Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to teach you or your child. I look forward to giving an excellent piano and music appreciation education. I consider it a privilege to be involved in this aspect of your life. In order to ensure optimum musical progress, I share the following information with you before we begin.
Piano lessons are like a triangle - it takes three sides to make a successful musical experience. The student, parent, and teacher must all work together; so cooperation and communication between all parties is essential.
Student Responsibilities
The student agrees to arrive at each lesson on time, with assignments completed, and with all necessary material in hand. In order to ensure optimal musical progress, students are required to practice five (5) days each week and come to lessons with a good attitude and a desire to learn.
Parental Responsibilities
Encourage progress! Some of the rewards of music lessons are: discipline, working toward a goal, and self-confidence. If you want to give your child rewards or incentives, please do so for effort rather than for passing pieces. Rewards for passing pieces puts pressure on me to pass them on pieces from which there could be additional benefit with more practice. This makes me the "bad guy" who makes them miss the reward. Parental support is a must for a child's musical growth.
To help your child develop self-discipline and good practice habits, set aside a regular time for practice. Practice times are determined with consideration to the child's age and ability. Younger children may need help with their practice. In general, young children and beginners should practice 15-20 minutes per time. Older, more advanced students (Level 2 and above) should practice 30-45 minutes. This time can be divided into 2 or more sessions. This is particularly helpful to young children and those with short attention spans. Regular practice over several days is more beneficial than one day of extended time, i.e. 5 days of 20 minutes is preferable to 1 day of 100 minutes.
Be sure that your piano is tuned and in good condition. It is very discouraging to play on an out-of-tune instrument. It is not cost effective to delay tuning a piano that is very out of tune. It often takes several tunings to bring it back to pitch. If your child is staring on a keyboard, it must be touch sensitive, have a pedal, and have at least 61 keys. Please be aware that this will only get them through the first year, maybe two. An electronic keyboard severely limits the technical and musical skills a student can practice at home. After that, you will want/need to invest in either a full size 88 acoustic piano or a good digital piano with weighted keys to get the full benefit of piano lessons. A couple of other options: Some piano stores may have instruments for rent, often letting rent paid go toward purchase. Sometimes people have decent pianos that are no longer being used and will charge a small price or give them to you if you will move them. Piano stores also have inexpensive pianos that they have taken as a trade-in. There is also a website: www.pianoadoption.com with listings for your area. Craigslist is also a place to find inexpensive pianos. Please have a professional piano tuner look at pianos from a private source. The money you pay them could save you thousands in repairs. Sometimes piano tuners restore pianos and they can be a good source. The instrument needs to be placed in an area free from distractions and interruptions during practice.
Parents are welcome to attend lessons at any time. This will help you understand what your student is learning and you will be better able to encourage them. And the bonus: You might learn some music too! If you choose to leave during your child's lesson, please return at least 5 minutes prior to the end of the lesson time.
Check your child's notebook often. Do this especially if they are having trouble with a particular assignment. There are usually notes about each assignment, highlighting the items that need particular attention.
Be up-to-date with tuition payments.
Talk to me about any questions you or your child may have. Communication is important to a good learning relationship.
Teacher Responsibilities
I will provide a positive and enthusiastic atmosphere for learning. I will see each student as a unique individual and will encourage them at their own rate of learning and skill, treating each with respect and caring. It is my responsibility to be clear in my communication and help students know how to practice. I will provide a balanced program of theory, technique, ear-training, sight-reading and performance opportunities. It is also my responsibility to continue to further my teaching skills and music knowledge by belonging to professional organizations, attending available workshops, and reading professional publication.
Tuition
Tuition is a monthly fee, due at the first lesson of each month during the school year. Tuition is non-refundable. As with school tuition, payment for lessons is due in full whether the student attends each scheduled lesson or not. Each student is scheduled for a specific weekly time slot. Your payment reserves that time slot. Please understand that you are paying for more than the time I am actually with your student. It includes time spent making lesson plans, selecting and buying music for you, scheduling, book-keeping, keeping my piano tuned and professional fees and education. There is no extra charge for months when there are 5 lessons, making this a free lesson for you. There will be either credit or make-up time given for lessons missed due to my vacations or my sickness. Summer session policy will be announced at the end of the school year for the following summer.
Attendance and Cancellations
Lessons are weekly and are available for 30, 45 or 60 minutes. We will determine together which is best for your student. Often lesson time increases as the student becomes more advanced. Students are expected to attend all scheduled lessons. Regular attendance is important to the progress of your student. When lessons are cancelled, often the student will begin to feel that the lessons are not very important to you. Over the years, I have watched many students lose momentum following a period of repeated cancelled lessons.
That said, I realize that life happens and cancellation must take place. If you must cancel, please inform me as soon as you know. If you have an upcoming vacation or event, notify me as soon as it is scheduled. If your child stays home sick from school, call me when that decision is made. Please do not wait until lesson time to inform me. This allows me to plan my day. Also there may be another student who is wanting a make-up lesson and that time could be used for them. I am willing to do make-up lessons if there is time available. I am under no obligation to do make-up lessons and these should be considered a courtesy and a desire to meet the needs of your student. There will be no make-up lessons for students who just do not show up. There can be a swap list made, for those who wish to participate, where lesson times can be traded when necessary. It is the responsibility of the parent//student requesting the swap to inform me that a swap has taken place.
Recitals, Festivals, and Competitions
I intend to schedule a spring recital. I will inform you of other opportunities in the area for students to participate in festivals and competitions. Any fees and transportation associated with these extra activities are the responsibility of the parent/student.
Referrals
Referrals are the highest compliment you can give me. I appreciate your referrals and will credit your account the price of 1 lesson for each student who takes lessons based on your referral.
Terminating Lessons and Dismissals
Students wishing to terminate lessons must give 1 month notice. The appropriate time is when you are paying for your last full month. This allows me to fill the time in my schedule. Sometimes there are students on a waiting list, and they would like to know they have a spot coming open.
The teacher will dismiss a student for the following reasons, after an appropriate attempt to resolve the issue: Persistent cancellations or absences, failure to maintain practice standards and do assignments, failure to honor studio policies, failure to make payment promptly, repeated neglect to bring materials to class, inappropriate or disrespectful behavior, theft, or misbehavior in my studio.