for students and parents
Welcome to the flute studio. I look forward to
working with you and learning about music and the flute together.
Through private lessons, here is a partial list of goals for us to
work towards:
-
You will develop technical skills as a musician
which will allow you to express yourself creatively and
musically.
-
You will develop skills in listening, critiquing,
and evaluating musical performances.
-
You will acquire
skills in performance, practice techniques, setting and
realizing goals, and assessment of weekly/quarterly
accomplishments.
1. Required
materials:
-
A flute in good
working condition
-
A sturdy 3-ring
binder with divider tabs
-
A music stand
for practicing at home
-
A cleaning cloth
and rod (preferably wood)
-
An inexpensive
metronome
-
A tuner (for all
students with more than two years of experience)
-
Sheet music and
other texts, etc., as deemed necessary by the instructor in
order to accomplish the goals set for the term. (I am aware that
music is expensive and will always try to help you find
economical prices whenever possible.)
2.
Notebook:
Students are
expected to keep a lesson notebook. The notebook should contain:
-
Lesson
assignment sheets
-
A copy of this
Studio Policy
-
All handouts you
receive
-
Listening list
-
Please create
the following divider tabs:
Assignment sheets, fingering charts, listening, practice,
miscellaneous
3. Tuition:
Tuition is due at
the first lesson of each month. (Please calculate how many weeks
of your lesson day are in each month.) Your tuition includes
-
your lesson (a
time is reserved for you, even if you're absent!)
-
a variety of
handouts for your notebook
-
exercises
written by the instructor
-
quarterly studio
recitals (which replace one lesson)
-
assistance in
purchasing new instruments
To give all of us
a "fresh perspective" and a change of pace from routine lessons,
the instructor may substitute a masterclass with a guest artist
for a regular lesson 1-2 times each year.
4. Attendance:
If you need to
miss a lesson, please give me advance notice
(48 hours minimum)
so that we can reschedule.
If you know you
will be out of town or will have a concert or other school
activity during your lesson time:
Regular flute lessons are important in encouraging regular
practice routines and musical development, so it is better to
reschedule lessons rather than canceling them. Please avoid
scheduling medical or orthodontic appointments during lesson
times.
Please understand
that because I reserve a time for you each week, and the price of
tuition includes more than just your weekly lesson, I must charge
for cancellations. Accepted cancellations include:
-
illness (I won't
teach you if you're sick, but I will try to make up lessons if I
have
some
notice)
-
family
emergency
-
severe weather
conditions
If you must cancel
on the day of a lesson:
Please leave a message on my voice mail at both home and the
studio. E-mail alone is NOT an acceptable method of canceling a
lesson. Please do not assume that I am aware of government
holidays or school vacations; not all schools follow the same
calendars, so please let me know if you will need to reschedule
for a specific reason.
Finally, if you
haven't practiced, or if the flute is at the repair shop, please
don't cancel your lesson--we can still make some musical progress!
5. Swap list:
If you need to reschedule your lesson, please try to swap lessons
with another student first, and notify me of the change.
6. Lesson
content:
-
In each lesson,
we will work on tone production, technical studies, and flute
repertoire (a solo and/or duet). We may also work on school band
music as needed, and any solos you wish to play for contests or
asked to perform for school, church, etc.
-
Students are
responsible for providing their own music.
Photocopied materials are
not permitted in lessons as a permanent substitute for
purchasing printed works.
-
Parents are
welcome to observe lessons at any time.
7. Recitals:
Students (college
age and younger) are expected to play in our studio recitals and
at any music festivals/competitions offered through the local
school systems (including Solo & Ensemble Contest) or through the
Seattle Flute Society. All students are expected to attend the
instructor's recitals.
8. Practice:
Lessons are an
exercise in "teamwork." The "team" includes the student, the
teacher, and the parent(s). Parents are expected to encourage
students, to remind (or nag!) them to practice, and to help them
obtain needed materials in a timely manner. I have found that when
parents take an active role in encouraging students to practice,
students experience more success. As a general rule of thumb,
students should practice 5 minutes daily per grade in school.
(For example, a 5th grader would practice 25 minutes daily.)
After 6th grade, students are expected to practice between 1/2
to one hour daily for their lessons. Junior high and high school students who want to
major in music in college are expected to increase these times
accordingly.
9.
Accompanists:
You are
responsible for paying your own accompanist for recitals and
competitions and working out a schedule for rehearsal, lessons,
and performance. I will provide you with a list of approved
pianists and will assist you in coordinating with other students
to share accompanist fees. Working with a pianist is an important
part of learning to be a musician. To ensure that you will have a
positive experience in performance, please ASK ME FIRST before
contacting an accompanist who is not on my list.
10.
Listening:
You are required
to listen to one new recording every two weeks. This is a
wonderful way to learn about music and the flute! Please keep a
list in your notebook with any observations you may have. You may
substitute live flute performances for recordings. Recordings may
be borrowed from the public library or checked out from the
instructor. You are also encouraged to begin to collect your own
library of recordings.
11. Resources for
sheet music and supplies:
When ordering
music, make sure it is in stock. Music stores will offer to
back-order music for you, but it may take a long time to arrive.
12. Buying new
instruments:
Please get my
approval before purchasing or renting new instruments. I may be
able to help you find a better price or a higher quality
instrument. I am more than happy to visit music stores with you to
assist you in purchasing instruments. (I do not charge extra for
being your "personal shopper" -- this is a service included in the
price of tuition.)
13. Ensembles:
Private lessons
are in no way intended to be a replacement for a school musical
ensemble. Because I feel strongly that school bands, orchestras,
and choirs play an invaluable role in developing musicianship, I
am reluctant to teach students (high school and younger) who are not
involved in ensembles at school, if such ensembles are available.
14. And finally...
I hope that flute
lessons will be a very positive experience for you. If you ever
have any questions, don't hesitate to call me (after 8:00 am and
before 10:30 pm).
© Shelley Collins
1997-2006
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