Facility as well as artistry at the piano takes many years to develop. Be patient! Our role is to encourage; to listen, to watch -- and to invite music to make its way into the heart and soul. I do not emphasize perfection as much as musicality and effort.
In order to make our time the most productive, I have established the following policies:
Payment:
Tuition for 45 minute lessons is $xx per month paid on the first lesson of every month. Usually there will be four lessons in the month. When a five-week month occurs on your lesson day, that month’s tuition will be $xx
Tuition for 60 minute lessons is $xx per month paid on the first lesson of every month. Usually there will be four lessons in the month. When a five-week month occurs on your lesson day, that month’s tuition will be $xx.
As students advance, their lesson time will need to increase.
Billing:
Tuition is due monthly, in advance, by the first day of each month. A monthly statement for the coming month will be sent at the end of each month. If payment has not been received by the 10th day of the month, a late fee of $10 is added to the following month’s invoice. Related bank processing fees will be assessed for returned checks.
Practice:
Praise and encouragement are the parent’s greatest tools in helping a young musician. Sit down and listen to your child’s practice assignments immediately following their lessons. Then, listen again just before the next lesson. Comment upon the improvement you hear!
Practice is best if it is consistent and reinforced by the parent. I like to emphasize the quality versus quantity of time practiced – as in, mind spent versus time spent. However, in order to get good quality practice, a minimum of 30 minutes a day, six days a week is necessary. The 30 minutes required can be broken up into twice a day to accommodate busy schedules and homework, etc.
As students progress, this practice time will naturally need to increase as well. (For pre-school, pre-preparatory students: 20 minutes a day/six days a week is necessary.)
Practicing at the same time every day creates good practice habits!
Putting in some time every day will get you better results than cramming in 2 or 3 hours the day before your lesson. Consistency and regularity are the keys to musical success.
Students may keep track of their practice days on their theme charts. Parents may read their children’s assignments and encourage these practice habits. Theory can be completed at the first part of the week and technique is practiced every day. A metronome is necessary for all students and fingernails should be kept short.
Attendance:
Regular and prompt attendance is required to make appropriate progress. If you are unable to make it to a lesson, please let me know as soon as possible. Please leave a message if you will be absent.
Illness:
Students who are ill should not come to piano lessons. If your child wakes up sick or is sent home sick from school that day, please contact me and we will make arrangements to reschedule.
In the event that I must cancel a scheduled lesson due to illness, I will reschedule it at a mutually convenient time.
Missed Lessons:
Enrolling for lessons is a purchase of teacher and studio time, prepared in advance, exclusively for your child. Since the time passes whether a student uses it or not, a lesson missed is time lost. As courtesy to the teacher, notification of missing a lesson is appreciated, but will not be excused from payment of lessons. Lessons missed due to illness (or family emergencies) will be rescheduled at a mutually convenient time.
If I have to cancel your regularly scheduled lesson due to illness on my part, I will reschedule the lesson at a mutually convenient time. If we cannot find a time that works, I will issue a lesson credit for the next month’s tuition.
Consistent attendance is essential to musical growth and a commitment to lessons is expected when a student enrolls.
Regrettably, students who miss lessons for unexcused reasons or with persistent absences will be dropped from the studio roster to open space for students on the waiting list. If a student plans to discontinue lessons, I appreciate notification at least one month in advance.
Calendar & Enrollment:
There will be approximately two weeks off at Winter Break and one week off at Spring Vacation. There will be no lessons on Halloween, Thanksgiving Day & Thanksgiving weekend.
Books & Materials:
I will let you know what books are necessary for the student’s progress and where you can obtain them. I understand the expense of purchasing books, so I promise that I will only choose books that are important and beneficial for the student’s progress. It’s important that books be purchased in a prompt manner so that the student can move forward.
Teaching piano has been an incredibly gratifying experience for me. Music has given me so much joy in my life! I love to teach others about music so that they can experience this joy as well.