Tuition
<info><![CDATA[Tuition is due by the first lesson of the month.
From September through May, tuition is paid on a monthly basis. (August tuition is 1/4 of regular monthly tuition)
30 minute lesson: $100 per month
45 minute lesson: $145 per month
This covers 1 lesson per week, following the public school calendar (breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas and Spring Break.)
Summer lessons: 4 summers lessons are required to reserve a spot in the studio. Please contact me for current summer rates. ]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[What does it cover?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Tuition]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[Tuition covers your private lessons during the school year. Remember that you are not only paying for my time during lessons, but also my time spent planning each lesson, attending professional meetings and national conferences, time spent choosing music for the lessons, professional fees, and maintenance of the studio (piano tuning, purchasing software, utilities, self-employment taxes, etc.) ]]></info>
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<title><![CDATA[Any other fees?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Tuition]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[There are optional fees for students wanting to enter local festivals and competitions. The fee to join the local Student Affiliate group, which allows you to enter any local festival and competition is $10 per year, due at the first lesson in August. Please note that there are additional fees per festival that you decide to participate in.
Each student is also responsible for purchasing his or her own music books, theory books, and lesson notebooks. I will reserve these materials under your name at Strait Music or online. ]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[Why does it vary?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Tuition]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[When pricing piano teachers, take into account their expertise, education, experience, and studio. Ask about their degrees in music and their experience in education. Sit in on a lesson, listen to a piano recital, or interview other students and parents themselves. It is important that you and your child are comfortable with the teacher you choose! Usually, a relationship with a piano teachers lasts many years. As a teacher, I try to teach not only the "how-to's" of piano playing, but also try to instill a love and joy in music making that will last a lifetime. ]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[When are lessons?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Scheduling]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[I teach based on the Leander ISD calendar, starting lessons the week that school starts. There will be no lessons the week of Thanksgiving, the 2 weeks of Christmas break, and the week of Spring Break. Please visit calendar page for exact information about when lessons begin and end for the semester, and recital and festival dates.
The majority of my school-aged lessons (K-12) will be scheduled from 3:00-8:00 p.m., Monday-Friday
Homeschooled students are welcome to schedule lessons before 3:00
Adult lessons are generally scheduled either after work or before 3:00 (depending on your work situation!)
Preschool lessons are scheduled before 3:00]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[What if I miss a lesson?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Makeup lessons]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[With the payment of tuition, a lesson slot is reserved in my teaching schedule for the student every week that the studio is open. As long as tuition is current, the student has the freedom to choose not to come to a lesson, without risk of losing his/her place in the studio. If you miss a lesson, there will be no credits or refunds given. However, make-up lessons are offered. If I have to cancel a lesson for any reason, I will certainly offer an aditional make-up lesson or refund.
There are 3 ways to handle missed lessons. First, you may call any other student in the studio and try to switch lessons with him or her. I will provide all of my students with an e-mail and phone list of all of the students in the studio (with their permission of course). This works really well for lessons that you anticipate missing in advance.
Secondly, if you call in advance to tell me that you will miss a lesson, you may be placed on my waiting list. I will then let you know throughout the semester if I have a free lesson space for a make-up lesson.
Thirdly, I will offer one Saturday per semester as a make-up lesson day. If you notified me in advance about missing a lesson and were unable to attend a make-up lesson throughout the semester, you may schedule a lesson on this Saturday.
If you just do not show up for a lesson and I have no advanced warning, no make-up lesson will be offered. Also, please note that I do not schedule make-up lessons outside of my normal teaching hours. ]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[Why?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Summer lessons]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[From my own teaching experience, I have seen a lot of students who do not take summer lessons digress in their playing abilities. I understand that summer is a busy time for everyone, but scheduling 4 lessons over the summer break is an optimum way of keeping up one's piano skills. Summer lessons are also a great time to focus on issues that we may not have time to focus on over the school year, such as composition, improvisation, study of music history, learning duets, learning jazz pieces, etc. I have also taught group lessons over the summer (2 or more students per lesson), and these have always been very rewarding with lots of progress and motivation. If you do not choose to take summer lessons, your spot for the fall is not guaranteed. ]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[What type?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Pianos at Home]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[<B>1. What type of piano should I have at home?</B>
Pianos vary in type and price from a few hundred dollars to over $100,000 dollars. A good piano is one that can be maintained (tuned) and used properly (all keys working, etc.). The best person to evaluate a piano is a piano tuner or technician.
<B>2. Can I have an electronic piano/keyboard for home practice.</B>
Absolutely! Try to meet the following criteria: a) the keyboard has all 88 keys, b) the keys on the keyboard are weighted like a real piano (not mushy to the touch), c) the width of the piano keys are the same as on an acoustic piano. Keep in mind that some keyboard sold at department stores are toys, and are not intended for piano study. Expecting your child to practice and learn from a toy keyboard would be like enrolling them in baseball and giving them a toy plastic bat to use on the team.
<B>3. What if I am new to piano and want to try it out first before purchasing a piano?</B>
AIf financially, you are not ready to commit to buying a piano, several stores in Austin rent pianos on a month to month basis.
<B>4. How often should I get my piano tuned and why?</B>
Pianos should be tuned at least yearly if not twice a year. Failure to do so would be like never changing the oil on your car. A piano, like a car, needs proper maintenance to extend its life and to perform smoothly. If you need the name of a piano tuner, I have several wonderful ones that I can recommend!]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[How Much?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Practicing at Home]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[<B>1. How much should my child practice during the week?</B>
The vague answer to this would be enough to accomplish the goals set during the previous lesson. Some teachers like to set a time limit on practicing. I find this to vary from student to student. It is more important that parents' help make practicing a priority in the home (like homework), and schedule their child's day to incorporate practicing into it. We all have busy weeks! Try, as much as you can, to establish piano practicing into your daily routine. Also, don't be afraid to make it fun, and offer rewrards or incentives for practice!
<B>2. Should parents supervise practicing?</B>
At the early age, parents should absolutely supervise practicing, as you supervise homework. However, your goal in time should be independence on the child's part. ]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[Role?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Parents]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[Parents are responsible for bringing their children to piano lessons and picking them up in a timely manner, and if need be, supervising practicing throughout the week. Parents should also commit to supporting their children in their participation in recitals, festivals, and competitions. Most importantly, parents should be the ones clapping the loudest, and smiling the widest at the recitsl. Our job as parents is to tell our children how proud we are of them for learning such a valuable skill such as piano playing.]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[Role?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Students]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[Students are responsible for being prepared at their lessons (bringing the correct music, practicing, etc.). Also, students should exhibit a willingness to learn during their lesson. I hope that all of my students come into their lessons with excitement and leave with a wonderful feeling of acomplishment. We are learning, but we are also have fun! ]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[What type?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Technology]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[Technology in my studio is used at almost each lesson, with every age of student. I use a digital piano to help students explore their pieces through different sounds, utilizing recordings on the keyboard for self-analysis, and through use of accompaniments as a metronome device to develop stable rhythm. I also have the capability in my studio to hook my digital piano to my computer, enabling students to record their performances and save them as MP3s for e-mailing or to put on their iPods or other MP3 players. Each of my students does a year round recording project, with a final CD of their performances completed at the end of the school year
On the computer, I use music theory program to enforce theory concepts, use composition programs to help students realizing the notation of their pieces, and recording software to help students record and orchestrate their pieces.]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[What do you teach?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Music]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[<B>1. What type of music do you teach?</B>
I assign music to students that is appropriate for their age and interest level. All of my students study the 4 main genres of piano music: baroque, classical, romantic, and contemporary. I also love to teach pieces that are motivators for students, such as movie pieces, pop pieces, jazz, contemporary Christian, ragtime, etc. I am not trying to train students to be competitors in music, but rather develop a love of playing the piano. I do have students who are at the advanced level and wish to study music in college. For them, I push their skill level a bit harder. However, are my students picking up Christmas music and playing for friends and relatives during the holidays? Then I have succeeded.
<B>2. What other concepts do you cover during your lessons?</B>
Throughout the year, I also incorporate theory, improvisation, harmonization, composition, an understanding of musical history, and transposition into each students' lesson. All students are required to have some sort of theory book or worksheets. The other concepts are incorporated into weekly assignments.
<B>3. Where do I buy music and how do I pay for them?</B>
To avoid additional exchange of money for books, I will place books on hold for you at Strait music throughout the year. I will notify you when those books are available, and you may pick them up and purchase them before the next lesson. If you desire to purchase your music elsewhere (and by all means, please do!), I will give you the title of the book and/or title of the piece that I want you to purchase. ]]></info>
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<member>
<title><![CDATA[Festivals, Competitions and Recitals?]]></title>
<name><![CDATA[Other Events]]></name>
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<info><![CDATA[I hold 2 recitals a year for my students, 1 in December and 1 in May. Attendance and participation at these recitals is required.
Students may also elect to participate in local festivals and competitions sponsored by the ADMTA (Austin District Music Teachers Association). These events are held at UT. Festivals are non-competitive events with a ribbon and comments from a judge given. Competitions are ranked competition based on a student's age.
If you would like to participate in festivals and/or competitions, please notify me during the first month of each semester and pay the appropriate fees per events.
Dates of all local events can be found at austintxmusicteachers.org]]></info>
2010-2011 Tuition
- Tuition is due by the first lesson of the month.
- From September through May, tuition is paid on a monthly basis.
- 30 minute lesson: $120 per month
- 45 minute lesson: $165 per month
- For families with two or more children enrolled, a $10 discount per child per month will be given. For example, tuition for 2 children is $220 a month.
- This covers 1 lesson per week, following the public school calendar (breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas and Spring Break.)
Summer 2010 Tuition
- $30 per 30 minute lesson, $42 per 45 minute lesson. For families with two or more children, lessons are $27 per 30 minute lesson, or $39 per 45 minute lesson.
What does tuition cover?
- Tuition covers your private lessons during the school year. Remember that you are not only paying for my time during lessons, but also my time spent planning each lesson, attending professional meetings and national conferences, time spent choosing music for the lessons, professional fees, and maintenance of the studio (piano tuning, purchasing software, utilities, self-employment taxes, etc.)
Are there any other fees?
- There are optional fees for students wanting to enter local festivals and competitions.
- There is also a $30 recital fee due at the beginning of the year. This fee covers the entire 2010-2011 school year.
- Each student is also responsible for purchasing his or her own music books, theory books, and lesson notebooks. I will order materials for each student. You may reimburse me at the time materials are given (cost of materials plus Texas sales tax) or at the beginning of next month’s tuition.
Why does tuition vary so much from teacher to teacher?
- When pricing piano teachers, take into account their expertise, education, experience, and studio. Ask about their degrees in music and their experience in education. Sit in on a lesson, listen to a piano recital, or interview other students and parents themselves. It is important that you and your child are comfortable with the teacher you choose! Usually, a relationship with a piano teachers lasts many years. As a teacher, I try to teach not only the “how-to’s” of piano playing, but also try to instill a love and joy in music making that will last a lifetime.
- If you’d like to compare my tuition to what other teachers charge, please let me know and I will send you a link to websites of other teachers in the area.