Practice Policies
Practicing:
Practice supplies (at home):
- Daily practice (6 days per week) is a required commitment for all students. Students will be required to keep a practice log noting their daily practice time.
- Suggested daily practice lengths will be discussed in lessons. For beginners, the required minimal daily practice is 30 minutes. For intermediate level students (or ages 7-12), daily practice time is 45+ minutes. For students ages 13+, the minimum daily practice time is 45+ minutes. These are minimal times for students who hope to make satisfactory progress. Many students actually practice considerably more — and of course they accomplish a lot more by doing that.
- Young students will need significant parental assistance and supervision in practicing. Pre-teen students (ages 10-12) will still require some parental supervision, support, and encouragement.
- 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. See http://techland.time.com/2014/01/23/the-definitive-guide-to-digital-pianos/
- 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 students who can't reach the pedals (inquire at lesson)
Lesson Policies
- 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. You may quietly enter the studio up to 5 minutes before your scheduled lesson time.
- 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
- If student is showing continuous lack of preparation, disinterest, disrespect, or is not valuing our time together, I reserve the right to terminate our lessons.
Communication
Studio membership is limited and it is the instructor's goal to provide personal, thorough, and quick-response times to communications. The instructor may be reached by email and phone call (text messaging may be used for short inquiries). Please do not use Facebook and other messaging platforms - these accounts are not checked regularly enough to make them a viable form of communication, and will not be accepted for lesson cancellations.
If instructor is away for performances, she will accept videos to demonstrate practice progress, and will provide video or written feedback.
If instructor is away for performances, she will accept videos to demonstrate practice progress, and will provide video or written feedback.
Cancellations
When you register for lessons, you are reserving a specific weekly time for the duration of the lesson contract. The studio runs at full capacity and makeup lessons are not guaranteed. The instructor will make an effort to reschedule lessons cancelled with over 24 hours notice, however this is at the discretion and availability of the instructor. Lessons cancelled within 24 hours will not be made up.
Regardless of circumstances and timing, please always provide notification of the cancellation (phone call, text message, or email are the only accepted forms of communication). 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. 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 are the only accepted forms of communication). 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. 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.
Financial Policies
- No refunds or credits will be issued due to missed or canceled lessons.
- A late fee of 5% will be added to any payment past due, and payment will be required by credit card at th enext lesson.
- A $100 early termination fee will be applied for any student who discontinues lessons during the year (this amount will be withheld from any refund)
Recitals
- 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.
Workshops
- Participation in workshops is optional but strongly encouraged. Topics may include dance/movement, acting, stage presence, world music, early keyboard instruments, topics in music history and theory, composer immersions, and practice forums.
Media Release
- Photos of students may be posted online and used by the instructor for promotional materials (if an individual photo/video, you will be notified and asked for permission). The instructor may also post videos and audio recordings of student performances. Identifying information of students will be excluded or limited to first name only. If a parent wishes to exempt their students from any published media, they may do so by providing a written exclusion request.
