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Required Home Equipment
- Well-tuned, well-lit acoustic piano
- Bench at an appropriate height
- Metronome
Your piano needs tuned at least once a year. The studio recommends the tuners at Dunkley Music Store, 342-5549.
Tuition
Tuition is $60/month (30-minute lessons) or $80/month (45-minute lessons) from September through May. A $10 monthly discount is available for the second and third person in a family. Monthly invoices are sent by email. Costs for materials and event fees are added to the invoice as applicable.
Tuition for each month is due at or before the first lesson of the month. Payment methods: cash, check, or credit card at www.handmade-music.com. A $3.00 per-student fee will be charged for late payment, regardless of the reason. A $25.00 fee will be charged for bounced payment.
Students are encouraged to continue lessons during the summer, as less remedial work is required in the fall and learning progresses more smoothly. Students may choose to take less than a full month of lessons each month during June through August. In this case, 30-minute lessons are $15/each and 45-minute lessons are $20 each.
Studio Closure
There are no lessons on studio holidays. Studio holidays are listed at www.handmade-music.com. If a student's regular lesson falls on a holiday, the student may reschedule their lesson to a different day, or they may choose to simply forfeit the lesson.
In cases of bad weather, the studio will close if the Nampa School District closes school, and lessons will be rescheduled to a different day.
If the teacher must cancel a lesson, tuition will be discounted to compensate for the missed lesson.
Missed Lessons
Tuition is not refunded or discounted when the student misses a lesson. If notice is given by 9:00 a.m. the day of the lesson that the lesson will be missed, we will schedule a time to make up the lesson. If notice is received after 9:00 a.m., the lesson will be forfeited.
At Your Lesson
Please be prompt, as you will receive only the time remaining if you are late. If you arrive as another student is finishing their lesson, please have a seat and wait quietly.
Always bring your assignment and music books, and make sure your hands are clean.
Practicing
Piano lessons are training in a physical skill. A physical skill is developed by slowly-acquired habits which accumulate and finally burst into seemingly natural activity.
–Richard Chronister
Regular practice is essential for progress and must receive the same priority as homework and sports practices. The student is required to practice all assignments 5-6 days per week.
Termination
The last month's tuition is paid at the time of enrollment. Therefore if you choose to terminate lessons, no tuition is due the final month, unless tuition has increased since enrollment.
The teacher may terminate lessons due to negative behavior, failure to practice, or failure to comply with studio policies.
The Triangle of Success
The integration of lessons, practice, and family encouragement can make musical education a fun and enriching experience. The studio policies help this process flow smoothly and efficiently.
Student's Role: To learn to play the piano and to practice properly
- Bring assignment and music books to every lesson.
- Practice all assignments 5-6 days per week.
- Complete assignments on time.
- Perform at all studio recitals.
Teacher's Role: To teach the student how to play and how to practice
- Plan, prepare, and teach weekly lessons.
- Maintain a quality studio environment.
- Communicate with parent and student through invoices, progress reports, newsletters, and website.
- Plan and host student recitals.
Family's Role: To support the student and see that he practices properly
- Help your child make practicing a habit. Set a routine schedule.
- Provide a positive, quiet practice environment. Keep the piano area clean and well-lit. Keep siblings and pets away, and the TV off, during practice.
- Encourage, don't discourage, improvisation. For most children, playing around on the piano is the basis for composing and just having fun!
- Contact the teacher with questions or to discuss your child's progress.
- Ask your child to play for you. Home recitals with family and friends are greatly encouraged. Every opportunity to play for others will increase your child's self-confidence, poise, and enjoyment of music study.