INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION & LESSONS: Providing affordable private instruction to students in the community
Our Lesson Internship Program creates a unique opportunity where students receive quality private instruction from trained interns at a discounted price ($21 for a 30-minute session, $31.50 for a 45-minute session, and $42 for a 60-minute session). Interns have many years of personal private lesson experience on their instrument/area of study, and must receive a recommendation from their instructor to apply for participation in the program. Once accepted, each intern is assigned a Staff Mentor who works personally with the teacher to review materials/repertoire and receive direct training in the pedagogical arts. Interns also must complete 10-15+ hours of lesson observation, and participate in all of our General Private Lesson programs (such as Evaluated Performances, Community Events, and Recitals).
COMMUNITY EVENTS, ACADEMY OPERATIONS, and VOLUNTEERING: Contributions to the community
Our other internship programs allow participants to explore first-hand our Academy operations and be involved in our goal of being a Community Arts School, helping to facilitate many regional activities, charitable events, community art projects, and other ways to connect. Many of our previous interns have gone on to study various fields in music and art, and continue to apply their experiences to enhance their surroundings and bring the arts to their schools, places of work, and cities.
Julia Kwiat
GUITAR INSTRUCTOR • INTERN
Julia indulged her early music interests by taking piano lessons and playing bass clarinet. She began studying guitar on her own in 2014 before transitioning into lessons with Ric Larsen. She enjoys learning and performing a wide variety of styles, and is currently focusing on classical nylon-string and steel-string acoustic technique. Julia also is a composer, writing and performing original works.
Clarabella Tochimani
PIANO INSTRUCTOR • INTERN
Clarabella has been involved in music her entire life, starting lessons in kindergarten and continuing her studies throughout grade school and high school. She also has eight years of flute experience, and has participated as a Marching Band Flute Section Leader and in the Aurora American Legion Band. She is currently a Marching Band Drum Major at West Aurora High School, and plans to attend university in the fall as a Music Education major.