2020-2021 Studio Policy
Tuition
Tuition covers the following:
Lesson Length Yearly Tuition Quarterly Payment
60 minutes $4400 $1100
75 minutes $5550 $1375
90 minutes $6600 $1650
Payment Schedule:
Quarterly payments are due: July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1 and should be made payable to Litzelman Piano Studio. An email reminder will be sent approximately two weeks prior to each due date.
All tuition payments are non-refundable unless I terminate the lessons.
Book/Festival Fee
A book and festival fee of $100 is required, payable by July 1, and must be submitted in separate check from any tuition payment. This fee covers music purchase and entrance fees for festivals and competitions. I will request additional funds as needed or return unused funds at year’s end.
Enrollment Form
Please complete the Enrollment Form you received via email; print/sign/scan and return to me at jclitzelman@gmail.com at your earliest convenience. Even if you’ve been in the studio for a number of years, kindly check the form for any errors and complete/update as necessary before returning to me. Accurate information is necessary for me to have when I enter your child in festivals and competitions.
Missed Lessons
My policy is that there are no makeups for missed lessons. As a courtesy to the students who do miss a lesson, an effort will be made to make up the lesson during regular teaching hours when another student cancels a lesson. Do not assume that a missed lesson will automatically be made up. If you know of a conflict that your child will have, please try to make a change with someone for that week, and as long as lessons remain online, that should be relatively easy to do. When we have inclement weather, lessons will be given online for those who feel it’s unsafe to drive to the studio.
Parking
Do not park in the driveway or block the driveway with your car. Parking is available on the street. If your lesson is between 8:00-5:00 you need to obtain a parking permit from me; place the permit on your dashboard when you arrive for the lesson and keep it in your car for the entire year.
Additional Lessons
Given the COVID-19 situation and the lack of summer travel, some of you may wish for your child to have more than the required four lessons in the summer. Any additional summer lessons will be offered at a 20% discount for a fee of:
Lesson Recording
You have the option of recording your child’s lesson. If you wish to have your child’s lesson recorded, please bring your own recording device, and as long as we continue lessons online, you are able to record the lesson on Skype. Listening to a lesson recording can often clear up questions regarding what is expected for the following lesson.
Group Classes
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, all group classes in the fall of 2020 will be online only. There will be two classes on Saturday mornings:
These will be offered as frequently as needed in order to give students the necessary performance experience.
Performance Opportunities
All students are invited to perform in the group classes and studio recitals each year. All local music associations sponsor recitals, festivals and competitions. Students are expected to participate in those events that I feel are beneficial to their progress. These performances give students specific goals to meet, introduce them to other youngsters who share their love of music, and help them assess where they stand in comparison to their peers.
Practicing
It is essential that students practice every day. Here are some ways to help your child:
Minimum Daily Practice Amounts
The times listed below are suggested minimum requirements for daily practice; those students who enter competitions will find it necessary to do significantly more.
Ages 5-6: 45 minutes, divided into 2 or 3 segments
Ages 7-8: 60 minutes, divided into 2 segments
Ages 9-13: 75 minutes
Ages 14-18: 90 minutes
To achieve success, even young students must serve as their own “teacher” when practicing, even if a parent is assisting them. There is no magic to success—having regularly scheduled daily practice will help your child achieve his or her potential—this cannot be emphasized enough.
Students need the following:
Studio Etiquette
Value of Piano Study
Participating in competitions and festivals can be an important part of piano study, but as far as I’m concerned, these serve mainly as motivators for practicing. Much more important and permanent than the thrill of winning a competition, is the uplifting effect that piano study can have can have on one’s spirit. When one plays the piano one taps into a powerful way to communicate emotion, whether it’s to a large crowd or just to oneself. Studies demonstrate that grade-school children who took piano lessons for three years scored higher than their peers on tests of general and spatial cognitive development, engineering, and other pursuits. Perhaps most important: children who take piano lessons learn a great deal about discipline, dedication, and the rewards of hard work. These are skills that will serve them well throughout their whole life. I am passionate about helping each child achieve his or her potential as a pianist.
Tuition covers the following:
- 38 lessons annually—4 lessons in the summer and 34 during the academic year. The 4 summer lessons occur during the summer before the academic year begins, and given the COVID-19 pandemic, these lessons will be given online-only via Skype. All summer lessons will occur between Jun 8th and August 23rd. The four summer lessons must be completed before school resumes or the lessons are forfeited.
- Group performance classes, scheduled Saturday morning throughout the academic year.
- Studio recitals (including hall rental of recital venue)
- Subscription to Piano Explorer (10 issues)
- Time spent judging/monitoring on day of a competition/festival due to entering your child; usually a minimum of three hours per event.
Lesson Length Yearly Tuition Quarterly Payment
60 minutes $4400 $1100
75 minutes $5550 $1375
90 minutes $6600 $1650
Payment Schedule:
Quarterly payments are due: July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1 and should be made payable to Litzelman Piano Studio. An email reminder will be sent approximately two weeks prior to each due date.
All tuition payments are non-refundable unless I terminate the lessons.
Book/Festival Fee
A book and festival fee of $100 is required, payable by July 1, and must be submitted in separate check from any tuition payment. This fee covers music purchase and entrance fees for festivals and competitions. I will request additional funds as needed or return unused funds at year’s end.
Enrollment Form
Please complete the Enrollment Form you received via email; print/sign/scan and return to me at jclitzelman@gmail.com at your earliest convenience. Even if you’ve been in the studio for a number of years, kindly check the form for any errors and complete/update as necessary before returning to me. Accurate information is necessary for me to have when I enter your child in festivals and competitions.
Missed Lessons
My policy is that there are no makeups for missed lessons. As a courtesy to the students who do miss a lesson, an effort will be made to make up the lesson during regular teaching hours when another student cancels a lesson. Do not assume that a missed lesson will automatically be made up. If you know of a conflict that your child will have, please try to make a change with someone for that week, and as long as lessons remain online, that should be relatively easy to do. When we have inclement weather, lessons will be given online for those who feel it’s unsafe to drive to the studio.
Parking
Do not park in the driveway or block the driveway with your car. Parking is available on the street. If your lesson is between 8:00-5:00 you need to obtain a parking permit from me; place the permit on your dashboard when you arrive for the lesson and keep it in your car for the entire year.
Additional Lessons
Given the COVID-19 situation and the lack of summer travel, some of you may wish for your child to have more than the required four lessons in the summer. Any additional summer lessons will be offered at a 20% discount for a fee of:
- $92 per 60-minute lesson
Lesson Recording
You have the option of recording your child’s lesson. If you wish to have your child’s lesson recorded, please bring your own recording device, and as long as we continue lessons online, you are able to record the lesson on Skype. Listening to a lesson recording can often clear up questions regarding what is expected for the following lesson.
Group Classes
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, all group classes in the fall of 2020 will be online only. There will be two classes on Saturday mornings:
- 10:00am for older students
- 11:00am for younger students
These will be offered as frequently as needed in order to give students the necessary performance experience.
Performance Opportunities
All students are invited to perform in the group classes and studio recitals each year. All local music associations sponsor recitals, festivals and competitions. Students are expected to participate in those events that I feel are beneficial to their progress. These performances give students specific goals to meet, introduce them to other youngsters who share their love of music, and help them assess where they stand in comparison to their peers.
Practicing
It is essential that students practice every day. Here are some ways to help your child:
- Make a practice schedule. Each child should write down specific times for each day’s session. If at all possible, a portion of the practice should occur in the morning before going to school.
- During practice times, keep the room quiet—no TV, computers, phone calls or other distractions.
- Monitor the practice: If you are unable to sit with your child during the practice, monitoring the practice sessions is a big help and can assist your child with progress.
Minimum Daily Practice Amounts
The times listed below are suggested minimum requirements for daily practice; those students who enter competitions will find it necessary to do significantly more.
Ages 5-6: 45 minutes, divided into 2 or 3 segments
Ages 7-8: 60 minutes, divided into 2 segments
Ages 9-13: 75 minutes
Ages 14-18: 90 minutes
To achieve success, even young students must serve as their own “teacher” when practicing, even if a parent is assisting them. There is no magic to success—having regularly scheduled daily practice will help your child achieve his or her potential—this cannot be emphasized enough.
Students need the following:
- a well-maintained instrument that is tuned at least twice a year
- a metronome
- a music dictionary
- short fingernails—this is a must as it is impossible to play the piano properly with long nails
Studio Etiquette
- Please remove shoes once inside the studio.
- Students are asked to wash their hands in the studio restroom before the lesson.
- Any snacking should be kept to a minimum.
- A Keurig coffee maker is available for your use; please assist your children who may wish to have a drink. Any left-over beverages should be disposed of in the sink.
- Be considerate and keep the waiting area clean.
- If you leave during your child’s lesson, be sure to return on time to pick up your child when his lesson is finished, especially if your child’s lesson is the last one of the day.
Value of Piano Study
Participating in competitions and festivals can be an important part of piano study, but as far as I’m concerned, these serve mainly as motivators for practicing. Much more important and permanent than the thrill of winning a competition, is the uplifting effect that piano study can have can have on one’s spirit. When one plays the piano one taps into a powerful way to communicate emotion, whether it’s to a large crowd or just to oneself. Studies demonstrate that grade-school children who took piano lessons for three years scored higher than their peers on tests of general and spatial cognitive development, engineering, and other pursuits. Perhaps most important: children who take piano lessons learn a great deal about discipline, dedication, and the rewards of hard work. These are skills that will serve them well throughout their whole life. I am passionate about helping each child achieve his or her potential as a pianist.