STUDIO CALENDAR

The forty-week teaching year is divided into two semesters of sixteen weeks each, plus an eight-week short summer semester. We will enjoy recitals at the end of every semester on December 4th and May 9th for the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters, and a more informal “piano party” on July 18th for the Spring 2020 semester.

RESOURCES

Practice chart: https://www.myfunpianostudio.com/piano_practice/Piano_Practice_Chart.pdf

Theory exercises: https://www.teoria.com/

Note identification games: https://www.musictheory.net/exercises/note/

Ear training resource: https://trainer.thetamusic.com/

Online music flashcards: http://musicards.net/

HELPFUL ARTICLES

Music and Brain Function: https://www.livescience.com/7950-music-improves-brain-function.html

Parent’s Guide: helping your child practice: https://www.maestroclassics.com/blog/music-practice-with-children-a-parents-guide

The Bulletproof Musician: https://bulletproofmusician.com/blog/

STUDIO POLICY

As an educator, it is my desire to instill in all of my students a lifelong love for our Creator’s gift of beautiful music, to equip them with a correct technique that enables musicmaking free of injury or excess tension, and give them a well-rounded understanding of music through theory and music history instruction.

 

Lessons: Lessons consist of weekly 30-, 45-, and 60-minute private instruction, depending on the age and needs of the student.

Tuition and fees: Tuition is computed on a monthly basis throughout the year, and is billed by invoice around the 20th of the preceding month. Tuition is due 15 days after the invoice is issued (late payments will be assessed a $10 late fee). If the student begins lessons in the middle of a month, the tuition will be prorated appropriately. The purchase of supplies and books will be billed separately from monthly tuition. Tuition is subject to a small increase every 2-3 years; parents will be notified well in advance of any tuition changes. For students under severe hardships, a small number of scholarships are awarded by semester.

Supplies: For the student to progress well, the student needs an acoustic piano or a touch-sensitive digital (not electric) piano to practice on at home. The student should also be equipped with a three-ring binder, metronome, and any needed stools or pads to ensure proper playing posture at home. A designated book bag is often helpful as well.

Student responsibilities: The student needs an adequate amount of daily practice time through the week. The practice time should increase as student progresses, and the teacher will recommend an amount for each individual student. The student should come to lessons with all books in hand, the week’s assignment completed, and an attitude that is ready to learn.

Parent responsibilities: It is recommended that the parent(s) observe the lessons, especially those of young children. If there are any concerns, please feel free to contact the teacher by phone or email to discuss them. For steady learning to occur, parents needs to actively monitor students at home to ensure that the student practice and completes all assignments.

Conduct during lessons: Please do not arrive more than 10 minutes before the student’s scheduled lesson. If the student arrives while another student’s lesson is in progress, then feel free to enter and sit quietly. Siblings who are not taking lessons should remain quiet and well-behaved. It is recommended that the student wash hands and clip fingernails before lesson time. If the student is sick, then it is best to cancel the lesson.

Missed lessons: To ensure the student’s place in the studio, full tuition should be paid each month. Tuition is not adjusted for lessons missed by the student except for illness or emergencies. If a lesson will need to be missed, please give 24 hours’ notice. An absence without due prior notification cannot be made up or refunded. All lessons missed by the teacher will be made up or credited to next month’s tuition. If the student arrives late for a lesson, due to studio scheduling the lesson can only be conducted for the remainder of the allotted time.

 

Thank you so much!