The Fielder Studio of Music
29922 Ravenscroft Street, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
248-592-1321 cell-248-943-1047 email- fielderstudio@aol.com
Studio Guide
Philosphy and Mission
 To aid all of my students in their development as musicians and lifelong music lovers through practice and performance of a wide variety of repertoire, including but not limited to classical, folk, broadway, opera, sacred and pop.
To help each student achieve his/her highest musical potential through performance, practice techniques, listening, instrumental technique, theory, music history, ear training and memorization.
Benefits of a strong music education
Success in society
Success in School
Success in intelligence development
Success in life
“Self-discipline, patience, sensitivity, coordination and the ability to memorize and concentrate are all enhanced in the study of music. These skills will follow your child on whatever path he or she chooses in life. If you are looking for a way to provide your child with a source of life-long joy, satisfaction and accomplishment, music education is an excellent first step.” -Steinway & Sons
Teacher –Student-Parent Triangle
The relationship between teacher, student and parent is very important for successful music study. Each has certain responsibilities in the triangle.
Teacher Responsibilities
Attending workshops, reading professional publications, continuing own music study with master teachers, and engaging in other activities leading to professional growth.
Encourage a feeling of success at each student’s individual rate of learning.
Guide each student toward musical independence and initiative through a balanced program of theory, technique and repertoire.
Keep an open door policy to student and parent concerns.
Student Responsibilities
Schedule the required minutes of practice each day for at least 6 days per week. Daily practicing is necessary and required.
Complete all assignments the teacher has given you.
Arrive promptly at your lesson time, mentally and physically prepared, with all lesson materials . If you arrive 5 minutes late, your lesson is 5 minutes shorter. You reserve the time slot, not the number of minutes.
Ask questions and be willing to do everything that is asked of you. My studio should feel like your musical haven. I welcome all of your questions and expect that you will welcome all of my suggestions for your development. If I ask you to do something there is a good reason for it. If you are unwilling to look and feel silly on occasion to master a concept or technique, your musical development will suffer.
Parents Responsibilities
(Piano students) Provide a piano in the best possible condition and a practice environment that is free from distractions.
(Voice students) Provide recording and playback equipment needed for student to record lessons and practice at home.
Purchase all music and materials requested by the teacher in a timely manner.
Set aside time for practice each day.
Encourage progress through small steps and consistent practice.
Support the fulfillment of your child’s responsibilities. Consistency is the key to musical learning. Parental support is a must for a child’s musical growth. Help your child develop self-discipline and good practice habits.
Pay tuition on time.
Communicate any questions or concerns you may have about your child’s progress with the teacher.
Registration Fee
To register for lessons, fill out the accompanying registration documents and pay the registration fee of $20 for piano students and $40 for voice students no later than September 1, 2009. The registration fee covers a Library fee for borrowing music, use of computer software in the studio, listening and practice materials made by the teacher for studio and home use and the purchase of ink and paper for the printers and cd’s. * The registration fee is greater for voice than piano based on the amount of time spent making practice cd’s and recordings for the vocal repertoire. It is not uncommon for me to spend several hours per week putting cd’s together, finding and purchasing recordings and making my own accompaniment recordings for vocalists. I also act as an accompanist for each lesson. An accompanist fee usually runs anywhere from $20$-40 per hour.
Tuition
Tuition payments are due at the first lesson of the month. A discount is given for payments received by the 1st DAY of the month.
· $80/mo. For 30 minute lessons; discount of $3/month if paid no later than the 1st day of the month($77)
· $117/mo. For 45 minute lessons; discount of $4/month if paid no later than the 1st day of the month($113)
· $154/mo. For 60 minute lessons; discount of $5/month if paid no later than the 1st day of the month($149)
· A Late Payment Penalty of $15 is due for payments received any time after the first scheduled lesson of the month.
· If you choose not to participate in the payment plan, the per lesson fee of $28 per half hour will apply. This does not guarantee a regular spot in the schedule. And all lessons will be scheduled at my convenience.
· Here is a site to calculate a “cost of living” increase ; Woodrow.mpls.frb.fed.us/research/data/us/calc
What Tuition Covers
· Reserved Weekly Time Slot with 42 scheduled lessons for the year. (September-August)
· Studio and student Development Research outside of lesson time
· Use of pianos, studio computer, scanner and printer
· Teachers training and experience
· Studio recitals and workshops
· Studio Website
· Bookkeeping
· Development of teaching and practice materials
· Continuing Professional Development through organization memberships to enhance teaching skills and provide students with performance and competition opportunities.
· Tuning and repair of studio instruments and equipment.
Lesson Times
I will be teaching at Walled Lake Central Monday –Friday from 7:15am until 2pm each day school day.
I will teach in my home studio Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30pm until 8:30 pm. Please choose at least 2 lesson times that will work for you and enter them on the registration sheet. On Friday, September 4th I will make the lesson schedule and notify each parent and student by email of their lesson time. If I have not received your registration sheet, registration fee and September lesson fee by Friday, September 4th you will be put on the waiting list until a lesson slot becomes available. First priority of lesson times will go to those students who were enrolled for lessons from September – August 2008-2009. Lessons will begin on Monday, September 14th, 2009.
Choosing a length for your lesson time
If at all possible I recommend that students have a lesson length of 45 to 60 minutes. I realize that with tight schedules and a sluggish economy that is not always possible. If you have attended your child’s lesson lately you know how quickly the time flies in a half hour lesson. It is impossible to accomplish everything needed to have your child develop all of the skills needed with such a short lesson time. For pianists there is technique , written theory, sometimes music history and repertoire to cover in each lesson. And for vocalists the warm up time is 10 -15 minutes in length and then there is technique, repertoire, and languages to hit all before the student leaves the studio. So you can see that if the student has many questions or problems there is little time to deal with them. And for those students who perform regularly at school or in competitions there is now way to have them ready with only a half hour lesson per week. Please choose what you can afford while keeping in mind what your child’s needs.
Commitment
When enrolling a student for lessons, you are reserving their placement in the studio for an entire year. The studio year runs from September –August. School vacations have been built into the schedule as well as 3 weeks of free time in the summer. Your tuition payment covers 42 lessons over the course of the year. However, missed lessons will not be made up. If you are not able to attend your lesson at the scheduled time you are forfeiting that paid lesson. Please do not ask for make-ups. During the school year the schedule is extremely tight and it is impossible to do make-up lessons for 60 students. Unlike a doctor’s office, I do not double book. Nor can I create extra teaching time in which to give make-up lessons.
If a student drops out before the end of the studio year, a full accounting of payments made, lessons attended and lessons cancelled will be done. At that time it will be determined whether the student will be held accountable for the balance due based on the payment plan or the per lesson fee.
Music Library
The lending library adds variety to student repertoire and gives students access to a wide selection of pieces without the added expense of acquiring music. Students will still be responsible for purchasing all music requested by the teacher. Usually this will be method books, theory books and anything else that I feel is required for the student to progress in his/her musical studies. For vocal competitions, it is mandatory that the student have two original pieces of music for each selection he/she will perform. I try to keep a loaner of most of the pieces that my students perform in the studio so that the parent is not required to purchase 2 originals.
Calendar-Attendance-Schedule Conflicts
Weekly lessons are conducted from September –August. Weeks of break may include a holiday break in December, a winter break in February, Spring break in April and one week of break for each month in the summer. There will also be mini breaks in the schedule for the music teachers conferences and Thanksgiving. Be sure to choose a lesson time that is one in which you feel confident that you will have no other conflicts. If you have an extra-curricular activity that conflicts with your lesson time I will not give credit or make-ups if the student chooses to miss the lesson. If the schedule will allow for the student to move to a different permanent time slot the student may do so with my permission. Otherwise the student may use the Lesson Exchange Roster to swap lesson times with another student.
Lesson Exchange Roster
I will put together a lesson exchange list for students to use if they need to swap a lesson time with another student. If you do not wish to be put on the list please make that known in your registration paperwork. The family who is exchanging the lesson needs to let me know the exchange information either by phone or by email before the swap takes place so I can be prepared for the lesson.
Studio Etiquette
When I am ready for students I try to keep the front door unlocked. When it is time for your lesson please enter quietly, remove your shoes in the entryway and take a seat in one the chairs in the front of the studio. Please do not enter too early before your lesson time. Each student is paying for a PRIVATE lesson and it may make another student uncomfortable to have you sit through a long period of their lesson time.
Although I do not discourage parents and sibling to sit in on lessons, I do suggest that you discuss the arrangements with your child. Some students enjoy having a parent with them. But more often than not this creates tension and extra pressure for the student to PERFORM at what they feel is the parent’s expectation instead of focusing on the technique that the teacher is trying to have them work on. It is also rare that parents and siblings can sit in on a lesson quietly. It is very distracting to have noise in the studio during a lesson. If you choose to attend your child’s lessons, I ask that you remain quiet and not take part in the lesson. It is very important for me as a teacher to build a relationship of trust and confidence with each STUDENT.
|