Greetings and welcome to piano lessons! In this outline you will find information about me, my teaching experience, procedures and policies of the studio and related topics. Please take a few moments to carefully review the contents of this packet.

RESUMÉ

My resumé is current to date, and contains information regarding my education, teaching experience, professional activities, performance experience and other information pertaining to my entire musical background.

CLASS CONTENT

Music is a language--and like any language, there are many basics which must be mastered prior to advancing to more complex applications. During a course of study, I attempt to cover all areas of musicianship: theory, technique, formal analysis, harmony, ear-training, sight-reading, performance, and a comprehensive study of musical literature in a progressive fashion. I truly feel that a well-rounded musical education helps students define for themselves what music means to them.

Please bear in mind that no two students are exactly alike, and children (as well as adults) learn at different rates of speed. Even brothers and sisters within families differ radically in motivation and temperament. Therefore, I approach students as individuals and attempt to challenge each according to their own unique potential. Music is not easy, and may not always be "fun". However, given sufficient time and structured practice, it does become enjoyable to master the many different aspects of this art.

BILLING POLICY

These guidelines are consistently maintained, and cannot be altered as they allow the business portion of piano lessons to flow smoothly and equitably. Currently, my monthly rates for piano lessons are as follows:

60 minute lessons 120 minute lessons

$30.00 $50.00

These monthly fees reserve a weekly time slot which works like rent one would pay for an apartment. These are flat fees to reserve your, or your child's, weekly time for lessons, whether you choose to attend or miss. Fees are charged by the month, and are not lowered nor refunded for missed lessons. 

MISSED LESSONS AND "MAKE-UPS"

The studio shall not assume any financial responsibility for a student's absence(s). Monthly rates are flat fees, and shall not be lowered nor refunded for missed lessons. "Make-up” credit days are available on the calendar space of the website. You may book a make-up day if you have called at least 24 hours before our scheduled appointment and have been credited with a “Make-up credit”. Please bear in mind that appointments missed are time slots that another student misses out on; moreover time that the teacher misses out on.

If, for some reason, a lesson must be missed, please notify me at least one week (or not less than 24 hours if possible) in advance. Please be certain to do so by telephone or email. I will reply, but if for some reason I do not, please call.

TERMINATION OF LESSONS

If a student and/or parent should decide to terminate lessons at any given time during the year, the studio requires a one-week notice. Such notice must be delivered to me (Jackie E. Turner) personally (or, if I am not available, the document may be deposited into the mailbox of my residence, or by email.

PAYMENTS AND LATE FEES

All fees for lessons are due in no later than the 10th of each month. Bills are submitted during the last week of each month for that particular month. Please do not pay in advance. If you pay by mail, please be certain to send the remittance so that I receive it by the 10th. If you have forgotten my address, simply give me a call and I will give it to you.

If you drop by to pay, and I am not home, please place your payment in the locked drop box by the front door.

PLEASE BE SURE TO REMIT BY THE 10TH. Late payments upset my personal bill-paying process as well as my personal income. It is necessary to ensure that these payments are received on time. Therefore, a $10.00 late fee shall be assessed for any payments received after the 10th of each month. This late charge would best be paid at the time that the month's fee is remitted, or it will appear on the following month's statement.

If payment has not yet been received by the 15th, additional late charges at the rate of $2 per day shall be added to the original fees. If this process continues through the end of the month, such student shall be terminated by the studio and the matter shall be turned over to a collection agency for resolution.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

I will never allow a phone call to interrupt our lesson, and I expect the same courtesy be granted to me. If you must leave your phone on for emergency purposes, please turn it to vibrate. I would ask the same of any parents attending lessons with their child.

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance of lessons is an issue of responsibility and choice on the part of parents and students. Again, the studio shall not assume any financial responsibility for student's absence(s) due to illness, weather, sports, etc that have not been canceled at a minimum of 24 hours prior to the lesson. The studio shall, however, assume financial responsibility should I (Jackie E. Turner) become ill, be out of town, or cancel for any reason. The month's regular fee will then be reduced by that particular amount.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS

There are only two national holidays when the studio will be closed, and for which there shall be no rate reduction: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The studio will be open for lessons on all other national holidays for those who choose to be here. If you will be gone on a national holiday, please let me know as soon as possible so that I may adjust my teaching schedule to better accommodate those who will be here.

SUMMER MONTHS

Piano lessons continue as usual during the summer months. This is a private piano studio, and does not follow any type of "academic shool year". If you and/or your family will be out of town at any time during the summer, please let me know well in advance so that I may adjust my teaching schedule.

If you should arrange any "trades" with any other families during the summer, such arrangements need to be made by the respective families and must be mutually agreeable. The studio must be made aware of any and all such arrangements, and shall not assume any responsibility for miscommunications nor financial misunderstandings.

MUSIC

When the need arises, the studio shall determine which music books and supplies should be purchased. Music orders will require shipping, and may take some time. If any music needs to be ordered at the studio's expense, the studio needs to be reimbursed upon arrival of the music in order to prevent late charges. Fees from items purchased at the studio’s expense will be included in the next invoice issued at the end of the month.

PRACTICE AND PARENTAL SUPPORT

Sufficient scheduled practice time on a daily basis is the surest guarantee that you, or your child, will experience consistent progress at the piano. Please log practice hours on studio website. Note any areas of difficulty, questions, or just general observations (https://pianojack.mymusicstaff.com) Learning the necessary skills to become proficient at the keyboard will not occur by simply going to piano lessons. It takes committed practice on a daily basis during the week to put skills covered at the lesson into motion.

Parental support is an extremely important factor in musical training. Children whose parents take an active and honest interest in their child's progress tend to be more enthusiastic and productive. I strongly urge a parent to attend the weekly lesson(s)--this way, the parent is better equipped to assist his/her child with home practice sessions.

As mentioned before: music is not easy and can, at times, become frustrating. Adults often take for granted that children are rarely self-motivated and lack the maturity (and self-discipline) to put in that all-important practice session. With commitment to learning the art of music comes the decision to practice on a regular basis. Consistent progress results in pride, satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment!

SPORTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Although this is a private piano studio, and is not affiliated with any school district, it is no less an educational institution--and must be regarded as such. It is the position of this studio that piano lessons are to be treated with the same level of importance as any other subject your child may be studying in school. It is also the position of this piano studio that sporting events and other extracurricular activities are not considered valid excuses for not practicing during the week. As an instructor of piano, I would no more accept this reasoning than any other teacher at an educational institution. Sports and music may not always be mutually compatible, but need not be mutually exclusive. Please respect my curriculum and my commitment to your child's musical education by maintaining a priority level for piano studies equal to that of other school subjects--regard it as a "private extension" of academics that would otherwise be unavailable to your child.

RECITALS AND PERFORMANCES

During the year, several performance opportunities are made available to qualified students. These events provide pupils with further incentive to practice and excel, and can have a positive effect on a student's sense of accomplishment. Recitals build confidence and reinforce the concept that good practice habits result in good pianists.

Students who take part in these programs commit to the event at least four months in advance, thereby giving ample time to prepare their respective piece(s). All music--except duets--is to be memorized. Deadlines for preparation are imposed and strictly adhered to in order to ensure that all participating students are secure with their piece(s). Those students whose piece(s) is/are not performance-ready by the deadline shall be withdrawn from the program.

Students scheduled to perform for recitals are required to attend and perform. Except in cases of family emergency or illness, students may not "drop out" from the program. Such behavior then affects the entire recital, and is not fair to the other performers (nor me!).

Performers must be at the facility no later than 20 minutes before the beginning of the recital. Participating students and their families are expected to remain for the duration of the entire recital, thereby providing ample audience and respect for all performers.

ADJUDICATIONS / SYLLABUS

PARKING

Please park in my driveway, in front of my house or perpendicular to my street.

Please--do not use any of my neighbors' driveways for any reason, or block their mailboxes. Don't forget, I have to live with them and they with me.

GROUNDS

The piano studio is part of my private residence, and must always be regarded and respected as such. Please do your part to maintain the premises for the sanctity of my home.

Please! No playing on the lawn,

Feel free to enjoy the back yard sitting area before or during lessons if the weather is nice. If you should elect to sit outside during your child's lesson, the sitting area is an ideal location to read, relax, etc. Again, all I ask is that you respect the premises.

Obviously I frown upon the disposal of gum and other debris on the premises. Please take your disposables of this sort with you.

STUDIO PROCEDURES

Remember--the studio is an extension of my private residence and must be regarded (and respected) as such. Please remove your shoes (check them before entering) during rainy weather or if they are dirty/muddy/gross underneath.

Office hours shall be determined by the Red Music Note; if the note is in the window, the studio is open... it's that simple.

Please do not "drop by" after hours. If the note is not in my window, assume that I have company, I'm asleep, I'm not at home, or I simply do not wish to be disturbed. The best (and most logical) approach is to call the studio and arrange a time to come by.

Do not ring the front/rear door bells of the house—I do not cater to solicitation.

Food and/or Drink

Please feel free to bring a snack or drink. I have water and coffee available at request. Please do not bring an entire meal. I am running a piano studio, not a pub.

CODA

As a piano instructor, I support and care for all of my students and their families in a very special way. One-to-one education is very concentrated, and the bond between teacher and student can grow quite strong. Nevertheless, the studio reserves the right to terminate a student's lessons for the following infractions:

1. Inappropriate behavior toward me on the part of the student. This includes violent out lashings, swearing, defamation of character, unacceptable advances or any other displays which fall outside the realm of common respect and decency.
2. Inappropriate behavior toward me on the part of a student's parent(s). This includes all of the above.
3. Attendance at lessons in any type of intoxicated state.
4. Failure to pay monthly lessons in full.

If you should arrive early for your scheduled lesson time, please wait until no earlier than five minutes before your scheduled time before entering my home. Please feel free to come in if the red note is in the window. Have a seat in the entrance, take off your shoes, and help yourself to any snacks in the studio area. Further, please be prompt in picking up your child after his/her lesson if you must be absent during that time. Each student is entitled to his/her privacy during lessons--please work to extend to one another this very important courtesy.

Lesson time must remain as focused as possible--siblings are welcome to attend provided they remain still and quiet. It is very difficult and tense if I have to teach while a sibling is walking/running/jumping around and making various noises during a lesson. Please take the initiative to remove a sibling from the studio should this situation begin to arise. Again, it is very uncomfortable for me to remind a parent of this procedure should the need arise, so please help me to keep the atmosphere of the lesson time free from such annoyances.

If you have any questions, please call my studio at (850) 748-2014 at any time. An answering machine is on 24/7. Simply leave a message -- I'll return your call at my earliest convenience.

Thank you for taking the time to read and understand what I expect from myself, my students and their families. I look forward to our musical journey together!

Sincerely, Jackie E. Turner