Music Season 2010-2011 has arrived........
tentative schedule.......................................
September 13-17th 2010 classes begin
Nov 1-6 2010 no classes this week
December 15-19th last class before Christmas break
January 3th 2010- classes resume
March mid-march 2010 - one week Spring Break
May 28th 2010 Year End Recital - lesson 35
May 30-June 4th - last studio class
June 4th lesson 36 family BBQ
fees ...................................
Fees for this year are as follows one child $ 74.00, two children (per child) $72.00.
To avoid lost class time I request that lesson fees be payable to me in the form of nine monthly postdated checks dated September to May. As always for those who prefer to pay a lump sum by September 20th there will be a 5% discount. There is no refund for missed classes. If it is necessary for myself to cancel a class due to weather or illness the class will be rescheduled at a time convenient to the most students.
arrival at class.....................................
Please make every effort to arrive at class as much as ten minutes early. This time is valuable for you to write down the homework for the week and for facilitating solo time. For most of my classes there will be a solo time at the beginning of the lesson which I take students in the order they arrive in class. Children that are waiting for solo time are encouraged to participate in one of the games I will have on hand. They may require some assistance from you to get involved in this activity, I would prefer you did this over visiting with other parents.
cancellation policy............................
Your registration is a year long reservation in my music schedule, as a result once classes begin, I ask you to give the class a fair chance by accepting that the first eight lessons are nonrefundable. This should give you and your child time to get into the swing of lesson and practice as well as adjusting to new friends and activities.
parking..........................................
When parking on the street please be considerate of my neighbors driveways and lawns. There is an increase in young drivers and their vehicles on the street. Please feel free to use my driveway and front of my house first. Then use the south side of 117 Ave.
siblings............
MYC is a parent participation program your child's success and enjoyment depends on your full participation. To ensure that the entire class can have as few distractions as possible I prefer you to bring only your registered child to class.
conflicts or concerns...............................
Please feel free to contact me it you have any questions or concerns about the class or your child’s progress. I really appreciate your feedback. Call or e-mail at kathymyc@shaw.ca
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Tips for Music Class:
Arrive relaxed, this is a special time of the week for you and your child to be together! If your time before class was ‘stressful’ aim to start music class with a clean slate. Double check that all materials needed for class are in the music bag. “House clean” your bag monthly.
Be ready to start the class by taking your place on the studio floor, there is usually a game available for you and your child to participate in. It is more important to sit down and start a game with your child than writing out the homework.
As a parent enter into the singing, clapping and at the keyboard. This is helpful even if your child is feeling shy or stubborn about participating. Better to be a positive role model than nagging them to do it. (I learnt this one as a parent the hard way!)
Allow your child to discover! While you are at the keyboard with your child, open the book to the appropriate page, point to the notes, but DO NOT grab your child’s hand and press it on the “correct” initial note of the song. Do not say the note names to your child while she/he is playing. Your job at that time is to point to the music or to watch your child and teacher interacting. Negative comments are not required. “What's the matter with you today? You played so much better at home.... This child is just not interested in music... You stayed up too late last night” are comments that tear down the positive setting the teacher aiming for.
Help your child get ready for rhythm stories. When the teacher has clapped the rhythm story and the children have copied it and write it, try not repeat it for your child. The teacher will re-clap it after all the children have had a chance to “write” as much as possible.
Listen to the teacher. Try to think about the instruction that is happening at the present. This will help you learn too. Don’t try to teach your child while the teacher is teaching. If you have a question ask the teacher, do not ask another parent (during class). If the question has a long answer I may choose to phone or talk to you after class.
Do not talk to other parents in during teaching time. This is essential. It is distracting to your child and to the other parent and her child, also to the teacher.
Don’t feel bad if you have been guilty of any of the above items in the past, I’ve been an MYC parent too and get the ‘willies’ just reading this! Enjoy yourself. It “rubs off”!