Policy

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="044d4c03.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>                                  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF9900" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About"><U><B>About</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B>                                 </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF9900" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B>                                 </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF9900" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact"><U><B>Contact</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B>                                 </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF9900" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recitals"><U><B>Recitals</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B>                                 </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF9900" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="03ff4820.jpg" border=0 width="756" height="130" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > |</FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U>Home</U></A>  |  <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About"><U>About</U></A>  |  <B>Policy</B>  |  <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact"><U>Contact</U></A>  |  <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recitals"><U>Recitals</U></A>  |  <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A></div> <div> Policy</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Studio Policy</B></div> <bR> <div>           Weekly private lessons are offered to beginning students as well as advanced.</div> <bR> <div>           During the school year, all lesson plans include:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>           One private lesson per week </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>           An integrated Music Theory Program </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>           An integrated Performance and Musicianship Program</div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>           Two formal Studio Recitals held in a community performance space.</div> <div>      Two formal recitals are offered each year, one in the winter and one in the spring (including programs, award certificates, a     reception, piano tuning and hall rental). Every student may participate; however, recitals are by invitation only. Those students who do not prepare or progress adequately will not participate. This performance opportunity offers a tangible incentive to perfect skills and share music with an appreciative audience. It's a special event! </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      YMF Festival Preparation for interested and qualified students </div> <div>      While strongly suggested, the decision to perform will be made in a parent/teacher conference. A Festival   Gold Cup is presented to students accumulating 15 points. A Superior rating in any event is worth 5 points. The more Festival events entered per year, the more points earned.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>      Tuition Payments for the month are due at or before the FIRST lesson of the month. If necessary, students may pay weekly if  arrangements have been made in advance. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Please <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Verdana" ><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact"><U><B><U>call</U></B></U></A></FONT> for current tuition rates.</div> <div> Tuition will be raised annually.</div> <bR> <div>      Tuition reserves your exclusive lesson time; it is payment for your course of music education. Tuition is non-refundable. What you do with your reserved time, is entirely up to you. </div> <div> Tuition does not include the cost of music books, supplies, and audition, testing or competition fees. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>      Payments for tuition and other student expenses are due by the 10th of each month. Payments received after the 10th will not guarantee a student's appointment time. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>     NOTE:</B> A late fee of $10 is charged for payments received after the 10th. A $30 service charge is applied to all accounts for checks returned for insufficient funds. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Invoices are only prepared when new books are delivered or if monthly tuition falls 15 days past due. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Other Studio Policies</B></div> <div> <B>     Practice</B> </div> <div>      After a student has been accepted for study after interview and audition, it is expected that practicing is part of the agreement. Parents should monitor this on a weekly basis and signing student practice records in Practice and Performance Music Notebook. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>       Recommended practice time per day is 30 minutes for beginners with time increasing as student advances. The student is responsible for recording practice time. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>       Please wash hands before lessons. In fact, just get in the habit of hand washing before practice or performance. Instruments are expensive and require special care and respect. At the studio, the piano keys can become a medium for communicable diseases. Cleanliness can reduce this factor. A student may be asked to excuse him/herself and wash if necessary during a lesson. I keep antibiotic hand wipes for student use here in the studio. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      You are required to keep the child's fingernails clipped VERY short to allow correct hand position, or for older students - remind them once weekly. It is impossible to learn to play piano correctly unless the fingertips touch the keys at all times, with fingers standing completely vertical at the tips. Then, the first joints above each fingernail can learn to be firm and stable, not wobbly, for control and mastery of the touches required. When a child practices with even “slightly” long fingernails at home, then clips them only for the lessons, he/she has learned only how to play incorrectly! Nails need clipping EVERY WEEK before the lesson - day to maintain the shortness.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Remember, if objectives for the student are not clear, a conference with parents may be necessary during lesson time. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Home environment should include a satisfactory, playable instrument. Parental involvement in organizing practice time is necessary for the student to be successful. </div> <div>      I recommend getting a traditional acoustic piano or an electronic "digital" piano before starting piano lessons. If you have only a small electric keyboard - piano lessons with me will be a waste of your investment in tuition - for the following reasons. When you press the keys of all electric keyboards, you notice a "spongy" feel with no resistance and also no responsiveness to a difference in arm - weight (which always produces loudness or softness on a traditional piano). Practicing on an electric keyboard works against every thing that I teach. That is because at every lesson, I prepare all students with my traditional acoustic piano to be sensitive to loud or soft tones so that they can soon perform for a judge on the same type of piano at our YMF festivals. The judge issues a report card with low grades when a student shows little ability to get a good sound, because of little experience on a real piano.</div> <div>      A "digital" piano is acceptable, however. It is electronic, but its keys are made to be sensitive to differences in arm - weight, so that a variety in the volume is possible. Also, the keys have a bit of resistance, that feels like a real piano. However, after several years of lessons musical maturity, it becomes more and more urgent to own an acoustic piano, because the student yearns to have the greater responsiveness and resonance that it has.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Cancelled Lessons</B> </div> <div>      If you wish to cancel a lesson, please notify your teacher 24 hours prior to the scheduled lesson. Otherwise, the fee for the missed lesson will NOT be credited to the next month. An emergency situation is the exception. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      If there are a great number of cancellations made for several months, piano lessons may be terminated. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      If you have no lessons for over a month, for any reason, the reserved lesson time may not be kept. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Olga's Piano Studio reserves the right to dismiss a student midyear for lack of progress due to poor practice habits and attitude. Lesson time will not be used as a substitute for practice time. Prior to dismissal, parents will be notified. Ample time will be given to correct any problems, however. This is part of the self-discipline of the music program. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Miscellaneous</B> </div> <div>      One month's notice is required for students discontinuing lessons for any reason. Once a student embarks on a school year of study, it is expected that they will complete it. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Parents are welcome during the lesson, but without other children. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Students should not bring friends to lessons. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      The teacher does not take full responsibility for improving student's ability. Piano learning will never be successful without their efforts and those of their Parents and Teacher, especially for a student under 18 years of age. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>     Students</B> need to practice themselves under the careful direction by their teacher. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>     Parents</B> need to supervise and help make an environment that is conducive for the children's practice. Teacher cannot supervise student's everyday. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      The success of young piano students is usually directly proportioned to parental involvement in the learning process. Regardless of musical background, every parent can work with the teacher to make piano lessons a positive experience. Here are some suggestions: </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Getting your child to lessons on time with the proper materials is the first step to success. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Expressing enthusiasm for your child's accomplishments provides strong incentive for him or her to continue making progress. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Reviewing the lesson with the child and being an audience at least once a week to show your continuing interest in the child's improvement and underscore the importance of consistent practice. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Supporting the program set forth by the teacher and cooperating in recitals demonstrate your appreciation for music and musical training. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Establishing a definite schedule for practicing is essential to developing a commitment for lessons. Unless practice time is given a high priority, it probably will not get done. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      Promptness for lessons is important. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>     Attendance Policy</B> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      In the summer, the regular attendance policy does NOT apply. During June & July lessons are given on a "by - the - week" basis, and there are NO attendance requirements. But for the regular school term the policy is: </div> <div>      Parents pay for FOUR lessons each month in advance. When a FIFTH lesson day occurs in any given month, that lesson is FREE, and the FIFTH lesson will serve as a makeup lesson for any previous absence. </div> <div>      The teacher does not give makeup lessons per se, and we do not reschedule lessons. Any parent who does not comply with the "by - the - month" and / or "in advance" payment method is not eligible for free FIFTH lessons. </div> <div>      Piano Lessons are not subject to a term contract of any kind. The parents, adult student, or the teacher may terminate lessons at any time with one week's prior notification. However, refunds from monthly checks are NOT given, and the logical time to terminate is at the end of a given month. </div> <div>      The regular term for lessons begins in mid August and ends with the last week of May. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>     Holidays and Lessons</B> </div> <bR> <div>      The Piano Studio will CLOSE one week for Christmas and the week of Spring Break. However, the tuition payment for both of these months will remain the same as all other months. The FREE Fifth lessons will serve as makeup lessons for these missed weeks. </div> <div>      For Thanksgiving week, all lessons will meet except Thanksgiving Day. That lesson will be made up by the teacher on the Saturday BEFORE Thanksgiving or the Saturday AFTER Thanksgiving. </div> <div>      It is the parent's responsibility to request a makeup lesson time for this ONE day. Otherwise, NO makeup lessons will be given. </div> <div>      Federal Holidays are not observed, and the studio will remain open. The studio may be open even if schools do not meet. </div> <div>      In the event of SNOW, the teacher will offer a makeup lesson on the nearest Saturday following the SNOW day.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="05a01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>      Please do not send your child to the lesson sick. If he / she is not well enough to go to school, he /</div> <div> she is not well enough for piano lesson.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>