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date = "2018-10-01T00:00:00"
draft = false

# Order that this section will appear in.
weight = 2

title = "Lesson Policies"

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## Attendance

Lesson attendance is very important. At the beginning of every school year I
will send out a Google form asking for student availability. I understand
sports schedules change from season to season, and will communicate with the
parents to find a time that works for each student. Be sure to keep your
child's weekly piano lesson times clear of other appointments. If you forget about your child's lesson that lesson time will not be made up and the fee for that lesson will be forfeited.

In the summer I will work with each family to find times that work well for all
parties. Family vacations and summer opportunities are important and I try to
be more flexible when school is not in session.

Parents are always welcome to stay, and especially with younger students I do
encourage them to do so until their child is comfortable. If you have other
children who will be with you, they are welcome to do homework at the dining
room table or play with some of the toys I keep in a bin in the front room.

Please be timely! That being said, do not bring your student more than 5
minutes early (unless prearranged) and be prompt at the end of the lesson
(again, unless prearranged). I do like to tell each parent how their child is
progressing, and if you are late I cannot take time from the next student's
lesson.

## Practice

Practice is incredibly important. I would like every
student to practice at least 5 days a week, 15-30 minutes for the younger
children and 30 minutes to one hour for older, more advanced students. I
encourage students to find a regular time every day to practice so that it
becomes part of their routine. Is your child an early bird? Encourage them to
practice before school. Do they need a break from school in the afternoons?
Have them practice, it will help stimulate another part of their brain.

I will always write down what is to be
practiced. You will need to provide a notebook for assignments, preferably
something fun that they will like. Feel free to reuse any notebooks you have
around the house, preferably 5"x7" or larger. 

Practicing the evening of or the day after a lesson is very important. Your
child will get the maximum benefit from their lesson if they take the time to
reproduce at home what they learned in the lesson while it is still fresh in their minds.

All books and notebooks need to be brought to every piano lesson unless
previously discussed!

## Piano Studio Class

Several times a year I host a piano studio class for students in my home. It is
not required, however, I do encourage all students to attend. Each student will
play for the others, teaching them not only confidence and performance skills
but also proper audience manners. The children seem to enjoy this and often end
up playing multiple times at each gathering. The dates for this school year
will be:

* October 5 @3pm
* December 7 @3pm
* February 1 @3pm
* March 28 @3pm
* June 6 @3pm (tentative)


## Non-Teaching Days

During the school year there are certain days I do not teach either due to national holidays or personal commitments. See below:
September 2 - Labor Day
October 14 - Coulmbus Day
November 28 and 29 - Thanksgiving
December 18 through January 3 - Winter Break
January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 17 - Presidents Day
April 6 through 10 - Spring Break
May 25 - Memorial Day


## Scheduling Conflict

If you have a lesson time conflict, let me know with at least  24 hours notice.
Failure to notify me of a conflict will result in a forfeiture of the lesson
fee. I will do my best to find a makeup time if something unavoidable arises
but there are very, very few opportunities in the weekly schedule this year.

## The Exceptions

Sick kids! I go by typical school rules: if they can't go to school, they can't
come to lessons. Children must be fever/vomit free for 24 hours in order to
return to lessons.<i>Do not bring a sick child to piano lessons!</i> Let me know as soon as you can and we can work on
rescheduling the lesson. 

Emergencies happen. As with sick kids, if there is an emergency, please let me
know as soon as you can and we will either work around it or work on
rescheduling that week.

Snow days in Loudoun are a bit of a gray area. I usually text with parents the
day of the lesson if weather is dangerous. Since we live on a hill with a very
steep driveway,  I tend to be very cautious.


