Dear Parents,
Please take moment to read this through and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me! I am an apprentice teacher, so I ask that you please be patient with me as I get set up!
Thank you in advance,
Olivia
2024-2025 Year
IMPORTANT DATES:
Week of September 9-10, 2024 - Lessons begin (Second week of September)
Weeks of December 23, 2024 to January 3, 2025 - NO LESSONS (Christmas Break)
Week of March 10-14, 2025 - NO LESSONS (March Break)
Week of June 9-13, 2025 - last week of lessons
LESSON FEES:
Payment is made monthly in advance, and can be sent via e-transfer to oliviaspiano2@gmail.com (No secret question needed)
You will receive an automatically generated invoice a week before payment is due on the 1st of each month.
***I only offer 30 minute lessons at the moment***
$18 per 30 minute lesson
When a lesson falls on a statutory holiday, no lessons will take place that day.
If a student withdraws from lessons part way through a month, there will be no refunds of any portion of that month already paid for, but they are welcome to continue their lessons until the end of the month.
Notice: On a personal note, I can advice that my teaching curriculum will not include any songs or music related to any holidays but will be strictly non-denominational. In the event you wish you child, or the child themselves wish, to learn music associated with a particular holiday I am able to recommend holiday piano books that are on the same level as your child but they will need to learn to play this music on their own.**
ATTENDANCE:
Other than special circumstances such as prolonged illnesses/injury or severe winter storms, all absences will result in a forfeited lesson, even with advanced notice. I am not able to rearrange lessons if something comes up for you, or because of vacations, other activities, etc. My time is reserved specifically for each student and I can't easily fill their spot with someone else. Additionally, my schedule is already very limited so there is no room for rescheduling.
However, if you need a permanent lesson day/time change because your current time slot is no longer working for you, please do not hesitate to let me know. I will do my best to find a spot that works better for you for future lessons. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Absence from school for private music instruction:
The Education Act of the Government of Ontario provides the opportunity for students in Ontario schools to receive music instruction, often by a music teacher and to be excused from attendance at school. In Chapter E2, Part 11, Statute 21.2(e) of the Education Act Revised Statutes of Ontario, it states: " School attendance may be excused when the child is absent from school for the purpose of receiving instruction in music and the period of absence does not exceed one-half day in any week." (Government of Ontario, 1990, p. 36)
Severe winter weather policy:
When the roads are unsafe to travel, please do not risk your safety for a piano lesson. I can move their lessons to Friday of that week at their usual lesson time, weather permitting.
KEYBOARD vs. PIANO POLICY:
Having a proper instrument for practicing on is 'key' to a student's success. Purchasing a proper piano as opposed to a keyboard can be an expensive investment, but it will certainly lead to better results. A student who practices on an acoustic piano or a good quality digital piano will be a more successful student as pianos don't have the limitations that keyboards do. Although I will accept beginner students with keyboards, their keyboard needs to meet the following criteria:
1. It must be touch sensitive (able to control volume of sound by how hard the keys are pressed)
2. Must be polyphonic (able to sound more than one note/key at a time)
3. A minimum of 76 keys (88 is better) with white key width of 2.3cm
4. Preferably be weighted keys (simulates the action of keys on an acoustic piano, rather than the feel of pressing buttons)
5. Must have a pedal which can be purchased separately.
After the first year of lessons, an acoustic piano or a quality digital piano is really necessary, otherwise, it would be detrimental to your student's developing technique if they were to continue practicing on a keyboard.
PRACTICE:
To move along at a good pace, it is my hope that students aim to practice a minimum of 5 days a week. (The amount of time each day is dependent on the student's level and ability.) I do understand that in this day and age families are busier than ever. So I ask that parents and students work together to do their best with practicing and that everyone understands that the more practicing that is done each week, the faster they will move along and vice versa.
HEALTH PRECAUTIONS: