PEDERSEN PIANO STUDIO
Piano Policy Sheet for 2013 Phone (920) 457-2227
Email: karanderi@yahoo.com
CALENDAR
The studio follows the calendar of the Sheboygan Area School District
TUITION AND MUSIC FEES
Tuition is due for one month’s lessons at the first lesson of that month. Any music book fees for the preceding month will be added to the bill. At times I may allow you to borrow some supplementary music or materials instead of purchasing your own, and I will charge a small fee to use the rental library - $1.00 for sheet music, $2.50 for books, and $3.50 for a CD that goes with the piano method. If the item is lost or damaged, it must be paid for.
Tuition is usually raised at least 5% each June; however it was not raised the past five years due to the economy. Now I am lowering the tuition rate back to my 2008 rate of $18.00 per half hour lesson. Please make checks to: Kathy Pedersen.
OVERDUE TUITION FEE
If the monthly tuition fee is not received by the fifteenth of the month, a $7.00 overdue fee will be added.
LESSON TIME
The assigned time must be considered the responsibility of the student. Please be on time. You may enter my front door without knocking, and sit quietly until your lesson time. There is no problem with a student arriving early or staying a few minutes while waiting for a ride, but please do not interrupt someone else’s lesson. Park directly in front of my house, and do not honk the car horn when picking up students from their lessons.
Parents are welcome to attend lessons, but are asked not to make comments to the student or the teacher during the lesson. Siblings of piano students are not allowed in the studio unless accompanied by a parent and able to remain totally quiet during the lesson.
MISSED LESSONS
Lessons missed due to teacher cancellation will be made up or credit given toward the following month’s tuition. Lessons will be given on “snow days” if travel is possible. Please call on a “snow day” to see if lessons are scheduled. If they are, you have a choice to come on that day or reschedule a make-up day.
Credit for a lesson missed due to illness will be given when I am notified by 10:00 a.m. on the lesson day. Credit will also be given for lessons missed because of serious extended illness or injury, death in the family, or other legitimate emergency. Make-ups for other reasons should be scheduled as far in advance as possible. Non-emergency cancellations, last minute cancellations, and “no shows” will necessitate charging the full lesson fee for the unused time reserved for the student.
I teach lessons on Mondays from 3:00-7:30, Wednesdays from 3:00-6:00, and Thursdays from 3:00-6:00. I do not answer the regular telephone while I am teaching. Please call my cell phone number to report an emergency cancellation during teaching times.
LESSON TERMINATION
A one-month notice is required in the event of lesson termination by the student, or one-month’s payment of tuition. Lessons will be terminated by the teacher in the event of irregular attendance, repeated failure to prepare assigned material, or disruptive behavior. A one-month trial period with parent notification will precede lesson termination.
PRACTICE TIME
Successful and rewarding music study depends on consistent daily practice. Parents are asked to provide the following: an established practice time, a good instrument in good repair, a practice environment free from distraction, supervision of practice sessions for the young beginner, encouragement and support in establishing good practice habits. The student is expected to practice six days a week and adequately cover every step on the assignment. Playing straight through each assigned piece one time is not considered adequate practice. The student should work on difficult sections until they can be played fluently. Then the difficult sections are put back into the piece until they can be played at the same tempo as the rest of the piece. It is better for the student to practice at a steady slow tempo rather than play easier sections fast and difficult sections slow.
Cooperation of parents is requested in seeing that their child completes weekly assignments and brings all books and materials to the lesson. Please call about questions or problems regarding your child’s music study.
SUMMER PIANO LESSONS
Piano lessons are encouraged, but not required, during the summer. Beginning students without lessons tend to forget much during summer vacation, so children are encouraged to take as many summer lessons as they can. There are a few weeks I do not teach during the summer, so children still have some free time.
PIANO RECITAL
A student piano recital is held each spring at a location in Sheboygan. All students are expected to participate, unless excused by the teacher. Friends, relatives, and prospective students are encouraged to attend the recital and the reception which follows.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT – THE TEACHER
I hold a Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, with a double major in piano performance and vocal music education. I have experience teaching K-8 vocal music in schools, leading a childrens’ choir in church and directing my church Worship Team. I previously operated piano studios in Monroe, WI. for 5 years; Strasburg, OH for 7 years; and this is my 22nd year teaching in Sheboygan. This is my fifth year as Associate Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin Sheboygan. I taught several classes of beginning group piano last Fall, and I accompany the UW Choir. I was Senior Organist at Zion Covenant Church and accompanist for their adult choir for 20 years until retiring December 31, 2012. I also enjoy accompanying soloists for several high school district and state music festivals in the area. I continue to further my teaching skills by belonging to professional organizations, attending workshops and educational programs, reading professional publications, and engaging in other activities leading to professional growth.
