Moving to SLC, piano, guitar lessons for kids (Salt Lake City: credit, neighborhood)

[cruul]

Hi all,
I am thinking of relocating to SLC with a job offer already in hand, with my family. I have two small kids who are quite into music. My son, who is 8, plays piano and guitar. Now they are in the Yamaha Music School program and doing really well. I really want to have a smooth continuation for them and surprised to find out that SLC doesn't have the Yamaha schools. Yamaha has many programs to promote music. For example, Yamaha identifies talented kids and conduct a national level concert (JOC) every year. Just wondering what options parents have for musically talented kids. Is there a coordinated music program for kids in SLC like Yamaha?
Thanks!

[venusv]

Others please chime in if you think I'm wrong, but here's what I have to say, and I hope it helps!

It's so great that your 8-year-old is excelling in and enjoys music. I love seeing little kids play the guitar! Music education is VERY big in Salt Lake City and all of Utah. I'd say it's kind of one of the cultural touchstones of the Mormon community: piano lessons (voice lessons/guitar lessons/trumpet lessons...but especially piano lessons). Because of this, there are so many trained music teachers around that most children start with a teacher in their neighborhood (who teaches from home) before progressing to a more serious teacher who works with gifted/dedicated students from throughout a region (some of these teachers are university faculty, etc.). I saw a lot more music schools in Pennsylvania than I do here (franchised/corporate-owned ones like Yamaha), and I think it's because qualified teachers are easier to find here through word-of-mouth without having to go to a school. The downside is that everyone here thinks they can teach piano, so there are plenty of less-qualified teachers too.

That being said, there are schools here that offer more of what you may be looking for, such as the Gifted Music School: Gifted Music School, which includes piano and group guitar. There are also more of the performing arts academy type schools too, for music theatre stuff. If you'd just like to find teachers, the Utah Music Teachers Association has a "Find A Teacher" link to help you find accredited teachers in any given instrument and area Welcome .

(From the daughter of a former MTNA-accredited piano teacher and choral music teacher/professor)

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

La Madeleine Cathedral school for girls offers an excellent music program, many non-Catholics send their daughters there. The Symphony has a junior auxiliary or something like that for training youngsters, not sure of age range. Most of the symphony players teach as well.

[cruul]

Thanks venusv and SouthernBelleInUtah. Great to find the Utah Music Teachers Association and Gifted Music School. Definitely we will give them a try.