The Initial Interview
An initial interview prior to the actual piano lessons is required. Due to the setting of piano lessons (a one on one setting), piano teachers usually have pretty close relationships with their students. Therefore, in order to have a happy and long-term relationship, it is important for parents, students and me to communicate everything upfront at the first place.
After thoroughly reading this written policy, all prospective students and their parent(s) must make an appointment with me for an initial interview. It usually takes about one hour for an interview. There is a nonrefundable 30-dollar charge for the interview, due at the time of the interview.
During the interview, I make sure that parents and students agree to all the written policies, especially the lists of their responsibilities. For transferring students, they will have to prepare some music to play for me. I also test them different things in order to know better about their previous learning on piano. For beginning students who had no experience at playing piano, I would demontrate a few important initial techniques of piano playing to them. I make the mood of the interview very relaxed and encouraging. I make sure the students understand that all the testing is only to help me to know more about their learning so that I can help them better in the future. I do not intimidate them.
In addition, transferring students need to bring the books that they had used before in order for me to decide what curriculum will be used or purchased. Beginning students can bring their music books if they happen to have them.
Teaching Philosophy
I believe that every child has great potential in learning. I teach them according to their personality and their learning pace. I make sure that they are guided carefully step by step and never feel left alone. My ultimate goal is to help them to reach their highest potential and to let music become part of their lives so that they can enjoy it and be enriched.
Events
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General Events:
Festivals and Auditions that I recommend students to participate:
Fall Semester:
Fall Festival, sponsored by CMTA
Rotating Festival, sponsored by CMTA.
Spring Semester:
Jazz & Blues Festival, sponsored by CMTA
Duet Festival, sponsored by CMTA
Sonatina Festival, Sponsored by CMTA
Achievement Auditions & Scholarships Auditions, sponsored by CMTA.
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Competitions
Fall Semester:
Dallas Piano Solo Competition, sponsored by DMTA
Spring Semester:
Gillock Contest, sponsored by Student Affiliate, TMTA
Schedules of School Year 2019 Events
(will be ready by the end of September)
Events
| Date
| Place
|
Performance Class
| | My house
|
Fall Festival
| | Round Grove United Church |
Dallas Piano Solo Competition
| | Park City Presbyterian Church
|
Performance Class
| | My house
|
Romantic Festival
| | Round Grove United Church
|
Student Concert
| | Round Grove United Church
|
| | |
Performance Class
| | My house
|
Jazz & Blues Festival
| | Round Grove United Church
|
| | | |
| | |
Performance Class | | My house
|
Gillock Contest
| | Round Grove United Church
|
Performance Class
| | My house
|
Sonatina Festival
| | Round Grove United Church
|
Performance Class
| | My house
|
Achievement Auditions
| | Round Grove United Church
|
All Star Recital
| | Round Grove United Church
|
Student Concert
| | Round Grove United Church
|
| | |
Studio Calendar
I. The Studio Calendar is slightly varied in each school year. Basically, between September and May each student should receive 33 lessons. The studio is closed during:
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the week of Thanksgiving, and the week after Thanksgiving
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the week of Christmas
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the week of New Year
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the week of Spring Break
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Summer Break: the last week of May (including Memorial Day), and the first three weeks of June.
II. Summer Piano Lessons
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All students are required to take a minimum of 8 lessons. This is a very reasonable request, since any student who misses too many weeks of practice and lessons will experience a major setback and will lose some technical fitness and reading skills that were achieved during the previous school year. Especially for students who plan to participate in Fall Festival or Dallas Piano Solo Competition, this is the best time to start their preparation for the 2 events.
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Tuition fee for the summer piano lessons will base on the number of lessons that are received.
Makeup Classes
There will be no reschedule of lessons.
30-minute and 45-minute Lesson Requirement
Students at age of five or under are allowed to take 30-minute lesson.
Students who are 1st grade and older are required to take 45-minute lesson.
Accounting Information
I. Initial Interview
A fee is charged for an initial interview.
II. Tuition
30-minute: $150
45-minute: $225
(Between September and May, each student should receive a total of 33 lessons).
- Summer: monthly charges based on the total number of lessons received in the summer (minimum of 8 lessons)
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Tuition is charged monthly and is due at the 1st lesson of each month. Fees are to be paid at the beginning of the 1st lesson.
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After the tenth a late fee will be charged.
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The studio accounting program is based on monthly tuition. As a result of this it is required for you to give a minimum one-month notice informing the instructor of your desire to give up a scheduled lesson time.
Students Responsibilities
Parents Responsibility
Over the past 29 years of teaching, I have noticed that students whose parents take active roles in supporting their learning and practice are most motivated. They show obvious progress in their learning, and receive the best result of their effort. Likewise, no child will learn perseverance unless a parent is coaching that quality at home.
Following are the things that you must do to make progress happen at home:
- Provide a classical music (including Jazz) environment for your children:
Growing up in a musical family (both my parents are musicians), I have found that music naturally becomes part of my life because my parents play and listen to classical music everywhere and every day. Music is always part of our daily lives. Even when we traveled, my parents played classical music tape in car all the time. And, it becomes the best memory of my life.
Therefore, I urge you to build a collection of classical music and play them in your car and at your house as soon as possible. Let classical music become part of your children and your daily lives. Be careful in selecting good CDs because it influences their taste of good quality music. Ask me for the list of good classical music.
- Set aside a daily practice schedule for your child:
Make piano practice the first thing to do after school for your child. Allow at least 30 minutes for kindergarteners through 2nd grade, and at least 45 minutes or more for 3rd grade through high school. If your child is 5 years old or younger, allowing 2 minutes break after each ten minutes practice will help the problem of short attention span. This makes time-management possible, so that practice is not skipped.
Check with your child daily to see if he/she has done his/her practice.
- If your child is a beginner, you are required to sit in lesson:
Through years of teaching, I have noticed that children get the best results of their learning if one of their parents sits in lesson and guides their practice at home. Parents sitting in lesson must listen without any other activities.
- Make sure your child's fingernails are clipped before they come to lesson:
It is important to keep short fingernails in order to maintain correct hand position. Students who fail to do so will be asked to clip their fingernails during lessons. Therefore, to avoid using the valuable lesson time for clipping fingernails, you must make sure that your child's fingernails are clipped before lessons.
- Make sure you have provided proper firm foam cushions (and a footstool for the youngest) for your child:
A correct sitting posture is essential for a child to keep a correct hand and arm position in playing. It affects not only a child's playing but also his/her future development of muscle. Therefore, it is very important for parents to provide firm foam cushions and a footstool for their child if the chair at home is too low or the child's feet cannot reach the ground.
A correct sitting posture is essential for a child to keep a correct hand and arm position in playing. It affects not only a child's playing but also his/her future development of muscle. Therefore, it is very important for parents to provide firm foam cushions and a footstool for their child if the chair at home is too low or the child's feet cannot reach the ground.
Termination of Lessons:
I will suggest terminating lessons only in very rare cases, such as: (1) a major lack of parental support as listed in the Parents Responsibilities policy, (2) a student acting defiant or hostile, or (3) consistently very late payment of tuition
If you must stop lesson, please give me one month notice in advance before the lessons stop.
Student Concerts
There are two student concerts every year: Winter Concert and Spring Concert. Winter Concert is usually given around the end of November or the beginning of December. Spring concert takes place about the end of April or the beginning of May. Students are required to participate in these two concerts. Also, Studio Awards are announced at the end of spring concert. It is a wonderful opportunity for parents to see the result of their children's learning and to meet other parents and students in the studio.
Awards
Awards are announced and given at the end of student concert in spring semester only.
Buy or Rent a Piano
Students are strongly encouraged to have a REAL piano at home. In order to learn the technique of piano playing correctly, it is the best that students have their piano at home.
To contact Dr. Lin for more information, call (972) 395 9006 -- or email her ....
