The Studio of Jennifer Pilling

Studio Policies

Welcome to the studio of Jennifer Pilling! I am super excited to work with you and your child over the coming months and years. There are many advantages to studying music, and even more advantages to studying the piano. Music encourages your child to be detail oriented, analytical, and creative. The piano offers a wealth of unique challenges and repertoire that assist with this.

Because musical study works best when business matters don’t interfere, this policy is intended to outline all of the expectations that I have for you and your child. Signing this document represents that you as a parent recognize your contractual agreement to abide by the rules listed and encourage your child to do the same.

Payment

Tuition is a flat fee of $60 per month. Just as you wouldn’t get a discount if your child misses dance class or football practice, you do not get a discount if your child misses lessons. I’m required to be in the studio whether or not your child shows up for lessons.

Tuition includes

• One half hour lesson per week
• Annual and semi-annual recitals
• Monthly group classes

Required Supplies

The following are supplies that parents will be expected to purchase for their child.

• Required Books
• Metronome

I will provide an assignment binder with assignment sheets, nail-clippers, a pencil, and stickers.

Makeup Lessons

Makeup lessons are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Most teachers, myself included, teach a full schedule of students and we have a hard time fitting make-up lessons into our days. However, I WILL offer makeup lessons on my specified makeup day for cases of illness. If your child is ill you must call and cancel their lesson in order to schedule the makeup. Makeup lessons will also be offered in rare cases of family emergency, but these cases will be left to my discretion.

Latecomers

Please arrive 5 minutes early for your lessons. I cannot extend your lesson time if you are late because it will cut into another student’s time. Likewise, please go over any questions or concerns at the beginning of your child’s lesson so we don’t cut into the next student’s time.

Practice Requirements

Learning to play the piano takes work. I have found over the years that the parents and students who understand this are the ones who succeed. I will always assign your children pieces that are completely within their abilities if they put in the required amount of work. I will assign students practice times based on the pieces they are working on and their ages and ability levels. However, as a general rule, these are the practice requirements I expect for each age level.

• 5-6 year olds: 2 sessions of 15 minutes each day
• 7-9 year olds: 2 sessions of 20 minutes each day
• 10-12 year olds: 45 minutes each day
• 12 and older: 60 minutes each day

Point System

I feel that one of the most important things a child can learn from music study is how to make and reach goals. These goals could include passing off sections of their technique sheet, memorizing a piece, or practicing for a certain length of time. Goals we make in lessons will be tailored to the student’s needs. As a reward for completing weekly goals, students will receive points. A maximum of 20 points can be earned each week with 5 bonus points for exceptional performance. Every six months we will have a point auction where the students can “spend” their points for fun prizes.

Parent Involvement

Parent attendance at lessons is highly encouraged for the first year of lessons or until the child is 8 years old. Additionally, parents should be actively involved in their child’s practice sessions. Parent involvement in practice is directly related to the progress of the student. Despite the age of the student parents should assist their child by:

• Giving encouraging words
• Making available practice times and not allowing disturbances from friends and other family members during these times
• Seeing that all practicing is done
• Working out a reward system for tasks accomplished
• Sitting in on the practice sessions for short periods each day, simply to compliment, not to criticize or help
• Getting the child to and from lessons on time

Probation

As unfortunate as it is, there are rare cases where I simply feel that a student is not holding their own in the studio. These are students who lack commitment, repeatedly refuse to practice, have consistent bad attitudes, or rarely come to lessons. In the rare case that this happens I will have discussions with you and your child. If no improvement is noted over a period of four weeks, then the student will be placed on probation for four weeks. If there is still no improvement then I will be happy to discuss finding an alternate teacher for your child.

I have read and I agree to the terms and conditions of this policy statement.

__________________________ (Print Name)
__________________________ (Signature)
__________________________ (Date)