1. Parents are expected to attend private lessons, take notes, and help with the practice. Parents of teenagers are not required to attend the lessons, but should continue to encourage the listening, review, and daily practice at home. Every student should come to their lesson with a notebook to write down weekly assignments.
2. Students are expected to listen to the pieces they are studying repeatedly and daily. The daily listening should be structured as follows: · “Working “ piece – 10 times in a row · “Next” piece (after working piece) – 10 times in a row · Whole CD for book level – at least twice a day
3. 80% of daily practice should be review practice. Students are expected to practice at least the same amount of time as their lesson time 5 days a week required (6 or 7 days are better)! It is recommended that students in book 1 sign up for 30 minute lessons, students in book 2 – 4 sign up for 45 minute lessons & students in book 5 & above sign up for 60 minute lessons.
4. Students are expected to participate in the scheduled group lesson, group performances, solo recitals, and are encouraged to participate local workshops, summer institutes, community youth orchestras, school orchestras, and concert attendance to help with reading, music theory, review and motivation. Group lessons are a big part of my program. A great deal of planning goes in to these lessons and a lot of material is missed when a students is absent. Please make every effort to attend each group lesson! If you are unable to attend a group lesson, please let me know one week before, so I can adjust my group lesson plan accordingly!
5. Parents should park in the cul-de-sac (not blocking the mail box). Students should use the driveway and side- walk to avoid plant destruction!
6. Please arrive a couple of minutes early to unpack your violin quietly in the dining room.
7. Please refrain from bringing anything other than water into the studio. Gum chewing is not allowed during lessons, groups, or performances! Please accompany young children to the bathroom to insure that they do not stuff lots of paper or other objects in the toilet (we have a septic tank), they flush, and they wash their hands so not to spread germs.
8. I have puzzles, coloring books, building blocks, etc. for siblings to use while lessons are going on. All students and siblings are expected “to look with their eyes and not with their hands” when they enter my home. Puzzles, books, blocks, etc. should be put back neatly leaving things just as they found them.
Make-up Policy
Group lessons cannot be made up. Please let Mrs. Jenkins know in advance when your child will not be able to attend their scheduled group to help in planning
1. Any private lesson cancelled by Mrs. Jenkins will be made up promptly.
2. Private lessons may be made up for illness or family emergencies only! Family skiing trips, birthday parties, school conflicts, ballet recitals, etc. are not emergencies valid for make-up lessons.
3. If you have a lesson scheduled on a holiday (Mon. labor day ex.) please let me know at least one week before that you would like to reschedule that lesson!
4. All other missed lessons may be made up by observing another student’s lesson or trading times with another student ahead of time. No one has ever taken me up on the observing someone else’s lesson for a make-up, but I think all students and parents could benefit from this. My daughter Lauren observes other students lessons each week as a part of her conservatory requirements in the form of master classes and she has gotten invaluable pedagogy ideas from this experience.
5. Each student will be given a copy of Mrs. Jenkins’s private studio schedule with phone numbers and e-mail addresses in order to trade lessons with. Please be as flexible as possible when someone asks you to trade as you will certainly find yourself in the same shoes at some point!
6. Forgotten lessons will not be made-up!
7. Inclement weather: Mrs. Jenkins will assess the road conditions for the afternoon and call or email you of any cancellations. * Lessons cancelled due to inclement weather can done via SKYPE or Face Time
Tuition Schedule
There are 52 weeks in a year and I offer 44 private lessons during the year with bi-monthly group lessons during the school year. Students get one week off for Thanksgiving, 2 weeks off for the Winter holiday, 1 week off for Spring break, & 4 weeks off during the summer. Tuition is the same each month regardless of how many group and private lessons you receive in a month (including the summer months). Payment for each month is due by the 10th of each month. Group lessons, parent training, rehearsals, recitals, assistance with instrument searches, audition assistance, letters of recommendation, studio supplies, printing and paper costs for handouts, music, etc. are all included in your tuition. There may be additional recital fees to pay for accompanists, however! Tuition payments are due by the 10th of the month. You may setup an automatic direct bill payment through your bank eliminating the problem of remembering when to pay or how much!