Studio Policy

Anderson Music Studio Policy Handbook

This policy is designed to help day to day operations run smoothly. By enrolling in the studio, you agree to abide by the terms and regulations listed below.

• Instruments
• All piano and vocal students need to have an instrument to practice on/with at home. A tuned acoustic piano is preferred for all piano students. An electric keyboard is acceptable only if it has 88 weighted and "touch sensitive" keys with correct foot pedals.
• A quality metronome is required of all students.

• Practice
• Daily practice is essential to the musical development of your child. Without it, your child's progress will be severely reduced, come to a standstill, or even begin to go backwards. Based on the child's age and skill level, the teacher will determine the amount of practice time required per student. 
• A sample chart of what the teacher may expect:
• New Beginner: 5 days a week at 15 min a day
• Early Elementary: 5 days a week at 20 min a day
• Late Elementary: 5 days a week at 30 min a day
• Early Intermediate/Intermediate: 5 days a week at 45 min a day
• Early Advanced/Advanced: 5 days a week at 1 hour a day

• Parental Involvement
• Parental support is vital for your child to succeed. With your encouragement and guidance, your child will be more successful at reaching their musical goals.
• Please help your child understand how important it is to practice the required amount every day and help them set a practice schedule.
• Parents will be required to monitor their child's practice time only if a child is unable to practice the correct amount of time assigned or the correct assigned material on their own.
• If you are able, feel free to answer your child's questions about their music or theory.
• Parents may observe their child's lesson for additional help with their child's practice but is not required.

• Timeliness
• Please be courteous about bringing your child to and from their lesson on time. If your child is early, he/she will have to wait for their assigned lesson time before I will begin teaching. If you are late in picking them up, they will have to wait unattended outside of my house if I must leave.
• Time missed due to tardiness will not be made up.

• Performance Opportunities
• One studio recital is held each spring and is required of all students. There are many additional performance opportunities offered for your child that are highly encouraged but not required. All are excellent opportunities for your child's performance development. Participation in each event is determined by the teacher and should be considered a privilege.
• Performance opportunities for students include:
• Spring Recital
• Studio Composition Celebration
• Aberdeen Area Piano Festival
• National Piano Guild
• SDMTA Student Competitions
• High School Music Contest
• AAMTA Events
• Christmas Music at the Mall
• Various Master Classes
• Composition Recital
• Duet Recital

• Missed Lessons
•          33 lessons are guaranteed from September to May. 35 lessons have been scheduled. The first two lessons missed due to student or teacher sickness, family emergency, or weather will not be made up. Any additional lessons missed due to the reasons stated above that I am aware of prior to the lesson missed will be made up at the end of the school year. Calls made right at your child’s lesson time will only be made up based on teacher discretion. 
• Missed makeup lessons will not be made up.

• Tuition
• 33 lessons are guaranteed from September to May. A registration fee of $15.00 per student is required at the beginning of the year. A monthly tuition will be paid each month at $60.00 per half hour lesson, which included sales tax, from September to May. Payment is due the first lesson of each month. All checks should be made out to Helen M. Anderson. A late fee of $5.00 per week will be added every week the payment is late.
• If for any reason a student must discontinue lessons, one month's paid notice is required.

• Summer Lessons
• Three summer lessons are required for all students throughout the months of June, July, and August. This is to aid continued progress throughout the summer and guarantee student preparedness for the fall.
• Students that wish to continue weekly lessons or every other week lessons may do so.
• Lessons are $16.36 per half hour and will be scheduled based on teacher/student availability in May.

• Contact Me
• If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via email or phone. Feel free to email, call, or text at any time; however, I will not answer my phone during my teaching hours. I will do my best to contact you as soon as I can.
• Anderson Music Studio is on Facebook. I will post information to aid in communication here. My studio information is also available online: https://andersonmusicstudio088.blogspot.com
• I can be reached at:
• helen.anderson@k12.sd.us
• 605-228-1344