR FOUNDER
Check out this INTERESTING TED Talk
VIEW OUR POLICIES PAGE
READ OUR "RIGHT FROM THE START" PAMPHLET
Hovland Conservatory is a nonprofit organization providing year-round private piano and violin lessons for beginning through advanced level students. Over the years, we have developed a proactive method for teaching music that guarantees successful results for every student.
PRIVATE PIANO LESSONS
Piano is the ideal instrument from which to start lessons. Most students start lessons through our Budding Musician Scholarship. Following the scholarship tuition for kindergartners is $85 per month for weekly 20-minute lessons. Tuition for students in Grade 1 through adult is $120 per month for weekly 30-minute private lessons. Included in tuition are all music and lesson books, and several performance opportunities throughout the year. Performances include: solo recitals, ensemble groups, seasonal concerts, and community outreach events.
Apply for the Budding Musician Scholarship by clicking HERE.
VIOLIN LESSONS
Violin is well respected for its educational challenge and melodic beauty. Along with the piano, it is the instrument of choice for young elementary aged students. Most students start lessons through our Introduction to Violin class. Private lessons are also available for students starting in kindergarten. Kindergarten tuition is $85 per month for weekly 20-minute lessons. Tuition for students in Grade 1 through adult is $120 per month for weekly 30-minute private lessons. Included in tuition are all music and lesson books, and several performance opportunities throughout the year. Performances include: solo recitals, ensemble groups, seasonal concerts, and community outreach events.
Using the system of Exact Instruction, Hovland offers students a more balanced and consistent music education than any one private teacher can provide. The structure and transparency of our programming gives students, parents, and teachers milestones to measure advancement and a timeline in which to achieve them.
JUDGING QUALITY
Even after years of class in school or playing a musical instrument, it is surprising how little parents know about music compared to other subjects. Most parents will not, for many years, realize the results of their child's lessons, and lack the ability to know of what their child is really capable. Many have only their child's apparent interest or happiness to determine if lessons are going well. Although helping students enjoy themselves is a valid aspect of teaching, it is not the determining factor of the quality of your child's music education.
We understand that most parents are not in a position of knowing how to judge the outcome of the lessons. For this reason, we approach the lesson structure in a unique way through our assignment system which gives us the ability to track and predict exactly where a student is in the course and what they will be achieving at any given lesson. This gives you one means to measure progress in order to judge how well we, and your child, are doing. This kind of accountability cannot be found in any other music teacher or school.
"The state of music education in this country is in alarming condition. I hope you are disturbed about this fact; in fact, I hope it makes you mad. It is time to stop wringing our hands and talking to each other about the problems. We must take our case to the general public. It behooves every musician, from international performer to the hometown piano teacher, to take a good look at music education in this country. . . Individually and together, we must seek every occasion to speak publicly on the need for rigorous, engaging, and sequential music programs in every school."
- Karen L. Wolff, former dean of Oberlin Conservatory
MODERN METHODS
Various methods of teaching music have been invented and published during the last century in an effort to make the complicated subject of music more accessible to children. These experimental methods and shortcuts have in the past and continue to be accepted by educators and parents despite the absence of any real proof of their effectiveness. Looking at it now, in the perspective of history, we can see the results of these methods. While music study is more accessible now than ever before, there are fewer people wo are fluent readers and players.
The fault for this problem is not with the students, but in how the majority of music lessons are being taught. Despite the variety of services from which to choose, quality music instruction that maintains historically accurate standards and objectives is increasingly difficult to find.
Music should not be viewed as some mysterious gift that is had by some and not by others. Every student can be a great achiever if they are helped properly at the lesson. It is in the control of educators and parents to make the musical future of every student bright, by rejecting the present situation, learn from the past, and move forward into the future.
THE TALENT MYTH
Music is not a mystery that only a select few can understand or appreciate; it is an exact study that when taught correctly can be learned more or less by everyone. For example, much is said about the genius of Mozart; but in addition to his miraculous gifts, he acquired the knowledge of music from his father at the ideal age for learning. Concerning education, Mozart said of himself, "People make a mistake who think that my art has come easily to me . . . . There is not a famous master whose music I have not studied over and over."
Children do not need to be geniuses to learn the music of Mozart or to enjoy playing what he did as a child. The music written by the young Mozart, or his father, Leopold, is just as playable by children today and should be a part of the standard repertoire for beginners. We believe all children have a natural ability to become musically trained, especially musically literate. Our programming, by itself, prevents instructors from approaching lessons in any way other than educationally in addition to stopping the misconception that talent directly affects the ability to learn.
"Genius without education is like silver in the mine."
- Benjamin Franklin
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Hovland Conservatory recognizes the importance of student performances. To provide our students more opportunities to perform while giving back, the Community Outreach Program is in place. Through the program, regular student performances are held at various venues throughout the year. Venues for such performances include: children's' hospitals, senior living facilities, malls, art museums, history centers and more. These Outreach Performances are valuable in cultivating more confident young musicians and are received by audiences with enthusiastic appreciation.
Check out videos, recordings and photos from various Hovland events.
Watch videos of Hovland Conservatory events.
Listen to live performances of Hovland Conservatory students.
See photos of Hovland Conservatory events.
Hovland scholarships have funded over 15,000 lessons and given the opportunity for over 3,000 students to try and continue lessons with free or reduced tuition. This amounts to over $400,000 in gifts! Please allow us to continue and grow this mission by donating today.
BUDDING MUSICIAN SCHOLARSHIP
Kindergarten students receive one month of weekly private lessons and curriculum while grades 1-2 receive two weeks. There is no obligation to continue following the scholarship and no requirement to have an instrument at home.
CLICK TO APPLY TODAY
NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIP
Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch at school are eligible for the Hovland need-based scholarship. Send us an email for more information.
EMAIL
DISCOUNTS
There is a $10 monthly discount for the second tuition, $20 for the third, and $30 for every tuition following. Advance payment of 12 months tuition is discounted by 10%. Advance payment of 6 months tuition is discounted by 5%.
DONATE
Hovland Conservatory contributes $1 from every lesson to the Scholarship Fund. This contribution along with generous donations from people like you awards over $40,000 each year in scholarships to help students and families begin and continue in lessons.
CLICK TO DONATE TODAY
KEYS 4/4 KIDS
Do you need a piano or have one to donate? Hovland Conservatory works closely with Keys4/4Kids, a non-profit organization that refurbishes donated pianos and places them in new homes at a discount. Through Keys4/4Kids, students of Hovland can get a piano in their home for as little as $50 a month. Email Hovland for more information.
EMAIL
Hovland has convenient neighborhood locations in the Twin Cities, Phoenix, Chicago, and Rochester areas. Look below for the studio nearest you.
MINNESOTA
ANOKA
Highway 10 and Main Street
500 W. Main Street, Anoka MN 55303
ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL
525 West 54th Street, Minneapolis MN 55419
ARDEN HILLS
in Gathering Place - Lutheran Ministries
3245 New Brighton Road, Arden Hills MN 55112
BLAINE
at Creekview Center next to Paul's Barber Shop
1250 126th Avenue NE, Blaine MN 55434
BLOOMINGTON
in Atonement Lutheran Church
601 E. 98th Street, Bloomington, MN 55420
Maplewood
in Keys 4/4 Kids @ Sun Ray Center
2099 Old Hudson Road, St. Paul
ROCHESTER
in Emmanuel Baptist Church
2911 18th Avenue NW, Rochester MN 55901
STILLWATER
at Chestnut Building off Myrtle Street
200 East Chestnut Street, Stillwater MN 55082
ARIZONA
CHANDLER
at Ray Road and Alma School Road
1100 N Alma School Rd, Chandler 85224, Ste 5
MESA
in Velda Rose United Methodist Church
5540 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85205
NORTH PHOENIX
at Thunderbird and Cave Creek Road
1940 E Thunderbird Road, Phoenix AZ 85022
PEORIA
in Old Town Peoria - just west of the arts center
8421 West Peoria Ave, Peoria AZ 85345
SCOTTSDALE
at Ranch Center
9393 N 90th Street, Scottsdale AZ 85258
TEMPE
Just south of Hwy 60
ILLINOIS
Our systematic approach to lessons and our extensive support structure provide the perfect environment for professional growth and results. Make teaching more than just a hobby. Learn more about professional teaching opportunities in your area.
TWIN CITIES, MN
FULL AND PART TIME PIANO INSTRUCTOR
We are growing and looking for pedagogically minded piano players and teachers of all levels and experience. Lessons take place weeknight afternoons/evenings, and Saturday morning at our neighborhood locations - Anoka, Arden Hills, Blaine, Bloomington and Stillwater.
Interested players and teachers can apply online or attend a free teaching seminar to learn more about our teaching philosophy. Topics include: common teaching errors, the importance of technique and athleticism, proactive vs. reactive teaching, and the role of parents and practice. Click on one of the links below to register.
PART TIME VIOLIN INSTRUCTOR
Hovland currently has a part time teaching position for private and group violin lessons in Arden Hills and Stillwater.
SEMINAR REGISTRATION
APPLY ONLINE
PHOENIX AREA
FULL AND PART TIME PIANO INSTRUCTOR
We are growing and looking for pedagogically minded piano players and teachers of all levels and experience. Lessons take place weeknight afternoons/evenings, and Saturday morning at our neighborhood location - Chandler, Mesa, North Phoenix, Peoria, Scottsdale and Tempe.
Interested players and teachers can apply online or attend a free teaching seminar to learn more about our teaching philosophy. Topics include: common teaching errors, the importance of technique and athleticism, proactive vs. reactive teaching, and the role of parents and practice. Click on one of the links below to register.
PART TIME VIOLIN INSTRUCTOR
Hovland currently has part time teaching position for private and group violin lessons.
SEMINAR REGISTRATION
APPLY ONLINE
CHICAGO AREA
FULL AND PART TIME PIANO INSTRUCTOR
We are growing and looking for pedagogically minded piano players and teachers of all levels and experience. Lessons take place weeknight afternoons/evenings, and Saturday morning at our Des Plaines location.
Interested players and teachers can apply online or attend a free teaching seminar to learn more about our teaching philosophy. Topics include: common teaching errors, the importance of technique and athleticism, proactive vs. reactive teaching, and the role of parents and practice. Click on one of the links below to register.
SEMINAR REGISTRATION
APPLY ONLINE
ROCHESTER, MN
PART TIME PIANO INSTRUCTOR
Hovland is taking applications for a part time teaching weekday afternoon/evening and Saturday morning.
APPLY ONLINE
success@hovlandconservatory.org
PO Box 203
Stillwater, MN 55082
Hovland Conservatory's administrative offices are located in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. We can be reached weekdays from 9:00-5:00 central time. Please call or email with any questions you may have.
TWIN CITIES:
651-636-4835
PHOENIX:
602-412-3936
CHICAGO:
224-588-8461
ROCHESTER:
507-316-0593
