Weekly private and semi-private lessons are offered to students in Junior One-Tutorial Four. Instruments offered at the Queens campus include piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion, violin, viola and cello. At the Manhattan campus, the selection includes those offered at Queens, with the addition of voice, guitar, oboe, bassoon, French horn, euphonium and tuba.
The private instruction is offered at additional cost to parents and, in the case of the orchestral instruments (all except piano, voice & guitar), is a required co-requisite to the instrumental program in the Middle School and the Tutorial House.
In Queens, students who participate in the private lesson program are expected to perform in two yearly recitals. In Manhattan, there is one regular recital in the spring as well as a series of informal student performances known as “Fridays at Four”. Students are also encouraged to participate in the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) and NYSSMA (New York State Schools’ Music Association) performance exams, held in the spring.
All of the specialist music teachers are hired for their skill as performers and their experience in working with young musicians. They are graduates of schools such as Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, New York University, Brooklyn College, School for Strings and Teachers' College. Besides being active solo and chamber recitalists, they also perform regularly with groups such as the New York Chamber Ensemble, New Jersey Symphony, Dave Brubeck Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, American Symphony Orchestra and in current Broadway musicals.