Lesson Policies.
TUITION
Tuition is paid monthly, due by the first lesson of the month. A $10 late fee will be added to tuition not paid by the third lesson of the month.
No-shows and cancellations will still be charged unless I received at least 24 hours notice.
Depending on the month and your scheduled lesson day, you may have up to 5 lessons per month. As a result, the total cost of tuition will change accordingly.
Payment may be mailed or paid personally. Cash and cheques are accepted. Cheques may be made payable to Annisa Djoewari.
Students are not charged for group performance classes (Repertoire Classes), or recitals.
Tuition does not include the cost of books, sheet music, syllabus fees, etc. These are the student’s/parent’s responsibility.
CANCELLATIONS
As a courtesy to me, please notify me of lesson cancellations at least 24 hours in advance, unless extenuating circumstances prevent you from doing so.
Make-up lessons will only be granted if the time requested is open. If a time cannot be agreed upon, no make-up lesson or credit will be issued.
Students must have a valid reason for cancelling lessons (e.g. illness, automobile trouble, out of town, etc. “I didn’t practice” is not a valid reason).
If I unexpectedly cancel a lesson due to an extenuating circumstance, I will schedule a make-up lesson as long as the time requested is open. If scheduling a make-up lesson is not possible, lesson credit will be issued.
ILLNESS
I recognize that, especially with young children, it is not always possible to know in advance if they are going to be feeling sick. Please do not bring children to lessons if they are running a fever or feeling sick or if you think the illness is contagious.
REQUIRED EQUIPMENTS
Students will need to have a full-length (88-keys) piano or digital piano to practice on at home. Acoustic piano must be in good working condition, meaning that it is in tune and all the keys work properly. If you have a digital piano or keyboard, it must have weighted keys, which sometimes is called “hammer action”. Practicing on a keyboard without weighted keys will fail to develop the finger muscles properly.
Violin students will need to have a proper size violin, which can be rent or purchased at some music store.
Students will need to have a metronome, which can be purchased at any music store.
Students will need to have a three-ring binder, for writing lesson assignments, worksheets and notes on what they need to practice at home. This is also used for written communication between parents and myself.
MUSIC BOOKS
Music books and/or sheet music are not included in the cost of tuition. Students/parents are expected to cover this additional cost.
To make things easier for busy parents, I can purchase all music and give it to the students at their lessons. You will receive a statement for any music that your child receives and I will write so in their notebook. Please pay for music promptly.
A student may borrow one of my library copies. I am happy to lend music out for a short period of time (maximum one month). However, if it is a piece that the child should have, it should be purchased for the student.
PRACTICING
Practicing is the student’s homework and should be done every day (or at least five days a week). Many students, especially beginners, need help in setting up consistent practice times.
The best practicing time is usually right after a lesson because the material is fresh in their mind. Also be aware of written assignments, please check the assignment notes in your child’s binder each week to assist him or her with specific things.
Ensure that daily practicing becomes a habit. At first, about 20 minutes of practice each day should be sufficient. After 6-12 months, required daily practice time will increase to about 30 minutes a day. After two years of study, most students will be expected to practice about 45 minutes a day.
“Messing around” on the piano/violin is perfectly fine and should not be discouraged in any way, however this doesn’t usually constitute “practicing”.
For children ages 5 – 11, sit with your child during his or her practice time to help them complete their assignment.
In the teenage years (ages 12+), children need to acquire greater independence in their practicing. As a parent, your role is to stand “on the side line” and support and encourage. In general, you should not be assisting during their practice time, except perhaps to drop in and listen to provide some company and support.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
There are so many important things parents can do to help their children have a rewarding and positive experience playing the instrument. Please constantly encourage your child and compliment him or her on the work accomplished. There is nothing better than praise to spur a child onto higher achievements. Ask them to play a piece that they learned rather than explain what they learned at a lesson. Maybe you can have a home recital for friends and/or family once a month.
Many students “compare notes” as to pieces learned, levels achieved, etc. Please discourage this or just explain that everyone is different and learns at a different pace. Very often a child will hit a plateau in their music development or get discouraged over a particularly hard piece of music. Reassure him/her that this happens to everyone and that it won’t be terrible if the piece is not “perfect” for the lesson and that the teacher will help with the problem. That’s what lessons are for!
Parents can further help in creating a good atmosphere for practicing by providing good lighting at the piano or music stand and making sure the room and area are free from other distractions. Also, by getting your child to lessons on time and picking up promptly, your child will know that you respect the work that they are doing.
RATES
Although I will make every effort to keep tuition fair and stable, I reserve the right to raise my rates at any time.
REFERRAL BONUS
If a student that you referred enrolls in my program, you will get one free lesson the following month.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss your child's lessons with me, please don't hesitate to call. I try to keep in touch with you too, to keep you updated on your child's progress and any special needs that she or he might have.