Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music

A Program of Eastern Mennonite University

 

The 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, ability, race, gender, 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 program director Kimberly W. Souther, musical instruction is given to over 500 students in the following areas: 

• Instrumental music instruction: violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, guitar, flute, clarinet, and music theory; Suzuki method violin, viola, cello, and piano.
• Musikgarten: ages infant to 7 years. 
• Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony and Junior Strings: grades 3-12
• Harrisonburg City School After-School Violin Program: grades 3-5

For more information on any program contact prepmusic@emu.edu.

Registration Information

Instrumental Lessons

Spring 2021 instrumental semester dates are January 18 - May 7.  For more information on private lesson openings and instructors, contact our office at prepmusic@emu.edu or 540-432-4277. Late registrations are accepted on a space-available basis. 

Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony & Junior Strings Ensemble

Junior Strings rehearsals begin on Thursday, February 25, from 6-6:45 pm. Registrations are due February 11.  Junior Strings PDF Registration

Youth Symphony rehearsals begin on Sunday, March 7, from 2-4:30 pm. SVYS Returning Student Responses are due February 11. Audition dates for new students will be announced soon!

Music Theory Helpdesk

Certified Theory Instructor Ms. Tara Davis is offering a 7-class theory session this spring over Zoom to music theory students of all levels. Classes will be on Fridays from 3:30-4:30, beginning March 5. PDF Registration with payment is due February 19.

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. 

Scholarship program

Consider giving the gift of music to a child through the SVPM program. We have dedicated scholarship students from low-income families who depend a scholarship to continue lessons. If you would like to help us support a scholarship student, you can make a tax-deductible donation online, or send your donation (made out to EMU, with 'scholarship donation' in the memo) to the SVPM Office (EMU Prep Music, 1200 Park Rd, Harrisonburg VA 22802). 

2019-20 Preparatory Music Calendar

Contact us

Interested in learning more about music lessons at EMU? Contact the SVPM Office at 540-432-4277 or prepmusic@emu.edu. We’d love to hear from you!

SVPM is located on the campus of Eastern Mennonite University, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. 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. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the EMU campus is currently closed.

Important Information

Please Note: Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music (SVPM) is following guidelines set by EMU regarding Covid-19 adaptations. Lessons and classes may be held physically distant, through an online video platform (Skype, Zoom, etc), or with a hybrid approach.

Inclement Weather: In cases of inclement weather, cancellation of private lessons and classes is left up to the individual teacher and families. If you do not receive cancellation notice from your teacher, assume that your lesson is still on. Please contact your teacher if you cannot attend because of bad weather.