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2024-2025 STUDIO POLICIES ♬ 

I am so excited for another great year of making music with my students!  At JLP Studio my goal is for all students to enjoy learning a new instrument and to appreciate music.  Students will learn to play a variety of different styles, repertoire, sight reading, theory, composition and ear training.  I can’t wait to see how each musician grows this year!

General 🎵

As a home-based studio, my children will be around during lessons. This may mean that a brief pause needs to be taken to intervene. I always ensure that students get their full time value for a lesson. Just know that I’ll be wearing both vocational hats during the lesson: teacher and mother.


To further maximize our time together, I appreciate promptness to lessons. When you arrive for your lesson time please come right in through the walkout without knocking so as to not disrupt the lesson before you. Have a seat on the couch in the family room and quietly wait your turn.  If you have more than one student with back to back times the waiting student is allowed to play with toys quietly or read a book while waiting their turn.  If you need something to keep you busy while waiting let me know and I will get you something.  Please do not go up to other areas of the home unless you need to use the bathroom.  Students are welcome to use our restroom, especially if it can be utilized before or after a lesson. I do realize that the urge may hit during a lesson. We can certainly pause for that if needed.


Books and Materials  ♮♩ 


I will purchase any necessary books and add the amount due to your monthly invoice. A metronome may also be required for home practice. Affordable metronomes are available at your local music store, and free metronomes are easy to find in your app store. 


Practice ♫

It takes discipline, commitment and time to learn any new skill. The process of learning to play an instrument and advancing into more complex music requires a significant amount of concentration. A quiet environment for practice is an important part of setting your child up for success. A guide for appropriate practice times is listed below. These are suggestions for minimum practice times. More practice is always encouraged!  I will do my best to give parents and students ideas to make practice fun!  

Level                        

Beginning: 10-20 minutes daily 

Intermediate: 20-40 minutes daily 

Advanced: 30-60 minutes daily   


Suggestions for Parents 🎼

The success of young musicians (especially beginners) is directly proportional to parental involvement in the learning process. Regardless of musical background, every parent can do some specific things to make each piano lesson and practice session a positive experience. Here are some ideas: 

Establish a definite schedule for practicing. When students have a routine, they will be more likely to get daily practice. 

Make sure your child has a properly tuned instrument. Acoustic pianos should be tuned at least once a year.  Guitars may need to be tuned each time it is played.  Guitar tuners can be found at a local music store or there are guitar tuning apps in your app store.

Help your child to remember all of their music for each lesson. 

Express enthusiasm often when you hear your child practicing. Your encouragement goes a long way! 

Sit down and be an audience for your child whenever you can. You might be surprised at how much it means to them. 

Encourage your child to participate in performance opportunities…whenever possible.


Expectations for Students ♪♩ 

1. Be sure to have trimmed fingernails for each lesson. Long nails make it difficult to play with proper hand position. 

2. Set up a regular practice schedule. Find a time of day that works well for you to practice. Having a routine will help you remember to practice. The more time you put in, the more you will get out of your lessons! 

3. Make sure you bring all your books to every lesson. 

4. Come to your lesson with a willing attitude – be ready to work and have some fun! 😊


Performance Opportunities ♯ 

Performing music that has been practiced and polished is an important step in becoming a well-rounded musician. It is an important skill to develop as students grow and advance in their musical technique. It’s also healthy for students to perform in a variety of environments. Confidence builds with each performing experience! 


I have at least two performance opportunities a year for all students.  The first is in February at an event through NFMC called Festival.  At this event each student will choose two pieces of music to perform in front of a judge to be critiqued.  It is a very fun experience for students and helps them to gain confidence for the spring recital in May.  The Spring recital is the time where each student get to shine and show all of you how hard they have worked for the entire year.  There may be more performance opportunities throughout the year and I will keep you informed as they come along.   


Payment  𝄢 

Lessons are billed at a rate of $21/half hour to be paid by the final lesson of each month. An invoice will be sent to you via text/email/messenger with your total. Any late payments will be assessed a $5/week late fee.  If a lesson is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice or if the student is a no-show for their lesson time you will be charged for that lesson.  


Any books needed for lessons will be at cost and can be billed at the next lesson. All payments for materials and instruction are non-refundable. Any competitions or special events will be billed at time of registration. Payments can be made via cash, check (to Emily Bavin or JLP Studio) or Venmo (@Emily-Bavin)


Make-Up Lessons and Cancellations 🎸

Due to having a very full studio make-up lessons will be limited.  If you need to cancel a lesson for any reason please try to give as much notice as possible.  If I have enough notice another student could use that time for a make-up lesson.  If you choose to pay for the month of lessons at the beginning of the month and you need to cancel, that payment will roll over into the next lesson.  I know that sports seasons get busy and game nights often change.  I am willing to work with you so that your child can always participate in all the activities they love!


Termination of Services 🎹

JLP Studio and/or the student/responsible party may terminate services at any time. If the student should terminate services, any remaining lessons shall be forfeited without refund. Out of respect for the teacher, if the student/responsible party should choose, for whatever reason, to discontinue lessons, JLP Studio requests one-month's notification and suggests that the student finishes the semester he or she is currently in. JLP Studio shall extend the same courtesy to the student (unless egregious conduct requires immediate dismissal). Regrettably, JLP Studio shall have to dismiss a student if any of these circumstances occur. Some of these were already mentioned above:

  • Failure to pay tuition on time

  • Persistent absences

  • Uncooperative attitude

  • Disruptive behavior

  • Acts of physical aggression

  • Vandalism

  • Theft

  • Any conduct that is disruptive to the business activities of JLP Studio


Disclaimer 🎵

  • Returned checks will result in a fee that ranges from $10 to $30. Personal checks will no longer be accepted if two checks are returned consecutively.  

  • Emily Bavin, the Bavin family and JLP Studio are not responsible for any bodily injuries at the studio or for any personal belongings that are left at the studio. 

  • I agree to allow JLP Studio to take photographs, videos, and/or recordings of my child(ren) during lessons, recitals, or other events for promotional purposes.

    

                            It is okay to display my child’s face

                            I do not want my child’s face displayed


 

Parent Signature ___________________       Student Signature_________________