Preparatory Music Program
Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music became a program of EMU’s department of music in 1988 and is dedicated to providing the highest quality music education to all students in the central Shenandoah Valley regardless of age, race, ability, financial circumstances, or ethnic origin through private and/or group instruction in a variety of musical areas as well as through performance settings. Under the direction of administrative director Sharon M.D. Miller, musical instruction is given to over 400 students in the following areas:
- Instrumental music instruction: violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, flute, guitar; Suzuki violin, viola, cello, piano, flute and guitar.
- Recreational Music Making: adult group piano classes
- Musikgarten: ages birth to 5 years
- Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony and Junior Strings: grades 3-12
- Harrisonburg City School Strings Program: grades 3-4 in the elementary schools and grades 5-8 in the middle schools
For more information contact .
Registration Information
Summer 2017 Instrumental Lesson Registration is now open!
New students will be accepted on a space-available basis. Please the Prep Music Office if you wish to inquire about lessons.
The 2016-17 PDF Brochure, which contains important program and pricing information, can be found HERE.
Summer 2017 Shenandoah Valley Strings Camp Registration is now open!
Please submit this form to the Prep Music Office by June 5, 2017 if you wish to participate!
If you are interested in any of the camp options listed below, please submit this form to the Preparatory Music Office by June 5, 2017.
Suzuki Strings Day Camp – 9:00am-3:00pm
Suzuki Strings Day Camp is for Suzuki violin and cello students in Books 1 – 3 who are not beginners. In the mornings they will have a master class, group class, chamber music (if reading music) and/or fiddle class. In the afternoon there will be a variety of musical and recreational activities.
Chamber Music Day Camp – 9:00am-3:00pm
The Chamber Music Day Camp is for students who are not beginners and can read music. In the morning (9am – Noon) students will have a master class and then engage in Classical and Latin chamber music. Teacher, Kelly Wiedemann, welcomes students of violin, viola, cello, and double bass. In the afternoon there will be a variety of musical and recreational activities.
Suzuki Pre-Twinkle Camp
Suzuki Violin and cello Pre-Twinklers (ages 3-5) and Early Beginners (up to age 7) campers attend camp for two hours each morning. This option is appropriate for beginners and for students who are not reading music yet. Students will participate in a violin class and an early childhood music group class each day. This option is appropriate for beginners and for students who are not reading music yet.
NEW! Chamber Music for Adults
We have added a session within our camp for experienced adult string players interested in Chamber Music! EMU is offering Chamber Music for Adults during the week of June 26-29, each day from 1 – 3pm. Violin, viola, and cello players are encouraged to attend (no beginners, please). Participants will play in small groups according to experience level, and will also play in a large ensemble each day. Individual players or groups that are already formed are welcome to participate. If interested please complete and submit this form to the Preparatory Music Office by June 5, 2017.
Our students and performances
Believing music can enrich everyone’s life and is to be shared, performances are arranged in formal and informal settings on EMU’s campus and throughout the community to provide quality music education to the residents of the greater central Shenandoah Valley area. Participants come from as far north and east as Woodstock and Luray and from as far south as Waynesboro and Lexington. Students also travel from West Virginia.
Upcoming Events
2016-17 Preparatory Music Calendar
Contact us
Interested in learning more about music lessons at EMU? Contact the preparatory music program offices at 540-432-4277 or . We’d love to hear from you!
The EMU music program offices, both preparatory music and the undergraduate academic program, are located on the lower level of Lehman Auditorium. On the main floor of Lehman you’ll find a mainstage auditorium that houses performances, weekly chapel, university events, and more. On the lower level you’ll find the music program offices (through the glass double doors), faculty offices, a recital hall, individual practice rooms, and more.