Studio Policy
Payment & Attendance
Payment in the form of postdated cheques is to be provided at the first lesson, made out for the first of each month from September to May. A deposit for the first month of lessons is to be included with the registration form. This will hold your spot for the next term.
Payment covers 32 lessons from September to May.
There are 34 weeks available in the schedule (31 for Monday classes) to allow for two teacher cancelations without need for makeup lessons. Lessons canceled by the teacher beyond this will be made up or refunded.
Extra lessons for June or August exams will be covered by an additional fee, dependent on the number of required lessons.
Additional theory lessons are available as needed at a rate of $40 per hour. Groups of two students or more will receive a rate of $25 per hour per student. * This covers any lessons required outside of your regular scheduled time *
Individual lessons for those not already registered are $50 per hour.
There are no cell phones permitted in the studio. Students with cell phones may leave them in their coat or bag on silent. The use of cell phones is not permitted during the lesson time.
We request that parents do not sit in during the lesson, unless previously discussed. This generally affects the student’s ability to focus and can impact their independent learning. If siblings have back to back lessons, the sibling may sit and wait for their lesson.
If parents have any questions or concerns they wish to discuss, please do so at the beginning of your child’s lesson time. This ensures that the next student’s lesson time is not negatively affected.
Should the student choose to discontinue lessons prior to the end of May, tuition will still be payable in full. Lesson times have been reserved for your student as a full year commitment for both parties.
Required Supplies
A piano is required for home practice. A keyboard will suffice for the beginner students, but as the student advances, it will no longer be adequate. Keyboards should have weighted keys, a pedal and have a full 88 set of keys.
Students are asked to bring a 8.5” x 11” notebook to the lesson. Notes regarding assignments, studio updates, and practice tips will be recorded in this notebook.
Lesson books will be purchased by the studio, and an invoice will be sent for the reimbursement.
A metronome is a vital tool for learning the language of music. There are many free metronome apps available for smart phone and tablet if you do not wish to purchase a metronome. Please ensure that the student has access to the metronome for all practice sessions.
What to bring to your weekly lesson:
- Music books (example: Lesson book, technique book, theory book, notebook)
- Notebook (preferably 8.5 x 11 inch notebook)
- Pencil and eraser
- Flashcards
Please note that lesson times may be shorter than the allotted time if materials are forgotten as the student is not adequately prepared.
Practice Expectations
Disciplined, regular practice is expected to develop the skills taught at each lesson. Learning the language of music is very much like learning a spoken language, as proficiency and fluency cannot be achieved merely by attending lessons. It is through thoughtful, repetitive practice that skills are developed and confidence is fostered.
Practice charts will be included in the student’s notebook and are intended for accountability and as a guide for workload to be assigned. We seek to find the balance between students learning too little per week (and becoming bored by mastering their assignments too soon), and students feeling overwhelmed by the work they have to master. Please assist us in completing the accountability loop by initialing these charts weekly.
Practice time guidelines:Very young and new beginners should plan a minimum of 20 minutes per day, 5 days per week. This should be increased to 30 minutes per day as practice material increases. Students who have reached the Royal Conservatory grade 3 and higher should use their grade as a guide for hours per week to enable rewarding progress. (For example, a grade 5 student should expect to plan for 5 hours of practice per week while a grade 8 student should plan for 8 hours per week)