Payment
Students make monthly payments based on a set number of lessons in the trimester.  I will provide a lesson schedule for September – December, January – May, and June - August.  For example, if you take half hour lessons and there are 15 lessons in the semester, your monthly payment would be $123.75. 

Rates
$35 per half hour lesson, $47 for 45 minutes, and $65 per hour lesson.

New Students
New students will be reviewed for continuation after six lessons.  This gives both the student and myself the chance to see if we are well matched.  I do not offer complimentary trial lessons- normal rates apply to the first lesson.  I recommend students age 5 and under study Suzuki method with a certified Suzuki teacher. Visit www.suzukiassociation.org to find a teacher.

Cancellation Policy
Twenty-four hour notice is required for lesson cancellations.  If required notice is given, the missed lesson may be rescheduled within that week if my schedule will allow.  If I am unable to reschedule or student declines a make-up, the missed lesson will still be included in the pre-paid monthly fee.  If students forget to attend a scheduled lesson, the lesson must still be paid in full and will not be made up.  Naturally, kids get sick and emergencies happen.  I will do my best to reschedule these lessons later that week if space is available.  If you decide to discontinue lessons, please give advance notice and finish the month that has been paid.  This allows me to prepare for the upcoming month. If I am sick or cannot attend the lesson for any reason, I will arrange for a substitute teacher and the lesson will take place at the usual time. Substitute teachers will be Lila Sklar or Betsy London, my teaching partners, or Eric Perney, our staff accompanist.

Summer Lesson Policy
During the summer months, I try to be flexible about scheduling lessons around summer camps and family vacations.  However, for financial reasons, I must require current students to commit to and or pay for a minimum of 9 lessons within the twelve-week summer session.  If you cannot commit to 9 lessons, I must offer your spot to students on my waiting list and you will not be guaranteed a spot in the Fall. Lessons will be scheduled prior to the start of the session and you will have the option to pay a total at the beginning, or make monthly payments based on the total. Please note that lessons times shift for the summer session and again in the Fall. You are not guaranteed the same time slot you had the previous session.

Expectations
As a professional musician, I take teaching very seriously. Teaching reinforces my commitment to music and hopefully inspires my students to love and appreciate the arts. In order for me to teach at my best, my students must be dedicated to practicing and learning what I have to offer. Please consider the following expectations when deciding if lessons are right for your child.

First and foremost, playing the violin should be fun.  It’s a way for students to express their creative side and feel confident and proud of themselves.  Music is all around us and we have an opportunity to understand how it works and be part of creating it.

Lessons
Lessons are for learning new notes and songs and techniques.  Your lesson is your special time with your teacher where you get 100% percent of my attention. Please be prepared for your lesson by learning the assignment from the previous week.  I will teach you practice techniques to use at home but lessons are not practice sessions.  They are for learning new material and for building musical skills.   Lessons are more fun for you and me both if you are prepared to move ahead.
Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend lessons.  For young beginners, I require parents to be present because they are the home teacher.  As they mature, children often learn and respond differently when they work one on one with their teacher.  Many students enjoy having lessons on their own, with a parent observing once in a while.  This allows the student to develop a personal relationship with violin and music, but keeps parents involved and informed. Each student is different and we can work together to find the best learning environment for your child.

Practicing
Ninety percent of the improvement you will make on the violin happens all by yourself through practicing.  In your lesson, you will learn how and what to practice each week.  I will write an assignment in your folder and teach you how to practice at home.  You don’t need to practice for hours each day.  Consistency is the best way to improve your playing.  This means finding a time each day that you can practice a little.  It’s the same as doing your homework each day so you get smarter and can keep up with your class.  For beginners, 10 or 15 minutes a day is good.  As you improve, you will have more to practice and will need more time.  Advanced students may need up to two hours a day to cover all their material.  Make a practice schedule, mapping out what times you can practice each day.  Some days you may only have 10 minutes.  That’s okay- a little bit of time each day will make a BIG difference! It’s okay for parents to help a little.  Sometimes it’s hard to remember everything you learn in a lesson and two brains are better than one.

Commitment
Learning to play violin is a big mission.  It takes as much time and practice as being on a sports team or learning a foreign language.  Of course, it’s a lot of fun, too, and music is something you will enjoy throughout your whole life.

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