Registration

DCYOP accepts any student age 4.5 – 18 at any skill level. *** Registration for the 2024-2025 season is now closed. Students with experience may be considered on a case by case basis. Please contact Tim Provost, Program Manager, at [email protected] with any inquiries. Thank you! *** ***

No Previous Experience

Beginner Classes

Registration for the 2024-2025 school year opens at 12:00am, May 1st! This year, we are greatly expanding our beginner class offerings, with a focus on our Level A Strings classes. We will offer 10 Level A Violin classes throughout our program days. In a change from previous years, these classes will be offered during both mornings and afternoons with start times ranging from 9:00 am to 2:15 pm. We will add one additional section for our youngest students (4.5/5-year-olds), two additional sections for 5/6-year-olds, and one additional section for 6/7-year-olds. For lower strings, we will also offer 4 classes for both Viola and Cello students. These 2 instruments will similarly have both morning and afternoon class times.

Beyond our string offerings, we will also offer beginner classes for all woodwind and brass instruments. For the most popular instruments of these 2 families (flute and trumpet), we will add an additional class section.

Important Dates and Information

May 1 – July 15: Early Bird Registration (Discount of 5% off current pricing with code: DCYOPEB24

September 2: Late Registration Starts (Fee $50) 

September 7: Parent and Student Orientation at Takoma Elementary School 

September 14: First day of beginner classes and ensemble rehearsals  

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.

Show minimum age requirements
InstrumentMinimum Age
Violin4.5
Viola4.5
Cello6
Bass7
Flute8
Clarinet8
Oboe8
Bassoon8
Saxophone8
Trumpet8
Trombone8
French Horn8
Tuba8
Percussion8
Harp7
registration close

Previous Experience

Have experience studying the musical instrument you would like to play at DCYOP? Sign up for an in-person audition or send us a video audition so we can place you with the best orchestra for your current level.

Tuition

Tuition covers lessons/sectionals, rehearsals, concerts, evaluations and master classes. DCYOP subsidizes tuition for all students to make its programs accessible for every family.

We also offer sliding scale tuition for qualifying families, payment plans, and scholarship experiences for advanced students.

Level A & Continuing Level A
SY 2024-2025 Full Year Cost
$720/year*
Wind Ensemble / Young Artists Orchestra / Repertory Orchestra
SY 2024-2025 Full Year Cost
$860/year*
Debut Orchestra / Premiere Winds / Concertino / Sinfonia
SY 2024-2025 Full Year Cost
$790/year*
Youth Philharmonic / Youth Orchestra
SY 2024-2025 Full Year Cost
$920/year + $100* Concert and Activities Fee
*Tuition shown above is full price. DCYOP is committed to accessibility for all. Tuition assistance is offered on a sliding scale for qualifying families. For more information visit our tuition assistance page.

Assistance and scholarships

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Tuition covers lessons/sectionals, rehearsals, concerts, evaluations and master classes. While the average cost per student is $1400 per year, DCYOP subsidizes tuition for all students to make its programs affordable and accessible. We offer additional financial assistance to all students on a sliding scale and a scholarship experience for intermediate and advanced students.

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Audition information

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Registration for the 2024-2025 season. is now closed. Students with experience may be considered on a case by case basis. Please contact Tim Provost, Program Manager, at [email protected] with any inquiries. Thank you!

1
6 – 7 minutes of a solo work (concerto or sonata) or two contrasting works demonstrating your current ability
2
Two scales. You may pick between: all major scales and minor scales up to three flats and sharps (melodic form) for Youth Philharmonic; all major scales and minor scales up to four flats and sharps (melodic form) for Youth Orchestra. Scales should be memorized
  • Strings – three octave scales performed slowly, one note per bow, and 4 notes per bow, legato (eighth notes at quarter note = 72)
  • Winds – As many octaves as possible performed slurred and tongued (eighth notes at quarter note = 72)

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