The ideal age to start is kindergarten or 1st grade, but it's never too late. We teach students of every age and experience level. Adults can take private lessons or enroll in our teacher training program to become Hovland instructors.

There is no requirement to have an instrument to begin lessons. However, it is a good idea to have an instrument at home within a month. Piano students can use an inexpensive keyboard for the first year, but having an acoustic piano or weighted keyboard is preferable  by level 2. Violins can be rented or purchased directly through Hovland. 

Our philosophy is that students practice during the lesson and play at home. Just as in other activities such as ballet, swimming or soccer – the majority of skills are developed in class or at team practice. If playing at home feels like a battle, stop fighting about it (yes, really!). Keep encouraging your child to play, even just a little, and let them share music with family and friends when they’re ready. Regular lessons are what drive progress. Playing at home helps, but the lack of it should never be the reason to quit lessons.    

Most lessons are 30-minutes once per week, though students may also accelerate progress with longer lessons, or multiple lessons per week. Lessons are year-round at the same day and time with 7 weeks off during major holiday weeks. Private lessons are one-on-one with the instructor, and parents are welcome to observe through the studio windows or relax in the waiting area.  

Tuition is $165 per month for weekly 30-minute lessons. There is an annual membership fee of $30 per student. Music books are delivered directly to the lesson and charged when the student changes levels.

The Conservatory Course for piano and violin was developed over 30 years of teaching students and has been used by hundreds of teachers across our studios and beyond. The Conservatory Course teaches students to read music, play traditional and classical music known around the world, and learn practical music theory for the art of improvisation. Students learn to play an instrument, but they also develop essential skills that benefit them in everyday life, like fine motor skills, focus and concentration, responsibility and independence.  

We have multiple locations in Minnesota, Arizona, and Illinois.  Most lessons take place in the after-school hours during the week or on Saturdays. Adults and homeschooling students have access to early afternoon weekday lesson times. Online lessons are also available for those who do not live near one of our neighborhood locations.  

Regular attendance is important and plays a big role in helping students make steady progress and stay excited about learning. But we understand the busy rhythm of modern family life, and have designed a flexible, supportive, and student-focused approach to make-up lessons.    

We use an online scheduling platform that allows you to mark an absence in advance and reschedule your missed lesson with any teacher and at any location. This level of flexibility is rare in music education and reflects our commitment to putting students first. We make it easy for students to stay on track when life gets busy, so they can keep learning and stay engaged.

Performing is just as essential to a student's interest and motivation in music as games are to those in sports. Hovland organizes multiple informal performance opportunities in the community along with formal recitals for family and friends. In addition, we encourage students to perform in their church, schools, and anywhere they find an audience. Applause is addictive and provides purpose for the time spent learning.  

At Hovland, we believe that playing an instrument is a skill that everyone can and should learn. With the right structure, support, and encouragement, students of all backgrounds can grow and thrive musically.  

We understand that most parents don’t know how to judge the outcome of music lessons. For this reason, we have an easy-to-follow lesson structure, with clear objectives for the student to accomplish as they progress through The Conservatory Course. This system allows us to clearly communicate what the student is working on, what they’ve accomplished, and what’s coming next. And it gives families a means to measure progress and judge how well we, and your child, are doing. This kind of accountability cannot be found with any other music teacher or school.