What You Need To Know...

Summer lessons are kicking into high gear this week!  I am looking forward to starting beginners, working with new students & continuing with my current kiddos!  Here are some important things you need to be aware of as we begin.

Reminder of Payment Policy:

• Your first payment for the summer is due at the first June lesson.  If you have more due, it will be collected at the first July lesson.  There will be no payment due in August unless special arrangements have been made with me prior to starting.
  
• Reeds are $15 each, and they are to be paid for at the time of purchase.  Please try to give a week's notice when reeds are needed.
• If you are involved in reed making classes, your reed kit is included in the June/July total already.  However, reed classes will be paid for at the time of the class.  Reed classes are $30 each.
• Now that the schedule is set, there are no make up lessons.

Lesson Protocol:

• Please make every effort to be early to lessons.  As you can see it is a tight schedule so I will be starting each lesson at the scheduled time.  If you are late, you will miss some of your time.  
• Please have your reed soaked & your instrument ready to go when it is your time.  That way we can get more accomplished during your lesson.
• ALWAYS have a pencil, metronome/tuner, necessary music, & assignment notebook at each lesson.
• Parents are always welcome to come in and enjoy the cool ac & the comfy couch!

Communication:

• I love teaching music & hope it shows!  I want to help each student improve and enjoy their musicality.  Please feel free to contact me with questions about anything!  Good teacher-parent-student communication is an important key to success.  If there is ever anything I should know to better teach you (or your child), please let me know & I will be sure to reciprocate.  I will give feedback on how things are going whether good or whether there is need for improvement.

Materials:

• I will occasionally request you to purchase a specific book or piece.  Please make every effort to do so.  I will be advising you on what level of material you are ready for.  You may also bring in outside materials & we will work on them if you are prepared on your assigned materials.  I love when students have music they are excited about!
• I will be requiring you to purchase a notebook of your choosing (it can be a little spiral or a journal type book) to write down assignments at each lesson.  Often students come to lessons & have neglected to practice their assigned material.  This is not a good behavior so it is my hope that their added responsibility of keeping up with their assignments will help them practice.

Practice:

• Speaking of practice....  Most people have heard the cliche, "Practice makes perfect," but that is not true!  Only PERFECT practice makes perfect!!!  Good practice makes better!
• There is such a thing as "bad practicing."  If you only play the parts you can already play & like to hear you are not really practicing... you are just playing.
• Use your time wisely.  Attack small sections that need work & practice SLOWLY!  It doesn't have to be a really long practice session to make progress.  As long as mistakes aren't being practiced, you will improve.  
• Be sure good practicing is occurring.  I will have many tips on good practicing on the blog as we go, so be sure to check in often!