LESSONS
I teach 34 lessons per school year, beginning
September 6, 2011 to May 25  2012
Thirty of these lessons are private and 4 are group classes.
I teach summer lessons from June 13, 2011 through August 16, 2011.
 
Group class dates:
Oct.  17-19
Dec. 12-16
Feb.  21-24
May  6-11
I will send out the schedules for group classes at least 3 weeks in advance.
I realize that the change in schedule is a real inconvenience,
but I will do my best to schedule your class as close to your regular time as possible.
 
Vacation Days:
I will be taking the following days off from teaching:
October 20-21, 2011 Teachers’ Convention
November 23-25, 2011Thanksgiving
Dec. 17-Jan 2, 2012    Christmas
March 26-30, 2012      Spring Break
I may take 1 or 2 Fridays off to go skiing. I will prorate
          your lesson fees for those months.
 
TUITION AND FEES     
     Annual tuition    Fee per month
30 minute lesson    $ 558.00  $ 62.00 per month
45 minute lesson   $ 810.00  $ 90.00 per month
You will receive a 5% discount for paying the full year.  You will receive a 3% discount if you make 2 half-payments in September and January.
Payment is due at the first lesson of the month.  Tuition covers the cost of private lessons, group lessons, recitals, music for the music lending library and software for the lab.  I will tape a statement to your student’s assignment book at the last lesson of each month as a reminder.  Accounts that are not paid by the 15th day  of the month will be assessed a $5.00 late fee.   Students whose tuition payments become 2 months delinquent, will not be taught until payments are brought up to date.  Please contact me if you have financial problems that would keep you from paying your tuition on time. 
An annual book deposit fee of $20.00 will be charged to each student to cover the costs of music books, assignment notebooks, festivals, etc. that each student may incur throughout the year.  This will keep me from having to bill separately for these incidental fees that come up from time to time.  If you have a balance in your account from last year, you do not need to send a new deposit until notified.
 

MISSED LESSONS
I make up no more than 4 missed lessons per year.  I will make up lessons if given prior notice of the absence.  If I do not receive a notice, the lesson and fee are forfeited.  If I must miss a lesson, I will make it up or give you credit on your next month’s fees.  Make up lessons cannot be carried over from one year to the next.  I do not give cash back for missed lessons.
 
I will make up lessons on the following dates:
November 22 and 23
December 19-21
June 1-30

MUSIC LAB
The music lab is a work station, where students improve their skills in note reading, music history and music appreciation, using the computer, digital keyboard, worksheets, reading assignments and CD’s.
The lab is required for all students in books one and two, who are in 2nd through 8th grades, for 15 minutes following their 30 minute private lesson.  I prefer students to do their lab work at my studio, but it may be done at home at the MusicLearningCommunity.com website.   Those in book 3 and up, or in high school, will be given private lessons with no lab.  The lab is too difficult for children below 2nd grade, due to the reading required.

INSTRUMENT UPKEEP
Student instruments should be well tuned and kept in good working order.  I can recommend two piano tuners: Wayne Beckman (449-4617) and John Dorr (594-1985)   Guitar players should all have an electronic tuner.  I like the ones made by Korg that are available at Piccolo and Clark Music the best.  All guitars should have new strings every year.  If you buy the strings the music stores will put them on for you.  Or you can bring them to your first lesson and I will teach you to put them on.  If you have a steel string guitar, I recommend using light or ultra light strings (12's or 11's) because they are easier to play.   All students older than 10 or in book 3 or higher should have a metronome.

PRACTICE GUIDELINES
Practice should be done at least 5 days a week and it’s best to do it at the same time each day.    You should practice everything written in your assignment book, not just the parts you like.  :-)  Parents should monitor their child’s practice to make sure students are actually working on their assignment and not just “putting in their time”.  Lack of practice is not a good reason to miss a lesson. 
Guidelines for amount to practice:
Beginners 10-20 minutes daily  Book 3 to 4 25-45 minutes daily
  Book 1B-2 15-30 minutes daily  Advanced 30-90 minutes daily
Everyone will have a bad practice week every now and then, but if a student consistently fails to have their lesson material practiced, parents will be called. 
If the level of practice doesn’t improve, the student may be dropped.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
Each student should perform at least twice in a year.  Although performing may be intimidating for some, it is a very valuable experience that can build confidence for the future.  There will be opportunities to perform at nursing homes, music festivals and at the spring recital in May.

QUITTING LESSONS
Please give me a one month notice if you stop taking lessons in the middle of the year.  This helps me to satisfactorily wrap up the student’s lessons and find a new student to fill your spot. 
Studio Policies