DO NOT come to your session sick. Schedule a makeup, stay home, rest and work on getting well. A fever, "a little bit of a sore throat", a sore throat, over exhaustion, vocal fatigue and allergies are all reasons to cancel your lesson. Please consider your health and the health and wellness of those around you.
DO come to your session on time and with your materials.
Piano Students: Please wash your hands before you begin.
ACCOMPANIST SERVICES:
I do very little accompanying for my students outside of student recitals. I do not accompany my students in auditions or competitions. Students that need accompanists need to arrange them on their own or use accompanists that I have secured for special performances. Students are responsible for paying their own accompanist fees in addition to lesson fees. My fee for accompanying students in performances outside of student recitals is $125 an hour - minimum of one hour required.
AUDITION/COMPETITION/RECITAL FEES:
Students that wish to participate in events that require me to attend extra practices with accompanists should be prepared to pay an additional fee for all additional rehearsal/coaching time. My performance preparation rate for current students is $25 an hour. My performance preparation rate for non-students is $80 an hour. Minimum of one hour.
PARTS RECORDING:
I will be happy to make parts tapes for any choral singers under the following conditions. (I will keep track of how long it takes me to record the tapes and give you a final bill.)
1) I need a clear and readable copy of the music and blank cassette tapes.
2) I need the music a week in advance.
3) The fee is $15 for each 30 minutes of work for parts tapes. If you do not provide blank cassette tapes, the fee is an additional $3 per tape.
Please do not come to your lesson and expect me to make you a part tape during your lesson time.
CONCERT ETIQUETTE:
Standard concert etiquette should be observed in all performance venues.
DO NOT enter or leave a performance space when someone is performing.
DO NOT bring small children that cannot sit quietly to performances.
DO NOT attend a concert if you are sick, sneezing or coughing.
DO turn off all electronic devices and cell phones.
POLICIES:
All coaching sessions must be paid for on the first lesson day of the month for the entire month. Any outstanding fees for materials should be paid for as soon as possible. Future coaching sessions will be terminated for non-payment.
Coaching sessions/lessons for most students are hourly appointments. I feel that my students make the most progress and are the most dedicated in hour lessons. I will offer 30 minute appointments for beginning piano students during the primer level of piano books. At the completion of the primer level the students moves to an hour lesson.
Abuse of the coaching policies and frequent "No-Show" appointments will result in cancellation of future coaching sessions.
All students and parents receive a FREE student account at MusicTeachersHelper.com. This account allows you access to your payment history and payment due dates, account balance, lesson schedule, repertoire lists, practice log, studio announcements and other related lesson information.
Students should plan to begin to build up their own music libraries (this includes CD's and sheet music.) It is not acceptable to use photocopied music or unauthorized copies of recordings that violate copyright laws. Students should begin to look at the suggested music list and discuss with me what music they should purchase. All students should consider obtaining their own music downloading service for personal use.
APPROPRIATE MUSIC SELECTIONS:
I am a strong believer that children should sing songs that are age appropriate in subject matter. I discuss the subject matter of songs with my students and I do not feel comfortable discussing adult situations and subjects with young children. It simply is not appropriate. For that reason, I am very choosy about what songs I give to my singing students. If you are a parent that wants to put your child into singing lessons in my studio, do not expect for them to be singing pop music about adult subject matter.
AVAILABILITY TO STUDENTS:
I teach Tuesdays through Saturdays and have limited openings on these days. Once I start my lessons for the day I generally do not answer the phone. After my last appointment on Saturday afternoon I am off until 10:00 am Tuesday morning. I do not return phone calls on my off time, my vacation time or on holidays. Please plan ahead if you need something and let me know before it becomes an emergency.
If you need to reach me leave a message in the student voice mail box (*2) or email me. I will get back to you as soon as I am able to do so.