Rules and Regulations Syllabus

Private Lessons. Thirty four (34) private lessons are scheduled throughout the ten month school year. They are scheduled once a week for 55 minutes. Lessons include a variety of piano literature suitable for each student’s level which is both instructive and fun to play. Also included are technical exercises to include scales, arpeggios, chords, cadences, sight-reading, ear training, and practice strategies. All assignments are notated in each student’s assignment book. Parents are welcome to record lessons.
Practice requirements: While piano performing is a lot of fun, learning to do it is a practical skill – like sports. In addition, note reading is like learning another language. Piano performing and practicing represents a lifestyle change which demands serious time commitment to practice regularly. I require a commitment to practice 6 days a week, using proven techniques and strategies that I teach at the lessons. While I understand this is not always possible, continuous exceptions to this goal will certainly diminish progress. Quality practice time is not about clock watching; Employing correct practice strategies is the only true road to learning new pieces. Appropriate practice strategies for each piece will be specified in each student’s notebook. Students are expected to check their notebooks daily for assignments and practice direction, and are expected to complete all assigned work. “I forgot” is not an acceptable excuse when things I specify are put in writing. If a student does not understand something, (or cannot read my writing) he/she should call me and not wait until the next lesson. Parents: Check your child’s notebook regularly to assess progress. Assignments will be graded. Marks are “+”, good, and “need attention“. ’Forgotten’ or assignment not done according to specific agreed upon goals will automatically receive a mark less than good.
Parental involvement: Parents are encouraged to attend and observes private lessons. This is essential for students age 12 and below, where a parent must act as a coach for practice times at home, keeping students on task (as specified in their assignment books) and practicing correctly until proper habits have been established. This can truly make the difference between success and mediocrity.
Master Class attendance is required. Master Class group work is an important adjunct to students’ private lessons. Master Classes meet an average of every other week on Sunday afternoons starting in October. Here, students learn to perform by trying out new pieces , learn to manage performance 'jitters', develop confidence in their ability to perform, and receive performance feedback from me. They also learn theory, ensemble playing (duets, duos) and sight reading – in short, all those things better suited for group work.

Master Classes also give students the opportunity to hear a variety of exciting new piano pieces over the course of a year. Students are often inspired to strive harder for more difficult pieces they have heard performed by others in a master class. Even if your child is not performing, s/he will still be participating.

Parents are encouraged to observe lessons and master classes. Siblings are also welcome as long as they are not disruptive. I am not a baby sitter and I can’t watch fractious children and conduct class. Students who miss more than two Master Classes without a valid excuse – as determined by me – are subject to dismissal from the program.

In addition to private lessons and Master Classes, other performance and attendance requirements include:
1. Non-competitive Evaluation Auditions. All students are expected to participate in two non-competitive auditions – where they are graded only against a standard of excellence and not against each other; these are, Federation “Festival” in early February and Guild in late April or early May. Each student pays for his/her own entry fee.
2. The Annual Spring Recital is the most important culminating event. Here students choose their favorite piece to perform and are awarded any prizes and certificates of achievement that they earned throughout the year. Monetary donations from local businesses are also awarded to select students as “Superlative Awards” for meritorious achievement throughout the year for various technical and performance accomplishments. Scholarships are also awarded to exceptional students. The recital is open to the public and is followed by a party for students.
3. Attendance at two classical concerts. Students need to hear good live music. This requirement is to assist these developing musicians in hearing and learning what good classical music is all about and expanding their experience beyond just their own piano work. One concert must be orchestral or chamber music and the other a piano solo. For those students not in the Young Artists Master Class, one of the piano performance requirements may be fulfilled by attending one of the more advanced master classes. Students who do not fulfill this requirement will not be considered for the monetary superlative awards at the end of the year. Students are to bring a copy of the program for the concert they attended to their lessons. There are many opportunities to attend free concerts - such as the Ocala Youth Symphony and the Ocala Chamber Music Society and occasionally, our own Ocala Symphony. I will keep everyone informed of upcoming recitals/concerts. Please check with me if you are not sure whether a concert fulfills this requirement.
Lesson Attendance Requirements. Students are expected to be at their lessons and Master Classes on time. If it is necessary to miss a lesson for any reason, please call ahead of time. Lessons missed without calling ahead will be forfeited without my requirement to make it up. Please - as a courtesy to my weak immune system, students are not to come to lessons or master classes sick. If there is any doubt, please contact me. There is ample opportunity built into the schedule for make-up lessons.
Pianos/musical equipment. Students are required to have a full 88-note acoustical or weighted digital piano on which to practice. "Keyboards" are not acceptable; no exceptions. Acoustical pianos should ideally be tuned twice a year to protect your investment and keep it on pitch and in regulation.

Also required by the time a student reaches the second year is a metronome, digital or electric - not key-wound as they’re typically inaccurate and expensive.

While not required, students who have reached an advanced level of performing enjoy a measurable advantage by being able to practice on an acoustical grand piano that, because of its design, neither an upright nor a digital can replicate. Consideration for this investment is strongly encouraged. I can always find you an excellent grand.
Fingernails. Piano playing requires proper fingernail grooming. It is not possible to play correctly with long fingernails. It can also be dangerous in possibly splitting a nail. Fingernails must not extend beyond the tip of the finger - or must not 'click' on the keys when the keys are depressed with fingers formed in a curved or rounded position. I keep fingernail grooming tools and I will not hesitate to send a student from lessons to clip their nails. There were way too many students that had to be sent to the wastebasket last year to clip nails wasting valuable lesson time to trim nails - a situation I mentioned last year that was still not remedied. Acrylic nails are not allowed as they can actually be dangerous to the performer. Students who come to lessons with acrylic nails will be dismissed for the day; no exceptions; no make-up lesson.
Holidays such as Thanksgiving week, the Christmas/New Year holiday season, High Holy Days, and Guild will be times in which there are no lessons. Lessons are scheduled for ALL other holidays. In addition, there are recitals in which my students perform that may affect lessons times throughout the year. Those will be rescheduled.
Study options/tracks. There are three ‘tracks’ or options of study.
1. Traditional option: This is where most of the students will be registered. They will participate in both non-competitive evaluation programs – Federation and Guild –and the annual recital. Competition is not required or desired.
2. Collaborative piano option: This track is open only to advanced students who are good sight readers. They will accompany junior concertos, partner in duets, and learn skills necessary to perform in church settings (hymn playing/accompanying). These students may, but are not required to, participate in the memorized solo or concerto sections of Federation. These students will participate in the annual recital with a memorized musical selection.
3. Competition option: This track is offered for those students who enjoy the thrill of competitive events. Students in this track are not taught “better” than those selecting the other options. However, music to be learned is carefully chosen for its competitive value and students are required to devote more time to practice. Students involved in more than one other after school activity should not consider this option. Extra master classes may be required for those going into competitive events.
Probation. Any student who does not make satisfactory progress by failing to practice regularly or failing to cultivate good practice techniques, or routinely bringing unacceptable work to the lessons- all of which gains them an ‘unsatisfactory’ grade week after week will be placed on probation. Probation should be no surprise to anyone, as there is plenty of warning over time. Students on probation will remain so for one semester only. If at that time satisfactory progress is not maintained, the student will be dismissed.
Communication. I will be sending most notices and information out in e-mail starting this year. It has become the most convenient way. I am asking for all students’ e-mail addresses as well as parents email to be listed on the contract. In addition, please check my website “Student Entrance” for the most up to date information on upcoming events. Student entrance is password protected. Please contact me if you have misplaced the username and password
Music no longer being used may be donated. I will put it in the wicker basket (filed by appropriate level) by the door. Student s are free to take any of the music in the wicker basket.

Go to the Contract Page to fill out this year's contract