Parent Responsibilities

• Provide music books, a working metronome and tape recorder; other materials as requested.
• Provide quality listening music for your child to help them to become aware of different musical styles and provide a broad background and knowledge of classical music. 
• Attend live concerts with your child. 
• Provide time, support, encouragement, and discipline for regular and consistent practice. 
• Make sure that your child practices the piano each day. Many students will not take the initiative to do this on their own and need to be reminded. 
• Be involved in your child’s practice at home. Particularly with younger students or beginners, parents will need to help the child organize. It is helpful to review the lesson assignment with your child to ensure reasonable preparation for lessons. Remember, parents need to initial practice time weekly, indicating you have actually listened to the student practice.

Student Responsibilities

• Students should come to lessons well-prepared with all assignments from the previous lesson. Students receive a “grade” at the end of each lesson based on overall preparedness.
  • 5 Exceptional preparation, all assignments well-practiced, practice goals met, outstanding lesson. 
  • 4.5 Excellent preparation, nearly all assignments well practiced, with few exceptions. 
  • 4 Good preparation, most assignments practiced, leaves room for improvement. 
  • 3 or lower, Not prepared, most assignments not well practiced, definite room for improvement.

Students who consistently receive a “5” or a “4” at their lesson will remain in good standing and will continue study. Students who consistently receive a 3 or lower at their lessons may be asked to reconsider their commitment to studying the piano with Marie Harris.

• Keep fingernails trimmed short to ensure proper hand position and proper technique. 
• Read the assignment pages in your notebook and practice those assignments. 
• Practice as recommended below. Each student will have a personal practicing recommendation that may differ based on their level, potential, and ability. Dividing the practice time before school and after school works well. 
• Ideal/recommended Amounts:
  
  • 1. Level One (1A and 1B)– 30 minutes daily -- six days.
    2. Levels Two and Three (or 2A-3B) – 40 minutes daily -- six days
    3. Levels Four and Five – 50 minutes daily -- six days
    4. Levels Six and higher – 60 minutes daily -- six days
    Yearly Registration Fee and Monthly Tuition

• A Non-Refundable Studio Fee per student is required for each academic year of $35.00. This fee enables me to provide students with incentives, awards, miscellaneous, handouts, CD’s, loaner music, recital hall fees, etc. 
• Tuition is a flat rate due the first week of the month, regardless of the number of lessons in each month. Tuition received after the tenth day of the month will be assessed a $10.00 late fee and will be added to your next month's invoice. 
• Your monthly tuition reserves your time slot on my teaching schedule. 
• Make checks payable to Marie Harris 
• Returned checks will require a $15.00 fee.

Attendance

A student not attending a lesson simply misses the benefit of that lesson. THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP LESSONS! If you have a conflict with your regularly scheduled lesson time you may call me to find students who might trade lesson times for that week. If you choose not to trade lesson times with another student, please call to inform me that your child will not be in attendance.

Recitals and Performances

Recitals are NOT AN OPTION. They are a requirement of my studio. The student and his/her supporters must arrive on time and stay until ALL students have played. Achievement In Music (AIM), Federation, Chapter Competitions, and other exciting piano events occur several times throughout the year and are optional.

Lessons / Holidays/ Breaks

There are two different options for lessons:

• Rotating Lessons -- Beginning to Intermediate students have weekly lessons, last one hour, based on a group of three students per hour. Part of the hour is spent as a group before dividing into individual sessions. I have a piano assistant that will help me with your child’s lesson. 
• Individual lessons -- Beginning to Intermediate students last 30 minutes. Late Intermediate to Advanced students last 45 minutes. 

There are 44 lessons per student during the 12 months of the year at full tuition, September through August. Students are expected to continue lessons during the summer months. If you choose to take the summer off you will be put on my waiting list and forfeit your set lesson time. If you continue through the summer you will be guaranteed a spot in September. During August a piano camp for students 5-12 years of age. The students come the four days in a row. This takes place of weekly lessons during the month. Tuition remains the same. Students who do not attend the piano camp will continue lessons during August as usual. 

During December I teach the first two weeks of the month. The Piano Studio is closed for Christmas Break. Tuition remains the same. 

To inform you of current events, recitals, student recognition in my studio, information is e-mailed to you or can be found on the studio website: If for some reason you do not have access to email or the internet, let me know and I will send a hard copy home with your child.

Discontinuing Lessons

In the event there is a decision to discontinue lessons, either a one month notice or a two-month lesson fee is required. This allows me a chance to finish the lessons on a positive note for the student.

Termination of Lessons

Students may be dismissed from lessons for any of the following reasons:

• Inadequate practice. 
• Destruction or theft of property in my home or studio. 
• Disrespect or uncooperative attitude toward teachers or other students. 
• Failure to comply with studio policy. • Failure to pay tuition on the due date.

Studio Etiquette

• Parents must bring and pick students up on time. 
• Students are to remove their shoes and wash their hands upon arriving at lessons. 
• No food, drinks or gum in the music studios 
• Parents are welcome to come in and wait for students in my living room 
• Young children may not be left unattended. 
• Students MUST deactivate their cell phones during lessons

Your Piano

• Piano students are expected to have an appropriate well-tuned piano with 88 keys on which to practice at home. 
• Pianos should be tuned twice a year (spring and fall). If you would like me to recommend a tuner/technician, please ask. 
• Piano needs to be in a well-lit area with appropriate heat and cooling to ensure as few distractions as possible.

It is my sincere desire that my teaching and your support at home, we will form an effective team. Giving the gift of music to your child will be one of the most enjoyable experiences of a lifetime.