PAGOSA STRINGS
Hi, I'm Payton McIntyre!
I am a music educator, violist and singer from Austin, Texas and I currently reside in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. I earned a BM in Music Education with an emphasis in string instruments and a minor in jazz voice from Texas State University in 2021. I graduated Summa Cum Laude and was inducted into the Circle of Achievement (top 16 in the college). I have been teaching private lessons and music ensembles through the Texas State String project, the Curious Chords music studio, and independently since 2016. From 2021 to 2023 I was a Middle School and Elementary School Orchestra Director in the Austin Independent School District. I was nominated AISD's "Teacher of Promise" in 2022 just before I made the San Juan Mountains my home. Since I moved to Pagosa I have created the music studio, Pagosa Strings, which caters to 30+ students of various ages, skills, and instruments. I teach at two locations, one uptown and one downtown, and I have availability 5 days a week so I am confident we can find a time and place that works for you. I offer private lessons of various lengths and prices as well as a group classes for my orchestral instrument students to connect and create music together. Furthermore, I was a co-director for the annual summer Orchestra Camp for students ages 8-18 and hope to continue this effort with Mrs. Anika Borders so that the youth of Pagosa Springs get to experience the excitement of performing in an orchestra.
If you are interested in a trial lesson to see if we are a good fit for each other, click here.
Scheduling:
Lessons are scheduled quarterly for the year: September-November, December-February, March-May, June-August. Spring and Fall schedules will be officially emailed to all families of students in the studio along with important dates like recitals, competitions, and camps. Summer and Winter schedules will be communicated directly with students' families via email or text.
All lessons meet at 450 Lewis Street room 3E
Payment:
See this link to the booking tab on my website to set up your subscription payment. Please, verify lesson time lengths before booking to make sure you are choosing the most appropriate length for the student. The payment schedule will be adjusted so that you will be charged on the 1st of the month.
Makeups and Refunds:
In the event that you must miss a lesson please let your teacher know as soon as possible. There are no make-up lessons or refunds for non-emergency student absences. If a non-emergency absence is expected in the future, consider the option for online lessons or lesson time swaps with other agreeable parties on the extended policy form*. Lessons missed due to emergency or illness may be rescheduled at the teacher’s discretion. If your teacher must cancel a lesson it will be rescheduled at a mutually agreeable time. Please, see this article for a detailed explanation behind this policy.
Pausing Lessons:
If you are planning to go out of town or to pause lessons for longer than three weeks, notice must be given prior to the 1st of the month so that a suspension on payment can be created before the payment hits. Refunds will not be given once the payment goes through.
Studio Recitals:
All students are expected to give two performances a year (Fall and Spring recitals) no matter the student’s age. Public performances such as Karaoke, Open Mic, volunteer performances at the Medical Center or assisted living centers, or performing at a park may be substituted for adult students if that is preferred.
Accompaniment Payment:
The studio will pay the accompanist fee for the time spent at recitals. If all students who are using an accompanist for a shared recital agree to the same rehearsal day and shortened rehearsal times with a pianist, then the studio will cover the accompanist fee for rehearsals. Otherwise, if using an accompanist, please budget $25 per 30 minutes.
Instrument Rentals:
The studio can provide violins, violas, cellos, and occasionally guitars for students who do not own their instruments. Instrument rentals are $30 a month. That covers the initial cost of the instrument, any basic repairs, and materials/time to do the repairs. Carl Mori from the Music Shoppe sells great quality guitars, and if the studio doesn’t have orchestral instruments to rent, check out Be Frank Foundation/Stillwater Music in Durango.
Studio Policies:
I am a firm believer that a great music teacher is first and foremost a great performer.
That is why you can find me performing with the Community Band, in the orchestral pit for Curtains Up Pagosa and the high school musicals, and around town for various gigs.
Also, check out my debut single, "Home Again," available on all major streaming platforms!
