Practical Information for Lessons

The instructor’s goal is to provide the most comprehensive training in all aspects of the voice and piano. The instructor will strive to maintain the best music practices for all students, with constant progress as the primary goal, using her knowledge and skills. As this is an artistic discipline, students will be required to follow certain guidelines to insure the best possible development.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

Guarantee a minimum of 30 minutes each day of uninterrupted practice for your child at least five days a week. (Sometimes practice can be broken up into two separate 15 minute sessions for younger students) Only a most unusual child is mature and motivated enough to practice daily without some parental influence and prompting. Practice habits should be established early. (Make sure to reserve a couple of days a week with no practice!)
Check your child’s binder after each lesson. Important notes, announcements, and your financial information will be inserted on the left inside cover of the binder.
Piano student’s nails should be kept short for both lesson and practice.
For piano students - Maintain a tuned piano. Ear training is an important part of music study. A once a year tuning is recommended. (We wouldn’t think of allowing a child to practice on a violin with missing or untuned strings!)
Please park in my driveway or on the street in front of my house.
Please be prompt to the lesson. Be sure that your child is inside my house before driving away.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

Practice a minimum of five days a week for at LEAST 30 minutes. Make all your practice count! Think about what we did at your lesson. Check all the notes on your lesson assignment. Go Slowly.
Bring all your books and music binder to your lesson.
Piano student’s nails should be kept short for both lesson and practice.
Share with your parents all that we did at your lesson.
Communicate with the teacher immediately if you are having any problems so that we may work on them together.

SCHEDULING

Lessons are 30 or 45 minutes in length on a once a week basis. When you schedule a lesson time, be sure it is at a time when the least amount of conflicts will arise. The time slot you schedule with the instructor is set aside for you each week for an entire semester, and no one else can fill that assigned time. This insures that the instructor will be present for you at that time each week. Constant time shifts interfere with others and is not fair to all students.

PAYMENT

Each semester you will receive a registration form, which contains vital information needed to maintain a file on each individual student, and a payment schedule. All payments are due on the first (1st) of each month. You will have one week grace period. This means that you may pay for your lessons on the first (1st) lesson of the month, provided that it falls within this seven day grace period. If you must cancel, or if ANY other circumstances prevail, it is your responsibility to make sure that your payment is made on time. Any payments made after the seventh (7th) of the month must include a $10.00 surcharge. When you sign up for lessons you are making a commitment to pay. You must give one month notice and pay for that month if you decide to discontinue lessons so I may have time to fill that teaching slot.

CANCELLATIONS, MAKE-UPS AND TARDINESS

There are TWO make ups for a lesson which you cancel per semester.
Make ups are scheduled at the discretion of the instructor.
Lessons cancelled by the instructor will be made up regardless of the number.
If you are late, you will receive the remaining time of your lesson.
Lessons cancelled by the student are still expected to be paid for.
You are welcome to exchange a lesson time occasionally with another willing student as long as you notify me in advance.

LESSON PRICING

Piano Lessons
Age 5*-8 $14.00 for 30 minute lesson (*five year olds that are ready for lessons)
Age 9-?? $18.00 for 30 minute lesson

Vocal Lessons
(because of physical development and changes, it is not recommended that students take voice lessons before the age of 10)
30 minute lesson $18.00
45 minute lesson $28.00