1. LESSON SCHEDULING : Lessons are customized to a student’s age, interest, and ability. Beginning students with their parent/s typically have one half-hour lesson each week. Parents are very involved and learn with their child. Advanced or older students have lessons of either 45 minutes or one hour in length. Adult students usually have a one-hour lesson each week.
2. LATE ARRIVAL: Please note that students arriving late will not have their lesson time extended. I typically have many students scheduled consecutively throughout the day and can not impose upon another students lesson time
3. CANCELLATION : Please recognize and note that your lesson time is reserved specifically for you. This means that your lesson slot is unavailable to other students; I have made a commitment to work with you at that time. Consistent attendance helps ensure good progress.
Missed lessons are not made-up nor rescheduled; however, it is acceptable if students wish to exchange lesson times with each other after notification to teacher.
It is the student’s and/or parents’ responsibility to make the changes.
Exceptions: If I am unavailable to teach a regularly scheduled lesson, that lesson will be made up at the student’s convenience.
4. MATERIALS: Beginning students will need a core collection of materials and new books including Suzuki Piano Book Volume I, Suzuki Piano CD Volume I, CD player, Theory Book, Sight-reading Method Book, and a spiral notebook. Future supplemental books may include books of student interests such as a Recital Book, Hymn Book, Holiday Book, a Repertoire Book and other theory/game books. Parents are responsible for the purchase of these books.
Additional required study materials, such as Texas State Theory Exams and World of Music Curriculum will be made available for purchase directly from studio.
Suzuki Piano School New International Edition Piano Book and CD, Volume 1 – Book and CD Package, Shinichi Suzuki, Publisher: Summy Birchard
5. LISTENING PROGRAM: LISTENING WELL IS THE SECRET TO SUCCESS WITH THE SUZUKI METHOD!! When a student is listening extensively, rhythmic and note errors are almost non-existent in his or her performance because the brain becomes a teaching machine for the fingers and arms. Good listeners seldom need to be taught how to play musically because they internalize the musical sounds that they have heard so many times. If your student is 3 years and younger, I recommend “Suzuki Piano School” Volume 1 performed by Kataoka. If your student is older, the performances of “Suzuki Piano School” Volume 1 by Valery Lloyd-Watts or William Aide are more appropriate.
6. WATCH FOR THE MUSIC VOLUMES THAT HAVE THE CDS INCLUDED. These are usually available at Strait Music Store, 2428 W. Ben White-512-476-6927, or if you would prefer that the item be mailed to you, Strait Music Store will ship with the use of a credit card. If you prefer to order online, try:
Amazon www.amazon.com
Young Musicians 871-741-3838 www.ymonline.com
Shar 800-248-7427 www.sharmusic.com
During nap and night sleep times, very, very softly repeatedly play Track 1 of Vol. 1 Suzuki piano CD continuously throughout the night. As the student progresses through the book, I recommend that the nightly listening progress such that the student is listening to one or two pieces beyond what he or she is currently playing. During the daytime while your child is playing or riding in the car, program your CD player to repeatedly play through the entire CD.
7. LESSON PREPARATION: Students need to practice daily, listen nightly and have all written work completed at each week’s lesson. Suzuki said that “you only practice on the days that you eat.”
Environment: Make certain that the practice environment is suitable for study. Students need to have daily access to an acoustic piano. The piano should be in tune and be in a high level of working order. Piano should be tuned a minimum of once a year; twice is preferable if a piano is new. A quiet practice environment is a necessity.
8. GROUP LESSONS AND PIANO PARTIES: Group lessons are usually scheduled on the last Friday of each month at 4:15 p.m. three months each semester. Please check the schedule for exact times and dates. All students should attend group lessons as these are based on performance skills. The K&K studio also hosts two yearly Piano Parties which are our MAJOR performance dates for each year. These are usually in December and April.
9. PARENTAL SUPPORT: Parent/s or caregivers are required at the children’s lessons. Parents, “home teachers” take notes, often have lessons, supervise and teach their children’s practice sessions. Parent/s and caregivers also motivate and stimulate the children’s interest in music. Older children may need less direct supervision; thus it is possibly more beneficial for the parent to observe lessons and check that all written is completed and that all pieces were adequately practiced each day.
Any lesson observers, especially siblings and guests, should remain quiet and not interfere with the lesson or distract the student.
10. PAYMENT: Tuition is paid by the semester and is non-refundable. Payment is due by the first lesson of each semester by either cash or check. If you do choose to pay in cash, a receipt will be given upon your request. Please pay promptly each semester. If paid the first week a discount will be offered. When needed, an alternative payment schedule, i.e. complete payment by the second month, may be negotiated.
Returned Checks: The charge for a returned check is $25. Any and all related bank fees that are the result of a returned check are the client’s responsibility.
Deposit: A deposit of $25 is required upon enrollment to hold your lesson time. This deposit will be applied to the tuition.
11. ENROLLMENT: Beginning students are informally interviewed and asked to play an audition if possible. New students are asked to sing a short favorite piece in order to determine their ability to sing on pitch. It reveals their ear training development in their musical training. Transfer students are asked to play an audition and sing a song in order to assess their current development of abilities and place them in a proper level and method of study. If a transfer student is currently studying with another instructor, I choose to not audition this student until after he or she has terminated his or her study with that instructor.
12. LESSON TERMINATION: Students may end lessons anytime; however, tuition fees are not refunded.
13. SUMMER LESSONS: Summer lessons are available and strongly advised, but not required.
13. HOLIDAYS: The studio is open year-round including most of the Summer with the exception of major holidays, Christmas break, and Spring break. The studio is closed the week after Thanksgiving, from Christmas to the beginning week of the new January school semester, Spring break and week after Easter. The studio schedule is also more flexible in the summer with teaching days reduced to one or two allowing you to sign-up when you need lessons. Lessons may occur as usual on lesser holidays.
14. SCHEDULE: Please note that I do not follow a particular public/private school schedule for staff preparation/student holidays. If the public /privateschool system has, for example, a teacher in-service day, do not assume we are closed. When in doubt, please check the website calendar so you do not forfeit your lesson.
15. LESSON PROTOCOL: Please don’t bring gum, food, drinks or candy into the studio for lessons. Arrive in time for restroom use and washing of hands before each lesson. Students and their families are asked to park in the circle driveway close to the mailbox and pulling up as close as possible to the car in front. Please be certain to enter the studio quietly, remove your shoes, wash your hands and have all materials out (ready to present to your teacher) before each lesson. If you have arrived early, be prepared to work on your theory work until lesson times.
If you wish, call or leave a message.
512-327-0266
I have read the above policies and wish more information and to enroll or be
placed on a waiting list: ____________________________
