Policies
Practicing:
Practice supplies (at home):
Lesson Protocol:
Recital Participation:
Workshop Participation:
- To make satisfactory progress, students are expected to “train” daily by practicing. They may be required to keep a practice log noting their daily practice time.
- Young students (ages 10 and under) will need significant parental assistance and supervision in practicing. Older students (ages 10-14) will still require some parental supervision, support, and encouragement.
- Suggested daily practice lengths will be discussed in lessons. For beginners and/or students under 8 years, the daily practice suggested is 30 minutes. For intermediate level students (or ages 8-11), suggested practice time is 45+ minutes. For students ages 12+, the suggested minimum daily practice time is 60 minutes on weekdays, 90 minutes on weekends.
- All students will need some encouragement and occasional "pushes" to practice. Be gentle and firm. Just like homework is expected for school, practicing is expected for piano lesson enrollment.
- Please read these helpful tips on effective practicing.
Practice supplies (at home):
- Acoustic/Digital* piano (acoustic instruments should be tuned at least once a year)
- *Digital piano must have 88 weighted keys piano with pedal attachment, sturdy frame (not X-stand), and adjustable bench. For tips on what to look for: http://techland.time.com/2014/01/23/the-definitive-guide-to-digital-pianos/
- Audio or Video Recorder
- Metronome (recommended: Korg KDM2)
- Dictionary of Musical Terms (or access to online music dictionary, e.g. http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/)
- Pedal extender for younger/smaller students (inquire for details)
- And... please keep your fingernails trimmed short
Lesson Protocol:
- Students are expected to arrive on time for their lesson. Lessons that started late due to student tardiness will not be extended and will end at the regularly scheduled time. Please enter the studio approximately two minutes prior to the start of your lesson time (not earlier, so as to respect the concentration of the student before you)
- Supplies to be brought to each lesson: music/theory books that we are currently using, Piano Prodigies assignment book, video recorder or phone with video capabilities
- Respectful behavior to your teacher as well as to other students is expected. Inappropriate behavior may result in dismissal from a lesson/recital.
Recital Participation:
- Participation in recitals is optional but strongly encouraged. Recitals allows students to showcase all that they have practiced (and test their mettle), but also provide students with a specific goal, exposes them to a variety of piano literature, introduces them to other students who share their interest in music, and allows them to receive positive feedback from community audiences
- Dress code: please err on the side of elegance and modesty. Do not hesitate to ask if clarification is needed.
- Recitals organized by Piano Prodigies are included in your registration fee.
- Recital opportunities organized by other organizations may incur an additional fee.
Workshop Participation:
- Participation in workshops is optional but strongly encouraged. Topics may include dance/movement, theatre, stage presence, world music, early keyboard instruments, topics in music history and theory, composer immersions, and practice forums.
- An additional fee may apply for workshop participation.
Cancellations
When you register for lessons, you are reserving a specific weekly time for the duration of the lesson contract. Thus, makeup lessons are not offered for student cancellations due to schedule conflicts, including sports and extracurricular activities, family travel outside of school vacations, medical appointments, etc.
Regardless of circumstances and timing, please always provide notification of the cancellation (phone call, text message, or email). When the studio is given advance notification of a cancellation, students who have missed one or more lessons will be invited to take that opening. Please note that this "make-up" may be shorter than the student's regularly scheduled lesson and/or may be shared with another student at a similar level.
Student Illness: If a student is ill (cough, sneezing, fever, etc.) please do not bring him/her to the lesson. If the student is feeling up to it, a virtual lesson may be scheduled at the student's original lesson time (Skype, Facetime, Google Video Chat). Otherwise, you will be placed on a makeup list (see above).
Severe Weather: Please call or email to discuss options. We may be able to schedule a virtual lesson (Skype, Facetime, Google Video Chat) at the student's original lesson time (see below).
Instructor Cancellation: In the event the instructor cancels a lesson due to professional reasons, health, or unforeseen circumstances, students will receive notification and the lesson will be rescheduled. The instructor reserves the right to occasionally use a competent substitute teacher.
For one-time lesson swaps due to conflicting events such as sports, travel, medical appointments, etc., parents are encouraged to exchange lesson times with other families in the studio. Please ask teacher for swap list. If two or more children are taking lessons and one is unable to attend his/her lesson, another child in the family may use this lesson time.
Regardless of circumstances and timing, please always provide notification of the cancellation (phone call, text message, or email). When the studio is given advance notification of a cancellation, students who have missed one or more lessons will be invited to take that opening. Please note that this "make-up" may be shorter than the student's regularly scheduled lesson and/or may be shared with another student at a similar level.
Student Illness: If a student is ill (cough, sneezing, fever, etc.) please do not bring him/her to the lesson. If the student is feeling up to it, a virtual lesson may be scheduled at the student's original lesson time (Skype, Facetime, Google Video Chat). Otherwise, you will be placed on a makeup list (see above).
Severe Weather: Please call or email to discuss options. We may be able to schedule a virtual lesson (Skype, Facetime, Google Video Chat) at the student's original lesson time (see below).
Instructor Cancellation: In the event the instructor cancels a lesson due to professional reasons, health, or unforeseen circumstances, students will receive notification and the lesson will be rescheduled. The instructor reserves the right to occasionally use a competent substitute teacher.
For one-time lesson swaps due to conflicting events such as sports, travel, medical appointments, etc., parents are encouraged to exchange lesson times with other families in the studio. Please ask teacher for swap list. If two or more children are taking lessons and one is unable to attend his/her lesson, another child in the family may use this lesson time.
Dear Piano Prodigies Families,
Just a gentle reminder that if the roads are bad, we have an alternative to cancelling lessons: an ONLINE lesson via Facetime, Google Hangouts, or Skype. The lesson would take place during your regularly scheduled lesson time and thus avoids us having to reschedule.
Procedures:
1. EMAIL ME:
Please reach out as soon as you have made a decision to opt for an online lesson for that day. Advance notice is helpful, as I may not check my phone if I am teaching other students. If it's a last-minute decision, please call or text me 443-854-3773 as well.
Let me know which you prefer: FaceTime or Google Hangouts (eborowsky@gmail.com), or Skype (GirlPianist83). You should hear back from me well before your lesson time. If not, please reach out to me closer to your lesson time to confirm that I have received your message. You can also reach me on my landline: 603-727-9015
2. PREPARE:
Email me (not text message, my phone doesn't receive picture messages) a photo of the last week's assignment page. Or just email me a list of the assignments. I need a reminder of what we are working on so I can grab my own books to work from during the lesson.
Charge your device :)
2. SET-UP:
Place a the laptop or camera (iPad, etc) so that I can see the side profile view of the student (at a height in which I can see the keyboard and the student's entire upper body). The student should be able to see me as well by glancing at the screen :) Tip: I use a step ladder, set about 3 feet from the piano, and place my laptop on the highest rung.
Be sure to have a pencil and your assignment notebook on hand. It's really helpful (for students 14 & under) to have a parent on hand to take notes and assist if there are any connection issues.
And, of course, make sure you have all the books we are using :)
3. CONNECT with me at your regular lesson time. I'll be ready to go - ring me at our start time.
It's not perfect (there are sometimes momentary glitches in sound/connection) but it IS effective (I've gotten used to it over the years!), and it makes good use of a "snow day" and allows us to keep our lesson schedule. And... it keeps you safe! :)
Best wishes,
Elizabeth
P.S. The Spring lesson and event calendar will be sent out shortly.
Just a gentle reminder that if the roads are bad, we have an alternative to cancelling lessons: an ONLINE lesson via Facetime, Google Hangouts, or Skype. The lesson would take place during your regularly scheduled lesson time and thus avoids us having to reschedule.
Procedures:
1. EMAIL ME:
Please reach out as soon as you have made a decision to opt for an online lesson for that day. Advance notice is helpful, as I may not check my phone if I am teaching other students. If it's a last-minute decision, please call or text me 443-854-3773 as well.
Let me know which you prefer: FaceTime or Google Hangouts (eborowsky@gmail.com), or Skype (GirlPianist83). You should hear back from me well before your lesson time. If not, please reach out to me closer to your lesson time to confirm that I have received your message. You can also reach me on my landline: 603-727-9015
2. PREPARE:
Email me (not text message, my phone doesn't receive picture messages) a photo of the last week's assignment page. Or just email me a list of the assignments. I need a reminder of what we are working on so I can grab my own books to work from during the lesson.
Charge your device :)
2. SET-UP:
Place a the laptop or camera (iPad, etc) so that I can see the side profile view of the student (at a height in which I can see the keyboard and the student's entire upper body). The student should be able to see me as well by glancing at the screen :) Tip: I use a step ladder, set about 3 feet from the piano, and place my laptop on the highest rung.
Be sure to have a pencil and your assignment notebook on hand. It's really helpful (for students 14 & under) to have a parent on hand to take notes and assist if there are any connection issues.
And, of course, make sure you have all the books we are using :)
3. CONNECT with me at your regular lesson time. I'll be ready to go - ring me at our start time.
It's not perfect (there are sometimes momentary glitches in sound/connection) but it IS effective (I've gotten used to it over the years!), and it makes good use of a "snow day" and allows us to keep our lesson schedule. And... it keeps you safe! :)
Best wishes,
Elizabeth
P.S. The Spring lesson and event calendar will be sent out shortly.
