My Studio Policy
Thank you for valuing music education and for enrolling your child in piano lessons. Your child will have the chance to experience music theory, ear training, composition, sight-reading, and music history—not to mention a really varied repertoire! My goal for all my students is to help them to become proficient pianists and to develop a deep appreciation and love for music.
Books and Materials
I will purchase any necessary books for students and will add the amount to the next month’s bill. If you would prefer that I inform you before I buy new books, just let me know. A metronome may also be required for home practice. Affordable metronomes are available at any music store. If you would prefer that I pick one out for you, I can do that as well. I also ask that a spiral 8x10 notebook be purchased to use as an assignment book. Improv students must also provide a folder to store their songs in.
Practice
It takes discipline, commitment, and time to learn any new skill. The process of learning to play the piano and advancing into more complex music also requires an enormous amount of concentration. Please provide a quiet environment for your child to practice. Practice time is to be recorded each day on the assignment notebook. A guide for appropriate practice times is listed below:
| Level | Daily | Weekly Total |
| Beginning (Primer - Level 2A) | 10-20 min | 50-100 min. |
| Intermediate (Level 2B – Level 4) | 20-30 min | 100-200 min. |
| Advanced | 30-45 min | 200-450 min. |
| Senior Recitals | 1 - 2 hrs. | 10 - 14 hrs. |
Parental Involvement
While most students are initially excited to begin piano lessons, please be aware that they will face challenges and sometimes frustrations. The success of a young piano student is usually directly proportional to parental involvement in the learning process. Regardless of musical background, every parent can do some specific things to make each piano lesson a positive experience. Here are some ideas:
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Establish a definite scheduled time for practicing – it is essential to developing a commitment for lessons. Unless practice time is given a high priority, it too often does not get done. Help your child remember to record their practice time on their assignment notebook.
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Supervise practice sessions. This does not mean you have to sit with them every day during the practice time. This simply means that sometimes it is necessary to make sure your child completes all of the assignments that I give to him/her each week (these will be written down in the assignment notebook).
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Make sure your child has a properly tuned instrument. It is highly recommended that a student have a piano at home to practice on. Keyboards are acceptable up through the completion of Level 2A. After that, a piano becomes necessary for the following reasons: developing finger strength, use of the pedals, access to all 88 keys, and building a solid technique.
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Make sure that your child has all of their music for each piano lesson.
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Express enthusiasm for your child’s accomplishment. This provides strong incentive for him or her to continue making progress.
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Be an audience at least once a week to show your continuous interest in his/her improvement. Your interest in their playing truly motivates them to practice regularly.
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Whenever possible, encourage your child to participate in performance opportunities.
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Provide feedback and suggestions for me that will increase the effectiveness of each lesson.
Expectations of Students
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Be sure to have trimmed fingernails for each piano lesson. If your nails are too long, it will be difficult to play with a proper hand position.
- Practice regularly to ensure success for each piano lesson. You will grow and progress in direct relation to the amount of time you put into practicing.
- Be prepared for each lesson – bring all of your books and completed assignments (which include completed theory, scales, memorizing, and whatever you were to work on that week)
- Come with a willing attitude and be ready to work and have some fun as well!
Payment
The tuition for the 2007-2008 school year is $80 per month and is due by the 10th of each month in order to avoid a $10 late fee. Please make checks payable to: Jennifer Thurman.
My Contact Information
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Jennifer Thurman | home phone: 763-712-9272 |
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Anoka, MN | email (checked daily):
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| website: www. jthurmanpiano.com |
Recommended Piano Tuner: Leon Bowman – 763-753-4015
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Why do I teach music?
Not because I expect you to play or sing music all your life . . .
Not because I expect you to be a professional musician . . .
But . . . so you will be human,
. . . so you will recognize beauty,
. . . so you will be sensitive,
. . . so you will be able to bring joy to others
. . . so you will find personal fulfillment
. . . so you may bring out something in yourself that you didn’t even know was there
. . . so you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness
. . . in short, more LIFE!
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Studio Policy 
