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Student Levels

The Phillips Music Guild offers three programs that are targeted at the various stages of a student's musical development.


Download the Student and Parent Handbook

The Guild operates four programs--Explorer, Apprentice, Journeyman, and performing ensembles--addressing different stages of the musician's career.

The Explorer program addresses early wind and percussion students, typically 5th to 8th graders, in a classroom setting with emphasis on developing the basic skills required to perform effectively in an ensemble. To qualify for entry at the Explorer level, the student must have six months experience on the instrument, perform the C scale, and be able to read simple melodies. We admit no more than eight Explorers at a time in order to guarantee individual attention. We expect the Explorer to progress to the Apprentice level within 10 intense weeks of learning, making room for the next Explorer candidates. The Explorer program is supplemental to the music classes offered at school.

The Apprentice program targets young musicians who have sufficient skills to perform in ensemble. The core activity of the Apprentice program is rehearsals in small group settings, where students play together with adult mentors in an atmosphere that is free-flowing and fun, yet demanding. The mentors share tips and techniques that lead to mastery of the studejnts' chosen instruments. The Apprentice class is a balanced ensemble limited to about 35 students.

When students progress beyond the Apprentice level, they become Journeymen, and are typically of high school age.

The Guild supports several adult performing ensembles, which create opportunities for Journeymen to rehearse and perform the most varied and challenging music. In addition, the Guild arranges for Journeymen to participate with other adult ensembles in the community in order to develop self-sufficiency. Journeymen are encouraged to join the ongoing Saturday sessions to assist in the mentoring of younger students.

While the forum for the students' experiences is music education, the main mission of the Phillips Music Guild is to help the students gain qualities that will serve them well in all future endeavors. Those qualities are:

  • confidence
  • discipline
  • social skills
  • self-esteem.

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