Here you will find the answer to most of your questions: Studio rules, recital procedures, links to materials you might need in lessons, etc. If your questions are not answered here, please check out the FAQs or email me! (My business hours are 10am - 7pm Tuesday through Saturday.)
First of all, you don’t need to be responsible for everything. Kids have jobs too when it comes to taking piano lessons:
RULES FOR KIDS
1. Practice the piano every day!
2. Wash your hands before you play the piano.
3. No gum, hair, fingers, etc. in your mouth during piano lesson
4. Keep small things like pennies out from between the piano keys
5. Play when it is your turn - not while your teacher or parent is speaking
6. Bring all your materials to every lesson
7. Make sure your parents turn off their cell phones!
For mid-week visual practice help on specific pieces, go to FaithSlaker Music Method Blog.
Studio Policy
1. ADMISSION AND INTERVIEWING - Studio enrollment is for twelve months out of the year with a winter and summer vacation (as well as all major holidays). Potential students and parents are interviewed before any commitment to lessons is made. Students must observe the lesson of another child in my studio before beginning formal lessons (Beginning Suzuki students observe three lessons.). This allows us to get to know each other, be comfortable with everyone’s expectations before we begin and have a very productive start.
2. PRACTICE - Being a musician is a habit and needs to become a part of one’s daily routine. As Shinichi Suzuki once said, "Practice on the days you eat!" Regular routine practice is far preferable to lengthy, but inconsistent practice. Practice sessions should occur daily in a quiet environment ideal for focus (no TV) and at a tuned piano. Pianos should be tuned every six months to every year depending on the stability of the climate in your home. Regular, focused and supervised (depending on the age of the student) practice will result in more rewarding lessons and a greater musical experience. The most efficient time to practice is immediately FOLLOWING the piano lesson. Please also don’t forget to allow time for PLAY at the instrument (usually best after going through the practice routine)!
3. LESSON ATTENDANCE - Weekly attendance is mandatory for successful music study. Parents are required to attend the lessons of students under the age of twelve and will occasionally be requested to attend the lessons of their older student. Parents not attending lessons are required to be within 15 minutes of the lesson location. If there is something you wish to discuss with me, please bring it up at the beginning of your child’s lesson, not the end when I am processing the progress of your child’s lesson, making my notes for the following week, and preparing for my next lesson.* Parent attendance in lessons is important to keeping communication consistent and making sure that everyone is happy with the pace and direction of studies.
4. MISSING LESSONS - It is important to be there every week for your lesson. The longer you go without a lesson, the harder it is to get back into it! Of course, I understand that things may come up—that you or your child may become ill. Please let me know if you are not going to make it to your lesson before your lesson time. That allows me to accommodate longer lessons for other students, needed parent chats, and extra time for students who may need it to prepare for an event. Tuition is based on enrollment, not on attendance. I provide “swap lists” (see current students page) of all participating students and their lesson times so you may arrange a trade if you are unable to attend a lesson and don’t want to miss it. [Please let me know before attempting to arrange a swap as my schedule might not be the same that week.] Makeup lessons will be given for any lesson missed by the teacher. Notification of inability to attend a lesson does not excuse payment for contracted lessons.
“Music for All” Program: At the end of each quarter, students with unused lesson time based on their registration may take the opportunity to participate in our "Music for All" program. By donating your unused lessons, you can help support studio families who are currently facing financial challenges and unable to afford music lessons. The recipients' identities will remain anonymous, and as a token of our appreciation, the names of participants in the program will be displayed on the website and in the quarterly newsletter. Together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of others through the gift of music.
5. PERFORMANCE - Every student is expected to participate in all performances for which the teacher feels the student is prepared. These may include semester recitals, festivals, masterclasses, competitions, and group classes. Other performance opportunities may arise through the studio and at school and students are always encouraged to participate. Students may be asked to attend the performances of their peers. The all-studio recital twice a year is the only mandatory event for participation in my studio. See Recital Procedures.
6. TUITION - Tuition is based on enrollment, not on attendance. Tuition includes more than the contact time with the student. In addition to private lessons, the cost covers all teacher preparation, assigned material, workshops, studio gatherings, observations, membership in Music Teachers National Association (which allows students to participate in competitions), and maintenance of studio piano and other equipment. There is a yearly fee of $40 to cover studio recitals. No refunds. Please see MIC policies for latest tuition information.
7. PAYMENT - Tuition in my private studio is due on the first day of every quarter (September 1, December 1, March 1, June1). Late payments will be charged an extra fee ($30 for the first day, and an additional $30 per lesson afterwards). Payment options are:
Cash
Check made out to Aubrey Faith-Slaker
Zelle (to my cell phone number)
Paypal or GooglePay to faithslakermusic@gmail.com (student is responsible for any fees for this convenience)
Credit card (with transaction fee)
If you have any trouble with meeting the payment schedule, please contact me to avoid extra fees or the forfeiting of a lesson. Please see MIC’s contract for their specific payment procedures.
8. SUMMER LESSONS - Summer lessons are made by special arrangement. A student must enroll for eight lessons during the summer to hold his or her position in the studio for the fall. Summer lessons are more flexible, so a student may be able to come twice a week, try out longer lessons, siblings may be able to start, etc. Let’s talk!
9. LESSON TERMINATION - A student may lose his slot in the studio if he or she is no longer practicing (thus demonstrating a lack of interest), if the student does not regularly attend lessons, if the parent of a student under the age of 18 is not in consistent communication, if the student doesn’t attend a recital he/she is on the program for without notice, if the student does not consistently register for the full term, if the student is not following studio rules, if payment hasn’t been made without discussion, or if a student has not taken the required lessons during the summer. Two weeks notice is required by either me or the parent in terminating lessons.
10. STUDENT SUPPLIES - For each piano lesson, it is expected that the student bring, in a suitable bag, all music books currently being used, the student’s assignment notebook, a pencil and eraser, and a manuscript book and post-it-notes for the older student. At home, the student should be able to access a good piano with a comfortable bench (adjustable or with additional padding), a footstool if needed, a metronome, an audio device for listening and recording, and a pair of nail clippers.
11. COMMUNICATION - It is essential to maintain regular communication. Conferences between the teacher and parent may be scheduled in place of a child’s lesson to discuss a student’s progress. Twice a year, the lesson may be given over to the parent so that he/she feels comfortable at home monitoring and aiding the student’s progress. I may be reached by telephone (including text) during business hours (Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-9pm) or by e-mail at any time. E-mail is probably most effective since I do not answer my phone while teaching or rehearsing and it may be quite late before I might be able to get back to you.
12. MATERIALS - If it has been recommended to you that you purchase any books or recordings, please click here for the music resources page: PURCHASE MUSIC.
13. COVID-19 Additions - Please see the MIC policy for COVID-19 procedures. FaithSlaker Music will be following the same policies.
Registration Form:
* Lessons are for 25, 40, 55, and 70 minutes and end five minutes before the end of the “hour.”