Studio Year 2011-2012
Goal for Students: My goal is to develop the student’s musical abilities with keyboard or singing techniques, balanced repertoire, music theory, music history, practice techniques, and performance opportunities.
Teacher: I set both long- and short-term goals for the students and constantly strive to attain them. I fully believe making beautiful music can be challenging and hard work but is a very rewarding experience and a wonderful medium in which to express one’s self.
Parents: Parental support is a must for your child’s musical growth. Parents should agree to get the student to the lesson on time, check the assignment notebook weekly, help the student budget time to allow for daily practice, and provide the student with undisturbed practice time on a piano that is in good repair and functioning properly. Parents should also enable the student to participate in studio recitals. Parents should take full responsibility for the child’s behavior at all times, regardless of whether or not the parent is present.
Students: The student is expected to arrive punctually for the lessons with music and assignment notebook. The student must realize that daily practice is essential and the study of music is a year-round commitment. Practice and assignments must have the same priority as school homework. Before each lesson students must:
- Complete daily practice and accurately record it in the practice journal
- Be prepared for lesson with all books and completed theory or other projects
- Keep fingernails trimmed short to insure proper hand position and good technique
- Wash hands before playing studio piano
Piano Practice: Appropriate rehearsal spaces with good lighting, a properly maintained and in-tune instrument, as well as uninterrupted rehearsal time are key elements for success. To help develop good study habits and self-discipline, a specific daily practice time should be set aside. Many students have discovered that two short daily practice periods (say, two 20- or 30-minute periods) are more effective than one continuous session. A normal practice session should be 60% of the time spent learning a new piece and 30% of the time reviewing old ones. By playing these familiar old pieces, students feel good about their playing and not frustrated by their difficulties with the new piece. The remaining 10% should be allocated to hand technique. Consistent failure to practice is sufficient grounds for dismissal, except under unusual circumstances such as illness or unusually heavy schoolwork.
Voice Practice: Appropriate rehearsal spaces with good lighting, a full-length mirror, a CD player, a properly maintained and in-tune keyboard, as well as uninterrupted rehearsal time are key elements for success. To help develop good study habits and self-discipline, a specific daily practice time should be set aside. This time should be divided between warm-up exercises, song work (such as pronunciation of text, learning or correcting pitches, rhythm or dynamics, etc.) and memorization. Consistent failure to practice is sufficient grounds for dismissal, except under unusual circumstances such as illness or unusually heavy schoolwork.
Practice Journal: The practice journal serves a three-fold purpose; a communication tool between teacher and parent, an assignment log, and a place for the student to record accomplished work. Parents are welcome to write in it and should make it a habit to check it after each lesson and again immediately before the next lesson. Students are to use the book to record any problem areas they encounter during the week and accurately record their practice times. Falsely recording practice times is highly discouraged and may only hinder a student’s progress. The practice journal is a valuable tool that should accompany the child to every lesson.
Dismissal from Lessons: Regrettably, I will have to dismiss a student without tuition refund if any of the following circumstances occur:
- Persistent Absence
- Repeated failure to pay tuition on time
- Uncooperative Attitude
- Failure to follow practice as instructed
- Lack of progress due to insufficient practice
- Discourtesy towards me or another student by a child or his/her parent.
Withdrawal from Lessons:
Proper withdrawal requires:
- Written notice (by letter or e-mail)
- Receipt of notice one month prior to the date on which the last lesson will be received. This applies to all withdrawals and long-term absences of 3 weeks or more.
Please Note: I do not refund or prorate tuition for mid-month withdrawals.
