COMMITMENT
With the enrolment of your child(ren) in the program, you have made an important educational decision for your child. Both you and your child will receive valuable musical training that will provide a lifetime of enjoyment. Furthermore, research indicates that children studying music show marked improvements in other subject areas as well. Music is for EVERYONE ! The philosophy of the Music for Young Children program is to teach the HAPPY HABIT OF LEARNING MUSIC ! and with your co-operation we can provide a gift that will last a lifetime-the gift of music !
KEYBOARD REQUIREMENTS
All students must have access to a keyboard or piano for practice. Keyboards must be a minimum of 5 octaves, that is they must have 61 keys and the keys must be FULL-SIZED keys. There are several options available, whether it be renting or purchasing of both keyboards or pianos from local (London) businesses. If you would like more information regarding these options, please let me know.
CLASS SCHEDULES
Classes meet once a week for one hour at the same time each week for 34 weeks. You will receive a schedule for this years classes at our first class. There will be a break at Christmas as well as March Break. Make-up classes may be scheduled at these times if families and I are in agreement and are available. Classes cancelled as the result of inclement weather or teacher illness will be rescheduled at a mutually convenient time or added to the end of the lesson year. For Monday classes that fall on a holiday Monday, we will treat each one individually and decide what the majority of families in the class would like to do as far as rescheduling the class or running it as usual.
ATTENDANCE
It is important to realize that each and every class covers valuable information and that your commitment to attend each week is critical to your childs success in the program. In the event of unavoidable absence, it is YOUR responsibility to obtain the homework assignment for the class you missed. I am willing to email homework to you if I have your current email address, otherwise I would suggest that you get the phone number of at least one other parent in the class in case you cannot reach me. If you know in advance that you will be absent, arrangements can be made for your child to attend another class at the same level if possible. Also, if your child has been home from school all day because of illness, please do not bring your child to music class ! Because we are in a small group setting, the illness can more readily be spread to myself and the class. LESSON FEES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE FOR ABSENCES !
SIBLINGS
It is your responsibility to obtain childcare for other children not enrolled in the class. Siblings are NOT allowed in class due to obvious distractions for other students and yourself. You will need to devote your full attention to your enrolled child during classtime. This should be a special time your the two of you !
PUNCTUALITY
Please be on time for your childs class !! This includes coming at least 5 minutes early to copy the homework assignment and pick practice stickers and treasures. If the class is started late, I cannot extend it beyond the allotted time, as I haved classes immediately following. Therefore, we will not have enough time to do everything planned, and I feel that everything I have planned for the lesson is important. Also, it is not fair for the families who arrive each week on time and have to wait for others to start the class. Classes will be started at their specific time, and anyone arriving late will have to copy homework, pick stickers and pick treasures AFTER class (not during, which is distracting for your child and others!)
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Good practice habits should be established right away. If you can establish a regular routine, your child will accept it as a natural expectation. At first, it may be for only five minutes and naturally more homework activities will be expected for older children. I am very specific in my homework assignments about how much each concept should be practiced each day. Also, EVERYTHING ON THE
HOMEWORK SHEET IS IMPORTANT !! We sometimes tend to want to skip parts of the homework assignment i.e. tinsheet activity or rhythm ensemble in order to get to the more important keyboard homework. Tinsheet activities help develop note-reading skills and review concepts that we have learned in class and although we do not always have time in class to do the rhythm ensemble, it is important to clap and say it every day as this establishes their sense of rhythm and improves their reading abilities. Also, if your child comes to class with their homework page (from the H-section of the book) unfinished, I will not look at it and please do not start to finish while I am checking the others in the class. I would prefer ttiat you spend some time at home completing the page thoughtfully and slowly, so that your child understands the concept fully. I will gladly check the page the following week and give your child their stamp
WITHDRAWAL
The first 8 weeks of the program are non-refundable as well as the registration and administration fees after the first class. Once the materials are used, I cannot return them to our head office for credit. After that, one months notice of intention to withdrawal is required and lessons fees are accrued until the end of the month. Please keep in mind that I set my budget for the lesson year in August based on the enrolment at the time. Also, other children may have to be put on a waiting list because of full classes. If your child leaves the program in the middle of the year, it is too late to enroll these children to fill your child's spot. You can appreciate if your employer asked you to take a reduction in your weekly paycheque-this is what in effect happens with my income when a child leaves the program prematurely. I ask for your commitment for the entire length of the program (34 weeks) with the understanding that there will be situations arise where this is not possible. Please be sure to speak with me if you have any questions regarding this.
SOME ADVICE ON STUDYING MUSIC
You and your childs interest in music lessons may not always maintain a steady level. Some weeks there may be lots of practice sessions and other weeks the practice time may be infrequent. Consistent attendance will aid in musical success, so do not skip class just because you have not practiced enough or because your child says he or she does not want to come. These fluctuations are PERFECTLY NORMAL and should not signal the end to the musical training of you and your child. If you are uncomfortable with any aspect of class, please let me know and we can work on a solution together. Thank you, in advance, for sharing your child with me, and I look forward to a great, musical journey together!