Studio Guidelines
Studio Guidelines:
Research has indicated repeatedly that the study and daily practice of music has a dramatic impact on many areas of learning and growth, not to mention the intrinsic joy that it brings to one’s life. I only accept students who are committed, who come prepared to lessons, and who are cooperative about scheduling.
Private Lessons:
30-minute, 45-minute or 1 hour lessons are scheduled once a week. Additional lessons can be scheduled (as time permits) to help prepare for an important audition or show. Lessons are taught during the school year and during the summer excluding holidays and any planned vacations. As much notice is given as possible for any schedule changes.
Tutoring Students:
1-1 ½ hour individual or group tutoring sessions are scheduled once a week or more according to your needs. Additional time(s) may be beneficial for an exam or test.
Preparedness:
Students are expected to prepare their lesson material or assignments to the best of their ability. This is your homework!
Practice Time/ Study Time:
Expect to practice a minimum of 20 minutes each day; at least 5 days a week for 30-minute lesson students. Expect to practice a minimum of 30 minutes each day; at least 5 days a week for 45 + 60 minute lesson students. Make sure you include warm-ups at the beginning of your practice time. Don’t dive right into the material first. Make sure your voice is warmed up & ready to go. Remember, daily practice will yield the best results. This is the only way you will improve!
When studying, make sure to spend adequate time on all of your assignments every day and to work on projects ahead of time and not at the last minute! Studying is also a skill and a habit and should be done every day or at least 5 days a week.
Quality Practice:
Sometimes students should be playing through a piece from beginning to end, but more often students need to isolate problem spots within a piece and work on those, always remembering to “put the music back together” in the end.
Practice and Study time should take place in a quiet, well-lit, and comfortable area. Practice time should be interruption-free (i.e.: no phone calls, no TV, no computer, etc). Ideally, practice/study time should be at a consistent time each day.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”. Aristotle
Attendance:
Expected! Students are also expected to arrive at their lesson on time and warmed-up/prepared if possible. Your lesson/study session time will not be extended because you are late.
If you know you have a conflict with a specific lesson date coming up, let your teacher know as soon as possible. The amount of notice given and the reason for missing the lesson will play a role in whether you are charged or not for that lesson. If your lesson starts late due to the teacher running behind with students, your full lesson time will be given to you either that week or the next.
Make-up Lessons:
If the teacher is not notified in advance about a lesson to be missed, the student WILL BE CHARGED for the lesson and the teacher is not obligated to make up the lesson. If the teacher must miss a lesson, a make-up lesson will be given.
Please give a minimum of 24 hours notice to reschedule or cancel a lesson. Remember there are other students and availability might be limited. Also, someone else might be able to use your time if you can not.
Payment:
Payment is expected at the first lesson of the month for that entire month to receive a discounted rate. If you have made other arrangements, please stick to the payment plan. Lessons and tutoring must be paid for in a timely manner. If the balance is not paid by the time agreed upon, lessons will stop.
If you know you have a conflict with a lesson or tutoring within the month you are paying for, please discuss it with your teacher at the time of payment & accommodations may be made.
It is not usually acceptable to cancel lessons because of a birthday party, sporting event or other social activity. Hiring a private music teacher means devoting time to that weekly lesson and keeping absenteeism to a bare minimum.
Accompanist:
I do not accompany students. You may need to find someone to do this or a recording may be provided for practice purposes only.
Student’s Responsibility to the Teacher:
1. Be fully prepared for each lesson. (Practice the material you have been assigned to work on.) (Study materials given or try your homework, start your assignments etc.)
2. Follow guidelines pertaining to absenteeism. (Give appropriate notice.)
3. Provide documentation (calendar) of practice time each week (initialed by parent if under 18)
4. Provide and bring a spiral notebook and your music or other materials with you to each lesson. (If needed or you may use your 3 ring binder)
5. Provide and bring a 3-ring binder with you to each lesson for handouts and sheet music. (Note: you can decorate this binder however you want)
6. Check yourself in (at the beginning of your lesson) in the student folder.
7. Voice students must bring a cassette tape to record each lesson. (The tape is to be reviewed during the week to assist with practicing and learning new music, warm-ups and techniques.) A voice recorder is also fine.
8. Take notes in your spiral notebook or on the music as new ideas, songs, and/or assignments are introduced.
9. Always make an effort.
Student information form: (Please upload this. It is a different document)
Recitals and Performances:
Please let me know of any performances you will be in and I will list them here.
As I get more students, I will schedule recitals usually lasting 1 hour to 1 ½ hrs. All students performed their songs by memory in front of an audience of family, friends & other students. For some students, this was their first public performance.
The recital will include a mix of classical, folk, pop, and musical theatre selections done with a variety of accompaniments using piano and/or guitar. The program should be varied with solos, duets and some students who can sing or play an instrument are encouraged to do both.
We will also be looking for an accompanist if needed or students may accompany other students.
