Know Before You Go

Welcome to Music House!

We’re so excited to welcome you to Music House! To help your first day go smoothly, please review the information below before your first class or lesson.

Location & Arrival

  • Street parking both paid and unpaid is available around both studio locations.

    If driving, please allow ample time for parking.

  • Please arrive 5–10 minutes early for your first day to allow time for check-in and settling in.

    For a trial lesson or first class, we require parents/caregivers to come in with their child in order to meet their teacher and receive information about what to expect from the class or lessons.

Instruments &
Class Materials

  • Music House offers instrument rentals for the following: violins, ukuleles, guitars, bass, and cello. You may also purchase these items from Music House directly.

    Students do not need to have an instrument already secured before their trial lesson. We recommend waiting until after the student has been sized during the trial lesson before purchasing or renting an instrument.

    Please email us at info@musichousinc.com to reserve an instrument and arrange a pick up time.

    For all other instruments, we recommend renting from Evanston Band and Orchestra located in Skokie. We do not recommend purchasing instruments from Amazon.

  • Both Music House studio locations have various music learning books available for purchase. After a student’s first lesson, their teacher will recommend a book to start with.

  • Both Music House studio locations have dance attire available for purchase. Items include ballet tights, leotards, ballet shoes, and tap shoes.

    For other dance supplies, we recommend visiting the following shops:

Preparing for Class

Private Music
Lessons

  • Clothing Guidelines:
    Please wear something comfortable!
    Violin/Violin students: Avoid wearing bulky clothing around the neck (sweatshirts, chunky turtlenecks, etc.) as it can get in the way of the instrument.

    Hair & Accessories:
    Hair should be out of your face, and instrument students should wear little to no jewelry (bracelets, necklaces, or rings can interfere with the position and instrument).

    String students (violin, viola, cello) should have their nails clipped short

    • Instrument (if you’ve already been sized by your new teacher). If you are attending a trial lesson, you may borrow an instrument on site or pick up a rental (exceptions are brass or woodwind instruments).

    • Water bottle: we have a water cooler for refills!

  • We encourage parents to attend the first lesson. For students 6 and under, a parent is required to accompany them in their trial lesson.

    For future lessons, we ask that parents stay nearby so they can receive lesson notes and updates from the teacher afterwards.

Musical Theater
Classes

    • Clothing Guidelines:
      Comfortable clothes that you can move and dance in

    • Hair & Accessories:
      Long hair pulled back and off of the face and only accessories that would not get in the way of dancing safely (careful of dangly jewelry) 

    • Shoes:
      Jazz shoes/boots, ballet shoes or socks

    • Water bottle: we have a water cooler for refills!

    • Your script (if you have received one)

    • A pencil

    • A highlighter

  • Can parents stay during class?
    No, rehearsals are closed so that students can focus on class and their teacher’s instruction, unless otherwise indicated or as discussed on a case by case basis.

    However, for our Early Musical Theater for ages 4-6, we ask that a guardian remains on site.

Music Together
Classes

    • Comfortable clothes to move around in. Classes will take place sitting in a group circle on our dance floor.

    • Please note that class will be on a dance floor where we require you to take off your shoes. 


    • Water Bottle

    • Please make sure to pick up your Music Together Book and CD at your first class to take with you for at home practice.

    • Music Together classes are a guardian and me class. All students must have at least one guardian participate in class with them, however up to two guardians are welcome.

Studio Dance
Classes

  • Clothing Guidelines:
    Students should wear comfortable dancewear that allows for full range of movement.

    Ballet:

    • Option A: 
      -Solid Color Leotard
      -Ballet Tights (may wear a ballet skirt or dance shorts over)

    • Option B:
      -Solid Color T-shirt
      -Slim dance pants
      -Leggings in a solid color

    • Ballet slippers 

    • Hair in a ballet bun pulled up away from the face and off the neck

    Hip Hop/Musical Theater Dance

    • Solid Color Bottoms (pants, leggings, or shorts) in a fabric with stretch and length above ankles

    • No Jeans

    • Solid Color Top (t-shirt, leotard, or biketard)

    • Hair pulled back, away from the face

    • Shoes:
      -Hip Hop: sneakers (specific to dance class, not to be worn outdoors)
      -Musical Theater Dance: jazz shoes (teacher will notify students if/when character heels or other specialized shoes are needed)


    Tap Dance:

    • Option A: 
      -Solid Color Leotard
      -Ballet Tights (may wear a ballet skirt or dance shorts over)

    • Option B:
      -Solid Color T-shirt
      -Slim dance pants or leggings in a solid color

    • Black tap shoes 

    • Jazz Shoes

    • Hair pulled back, away from the face 

    Acrobatic Dance:

    • Option A: Biketard leotard

    • Option B: Leotard with shorts

    • Option C: Leotard with leggings

    • Hair pulled back, away from the face in a ballet bun or ponytail

    Important Reminders: 
    No denim, buttons, or zippers of any kind should be worn for any class.
    Teachers may ask dancers to change if their attire is not appropriate for class.

    Suggested dancewear at Discount Dance

    • Water bottle: we have a water cooler for refills!

    • Extra hair ties

  • We ask that all parents or caregivers stay on site during the first class.

    Parents can wait in the waiting room to allow for the students to acclimate to the teacher and class environment. After class has finished the teacher will update you on how the class went, what they worked on, and what to expect from classes going forward.

Still Have Questions?

We’re happy to help!
Reach out to us at 
info@musichouseinc.com.

We can’t wait to make music, dance, and create with you!