DCYOP accepts any student age 4.5 – 18 at any skill level. Students with previous experience studying an instrument should visit our audition page to learn more about our audition requirements and learn how to submit a video audition.

Auditions for the 2023-2024 season are now closed. However, we will still accept video auditions for BASSOON, BASS and VIOLA players for the Youth Philharmonic and Youth Orchestra. If you would like to audition on one of these instruments, please review the requirements on the audition page and complete this form to send in your video submission.

Contact Rashida Coleman, Director of Family and Student Engagement at rashida@dcyop.org with any questions you may have about the audition process.

For students with no previous experience:

Beginner Classes

Important Information for Beginner Students – Please Read Before Registering!

All beginner students registered in a violin, viola, cello, and bass class are required to have a Parent Participant attend and participate with them every Saturday.  A DCYOP Parent Participant is a trusted adult (such as a parent or grandparent) who attends and participates in a beginner-level (Level A, Continuing Level A) class with a student every week and helps their student practice and prepare in between classes.

We do not provide instruments for beginner students.  Please visit this page for a list of recommended vendors that provide instrumental rentals.

Beginner Program Calendar

Classes run for the full academic year, culminating in the students’ debut concert performance in the spring. In order to register, children must be the minimum age noted for each class by the start of program on September 16, 2023.

Fall dates: September 9  (parent and student orientation), September 16, September 23, September 30, October 7, October 14, October 21, October 28, November 4, November 18, December 2, and December 9. Concert to be scheduled for the weekend of December 16. No class on November 11 or November 25.

Spring dates: January 20, January 27, February 3, February 10, February 24, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6, April 13, April 27, May 4, and May 11. Concert to be scheduled for the weekend of May 18. No class on February 17 or April 20.

Age Requirements

We often get the question of “what is the right age to start a particular instrument?” DCYOP has developed age parameters to help guide parents in determining what is the best age to start an instrument.

Previous Experience

Do you have experience studying the musical instrument you would like to play at DCYOP? If so, please audition so that we can place you with the best orchestra for your current level! You can learn more on our audition page.

Tuition

Tuition assistance is subsidized for all students, and further tuition assistance is offered at a sliding scale. To qualify for assistance, families must submit documentation of income and household size. Information on eligibility and application process.

***Registration for the 2023-2024 Season is Now Closed***

As of September 7, 2023, there are limited spaces available for students interested in studying bassoon, french horn, oboe, or trombone. Please email rashida@dcyop.org for more information.

Level A Bassoon  (age 8+) – Sat 11:30am – 12:15pm

Level A French Horn (age 8+) – Sat 11:30am – 12:15pm

Level A Oboe (age 8+) – Sat time TBD

Level A Trombone (age 8+) – Sat 11:30am – 12:15pm

DCYOP acepta a cualquier estudiante que tenga entre 4.5 y 18 años, y con cualquier nivel de habilidad. 

Requisitos de Edad

Mucha gente nos pregunta, “¿cuál es la edad adecuada para comenzar a aprender a tocar un instrumento musical?”  DCYOP ha desarrollado parámetros de edad para ayudar a los padres en decidir cuál es la mejor edad para comenzar a tocar un instrumento musical.

Estudiantes Con Experiencia Previa 

¿Tienes experiencia previa en estudiar el instrumento musical que te gustaría tocar en DCYOP?  Si es así, por favor complete una audición de video para que podamos colocarle en la orquesta que mejor se adapte a su nivel de habilidad.  Se puede aprender más aquí: 

HACER UNA AUDICION

Matrícula 

Se ofrece asistencia de matrícula en una escala proporcional.  Para calificar para una tarifa reducida, hay que entregar documentación de ingresos anuales y del tamaño del hogar. Información sobre elegibilidad y el proceso de aplicar para asistencia de matrícula.