What to Expect

My mission statement is to "Develop a student with a solid musical foundation while creating a love of music to continue a lifetime."

Lessons are 45 minutes with two students at a time. Time is generally split between passing assignments with me and a rotation of lab time consisting of:

• Sight Reading

• Ear Training

• Song Recording

• Computer Learning Games

Partners interact with each other but are frequently doing very different activities.

Group Lessons are held about monthly with similarly aged students. Here, theory skills are reinforced through games, new concepts are taught, performance etiquette is learned, and performances on small group basis are held. This is a great time for them to learn together and make friends.

Lessons

Music & Books

Music is purchased by me, unless other arrangements are made. A $25 book fee is assessed for each family to pay for books, festivals, etc. A detailed ledger is kept for each family explaining each transaction. (This ledger is available to you at any time.) When the balance reaches $0, another $25 fee will be assessed. Upon termination of lessons, your balance (if any) will be returned to you.

Tuition: Paid Monthly

$50

You can receive a 10% discount if you pay by the 10th of the month. Payments are received in cash, check, or Venmo.

Incentives - We like to have fun!

I believe it is a child's "job" to learn. Because of this, I choose to work with an incentive based program. I like to teach the life skill that the harder we work, the more we earn and learn.

Points are awarded through goals, flashcard passing, practice minutes, or pages passed. The points are like money and may be redeemed in my little store. The store has candy and treats, small toys, and prizes. The other option is the save 20,000 points and receive $20 in cash.

Lab Fees

At the first of each school year, there is a $25 non-refundable lab fee for each student. This is used to cover labs, recitals, copies, and group and individual incentives and awards.

It is understandable that parents have many fees at the first of the school year. If you need to take a few months to pay the lab fee, please just let me know and there is no problem working a plan for that.

Performances

Recitals are held twice yearly corresponding fairly closely to Festival dates. Only one song is required to be memorized.

In November, it is an informal family dinner recital (usually with some kind of fun theme).

In April, it is a formal awards recital in Sunday dress.

Recitals

Festival

Festivals are held at the University each November and April. Each student memorizes two contrasting pieces to be performed and evaluated by a judge.

Participation costs $11.50 and proves to be a great experience. Participation in Festival is up to parents. Recitals, however, are mandatory, unless there are personal circumstances discussed with me personally.

Your involvement and support are a fundamental part to the musical development of your child. Making a scheduled daily time for practice when there is a minimum amount of conflict and fatigue is important. Please take the time to look over your child's assignments each week after lessons and try to maintain an active interest in what they are accomplishing. Most parental information is included in the weekly assignment area. Through texting, I will work to interact with you to meet your child's needs and your expectations. Your feedback is most helpful.

There are no refunds or make-ups for missed lessons. However, a parent list and teaching schedule are provided for you to trade lessons when a conflict arises. If you make a trade, please notify me. If a student is unable to attend a group lesson, notify me, and they may attend a different group that month.

Please notify me as soon as you realize your child will miss a lesson. This will allow me to consider trades for other students or spend that lesson time doing other piano related work. I do not accept phone calls during lessons. You can text me or leave a voicemail.

Should it become necessary for me to miss a scheduled lesson, I will notify you and give you a credit. This credit will be given on your book fee ledger. This will give you written verification, as well as keep the monthly billing amount uniform for fewer complications in the billing process.

Experience has proven that students, parents, and teachers need breaks. However, it has also proven that too long of breaks do more harm than good. It seems taking the whole summer off negates three months, as well as about the next three to get back where we were. Because of this, Summer goals begin immediately following the Spring Recital.

Each student will make a Summer Goal of a large amount of pages they want to pass. Because of this, summer has proven to be a time of great progress and increase of abilities. During the Summer, students have 7 normal lessons (planned around your vacations, reunions, camps, etc.), 2 two-hour group lessons, as well as a group party as a reward for those that accomplished their summer goal. If you need to miss a lesson, if given a 24 hour notice, we can arrange a different time or make a switch.

Please note: if a student opts out of the Summer Program, there is no guarantee of lessons in the Fall.

Missed Lessons

Summer Lessons

Parental Involvement

Statements

Statements will not be sent for early discount payments but will be mailed or texted after the 10th of the month for any unpaid balance. However, statements and book fee ledgers will be texted out in September each year. Because of this, everyone receives the 10% discount in the first month.