Law Piano Studio

PRIVATE PIANO LESSONS

Catherine Law, Instructor

I would like to express how excited I am to have the opportunity to teach your child piano. I believe music is such an important part of life. As a piano teacher, my goal is to teach my students in a way that they are enjoying themselves while they are learning. Having taught over 29 years of piano, I have found that when students are enjoying the learning process they are most likely to stick with it. I hope I can succeed in this goal with your child.

Musical education is an investment in a lifetime of enjoying music. An appreciation for and understanding of music cultivates both creative and intellectual growth. The student will study music from the classical repertoire, from Baroque through Romantic and contemporary, including ragtime and popular music. Through this wide range of repertoire, we will also be concentrating on the areas of technique, theory, sight reading and ear training. Because I believe that music education is very important, I have established the following policies for my studio.

1) LESSONS: Private lessons are 30 minutes long, once per week. The cost is $45.00 per lesson, $65.00 for 45 mins and $90 for 60 mins, paid a month in advance. Materials are not included in the lesson fee. You will be billed monthly (reminder via text) for the lesson days in the new month, PLUS any new books added during the month. (Payment will be the price of the literature, plus sales tax and/or shipping and handling fee.) Payment is due in full, at the FIRST lesson of the month. Payments may be made by cash, check, Venmo, Zelle, Paypal, Applepay or money order. Receipts will be provided for your records. ** A $10.00 per month late fee will be charged on overdue accounts.** A $10.00 fee will be charged for NSF check. After the second NSF check, only cash payments will be accepted. There are no refunds. ** A student who does not attend a lesson will simply miss the benefit of that lesson. Your monthly fee reserves you a weekly time slot within the studio (See section 5 – Missed/Cancelled lessons)***

The studio lesson time of 30 minutes a week is only a portion of what is covered by the fee. For every hour of studio teaching time, approximately one addition hour is consumed selecting and purchasing music for study, reading new student pieces, planning and organizing recitals, writing programs, printing, studying piano instruction theory and technique, attending instructor workshops.

Exception: If you/your child become ill overnight or comes home sick, call me right away, we will schedule a make-up. ** If I should have to miss a lesson, I will call and reschedule.

SUMMER LESSONS: I continue teaching the same schedule as during the fall/winter/spring school year. However, to accommodate for vacations, I am flexible in rescheduling lessons.... For students that are vacationing, visiting grandparents/relatives, etc. for a large portion of the summer months (June, July, August) a minimum of 6 summer lessons is required to retain their place on the fall schedule (If this amount of lessons for the summer is not possible for you, I will put the student on the waiting list for a fall opening)

FYI--... Students missing a month or more are often frustrated by loss of technical facility, practice discipline, and theory skill... Many students experience startling musical growth during the summer when academic pressures have eased... I have found that a very good time for a beginner to start lessons is during the summer.

2) MUSIC PURCHASE: To make things easier for busy parents, I prefer to purchase all music (except some popular music of the students own choosing). You will receive a statement in the next month’s billing for any music that your child receives. While I never skimp on quality music, I try to choose music that is of reasonable cost and will best suit your child. A student may borrow one of my “library copies”. I am happy to lend music out for a short time, however, if it is a piece that the child should have, it should be purchased for the student. NOTE: I will use as many of a transfer student’s current books as I deem beneficial for the student. ** Please bring a large spiral bound, school-size notebook for lesson assignments. This book will also be used as a written communication ‘tool’ between you and me. ** Students should have a carrier for their music and be SURE to pack up ALL music, workbooks and assignment notebook.

3) LESSON PREPARATION: Students are required to complete their assignments each week. Daily practice is vital to musical progress. I typically do not suggest a certain amount of time to practice. I instruct each student on how to practice each piece and leave it up to them as to how long it takes to get through it each day. ** Please arrive on time with clean hands, no gum, short nails, and all materials including the assignment. Students arriving late for their lessons will NOT be given extra lesson time to make up for this. Students who arrive on time, but don’t start the lesson on time WILL be given the extra time to make up for it. I try to stay on schedule but when a student needs extra help I will give it. ** Regular attendance is expected. If you are sick, please stay home! However, an injured arm/hand is no reason to miss – there is much else we can do. There is an entire repertoire for one hand alone.

4) PRACTICE: Practicing is the student’s “homework” and should be done every day (or at least five (5) days per week). Many students, especially beginners, need help in setting up consistent practice times. It may seem hard at first to find a time every day in which to practice. I recommend that the parent and child sit down and write out a schedule of times that work the best for you. While this time could change daily, it is better to use the same time each day so it becomes a habit. Young children (up to age 8 or so) may wish to divide their practice time into two equal blocks of about 10 – 15 minutes each, or however many times it takes – divided in half. Older beginners should try to practice for the full time in one session. Practicing time includes sight-reading, technical warm-ups, written theory, creative work, and review of old pieces. I have found that it is more productive to explain to the student how to practice - ie. play, count, sing along so many times a session, rather than a certain amount of minutes. After a schedule is set up, try to let the child take complete responsibility for practicing. If needed, a weekly practice chart may be kept and reviewed at lessons. Practicing should be fun and we spend a lot of time at lessons talking about how to practice as well as what, Some of the best practicing time is usually right after a lesson because the material is fresh in their mind. Also be aware of written assignments—please check the notebook each week to assist your child with specific things to do and remember.

5) MISSED/CANCELLED LESSONS/ABSENCES: Please notify me of a lesson cancellation a minimum of 24 hours prior to lesson time. If at least 24 hours notice is given, then a make-up lesson will be scheduled at the earliest possible date. With 24 hours notice or more a refund will be given, only if a make up time cannot be agreed upon. Exceptions are serious illness or a death in the family. Absences due to illness ONLY are considered excused and will be made up at my discretion. ** Lessons missed by the teacher will definitely be made up. ** Lessons missed without prior notification cannot be made up, nor will the bill be adjusted. Please call by noon if you must cancel due to illness, and I will attempt to re-schedule the lesson later in the week.

6) TERMINATION/DISMISSALS: In the event your child decides to discontinue lessons, a one month advance written notice and payment in full of all funds owed is required. This written notice shall include tuition payment for this additional one month of lessons, whether the student attends the lessons or not. The purpose is to give the student or me the opportunity to change one’s mind about a major decision that could affect the student for life. ** If lessons are terminated in the middle of a month, the remainder of that month’s tuition will not be refunded. ** Lessons may be terminated by me in the event of on-going irregular attendance, repeated failure to prepare assigned material, disruptive behavior, equipment damage, theft, and breach of these policies and/or ethics or after three late tuition payments.

7) RECITALS: I hold two annual recital in the winter and spring—December and late April to early May. Grandparents are especially invited. All students will be encouraged to perform. I am a member of ABRSM , and encourage each of my students to participate in the exams when they are ready.

8) PIANO MAINTENANCE & EQUIPMENT: It is assumed that your child has ready access to a full (88 key) Acoustic piano in good repair/condition (all keys and pedals working) etc. Your piano should be tuned at least once a year; the results—increased student interest and motivation to play—are well worth the expense. It is very difficult to enjoy playing on an out-of-tune instrument. It is also difficult to develop strong listening skills or pedaling skills on a poor instrument. Putting off tuning is not cost effective; a piano which is very out of tune will most likely require several tunings over a period of weeks or months to bring it back to pitch. I recommend Arthur Ericksen—281-353-3866.

*** Electric Keyboards -- Please make sure you purchase one that has a full 88 key keyboard (preferable weighted keys) and a pedal.

***Each student also needs to have a working metronome. This is an important practice tool and is an investment the student will use forever. A mechanical metronome ticks more loudly than electric or electronic metronomes, and therefore I recommend this type.

*** If you are considering the purchase of a used piano, it is worth the small appraisal fee to have a technician look over the piano for cracks in the sound board, water damage, broken parts, etc. He/she also can advise you whether the price asked is appropriate and how much you probably will have to spend in the next five years in extra repairs because it is a used instrument. *** I have also found that a rent to purchase the first year has been a good investment for beginning students.

9) HOLIDAYS & VACATIONS: Lessons are provided year-round, with a Christmas break from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day. No lessons will be given on Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July. If scheduling permits, make-up lessons are offered but are not guaranteed for these one day holidays.** On school early-release days, lessons will be at the usual time.