The Des Moines Symphony Academy’s group lessons for young beginners provide aspiring musicians with the knowledge and skills for a lifelong appreciation of music.

The Des Moines Symphony Academy offers tuition assistance in the form of need-based scholarships to any student with no discrimination towards a student’s color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability. The purpose of the Symphony Academy’s scholarship program is to ensure that family finances do not prevent any student from participating in private lessons, classes, or ensembles at the Symphony Academy. Click here to apply for a Symphony Academy Scholarship.

The Des Moines Symphony Academy offers tuition assistance in the form of need-based scholarships to any student with no discrimination towards a student’s color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability. The purpose of the Symphony Academy’s scholarship program is to ensure that family finances do not prevent any student from participating in private lessons, classes, or ensembles at the Symphony Academy.  

Apply for a Symphony Academy Scholarship

Scholarship Application Form

Scholarship Application Form (Spanish)

Scholarship Application Form (Vietnamese)

Scholarship Application Form (Myanmar Burmese)

Group Lessons

  • Beginning Strings Program
    Beginning Strings Program Age: 4-7 years old Dates: Sept 18 - Dec 10, 2023 (11 Classes) Location: The Temple for Performing Arts Tuition: $242 for Fall Semester (12 classes)

    The Des Moines Symphony Academy’s Beginning Strings Program provides young, aspiring musicians with their first instructional experience on violin, viola or cello. Beginning Strings classes are offered for musicians  4-7 years of age.

    Classes are offered in three semesters yearly—Fall, Winter/Spring and Summer. Students may join at the start of any semester. Each semester consists of weekly 45-minute classes culminating in a large group class taking place during the final week, which will provide students with ensemble experience early on in the learning process. 

    The Symphony Academy’s Beginning Strings Program is designed for students to begin instruction at age four or five and continue until they are prepared to begin private lessons at the Symphony Academy and participate in the Symphony Academy Youth Orchestras program. Through participation in the Beginning Strings Program, students will gain all of the skills necessary to move forward with productive weekly private lessons and to be fully participatory members of the Des Moines Symphony Youth Orchestras.

    Classes take place at The Temple for Performing Arts, which include evening and Saturday morning class offerings.  

    We are still accepting registrations for new familes.  Below, pleaes find our Fall Semester Class Schedule for New Families.

    VIOLIN CLASSES
    Mondays with Hector Morales
    4:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:15pm

    Tuesdays with Emily Airhart
    4:30pm

    Wednesdays with Hector Morales
    4:30pm

    Thursdays with Hector Morales
    4:30pm, 6:00pm

    Saturdays with Emily Airhart
    10:15am 

    CELLO CLASSES
    Tuesdays with Emily Airhart
    6:00pm

    Wednesdays with Hector Morales
    5:30pm


    Use the link below to register for a Fall BSP class. We ask that you please include a 1st and 2nd Class Preference in the field marked: Preferred Class Times

    Register for Beginning Strings Program

Read the Des Moines Symphony Academy’s Tuition, Attendance and Student Safety Policy.