Covid-19: Mask wearing is optional. You may request that I wear a mask for your child’s lesson. Hand sanitizer is available and strongly recommended upon entering my condo. Please request a virtual lesson if you are experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms.
Payment: Lessons must be paid for at the time the lesson is taken. Students who prepay the full semester tuition by the first lesson in each semester will receive a discount. Fall semester: 15 lessons from the beginning of September through the end of December. Spring semester: 15 lessons from the mid January through the beginning of May. **New this school year: All lessons during HSO weeks (see Calendar of Events on Parent Resources page) will all be on Zoom. Lessons that occur after 6:00pm will be skipped on HSO weeks. These students will have 12 fall lessons and 11 spring lessons.
Summer lessons: Lessons are available during the summer and may be scheduled and paid for on a weekly basis.
Recital fee: The fee for participation in the spring solo recital is $25 per participant – $20 if you prepay by October 1st.
Absences: Teacher absences will be made up. One student absence will be made up per semester for students who pay by the semester. Any missed make-up lesson is forfeit. If you anticipate a lesson time conflict, please find another student with whom to exchange lesson times to avoid the absence. Taking a lesson via Zoom is another option for making up lessons.
Refunds: No tuition refunds will be granted after the third lesson in each semester. Allowable tuition refunds will be prorated.
Driving and parking in Farmington Woods: Please park in a parking space, not on the side of the road. You may also park in front of garage #36 or in any space that is not in front of a garage. Please follow the posted speed limit of 20 miles/hour. Any fines incurred by the studio will be passed on to the person who received the ticket.
Snow days: This studio follows the Avon Public Schools closures and delays. All lessons on snow days will take place on Zoom.
Arrival & Departure: Please arrive on time for your lesson and leave as soon as it is over unless you have previously arranged to observe another lesson. Students under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Solo recital: All students are expected to participate in the annual springtime solo recital.
More to consider
• Keeping distractions to a minimum is important when children are engaged in learning.
• Arrive on time, allowing enough time to unpack and settle in. It is helpful to use the bathroom before leaving home. Being able to start lessons on time means that all elements that have been practiced and need to be taught, can be covered with time left over for answering questions.
• Cell phones are also a distraction. Please silence your phone and respond to calls and texts when the lesson is over.
• Suzuki lessons often involve the whole family. Siblings are welcome provided they are quiet and well behaved. Please keep in mind that parents need to pay attention to the lesson and take notes in order to follow through during home practices. When it is necessary for siblings to attend a lesson, parents should plan ahead to have them engaged in their own activity such as reading a book or doing homework. Siblings are welcome to use the sibling work area in the studio.
• Please do not wear shoes or walk around bare foot in the studio. Shoes should be left on the rug in the foyer. Please bring socks or slippers to wear in the studio.
• Hands should be washed and nails clipped before each lesson. Finger nails that haven’t been clipped interfere with playing the instrument correctly. Washed hands help all of us stay healthy!
• Please contact me if you need help or to discuss concerns. It is best to schedule a time to talk other than the lesson time. Inclusion of different ages and levels is extremely valuable and positive for a studio. Fundamental to the Suzuki method is for students to progress at their own rate. It is important to not compare the progress of children to each other.
• I have committed to giving the best instruction and positive growth incentives that I can. I will ask you to do your part in daily listening, quality practice (including review), group lessons, and filling out practice charts. When the child-parent-teacher triangle works together in balance, the Suzuki method is a very rewarding experience for everyone.