Studio Policies
Thank you for allowing me to help you along your musical journey! To provide the most effective, creative teaching possible, I have established the following studio policies for online lessons.
Individual Lessons - Online and In-Person
Individual lessons are given to students of all ages and levels. Students receive a 30-, 45-, or 60-minute individual lesson weekly, except during studio breaks and holidays, recital days, and event days. An individualized, comprehensive curriculum is developed for each student introducing age-appropriate literature from all style periods. Theory, music history, tone production, and healthy technique are integrated into each lesson. Students are encouraged to participate in studio activities and incentive programs and are expected to perform in the Winter and Spring Recitals.
Preschool and Kindergarten
Preschool children (typically 3, 4, and 5-year-olds) are taught in a private lesson format. Lessons for preschoolers move quickly and cover several different topics in short, fun segments which cycle and repeat several times over the 30 or 45-minute lesson. These segments are designed to stimulate the recognition and comprehension skills of young children as they work interactively to learn about things such as a sense of pulse and beat, white- and black-key groupings, high sounds vs low sounds, moving up and down the keyboard, steps and skips, finger numbers, music symbols, and much more, all in a way that they can clearly understand. This approach helps young students develop improved hand/eye coordination as well as fine and gross motor skills, while building their confidence and learning responsibility.
Communication
I can be reached by email, phone call, or text and will respond as promptly as possible. Feel free to write me at any time to discuss your child, provide feedback, or ask questions. I love hearing from you!
Reading emails, newsletters, and web site notices will keep you informed as well as “liking” the Aine Wendler On-Line Piano Studio page on Facebook. Please make sure that the email address I have on file for you is up to date.
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If something is happening at home or school that is affecting your child, please let me know. Please err on the side of letting me know more so I can be sensitive to the needs of your child.
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I am happy to provide a written progress report upon request. Similarly, I am available via phone or in person for parent conferences, or to discuss any problems/ frustrations that might be happening at home (for example, how to help your elementary-aged student practice, or putting a stop to “Practice Wars!”) I welcome any feedback about your student. If I know what motivates your student, what they especially enjoy, or what they dread, I can help nurture them by modifying their individualized plan of study.
Commitment
Enrolling in the studio is a firm commitment for the entire studio year, including the Summer Semester. Most importantly, students lose momentum and skills developed when they discontinue their study during the summer, thus negatively impacting the student’s progress and the parent’s investment. During the summer, the studio offers opportunities to participate in a summer music festival, schedule extra lessons, and to schedule some additional special interest lessons for Theory, Performance Techniques, Music History, Piano Literature, Church Music, Jazz and Pop Music (including reading a lead sheet or playing from a fake book), and more. Students who do not enroll for summer lessons will not be guaranteed a spot in the studio for the next year. If you are taking some time off in the summer, your lesson time must be paid for otherwise I will offer unpaid time slots to people on my studio waiting list.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition is factored for the Studio Year and divided into monthly installments. The tuition covers 40 billable lessons plus individualized plans for each student’s course of study, development of teaching materials and supplemental curricula, continuing education/ professional development, event planning, and written progress reports for each student (upon request or conference). The monthly tuition does not relate to a certain number of lessons per month -- it is merely the yearly tuition broken up for your convenience. The tuition is the same amount each month.
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An annual non-refundable studio fee of $100.00 per student is required, and payable, in September of each new studio year, or upon enrollment. For families with more than one student, the fee for the second and each additional student is $50. Additionally, there is a $50.00 annual recital fee per family.
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Each family will be asked to fill out a direct deposit authorization form. Tuition is direct deposited into the studio account on the first day of each month. Please talk to me if interested in an alternative form of payment.
Tuition pays for much more than just lesson time with your child; therefore, no refunds or credit will be given for missed lessons. If a student misses a lesson, they will simply miss the benefit of that lesson. However, with advance notice and a valid excuse (not birthday parties, sporting events, sport, dance, vacation, or gymnastic commitments, etc.), individual lessons may be rescheduled if a mutually convenient time is available on the studio calendar, up to a maximum of two times per semester.
I cannot create time and offer make-up lessons in the event of a “no-show” or “forgotten” lesson. If you are on a vacation, I cannot “subsidize” that trip by credits or trying to schedule makeup times if no one exist.
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Any lessons missed by the teacher due to illness or emergency will be rescheduled as soon as possible or credited if a convenient time is not available.
FLEX DAYS: Days built into the schedule where lessons can be cancelled at no loss to either party.
Try to choose a lesson time in which you feel confident. Please understand that the tuition you pay reserves an exclusive weekly time in my schedule for your child and, unlike many service professionals, I cannot resell that time nor can I create extra teaching time in which to give lessons.
Materials and Equipment
I will provide families with all of the pertinent information for all other music to be obtained. You may purchase music on line through www.sheetmusicplus.com, www.jwpepper.com, or www.amazon.com . Music can, also, be special ordered through me payable in advance.
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For on-line lessons the student will need a good internet connection, a device with a screen that allows for good visibility for the student to see demonstrations of technique as well as their instrument. Optional, but very helpful, gear would be an additional web camera to focus more closely on their hands, a small mike so that I can hear their voices (some children have very soft voices and it is difficult to hear them speak), and a tripod or stand to enhance the on-screen visibility of the child at the piano.
All students must have an appropriate instrument for correct growth and development. This would include an acoustic (preferable) piano or digital piano with graded hammer action weighted keys for home practice. Just as you can’t learn to drive without a car, a student can’t learn to play the piano without a piano. The quality of a student’s home instrument plays a significant role in their potential for success. Keyboards are not instruments; they are computers. Except for the first 60 days of lessons, they are not interchangeable with a piano. Pianos are readily available at a relatively low cost. If you aren’t sure where to start in the process of buying one, I would be happy to help you discover some great options.
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Acoustic pianos should be tuned at least once a year and kept in good working order. If you prefer a digital piano, please invest in a full-sized keyboard with graded hammer-action, weighted, touch-sensitive keys and pedals.
Students will need a metronome for home practice. There are many places to purchase mechanical or digital metronomes, and I would be happy to help you procure one. Alternatively, there are a number of free metronome apps for smart phones and tablets that can be used if you prefer that option.
Practice
The study of music is rewarding and enjoyable, but it is also work! A daily (4-6 X per week) practice schedule is essential for good musical growth. Shorter, daily practice sessions are more effective than one or two long practice sessions per week. I strongly encourage practicing five to six out of seven days (this does include the lesson day) with one to two “days(s)off.” An important time for students to practice is right after their weekly lesson, to solidify what they have just learned. Research has shown that retention of new knowledge drops to 60% after just 24 hours.
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When practicing, piano students are encouraged to follow assignment sheets (this means to open the binder and read the enclosed assignment sheet) and work toward musical goals rather than simply counting minutes. A general guideline is 10 minutes per day for preschoolers, 15 - 20 minutes per day for beginners, 30-45 minutes per day for third- or fourth-year students, and one hour or more for students beyond that level.
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Parental involvement in home practice is crucial for student success. Please help your student to establish and stick to a practice routine, and see that practice time is free of distractions. Younger students (and sometimes even teens) need parental guidance to ensure their assignments are completed before their next lesson. If you are the parent of an elementary age student, please consider sitting with your child for a few minutes of their weekly practice goals.
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I frequently offer ideas that will help with quality practicing, and students are encouraged to participate in studio incentive programs. Please encourage your child to use these practice tips and work toward their goals.
Discontinuing Lessons
It is anticipated that a student will study for the full studio year. However, I understand that sometimes lessons just don’t work out or life gets in the way. Please make this decision thoughtfully with plenty of discussion between the teacher, parent, and student so that lessons can cease with a positive sense of closure. I request the courtesy of 30 days’ notice in the event of stopping lessons.
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Regrettably, I reserve the right to dismiss a student in any of these circumstances, without refund of that month’s tuition:
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Failure to make payments promptly. Persistent absences or tardiness.
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Missing lessons without notification of studio.
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Non-participation in recitals
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Non-compliance with Recital Policies and Guidelines.
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Failure to provide the completed registration form and signed policy statement for my files.
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Failure to provide a current email for invoicing and communication.
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Failure to honor studio policies.
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Uncooperative attitude.
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Frequent lack of lesson readiness (not bringing materials, not following assignments and practice standards)
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Lack of progress due to insufficient practice or other unfulfilled requirements
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Inappropriate or disrespectful behavior.