Lesson fees are $900 a year for thirty-minute lessons, or $1350 a year for forty-five-minute lessons. You receive thirty lessons in a nine-month school year period. For your convenience, these fees may be paid in two semester payments of $450 or $675 each, or nine monthly payments of $100 or $150 each. Please note that this is based on 30 lessons a year, not the number of lessons per month.
Please understand that you are contracting for an entire school year. If you quit in the middle of the year, you are responsible for all tuition through the end of the school year. If you give me enough notice that I am able to fill your slot, you will not need to pay through the end of the year. All fees are paid in advance. If you choose monthly payments, tuition is due on the last day of the month for the next month. Any payments received after the last day of the month must include a $5.00 late fee.
In addition to lesson fees, annual LSTE dues of $25.00 or $30.00 for multiple children are collected at the beginning of the school year. Please make checks payable to Lincoln Suzuki Talent Eduction, Inc.
It is your responsibility to attend all lessons and groups. You may consult my lesson schedule and switch lesson times with another student. No make-ups will be taught during breaks or holidays. If I am unable to teach a lesson, I will contact you about a make-up lesson.
Attendance to weekly lessons is very important. Lessons missed slow a student’s progress, so it is advisable to come to all lessons unless your child is sick or otherwise unavoidably detained. Groups (for group students) are also important; this is where we learn most of our reading skills. If your child is in a group, he or she is an important member of that group and should attend every meeting.
If your child has a fever, please keep him home, both for his own health and the health of everyone in my house
3. A word about listening
I personally prefer the Suzuki approach to learning music for all ages (see Suzuki at a Glance). It’s the easiest way to learn. I have proven to myself that listening to a recording of the music I want to learn to play is a faster, easier way to make the music a part of me (I do it all the time with my symphony music). Please encourage listening to all kinds of music in your home, but especially help your child to listen to the CD of the Suzuki pieces he or she is learning. For some reason, children won’t do this unless they are encouraged to, but it sure makes life easier for them and us if they do! Listening to CD’s is the most important part of home practice (and the easiest!). Make listening a habit in the car, while your child does other tasks, while falling asleep. Let there be times, too, of sitting quietly and listening for the music’s sake.
4. Home practice
The Suzuki method works best when at least one parent is involved in the learning process. I prefer that a parent attend all lessons until the child is about ten years old. Children younger than nine or ten cannot practice effectively on their own. You are your child’s teacher at home, so it is important for you to be at the lesson so I can show you how to teach your child. I can also show both of you how to make the transition to your child practicing alone. Let your child’s endurance set the number of times a day you practice and the length of your practice. However, you can also encourage self-discipline by insisting on daily practice. Make it fun with games and little rewards. 5. Recitals
There are several performance opportunities scheduled throughout the year. We have two solo recitals and various “play-ins,” informal group recitals at different venues. Our annual graduation recital is held in the spring, in which all cello students play together, and those who are graduating to the next level receive a certificate. We invite all friends, grandparents, and other visiting dignitaries to come and hear our students play. Home concerts are also fun and help a child learn to relax and enjoy performing. Again, recitals are so important in developing a young person’s confidence and pride in his accomplishments, so I encourage all my students and their families to attend all performances scheduled whenever possible.Thank you very much. If you have any questions regarding my policy or your child, please feel free to contact me at 475-8047, or at leslie@leslietienstudios.com.
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