DESERT HILLS COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

About Us

​About Desert Hills Community School of Music

As one of the top music schools serving the North Scottsdale, Carefree and Cave Creek areas, Desert Hills Community School of Music offers world-class music instruction for all ages and ability levels. Located at the foot of the boulders on the scenic campus of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, our offerings include:


  • Private music lessons for keyboard instruments (piano, organ), plucked strings (guitar, ukulele, mandolin), woodwinds (flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone), brass instruments (trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, tuba), strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass) and voice


  • Group music lessons for piano, guitar, cello/bass and mandolin


  • An audition-based Advanced Music Program (AMP) for children ages 7-18 who show extraordinary dedication to musical excellence


  • A Music Exploration program for children ages 6-10 who show early interest in music


  • Community ensembles for all ages, including saxophone ensemble, flute choir, and an annual community “crash” concert


  • Summer Band Camp for middle school and high school students (June 3-7, 2024)

Talk to Us

Vitaly Serebriakov

Co-Artistic Director

Email Vitaly

Svetlana Obregon

Co-Artistic Director

Email Svetlana

Heather Baldwin

Administrative Director

Email Heather

2023-2024 Calendar

Tuition & Fees

Group Lessons

Group lessons are structured in 8- or 9-week segments, depending on the time of year:

  • 8-week sessions are $199
  • 9-week sessions are $224


There is a $25 annual registration fee, billed in August each year. If your first enrollment is between September and May, you’ll be charged the registration fee at that time.

Private Lessons

Desert Hills Community School of Music uses a semester-based tuition structure, billed monthly, for private instruction:

Fall Semester – 16 weeks (Aug. 7– Dec. 16, 2023)

  • 30-minute weekly lessons: $560/semester ($112 monthly)
  • 45-minute weekly lessons: $840/semester ($168 monthly)
  • 60-minute weekly lessons: $1,120/semester ($224 monthly)


Spring Semester – 18 weeks (Jan. 8 – May 18, 2024)

  • 30-minute weekly lessons: $630/semester ($126 monthly)
  • 45-minute weekly lessons: $945/semester ($189 monthly)
  • 60-minute weekly lessons: $1,260/semester ($252 monthly)


There is a $25 annual registration fee, billed in August each year. If your enrollment falls between September and May, you’ll be charged the registration fee at that time.


If you begin private lessons mid-semester, your monthly payment will be prorated based on the number of lessons remaining that semester.

Advanced Music Program

See the Advanced Music Program page for AMP Tuition & Fee information.

Missed Lesson Policy

Regular lesson attendance is very important for developing mastery of an instrument. When you commit to lessons, the DHCSM instructor reserves that block of time for you for the school year and we will bill for that time on the first of every month according to our published tuition structure.


We do realize that on occasion there will be unavoidable conflicts with a scheduled lesson time. When that happens:


  1. Please notify your instructor (via call, text or email) and email the Director of Administration (SchoolofMusic@deserthills.org) at least 24 hours in advance when a student will be unable to make their scheduled lesson time.
  2. Up to two (2) missed lessons in a semester are eligible for a make-up lesson at a time mutually agreed on by instructor and student. Makeups can be done in person or online.
  3. Any lessons missed beyond two in a semester are not eligible for a make-up unless mutually agreed upon by instructor and student.
  4. Any lessons missed with notification of less than 24 hours are not eligible for a make-up unless mutually agreed upon by instructor and student.
  5. If an instructor needs to miss a lesson, the lesson will be made up and will not count toward the two eligible for make-up in a semester.


Emergencies (to include true emergencies as well as unavoidable conflicts that arise less than 24 hours before a lesson) will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.


Permanent Cancellation Policy

Sometimes the timing is not right for learning a musical instrument. If this turns out to be the case, DHCSM requires a 30-day advance notice if the student will not be continuing instruction. This notice should be given to the student’s instructor and via email to the director of administration at SchoolofMusic@deserthills.org.

Release Forms & Policies

The school's Photo Release and "Private Lesson Tuition/Fee Structure & Missed Lesson Policy” agreements can now be completed online! Please click on the buttons below to read and digitally sign each agreement before your second lesson. **NOTE: Group lesson students only need to complete the Photo Release form.

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