Thank you for choosing me as your piano teacher! To ensure that you or your child get the most effective and creative teaching possible, I have established the following policies:
Cost and Scheduling Beginning January 1, 2023, you will be charged for new Method books and Supplemental books.
Invoices are sent each month via email. You may pay using PayPal, credit card (offered by PayPal), check, or cash. The invoice will show lessons you recently attended, lesson books (1/1/2023), and any other miscellaneous charges (binder, flashcards, metronome...) If something doesn't seem right with the invoices, please contact me as soon as possible. Sometimes there are glitches in the software program or in my brain.
Attendance/Missed lessons If you need to miss a lesson, please give me notice as soon as you can. No shows will be charged.
Communication If you need to miss a lesson, please notify me as soon as possible. Please contact me any time with questions or information concerning your child or family. I love hearing from you!
Student Commitment Most of the learning takes place at home, between lessons. The more productive the home practice, the better the progress. To progress satisfactorily, daily practice is necessary. I will assist the student in practice strategies and together we will develop a practice plan. It's not necessarily about minutes. To develop self-discipline, set up a daily, uninterrupted practice time to establish a routine. The study of music is rewarding and enjoyable, but also work! As you know, your child will only be as committed as you are. I need parents’ help to motivate and support students. Upon arrival at your lesson, there is no need to knock. Come right in. If I am busy with another student, please sit quietly until I am ready for you. If you come with a sibling who is also here for lessons, you may work on homework, work in your Theory workbook, read, use your own device on silent or with ear buds, or sit quietly while your sibling is having their lesson.
Parent Commitment Kindly drop off and pick up on time. You are always welcome to sit in. During the lesson, please allow me to do the teaching and your child to do the learning by refraining from blurting out answers to music questions or encouraging your child with hints. Trust that I will encourage and compliment appropriately. I need to see for myself if a student requires extra time to figure something out and how he is processing and progressing. If you disagree with my style of teaching, please reserve comments outside of the lesson time, away from students. Please do not let your child tell me of a future cancellation. I need to hear from you personally, the parent, via handwritten note, email, or text.
Equipment, Materials, Extras You will need a well-maintained and regularly tuned acoustic piano or a quality digital piano for practice between lessons. The digital piano must have 88 full-sized, weighted keys with authentic touch and tone, and sustain/damper pedal. I use a Roland digital piano. It is the same size as a regular acoustic piano, it sounds and feels like an acoustic, it never needs tuning, and is less expensive than an acoustic piano.
You will be charged for extra digital music you choose for me to find and buy. Each student will need a 1/2 inch or 1 inch 3-ring binder to keep their sheet music, worksheets, and other important papers orderly. A tote-bag is recommended to transport all your materials and books. Bring all current lesson books, extra books, theory books, assignment book, and binder to each lesson.
I use a variety of piano method books. My choices depend on the student’s needs and sibling rivalry. Students will also be using music from my music library. For any borrowed music from my library that is not returned or is badly damaged, you will be charged at its replacement cost
I have some merchandise for sale to help you out: Piano rake $15, metronome $10, flashcards $5, tote bags $10, binders $2.25.
Incentives Each elementary student will participate in an incentive program that rewards them for achievements based on responsibility, practice, and behavior. Each student receives a medal for each year of piano lessons. Graduating seniors also get a trophy and special gift.
Performance As stated on my philosophy page, there will be no piano testing or competitions. Recitals are encouraged, not required. There are many reasons to participate in a recital. It’s fun, you get to show off, and it will help you to become confident. We generally have one recital a year. I will be happy to help students with any performance pieces for church, school talent shows, etc.
Dismissal Regrettably, I may have to dismiss a student if any of these circumstances occur: Failure to pay, uncooperative attitude, or misuse of my studio and home furnishings.