Studio Policy

I love music. I love children. I love to teach.

I believe music is one of the greatest joys of life and is a gift from God. Whether you are a passive listener, an active listener, one who sings along to the radio or CDs, an amateur singer or player, or a musician trained on any level, music pervades our lives. For me, a life-long lover of music, the more I have learned about music the more fascinated with it I have become. It is a passion and honor for me to be able to teach musicianship to others, children or adults. While my principal and favorite instrument is piano, I teach more than just “how to play”. I try to instill in students good listening skills, self-discipline, and an understanding of musicianship in general.
I take the job of teaching music very seriously while I have a great time doing it. To assist in this task I have some guidelines that will help me teach, and will help my students learn, more effectively. Please take the time to read this policy all the way through. Call me with any questions or concerns. Most of the references here refer to children, because most of my students are children. However, these same policies apply to all my students regardless of age or ability to drive a car.

Policy Guide
(short version – explanations follow in order, PLEASE take the time to read them.)
Attendance – Attitude – Arrival
Student’s life inventory
Regular attendance
Illness
Parents as Advocates
The night before the lesson
The day of the lesson
Fees – Payments – Materials
Initial Fee
Lesson Fee
Materials
Practice – Recitals – Competitions
Regular Practice
Recitals
Competitions
Communication – Resources
My phone number
My email address
Piano Technicians
Music Stores

___________________________________________________________________
Attendance – Attitude – Arrival
Before a student undertakes the study of music the parents and child need to take inventory of that student’s life. In today’s world children have many opportunities for activities like church, scouting, sports, dance, choirs, or another musical instrument. Parents and children must pick and choose. No one can do everything, but what you do choose will be much more rewarding if there is commitment and minimal time pressure.
The habit of regular attendance at lessons is invaluable. The more consistently a student is at their lesson, the more they can progress. The lessons and fees are based on a certain number of weeks in the teaching year. Your best value is to be at your lesson whenever it is scheduled. Try to avoid scheduling dentist and doctor appointments during a lesson time. Consider the lesson a priority appointment.
If a student is unable to attend their lesson, please notify me by phone as soon as possible. Because of my teaching schedule lessons may be made up only when I have another cancellation and am given advanced notice. Lessons are paid for in advance and credit is given for missed lessons only if I am notified a full 24 hours in advance. The only exception to this is illness. A child may come home from school with a fever or tummy ache. In the case of illness, please do not hesitate to keep your child at home. If I catch something it affects my teaching ability as well as my health. If I am unable to teach due to illness, you will be notified by phone as soon as possible.
All of us desire and seek approval for what we do. Parents can be great advocates for a child’s music lesson. If a parent schedules a lesson at a time that fits into the family schedule, and is committed to getting that student there in plenty of time with their appropriate materials, the student will also learn priority and responsibility for a commitment. You can help your child learn faster and enjoy lessons more by doing a few simple, but very important things:
Communicate often with your child’s teacher to monitor progress and to
avoid and/or solve potential problems.
Encourage your child as much as possible – be sure to praise effort as well as
accomplishment. Try to express interest in what they are learning even if you are tired of the “Indian Drum Song”.
Avoid negative criticism. Most of us respond better to thoughtful, loving help
than to undirected criticism. If your child seems uncooperative, they may need more help, encouragement and support.
Make sure your child knows that you consider music a serious commitment.
Schedule practice time for your child just as regularly as soccer practice or Little League. Help see to it that their practice time is free from distractions. If your piano is in the living room, try to limit access there during their allotted time. Please see the section on practicing under the Practice-Recitals-Competition section.
Provide cultural enrichment whenever possible. The experience of listening to
music without the pressure of having to play the notes can add greatly to your child’s appreciation for music generally and lessons in particular. Go to concerts with your children. West Michigan has a myriad of musical opportunities. There are many fine recitals and concerts at Grand Valley State University and most of them are free. Introduce your children to beautifulmusic by playing the works of the masters in your home. There are also many
computer resources for the home that could provide ways to explore music for
your student.
A few minutes the night before a lesson can avoid some problems.
Check your child’s fingernails. Are they short and clean? Short nails are very important for good playing technique.
Have your student collect their materials including their assignment notebook and put them together in a tote bag or backpack of some sort.
If it is the first week of the month and payment is due, write out a check and put it in an envelope, and paper clip (please do not staple) it to their assignment notebook.
This would also be a good time to write a note to the teacher if there is anything that you need to communicate or any questions concerning their lessons. You may write in their weekly lesson page.
On the day of the lesson, collect your child and bring them to their lesson approximately five minutes before their scheduled time.
Your student has my permission to enter the front door without knocking. They should quietly remove their coats and boots (during that season).
If they have just come from school they probably will need to use the rest room. All students should go to the sink and wash their hands. When they have finished, they should come directly to the studio and quietly have a seat. I will see them there and will be finishing the previous student’s lesson.
During any student’s lesson my time is theirs and they are my priority. My phone is turned to the answering machine.
When a student is late, they will have only the rest of the time allotted for their scheduled lesson. If you frequently have trouble getting the student to their lesson in a timely fashion, you might consider changing times. I will be glad to try to work to find a time that is good for you. While this is sometimes easier said than done, I would much rather change a student’s time than regularly have to shorten their lesson and feel rushed. It is unfortunate for you not to get your full value because of time issues.
Parents are encouraged to occasionally visit their child’s lesson to see what they are learning and how. I do not allow young siblings to attend lessons as that time is strictly for the scheduled student and I try to make the most valuable use of their time by keeping distractions to a minimum.

Fees – Payments – Materials
There is an initial fee of $15 per student due at the first lesson in the Fall. This covers copying costs, ink and paper for my computer, music manuscript paper, notebook paper, and pencils. I make many individual lessons, arrangements for recital pieces and sometimes transcribe your student’s original work with my music program.
Your student will be asked to practice at times with a metronome. They must have this purchased by their first lesson. You may purchase these at Meyer Music or I can pick one up for you. The least expensive one is $19.95. It is a tool they will use their whole life.
The cost for lessons is as follows:
½ hour = $18
1 hour = $35
Payment is due one month at a time, the first lesson of every month. Generally, half-hour lessons are for beginning students. After 1-2 years, they are working and learning enough material that more time is required to cover everything.
We will discuss lesson time length at their interview and if there are ever to be any changes you will be notified in advance.
Every Fall I publish a calendar to let you know vacation times and holidays as well as dates and times of group classes.
Group classes will be scheduled 5 - 7 times a year. These are groups of 4-6 students who are about the same age and ability. They are a great way to motivate students and encourage them to listen and learn from each other. It is also a non-threatening venue to try out performing. These classes are positive and uplifting. Students are only allowed to participate with positive and constructive comments.
Your student will be required to have several different books for learning music. I will evaluate your child’s strengths and personality and choose and purchase appropriate materials for your student (in general, one set of method books costs $20-$30). Sometimes I will lend your student some of my music. It will have my name on it and I will keep a record of that material in your child’s file.

Practicing – Recitals – Competitions
I will send specific instructions home with your student regarding what they are to practice. Each student is assigned a minimum practice time for every day. I need your help in seeing that they actually do it. The assignments are designed to help your child succeed at that particular piece or technique. There is no getting around regular practice. Most students need to be reminded to practice. When a student has had a good week of practice they look forward to their lesson. When they don’t practice, they want to avoid their lesson. Practice well done leads to progress and progress makes piano playing fun and provides its own motivation. If a student is not consistently practicing at least their minimum practice time I will notify the parents that we need to evaluate the priority given to their music lessons. If at his time it seems appropriate, the student may be asked to suspend taking lessons.
Starting in the Fall of 2006 We will be having parents and students read and sign a Piano Lesson Contract regarding their acknowledgement of studio policy statements as well as their practice time agreements. This is meant as a way for the students as well as parents to understand their commitment to piano lessons.
I have usually 2 or 3 occasions per year where parents can see the progress theirs and other students are making, and students have a chance to show their stuff. I endeavor to make it very non-threatening and completely non-competitive. The students get a mini-taste of it during every group class. I will give you plenty of advance notice when any Recitals will occur. We usually play pieces at an open house for Christmas in mid-December. The Spring Recital is generally the third Sunday in May.
I try to look for opportunities for the students to perform such as competitions and the Sonatina Festival in November (this is something I begin the students working toward in the summer). You will be notified if this is an appropriate venue for your student.
Communication - Resources
Finally, I would like to give you a list of numbers that might be helpful.
Please call me or email me with questions or concerns at any time. If I am teaching, leave a voice mail and I will return your call.

My Home Number – 616-669-3251 My Email – jandcgingrich@gmail.com
Piano Technician – Lynn Nelson 738 – 7086
Rod Lowe – 554 – 9900
Area Music Stores
Malecki’s – 698-6700
Meyer Music House – Holland – 396-6583 - 28th St, GR – 975-1122