Studio Policies
Makeup Lessons
Because there is little flexibility during the academic year to reschedule, makeup lessons will not be given for lessons missed for any reason by the student. If I am unable to teach you on your assigned day (e.g., due to illness), you of course will receive a makeup lesson at a mutually convenient time. If your child is sick, please do not come to piano lessons to prevent the spread of illness to me and other students.
If you know more than a week in advance that you will need to miss a lesson, it may be possible to organize a swapped lesson to rearrange your time. Please see the swap sheet for families that have made their names available. Please be respectful of me and of this policy when calling to cancel your lesson.
Practicing
Home practice is essential for making good progress. Although most of my students do practice well, it is helpful to have some general guidelines. Students should plan on practicing 5-6 days a week for the approximate length of their scheduled private lesson. If your child has a 40-minute lesson with me each week, for example, he or she should be practicing approximately 40 minutes per day. Very young students (5 and under) should practice for a shorter time (15 minutes) 5-6 days a week.
Practicing is most beneficial when done on a consistent basis. Develop a routine and stick with it! Parental involvement in home practice depends on the student’s age and ability level. Very young students need total supervision while more experienced and older students need less. Please contact me with questions about the appropriate level of parental involvement in your home practice.
Remember, it is your responsibility to practice at home – not at the lesson! Piano lessons are not like some other extra-curricular activities in which the activity only takes place once a week. To reap the full benefits of piano study, you must do work outside of our weekly lesson.
Performances
During the regular school year, we will have two formal recitals. Pieces to be performed on these recitals will be selected 4-5 weeks in advance of the recital. Attendance is required. If you are unable to attend your scheduled recital, I will try to find an alternate recital for you. Dress for these recitals should be formal, and students need to stay and listen to the entire event. More specific guidelines for recital dress and conduct will be distributed with the announcement of our recital dates and times.
Opportunities for group performances and community performances will be available throughout the year as well. Learning how to play in front of others is an invaluable experience that your child will both enjoy and learn from.
I realize there will be many opportunities for your child to perform at informal events such as family gatherings and some school events. These are wonderful experiences for your child. If, however, your child is scheduled to perform in a more formal setting (e.g., school talent shows, church performances, other concerts), please notify me ahead of time so that I can help your child prepare. It is very important to make sure your child has many positive formal performing experiences, and my assistance in selecting and preparing a piece is essential in achieving these outcomes.
