Notes & Tones Music Studio


General studio policy - updated each fall.


Payment: 

MyMusicStaff sends an invoice the last Friday of each month to your email.  Payment is due Friday of the first week of each month.  You can pay online through the link on the invoice or in check or cash.  Feel free to mail payments if that is convenient.  If you would like to pay ahead, I can send a half-year invoice.  Any missed lessons will be credited to the next semester.  

 

Lesson Attendance: 

There are approximately 36 lessons available in the school year.  For good progress in playing, students need both consistent lesson attendance and consistent practice time.  Please consider the following guidelines for schedule changes:

 

  • Please cancel or reschedule for illness.  Your teacher will do the same. (If we are well enough, sick-day lessons may proceed as scheduled online)
  • You may schedule an alternative time if you know there will be a conflict with an upcoming lesson. 
  • Any make-up lesson may be offered online.  
  • All snow days are online. (A snow day is determined if after-school activities are cancelled in the region due to weather)  
  • Make-up lessons will be offered at the teacher’s discretion. 
  • When extracurricular activities conflict with the scheduled lesson, we will do our best to work around them.

 

 

Performance opportunities: 

Every student who is able will perform in the studio recital each Spring.  All students are encouraged to participate in a local festival.  The Gold Cup Festival in January and/or the Student Achievement Program at Nazareth College in the Spring.  There are Rochester Piano Teachers’ Guild recitals throughout the year as well.  Your child may be invited to perform in one or more of these.  There are fees associated with the festivals ($25-$30) and one RPTG recital is covered with the materials fee.   

 

 

Materials:  

An annual materials fee of $30/student is collected in September to cover student materials.  Curriculum is chosen based on each student’s needs, interests, and ability.  Generally, students will use the Piano Safari method and/or the Suzuki method as well as a variety of supplements (families are encouraged to purchase music related to their children’s interests as well!).  There is a healthy emphasis on classical music without neglecting more modern styles.  Students are encouraged to improvise and to explore music they love and enjoy, as well as pieces that might challenge their preferences.  All students should have a notebook and a metronome. 

 

 

Allergy:  

Your teacher has a severe allergy to peppers – green, red, yellow, hot, etc.  If she can smell peppers in your home, she will have to leave, and that lesson will be considered forfeited.  Do not slice or cook peppers on the day she is at your house.  Even if they are cooking in soup or sauce, if there’s salsa out, or if they are in the oven, she may have a reaction.  Examples: salsa, chili, taco meat…  Thank you very much for your cooperation.

 

 

Hygiene: 

I will wear a mask if requested to, but they are not a studio requirement. Please make sure that each student washes their hands before the lesson, and please regularly wipe the piano keys.  (A damp cloth or a baby wipe is ideal – this is an excellent chore for young pianists as it is care for their instrument.)