Here below is a brief studio policy.  A full studio policy is available at the interview.

If you have any questions, please email me at GorelikPianoStudio@gmail.com

 

Payment

Payment is due in full at the first lesson of each month. An invoice will be emailed to you a week prior. If you have planned vacations/camps/etc... that will require a student to miss lessons, please email me before the beginning of the month.  If those lessons cannot be rescheduled, they will be removed from the invoice. This payment plan is designed to reserve a weekly lesson spot for each student.

 

Lesson etiquette

There are certain particularities of studying a musical instrument that distinguish it ever so slightly from other academic practices; likewise there are other considerations that one should expect in any such setting, but warrant mentioning nevertheless: 

 

• Please arrive to your lesson on time, extra time will not be offered at the end of the lesson if the student arrives late.

 

• Be sure to bring all necessary materials to each lesson. Each student should have a notebook where I will write down their assignments and a binder for hand-outs.

 

• I encourage parents to sit in on the lessons and participate in the learning process - I’ve seen best progress when we work as a team (teacher, student, and the parents). The parent often provides support and coaching at home.  In a lesson, I often take time to demonstrate how to practice at home and solve particular musical puzzles. I am available via email to answer any questions that might come up at home.  

 

• For pianists, it is necessary to keep fingernails short.  It is both a safety consideration as well as a requirement to build proper technique.

 

• It is sometimes necessary for me to touch a student’s hand/arm/shoulder during a lesson to help with his/her technique.  If you or a student is uncomfortable with physical contact, please let me know and I will find an alternative.

 

• If something has happened or is happening at home or at school that would be affecting the student, please feel free to share with me whatever you deem to be appropriate, so that I may be sensitive to the student’s circumstances.

 

Preparation

Daily quality practice is the key to steady progress. In order to help guide at-home practice, I keep a detailed assignment book and I expect each student to go over their practice notes and be prepared for his/her lesson.  I shall be available by email and shall, if the student wishes to take the initiative, review practice videos sent electronically.

 

Attendance

I believe that one-on-one piano lessons can develop not only a mastery of the instrument, but also discipline, responsibility, and many other generalizable skills that are conducive to a successful academic and artistic future. Regular lesson attendance is very important. If a guardian/student needs to cancel a lesson, please notify me 24-hours prior (emergencies will be dealt with on a case to case basis). Otherwise, it will be considered a no-show and will not be made-up or credited toward next month’s tuition. 

 

Your Piano

Students should have an acoustic piano at home; the action ("feel") and the sound of an acoustic instrument are necessary for building proper technique at any level.  Full electronic pianos with weighted keys may be acceptable in the first 6-months of lessons, but ultimately there is no replacement for a genuine instrument.  I will be happy to assist you in finding an instrument and a piano tuner.

 

I wish to welcome you as well as to commend your decision to study music and promise to provide a professional, fun, and enriching experience.

 

         Olga Gorelik