Bullet List Policy Review
- Lesson Time – Your lesson time is a regularly scheduled time. You are not only paying for excellent musical instruction, but for a reserved block of your instructor’s time. Music lessons are organized into three Modules – Fall (Sept. through Jan.), Spring (Feb. through June), and Summer (July and Aug.). Fall and Spring Modules contain 16 lessons each, and Summer contains 6. Vacation weeks are calculated into the schedule. Thus, some months may contain four lessons, some three, etc.. Remember – you are paying for professional instruction, with a professional person, and in a professional setting.
- Lesson length is determined by the student's age or ability with half-hour sessions recommended for young children and hour lessons suggested for more advanced and adult students due to the amount of material covered.
- Tuition - Your music tuition is the cost of your block of regularly scheduled lesson time and is divided into even monthly payments for your convenience, your instructor’s security, and serves as your retainer for excellent instruction. You are not paying for individual lessons or lessons per month, but for a term of study. Payment must either be paid in full or by the first of the month and must be paid before your lesson or module. If there is no payment, no lessons will be given. No pay – no play. If your payment is ten or more days late, please add a fifteen dollar late-fee to your payment. You can pay by check, cash, credit or debit card, or PayPal to pay your tuition online. Some students pay for several months at a time or pay their tuition in full. Tuition is your instructor’s salary and must be paid on time, by the first for the month. Imagine if your own employer told you, “I forgot to make out payroll,” or “I’ll pay you next week or when I get around to it.”
- Missed Lessons – Since faculty members reserve a weekly teaching slot for each student, they are not required to make up lessons missed due to student absence. At the teacher's discretion, one make-up lesson can be offered with a valid excuse and 24-hour notice from the student. There are no make-ups for same-day cancellations. Lessons must be made up within the module in which they were to be had. No more than one make-up lesson is allowed per term. We try to be accommodating, but remember, you are paying for a reserved space in your teacher’s schedule each week. That is your lesson time. If you try and change times, you are leaving your teacher with your unused scheduled time and asking for an additional hour or half hour, thus requesting twice the time you paid for. Just think – what would happen if you missed an evening art or math class or workshop? How about if you missed a soccer game or could not attend a sports practice?
- Practice – The key to musical success is practice. Students must have an instrument at home, take their lessons seriously, and practice regularly. Your instructor shows you how to practice, but the secret of learning is your own hard work. Students receive a work sheet at each lesson and are expected to practice the assigned material each week. The student’s attitude needs to be not “I hate to practice,” but “I love to play!” Remember – if you don’t get better, you get worse!
- Performances – All except beginning students are encouraged to take part in recitals throughout the year. Taking lessons without having a chance to play for others is like taking a class and missing your finals and graduation.
- Purchasing Music – If you are to learn, you must invest in music and order it or pick it up promptly. Not having the proper materials impedes musical progress. We do obtain and sell some music for students and some may be purchased online here for your convenience.
- Practice Helps – All students should have a metronome. A recording device can also be helpful. Marking and analysis on the musical score is also important.
- The Musical Mindset – Please arrive at your lessons on time. There are generally students scheduled right before and after you. Your lesson is a time of adventure, excitement, exploration, and creativity. A student cannot be at his or her best if they run in gasping for air after a sports event or are tired. One needs to be centered, relaxed, and ready to learn!
- Scheduling – PLEASE! Do not schedule a new activity on your lesson day or cancel out with the excuse “something came up.” You have your lesson time which you paid for on that day at that time. That is what happens on that day and that time. When “something comes up,” the correct response is “I have my scheduled music lesson at that time.” (Of course, legitimate emergencies arise, but a coach calling for an emergency game or spending more time at the beach are not among them. What does this say about the seriousness of musical study?) Please review the above session on Missed Lessons.
- It Goes Without Saying – but in these days of informality and secularism it must be said (after much discussion with instructors) – We request that all students dress modestly and appropriately for an appointment with a professional person. No beach wear is acceptable. Not hats, caps, food, or gum, at lessons. It is traditional, respectful, and expected that men and boys do not wear hats indoors. No extreme shorts or skirts, or revealing clothing. No bare feet are acceptable. No sandals or flip-flops are acceptable for pedal work on piano or organ and real shoes must be worn for support. Clean hands are a must. Appropriate forms of address are to be used. No matter how young the student, it is never too early to begin courtesy and good manners.
- Organ Students - remember that your lessons are in the church, a sacred space, and that you must dress modestly out of respect. There are to be no shorts or revealing tops, and students must wear appropriate shoes for playing the organ.
- Recital Time – There are a number of performances each year and these must be taken seriously. You will be notified of them in advance and are expected to participate in them. This is part of your complete musical experience. Performers are expected to dress in their “Sunday best” – shirt, tie, long trousers, (perhaps a sport coat) for boys, and dresses or skirts and blouses for girls. All must wear real shoes. Good manners prevail.
- Extras - All students are encouraged to take part in email contests and workshops. These activities are designed to stimulate interest and enjoyment and get students more involved. Please do not take them lightly.
- The basic policy is to be nice to each other and show respect and seriousness for your musical journey. You can’t imagine the fun you will have!
- Communication – Please keep closely in touch with your instructor. Parents are welcome and encouraged to sit in on lessons.
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Students who do not adhere to conservatory policies may be dropped from our programs.