The following policies help to define mutual expectations for the year of piano lessons and apply from September 11, 2023 through the week including May 20, 2024 (or the end of the school year for Naperville School District 203). The policies are not intended to be harsh or stringent, but serve to provide a certain amount of structure and definition.
Piano instruction will consist of weekly private lessons throughout the school year (beginning September 12 with the exception of periodic group performance classes (see 3 below) and Christmas and Spring breaks. Each student will be assigned a variety of piano music designed to develop technique, sight-reading, and performance skills. Piano literature will be given from all periods.
The student is expected to practice at home on a daily basis. Practice assignments will be written in an assignment notebook; students are to practice the entire assignment daily and record the practice time daily in the notebook.
Periodic group performance classes will be scheduled throughout the year and serve an important role in the overall program of piano instruction. Opportunities to perform before peers provide a stimulating environment that enhances accountability and helps to build the student’s confidence. A one-hour group performance class will be given in place of the private lesson approximately once every six weeks. Music will be performed from memory by each student. Instruction in music theory, memorization performance, and other piano skills will also be given during these performance classes. Piano lessons will be billed in advance on a monthly basis and are normally emailed to parents the beginning of each month. Payment is requested at the beginning of each month for which the lessons are billed. The charge for lessons is $32 per half hour and $48for 45 minutes. During the school year, no lessons will be rescheduled for any reasons other than illness or family emergency. In such cases, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the piano instructor to make up the lesson within one week. In the event a lesson is not made up, it will still be charged to the student.
Normally, music will be purchased by the piano instructor. Charges for music will be included in the monthly invoice for music lessons. Parents should inform the piano instructor if they desire to purchase their own music.
In the event a student desires to discontinue piano lessons, one month’s advance notice is requested.