The Piano Studio of Natalie Campbell

 

 

STUDIO POLICIES FOR PRIVATE LESSONS

 

My aim as a teacher is to teach students, RIGHT FROM THE START, to:

·Use the most natural movement and coordination of the body to as to develop solid piano technique.

·Have an understanding of the language of music, interpreting a score and creating nuance in sound to create a musical performance.

·Have effective and efficient practice skills.

·Have solid skills in music reading.

·Receive a complete music education including concepts of music theory, ear training and music history.

·Find joy in the journey of music-making.

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STUDENTS
Students have three jobs: LISTEN, PRACTICE, and ACCOMPLISH.
1. LISTEN to a variety of Classical music every day with a heavy dose of piano music, including the pieces you are working on.
2. PRACTICE the piano every day. Follow your lesson assignment at least 5 days a week (piano lesson does not count as a “practice day”). Keep a record of your practice time. It’s best to aim to complete the assignment each day and time how much time that takes and enter that on your practice calendar. I do my best to gauge the weekly assignment to fit this time frame:

     3rd - 4th grade       35 - 45 min/day
     5th - 6th grade       40 – 50 min/day

     7th - 9th grade       45 - 55 min/day

     10th - 12th grade   50 – 60 min/day

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3. ACCOMPLISH ASSIGNMENTS - follow the lesson plan and come prepared to pass off assignments. Students who are consistently practicing and achieving in their piano study are invited to continue lessons on a yearly basis. Invitations will be made in May. Students who do not receive an invitation to continue will take lessons through the summer until August which gives time to find another teacher.

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PARENT SUPPORT
The more involved parents become in their child’s piano experience, the more successful the child’s experience will be.

1. Know what is taught, assigned and expected for each lesson and support at home. I prefer parents of students younger than age 11 to attend each lesson, take notes, and practice daily with the student. Video recording parts or all of the lesson can be very helpful. This involvement can taper off starting at age 10 or 11 and when good piano habits are secure. Parents who no longer attend lessons should read the weekly assignment sheet to know what is taught, assigned and expected. It is best to do this with your child right after the lesson and again the day before the next lesson as you listen to the practice session. The assignment sheet is my communication to you and will include my assessment of what is accomplished and what needs improvement.
2. Initial the practice log for each day you practice with your child.
3. Provide listening experiences for your child – Youtube, Spotify, Accuradio, CD’s, and LIVE CONCERTS!!

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LESSON SCHEDULING
A current lesson calendar can be accessed on this website. I follow the Davis County School District traditional school schedule with “no-lesson” days being held on “no-school” days. I arrange the lesson schedule so that all students have an equal amount of lessons throughout the year no matter what day of the week they have their lesson. Summer lessons are scheduled with an online sing-up, allowing for a lot of flexibility.

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LESSON ATTENDANCE POLICY
Adjustments to monthly tuition are not made for missed lessons. If you know of a schedule conflict you can trade lesson times with another student and inform me of the change. A list of student names and phone numbers is provided in the lesson binder. If you miss a lesson due to illness or an unforeseen circumstance or if I miss a lesson due to illness I will do my best to schedule a make-up lesson.

 

PAYMENTS
Payments are due the first lesson of each month or if there is no lesson the first week, payments are due by the 10th of the month. The monthly fee is based on an equal payment plan with students receiving 36 lessons per year. The monthly payment remains the same no matter how many lessons are scheduled in a month.

Venmo: @Natalie-Campbell-10
Make checks to Campbell Music Studios

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*Discontinuing Lessons - It's always a little tricky payment-wise if a student quits before the year is complete because the equal payment plan means you pay a little less through the school year for the lessons you are getting, and you pay a little more through the summer months than the lessons you are getting. If a student quits lessons before August, then you have actually paid for fewer lessons than you have received and therefore I will need to adjust a final payment to cover the full amount of lessons you have had.

 

AT THE LESSON
1. Come around the east side of the home and walk in the back door, take your shoes off and wash your hands. Use the restroom BEFORE the lesson so no lesson time is wasted.
2. Have your books and materials ready - out of the bag and stacked in order.
3. Turn off cell phone ringers.
4. If needed for young students, parents help set up bench and footstool properly.
5. Other children are welcome in the studio. Help your other children maintain a quiet learning atmosphere by providing quiet activities and reminding them to whisper when they speak.
6. Do not bring food or drinks (except water) into the studio. If a snack is needed before or after the lesson, eat it in the kitchen area. Students should not chew gum.

7. I prefer that devices not be used as entertainment for siblings in my studio.

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MATERIALS NEEDED

• A quality acoustic piano (preferably a grand) in good condition, tuned once a year.

• An adjustable bench (preferred for all students) or bench pads for younger students

• An adjustable footstool for younger students

• A metronome

• An ipad (preferred) or other device used for daily listening and practice.

• A speaker at the piano that can be used to play the ipad. Bluetooth capability is preferred.

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Tips for efficient practicing:

• Establish a regular practice time as part of your daily routine.

• Do whatever possible to practice some or all of your assignment before school.

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Additional Tips to parents:

• Surround your child with the sounds of good music. Turn on recordings of a variety of music in your home every day. Sing to them and with them. This is the easiest and most inexpensive way to develop musicianship.

• Attend classical piano concerts with your child and expose them to a variety of musical experiences.

• Purchase music to add to your home collection. It’s fun to take your child to the music store or look at music online and let them choose what looks fun to them – songs from the radio, movies and musicals, etc.