2018-2019 Studio Policy
Tuition
Tuition covers the following:
60 minutes $4600 $1150
75 minutes $5750 $1438
90 minutes $6900 $1725
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 July 15 and must be submitted in separate check. 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
A completed Blue Enrollment Form is required for all students; this form will be mailed to all students in the studio. Even if you’ve been in the studio for a number of years, kindly complete/update and return to me. Accurate information is necessary for me to have when entering your child in festivals and competitions.
Missed Lessons
There are no make-ups for missed lessons unless I miss a lesson or schools are closed due to severe weather. When weather is severe enough to close the schools, the studio will be open for those who are able to come. If you need to change a lesson time for a given week, please try to make a swap with another student by checking my schedule on this site, available to students only.
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 will receive a parking permit from me. Please hang this permit from your rear view mirror when you arrive for the lesson and keep it in your car for the entire year.
Additional Lessons
If you wish to have more than the required four lessons in the summer, this can be arranged, depending upon my availability. The fee for this is:
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. Listening to a lesson recording can often clear up questions regarding what is expected for the following lesson.
Group Classes
The group performance classes will be 9:00-10:30 Saturday mornings. These classes offer valuable performance experience for each student and I encourage you to do your best to attend. Parents are encouraged to stay for the class but are asked to remain silent. Although it is a performance class, the tone is informal so that students can gain confidence in their performing abilities. We also discuss many things related to music study: l form, keyboard literature, composer’s lives and styles, how to practice, and what to listen for in music.
Performance Opportunities
All students are invited to perform in the group classes and studio recitals each year. All of the 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 daily. Here are some ways to help your child:
Daily Practice
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
Ages 7-8: 60 minutes
Ages 9-13: 75 minutes
Ages 14-18: 90 minutes
To achieve success, even young students need to serve as their own "teacher" when practicing, even if a parent is assisting them. There is no magic to success; regularly scheduled daily practice will help your child achieve his or her potential—this cannot be emphasized enough.
All students need the following:
Studio Etiquette
Value of Piano Study
Participating in competitions and festivals can be an important part of piano study. But perhaps the greatest benefit of having a piano in one’s life is the uplifting effect it 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:
- 40 lessons annually—4 lessons in the summer and 36 during the academic year, The 4 summer lessons occur during the summer before the academic year begins, and are scheduled at a mutually convenient time from late June to the end of August. These lessons must be completed in the summer or they are forfeited.
- Saturday morning group performance classes, scheduled throughout the academic year to prepare for competitions and festivals, classes meet from 9:00-10:30 am.
- 3 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.
- Time spent completing entrance applications for the various competitions and festivals for which the student applies.
60 minutes $4600 $1150
75 minutes $5750 $1438
90 minutes $6900 $1725
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 July 15 and must be submitted in separate check. 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
A completed Blue Enrollment Form is required for all students; this form will be mailed to all students in the studio. Even if you’ve been in the studio for a number of years, kindly complete/update and return to me. Accurate information is necessary for me to have when entering your child in festivals and competitions.
Missed Lessons
There are no make-ups for missed lessons unless I miss a lesson or schools are closed due to severe weather. When weather is severe enough to close the schools, the studio will be open for those who are able to come. If you need to change a lesson time for a given week, please try to make a swap with another student by checking my schedule on this site, available to students only.
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 will receive a parking permit from me. Please hang this permit from your rear view mirror when you arrive for the lesson and keep it in your car for the entire year.
Additional Lessons
If you wish to have more than the required four lessons in the summer, this can be arranged, depending upon my availability. The fee for this is:
- $115 for 60 minute lesson
- $144 for 75 minute lesson
- $172 for 90 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. Listening to a lesson recording can often clear up questions regarding what is expected for the following lesson.
Group Classes
The group performance classes will be 9:00-10:30 Saturday mornings. These classes offer valuable performance experience for each student and I encourage you to do your best to attend. Parents are encouraged to stay for the class but are asked to remain silent. Although it is a performance class, the tone is informal so that students can gain confidence in their performing abilities. We also discuss many things related to music study: l form, keyboard literature, composer’s lives and styles, how to practice, and what to listen for in music.
Performance Opportunities
All students are invited to perform in the group classes and studio recitals each year. All of the 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 daily. Here are some ways to help your child:
- Make a practice schedule by writing down specific times for each day's session. If possible, consider doing some of the practice in the morning before 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.
Daily Practice
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
Ages 7-8: 60 minutes
Ages 9-13: 75 minutes
Ages 14-18: 90 minutes
To achieve success, even young students need to serve as their own "teacher" when practicing, even if a parent is assisting them. There is no magic to success; regularly scheduled daily practice will help your child achieve his or her potential—this cannot be emphasized enough.
All students need the following:
- a well-maintained piano that is tuned at least twice each year
- a metronome
- a music dictionary
- short fingernails—this is a must as it is impossible to play the piano properly with long nails. Nails that are too long will be trimmed in the lesson.
Studio Etiquette
- Please remove shoes once inside the studio
- Students are asked to wash their hands in the studio restroom before the lesson.
- A Keurig coffee maker is available for your use; please assist your children who may wish to have a drink.
- Be considerate of others 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.
Value of Piano Study
Participating in competitions and festivals can be an important part of piano study. But perhaps the greatest benefit of having a piano in one’s life is the uplifting effect it 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.