Lesson Format (Academic Year)
During the academic year, students will have weekly private lessons, 30 or 45 minutes in length, along with a keyboard/computer lab session. The academic year includes 32 private lessons.
Summer lessons are offered on a different schedule, and students are given the opportunity to sign up for those near the end of the school year.
Lab Assignments
Lab time is an extension of the piano lesson in which students will spend time either before or after the lesson, working with the computer or one of the digital pianos and sequencers to complete assignments given by the teacher. Lab assignments may take up to 15 minutes, but students are welcome to stay as long as 30 minutes if space is available.
Practice
All students are enrolled with the understanding that they are required to practice at least five days a week, following the written assignment provided by the teacher. The amount of attentive practice is directly proportional to the amount of progress a student makes.
Practice involves following directions, doing what you are told to do, not merely what you want to do. Playing is fun. Practice is not. It is a discipline. It is hard work. Students need a schedule that they are required to follow to get good value from practice. When practicing becomes controlled and regular, success will become the motivator, not fun.
"I don’t like to practice, never have." --Van Cliburn
Performance Classes
Students are invited to participate in three performance classes during the academic year. Offered on Saturdays, these classes give students the opportunity to perform for their peers in a safe environment. Classes meet at the times specified below. To find which performance class you are assigned to, check the trade list. Your class assignment is the number between your name and your phone number.
Class 1 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. Early Levels
Class 2 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Intermediate Levels
Class 3 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. Advancing Levels
Music & Materials
All students are charged a standard, nonrefundable materials fee of $40.00 to cover music expenses for a year of piano lessons. Music expenses in excess of $40.00 will be applied to the student’s account. Students will need a sturdy three-ring binder to organize and maintain their music materials throughout the year. Please see that your child brings the binder to every lesson.
Attendance Policy
Missed lessons are a loss to the student’s progress. If your child cannot attend his or her lesson, please try to trade times with another student and inform me of the change. Parents will be provided with a list of students and their phone numbers. It is your responsibility to find someone to trade lessons times.
There will be no makeups for lessons missed by the student, and no refunds are given for missed lessons. The academic year is scheduled so that students will be offered 32 lessons. If a student is offered fewer than 32 lessons during the academic year because of the teacher’s absence, those missed lessons will be either made up or refunded.
Family Support
Remember that the music student needs family support and encouragement. Do not be surprised if your children do not go joyfully to the day’s practice session, especially after the initial enthusiasm and novelty wear off. Learning to play a musical instrument is hard work. The results are gratifying, but disciplined effort must come first. Here are some ways the family can be supportive:
• Getting your child to lessons on time with the proper materials is the first step to success.
• Regular practice time is important. Establish a time that is agreeable to the family, then stick to this time with few exceptions.
• Read your child’s assignment sheet shortly after the lesson. If an assignment is unclear, please feel free to contact me for clarification.
• Insist that your child keep a record of practice time using the form on the assignment sheet. Students should never come to a lesson without having filled out this form.
• Expressing enthusiasm for your child’s accomplishments provides strong incentive for him or her to continue making progress.
Parent Communication
Parents, your observations, feedback and input are enormously helpful to me as I work with your children. If you seen waning interest, please let me know. Likewise, if something we’re doing seems to be working exceptionally well, it’s helpful for me to know that too. Your phone calls, emails, visits and notes are always welcome!
Parent Conferences will be held at the last lesson of the school year. We will use this time to discuss and assess progress, needs, and goals for the following term. The conferences will take place during the student’s lesson time. Both the student and a parent should attend the conference.
Snow Days
Lessons will be scheduled on snow days unless you are otherwise notified.
Performance Opportunities
• Saturday Performance Classes
• Elementary Keyboard Workshops (October)
• Fall Solo Recitals (November)
• Duet Recitals (February)
• Guild Auditions (May)
• KMTA Keyboard Festival (May)
• Spring Solo Recitals (May)
Summer Lessons
Eight weeks of lessons will be offered in the summer, and students may sign up for as many or as few summer lessons as they would like.
Students who wish to continue lessons in the fall term must take a minimum of four summer lessons or pay the fee for four lessons if unable to take any summer lessons but want to hold a spot.
Students who take four or more summer lessons are given first priority for fall lesson times.