INFORMATION PAGE
What can you and the student expect from piano lessons in this studio?
You can expect a full 45 minute lesson once a week. 30 minutes of that lesson will be filled with exercises to improve dexterity, assignments in a course book with progressive lessons designed for your student's age and ability level, assignments in an accompanying solo book to apply the progressive lessons in the course book, and instructions on other solos selected by the teacher (with the student's help) to eventually perform for Recitals and Evaluations.
The first or last 15 minutes of the lesson will be in theory. I would like to emphasis that theory is a chance to look at why music is written and played the way it is and also gives the student a chance to possibly compose and improvise at the piano with a working knowledge of what he/she is creating.
As I stated in the contract, I do not require set practice time. However, I do expect all instructions that are written in the assignment book to be accomplished by the next lesson. I do stress that daily practice is much more beneficial than long, lengthy practices several times a week.
The recommended practice times are:
30 minutes a day, six days a week for 6-12 years of age
45 minutes a day, six days a week for 13-15 years of age
1 hour a day, six days a week for 16 years of age and over
You can expect interaction between the other students with a chance to compare the music they have learned and through friendly competition reach new goals. A group class once a quarter and a Spring Awards Recital will be required for this purpose.
There will be opportunities for performances in Tucson Music Teachers Association, Arizona State Music Teachers Association, Music Teachers National Association, Music Teachers of California activities as they occur during the year.
National Guild Auditions are in the Spring of the year. This is a performance evaluation (not a contest) that gives the student a chance to share their repertoire learned through the year with an unbiased and qualified evaluator.
You can expect recitals to be fun! I prepare my students for all evaluations and recitals with a vigor that gives them the self-esteem to perform without "petrifying fear". I do present to them the fact that they will be "anxiously nervous" but as long as we have prepared well the performance will be a success. The performance may not always be as good as we would like but nevertheless a success.
You can expect me to become a very close friend and mentor because I will be dealing directly with many emotions; in fact, I will become a "strange" new member to the family for (I hope) many years.
A well-performed piece of music is an emotional experience and a terrific outlet for today's stressful life. Each student receives a little part of me as I share my music with them.
You can expect it takes a minimum of two years for a beginner to know enough about the new language of
music to be able to sightread their assignments with a minimum of teacher assistance. Until then we will be working hard to reach this two year goal.
Yes, there will be downs and ups and they are to be handled carefully. I must be made aware of them so that I can change the lessons accordingly.
Some students hang in there all the way through their senior years, but others even after their ups and downs are not going to study anymore. We will work through this and together we will decide when it is time.
A strange problem I have as a teacher is for some reason the students and parents seem to feel they are "bursting my bubble" if there are problems with the student's music study. It is quite the contrary, because I want only the best musical experience for my students.
School Age Student Information
You can expect a full 45 minute lesson once a week. 30 minutes of that lesson will be filled with exercises to improve dexterity, assignments in a course book with progressive lessons designed for your student's age and ability level, assignments in an accompanying solo book to apply the progressive lessons in the course book, and instructions on other solos selected by the teacher (with the student's help) to eventually perform for Recitals and Evaluations.
The first or last 15 minutes of the lesson will be in theory. I would like to emphasis that theory is a chance to look at why music is written and played the way it is and also gives the student a chance to possibly compose and improvise at the piano with a working knowledge of what he/she is creating.
As I stated in the contract, I do not require set practice time. However, I do expect all instructions that are written in the assignment book to be accomplished by the next lesson. I do stress that daily practice is much more beneficial than long, lengthy practices several times a week.
The recommended practice times are:
30 minutes a day, six days a week for 6-12 years of age
45 minutes a day, six days a week for 13-15 years of age
1 hour a day, six days a week for 16 years of age and over
You can expect interaction between the other students with a chance to compare the music they have learned and through friendly competition reach new goals. A group class once a quarter and a Spring Awards Recital will be required for this purpose.
There will be opportunities for performances in Tucson Music Teachers Association, Arizona State Music Teachers Association, Music Teachers National Association, Music Teachers of California activities as they occur during the year.
National Guild Auditions are in the Spring of the year. This is a performance evaluation (not a contest) that gives the student a chance to share their repertoire learned through the year with an unbiased and qualified evaluator.
You can expect recitals to be fun! I prepare my students for all evaluations and recitals with a vigor that gives them the self-esteem to perform without "petrifying fear". I do present to them the fact that they will be "anxiously nervous" but as long as we have prepared well the performance will be a success. The performance may not always be as good as we would like but nevertheless a success.
You can expect me to become a very close friend and mentor because I will be dealing directly with many emotions; in fact, I will become a "strange" new member to the family for (I hope) many years.
A well-performed piece of music is an emotional experience and a terrific outlet for today's stressful life. Each student receives a little part of me as I share my music with them.
You can expect it takes a minimum of two years for a beginner to know enough about the new language of
music to be able to sightread their assignments with a minimum of teacher assistance. Until then we will be working hard to reach this two year goal.
Yes, there will be downs and ups and they are to be handled carefully. I must be made aware of them so that I can change the lessons accordingly.
Some students hang in there all the way through their senior years, but others even after their ups and downs are not going to study anymore. We will work through this and together we will decide when it is time.
A strange problem I have as a teacher is for some reason the students and parents seem to feel they are "bursting my bubble" if there are problems with the student's music study. It is quite the contrary, because I want only the best musical experience for my students.
School Age Student Information