Parent Resources

Schedule

I am currently teaching Tuesdays and Thursdays in Sneads Ferry and Wednesdays and Fridays in Wilmington. I will do my best to schedule your student conveniently for both of us. Active students get schedule preferences over new ones.

There are no lessons on government holidays unless specified.

School Lesson Schedule:

Tuesdays- 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Wednesdays- 2:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Thursdays- 2:45 PM - 8:00 PM

Fridays- 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Summer/ Intercession Lesson Schedule:

Registration,Tuition, Fees, and Lessons

1. There is a one-time non-refundable registration fee of $10 to begin lessons with me. This helps to cover the cost of printing materials, stickers, stamps, licensing fees, and other goodies. I also love donations of stickers!

2. Lessons are once a week, all month long, all year round- with a 2-3 week break after exams or recitals and breaks for holidays. Additional breaks can be scheduled with 2 weeks’ notice.

3. Tuition is billed during the last week of each month for the subsequent month and invoices are emailed. Payments should be made electronically or by check by the fifth of each month, regardless of the date of your first lesson that month. I prefer not to accept cash, though speak with me if you need an exception. Tuition is paid in advance and secures your lesson day and time for the month.

4. Rates: 30 minute lesson $16.00 each (paid in advance)

45 minute lesson $24.00 each (paid in advance)

60 minute lesson $32.00 each (paid in advance)

10 minute lesson overages $5 each (paid the following month)

5. Fees: $15 late fee if tuition is paid after the fifth of each month.

6. Books and other music materials are purchased by the student and are not included in the lesson fee. Curriculum books typically cost about $25-40 every 6 months. I can purchase them for you and you reimburse me, or you can purchase them directly. Either is fine!

7. Most of the student's piano music will be purchased by the student. Some will be loaned to students. Please take good care of borrowed music and return when done! Keep your music in a safe place at home and while traveling to and from lessons. I highly recommend students carry their books in a bag dedicated for that purpose; students typically have three or more books at any given time to keep track of.

8. Students will also be responsible for purchasing a ½” hard-bound binder for building their sheet music collection. I often assign music outside of curriculum books and students are always free to bring in sheet music from school, home, or church to learn. You will likely have to obtain the binder through Amazon or an office supply company (like Staples or Office Depot), since ½” rigid binders are harder to come by.

9. Recitals (which are held at least once a year), may incur a fee for liability insurance and renting a venue. This fee will be divided equally among piano student families (Everyone pays the same share, regardless of the number of students in their family). The fee has ranged from $20- $80 per family, depending on venue.

Group Lessons

During Intercession, group lessons may be offered instead of or in addition to private lessons. Group lessons focus on rhythm mastery, musical term review, performance, and group playing. Group lessons help alleviate stage fright, lesson monotony, and trouble with rhythm.

1. Group lessons are between 60-90 minutes long, depending on level.

2. At least two students in the same level must wish to participate to form a group class.

3. The cost is $22/ hour or $33/ ninety minute class.

4. All music is provided to each student during class.

Cancellation/ Missed Class Policy

1. Please give me at least 24 hours notice if you find you are not able to keep your lesson time. There are no deductions or refunds for “no-show” missed lessons. Students who notify me 24 hours in advance that they will not be attending their lesson will receive a credit.

2. No credits will be given for those who cancel lessons after 8am on the day of lesson- unless there is an emergency or other unforeseen event in your family. Illnesses are not an emergency unless they require unexpected hospitalization.

3. One makeup class per student per quarter* or an equivalent credit will be given for absences due to illness which do not meet the 24 hour notice requirement. Make-up classes cannot be rescheduled.

*Standard calendar quarters- Quarter 1: Jan-Mar, Quarter 2: Apr-Jun, Quarter 3: Jul-Sept, Quarter 4: Oct-Dec

4. If you wish to take an extended break or drop piano classes, a two-week notice is requested. Please note that you are not guaranteed the same lesson day or time upon your return if your break is longer than 2 weeks. Regular tuition bills (minus your excused break) will still be sent and still remain due on the fifth of the month if you have any lesson for that month.

Practice Environment

1. You must either own an acoustic piano or a full-length digital piano (with 88 weighted, full-size keys; with soft and damper pedals - a sostenuto pedal is not required) before the completion of Primer Level. You must own a suitable instrument from the beginning in order to practice.

Your piano must be in good working condition. All the keys and pedals must work. Ideally, a piano should be serviced (tuned) once a year: once bi-annually is a minimum. Please maintain your piano! It will make a big difference in how much your child enjoys piano. I can recommend a piano technician or you can look online. Love your piano! Electric keyboards or organs are not an adequate substitute for piano practicing! My reasoning is: I teach piano, not keyboarding.

I understand many people do not have room for a piano or they simply move too frequently for it to be a reasonable piece of furniture. Digital pianos are wonderful, provided they are comparable to pianos. If you would like assistance or recommendations in this type of purchase, please let me know. I would much rather take the time to help you pick out something and you have the right instrument to play at home, than you to pick out something on your own that hinders musical progress!

2. You or your child must be able to practice in a place that is comfortable (clean and warm) and without distractions (that means TV + piano = not compatible). Unless you are assisting your young child's learning, try to minimize interruptions. If your child has younger siblings who frequent the practice area, try to allow your child a sufficient time to practice without “accompaniment” of sibs. Sometimes setting a timer can help ensure practice time!

Expectations

1. Students are expected to practice 5-6 days each week, for 20 minutes.

2. Primer and Level 1 students can typically complete their daily assignments in 10-15 minutes.

Level 2 – 3 students should spend a minimum of 20 minutes during practice.

Level 4 – and above students should expect to spend 30-60 minutes daily.

Often, a beginning student’s assignment will not take very long to play three times. In this case, students should play past songs, try new music, or compose new songs. The point is to spend 20 minutes playing the piano. Keep in mind that if you don’t put in adequate time, then expect mediocre or stagnant progress.

3. Most students will also do theory (written) work which is important to your child's musical development. I liken the necessity of theory work to learning to write: you would never teach your child only to read and not to write in this day and age! It is the same for music: I teach both the reading and writing parts of music. Music homework needs to be done in pencil!

4. Students are expected to work on their lessons and assignments at home. After lesson work is done, students may improvise, "play around," or sight read new music on the piano. I encourage this type of creative exploration but I think it should be done within the discipline of learning their lessons. I am also more than happy to help young students who are interested in writing music. I have a special composition curriculum for students who want to compose!

5. If written homework is not completed prior to lesson time, the student may be expected to use his or her lesson time to complete the work, and the remaining time may be used for lesson. Students who do not complete music theory work or do not practice will find trouble in moving forward musically!

Photo and Video Consent

Video recording of a student’s pieces is sometimes part of lesson time, though is an optional experience. Videos do not typically show faces and are never posted. They serve as instrumental in tracking progress, sharing successes with parents and other family, and for a student to critique his own performance. Once a video has been sent to a parent, it is then deleted from my recording devices. Photos are taken for recitals and may be posted online for other piano student families to see. If you would like to opt out in either (or both) video or photo opportunities, please complete a waiver.