STUDIO POLICIES
ABSENCES
Missed lessons by the student for any reason are not made up. If the teacher is absent more than twice during the year, the additional missed lessons by the teacher will be made up in June or at a mutually convenient time during the year. Your lesson time is reserved for the school year. If you know in advance that you must miss a lesson, you may make arrangements to exchange lessons with another student for that week. You will be given a student schedule with all lesson times and contact information to facilitate exchanges.
GROUP LESSONS
Group lessons are an essential part of the Suzuki method. Group classes offer educational benefits that cannot be achieved through private lessons alone. Students learn a tremendous amount through observing their peers. It is also the place where students make friends who play the violin. Those friendships are invaluable in keeping students going during periods of lower motivation. Additionally, group is the place they prepare for the big concerts. When students drop out of group, they invariably begin dropping out of performances. Without performances, there is no motivation to practice.
LISTENING
This is possibly the most important aspect of the Suzuki method, and the easiest to do. Decide on a listening time that fits into your day (in the car, dinner table, bedtime, bath time, etc..). Once a routine is established, it is easier to maintain this essential part of practising. From Book 3-4 and up, listening should also include performances from outside the Suzuki recordings and repertoire....ie, radio, CD's, You Tube, live concerts.
LESSON ETIQUETTE
If your child is in Book 1 and a phone call is too important to miss, we will wait until you are finished to resume the learning. The practicing parent should not miss any vital instruction at this stage, and our time together is too limited to repeat what is missed. The Suzuki triangle is the foundation for success.
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The teacher's responsibility is to provide well-guided instructions.
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The parent's responsibility is to observe these instructions at the lessons and take careful notes, in order to help their child follow through correctly at home.
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The student's responsibility is to be open to learning.
TUITION
My studio operates on a school year basis. You pay for your reserved time, not for individual lessons. 90% of calls from prospective, new students come in late spring and summer. Every year I turn new students away due to reserving space for current students. Therefore, it is not financially possible to offer reimbursements during the school year. There will be no refund if a student quits in the middle of the year. Please make the same commitment to the program that your teacher has made to you and your child.