GETTING AHEAD IN LIFE BY PLAYING EVERY DAY!
The Piano Studio of Dr. Paula ThomasLee-Kaczmarowski, NCTM

TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY:
My goal is to provide your child with a positive experience in music education which will nurture a love for music. The study of music is a gift which enhances and enriches not only the student’s life but also many surrounding individuals. Initially, I focus on establishing some quick “wins” for your child in his or her first few music lessons. This helps him feel successful and confident in learning a new music instrument. It’s important that your child feels like making music is FUN! Your child will learn about goal setting, follow-thru and perseverance thru a musical medium—it’s a WIN-WIN!

RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Of the Parents—It is important to support the student in all ways by encouraging him/her to practice daily, scheduling daily practice time, praising his/her musical achievements, and attending his/her public piano performances. Younger children need a practice partner who will sit with them during the practice sessions to read directions, help with instructions, and learn along with the student.
  • Of the Teacher—The teacher is responsible for praising and acknowledging the student’s hard work and efforts as well as encouraging and challenging the student in weaker areas.
  • Of the Student—The student’s most important job is to love music. Diligence is the key to progress in music study. The student must be dedicated in practice time and come prepared to every lesson.

TEACHING METHODS:
Individual weekly lessons consist of reviewing and improving pieces in the student’s repertoire. Other activities during lesson time may include sight reading, ear training, technique work, and music theory. Every week the student will receive an assignment sheet with weekly assignments, practice instructions, etc. Approximately 4 times per year, students will attend group lessons with other Studio Students in their age category. This allows an opportunity for students to grow and learn more about music with their peers. Activities during group lessons include sharing music making experiences, music games, music composers and theory. Students generally love group lessons, so it is a great opportunity to build comradery and friendships in the Studio. No private lessons are taught during Group lessons weeks.

INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND AWARDS:
Incentives and awards are important for students to maintain motivation in practice
and overall musical growth. Awards and incentive programs also give the student a long
term goal to aim for as well as affirm their hard work throughout the year! The Piano
Studio offers several programs for students to participate in throughout the school year
AND summer. These programs include the Bonus Points System and Music Money.

TUITION DUES AND PAYMENT POLICY: Studio calendar runs with Cobb County School System. Tuition is based on 10 equal monthly payments and includes 35 lessons for the academic school year.
Please contact Dr. TLee-Kazz for current tuition rates.

Tuition payments are due before the 1st of the Month. For example, payment for
February lessons is due the week of January 27-31. Your attention to paying on-time helps me meet my own monthly financial obligations. Payment not received by the 1st of the month will accrue an $8.00 late fee.

$75.00 Initial Registration fee —Due at studio enrollment. All new students receive a music studio bag to carry their music books and materials. The color options are red, blue, or purple. In addition, students receive an "A-LISZT" Junior Music Club Shirt. There are a variety of color options for the club shirt, and may be viewed in the Studio Merch handout.

Each additional year of enrollment, the annual student fee ($60) will be used to pay for studio costs and incentive programs.

Book Deposit: $30.00
All students are required to make a $30.00 book deposit at the time of New Student registration. A record will be kept of all book expenses. When the $30.00 is depleted, a copy of the expense record will be given to the parent and another $30.00 will be deposited. If the student should terminate lessons, any unused deposit will be returned to the student.

The instructor reserves the right to discontinue lessons to any student who consistently pays late. If a student decides to end his study in the middle of the month, I will not refund money that has been paid for lessons.

SUMMER LESSONS:
Unlike many school systems, the piano studio does not cease operation during the
summer months. Therefore, during the summer semester, all students are required to take
at least SIX music lessons. This requirement is reasonable, since any student who misses too many weeks of practice and lessons will experience a major setback and will lose some technical fitness and reading skills that were gained during the previous school year.

Generally, up to 7 lessons may be taken during the summer months if parents/students would like the option. With the flexibility, you have the freedom to schedule your vacations around the 5 required lessons. It is highly recommended that more advanced and serious students take for the full summer session since lost time, even a couple of weeks, can impair performance and technique development.

Since the summer schedule is a bit more flexible, students who are traveling extensively during some months may “double up” on lessons during the time they are in town in order to meet the FIVE lesson requirement. Please note: Students who do note take lessons during the summer semester will not be guaranteed a studio spot in the fall.

Pre-Registration for Fall Lessons will be offered during the month of July, and students enrolled in summer lessons will have first pick of piano lesson time slots for the beginning of the Academic school year.

ABSENCES AND MAKE-UP POLICY:
Unforeseen circumstances may arise and prevent you from attending your regularly scheduled lesson. Here are the policies concerning make-ups:
Student Cancels: When a student or parent of the student has called to cancel a lesson more than 24 hours in advance, make-up lessons will be conducted during Group Lesson weeks. Only 1 lesson per semester may be re-scheduled.
Student Cancels less than 24 hours in advance – No make-up lesson will be issued. There are no exceptions to this rule.
No Show— This lesson cannot be re-scheduled. If this occurs three times in a row, I will assume that you do not wish to continue and the lesson time will be made available to another student.
Instructor Cancelled: If I miss a lesson for any reason, I will make-up the lesson at your earliest convenience.

TARDINESS:
The daily teaching schedule is rigid; therefore, tardiness will take
away from your lesson time. Please be advised that if a student is late for a lesson, we cannot
extend his/her lesson and still adhere to the schedule. This means that if you are ten
minutes late for a thirty minute lesson, you will only have a twenty minute lesson that day.

STUDIO CONDUCT:
Students are expected to be respectful of the teacher and other students at all times.
I do my best to establish a positive environment in order for students to feel at ease and
comfortable with sharing their musical gifts with each other during group lessons. As
students and families wait for their lessons to begin in the waiting room, it is important to be
respectful of this area.

PARKING:
Parking availability at the studio is minimal. When dropping students off for lessons, please pull into the driveway. You may park in driveway or in front of my mailbox. Please do not park anywhere else.

MATERIALS:
Music and theory books will be purchased by the teacher as the need arises. Students will generally have 2-4 books. EVERY student must have a 3-ring binder to bring every week to the lesson for assignment sheets, which I provide weekly. All materials should be carried in their music studio bag in order to maintain neatness and organization. Bringing two sharpened pencils is also very helpful.

RECITALS, MUSIC FESTIVALS, AND AUDITIONS
All students should perform in at least one recital per year. I schedule recitals
during the winter and spring semesters. There is a recital fee of $24.50 which
covers the cost of the site, programs, as well as recital awards. These are important learning experiences. Family and friends are welcome to attend.

Piano Guild Auditions are non-competitive in nature and open to students who wish
to audition for membership into the National Fraternity of Student Musicians, sponsored by
the National Guild of Piano Teachers. The American College of Musicians will evaluate the
student’s performance based upon presentation of works performed. Students who wish to audition for National Level Membership must perform a minimum of 10 pieces/musicianship phases. Students who wish to audition for International Level Membership must perform a minimum of 15-20 pieces/musicianship phases. Students perform pieces along with piano scales and chords in the presence of a professional adjudicator chosen by the national organization. Each entrant receives a certificate, a gold embossed pin, a report card, and a year’s membership in the National Fraternity of Student Musicians. There is a fee for this event.

National Federation of Music Clubs Federation Gold Cup Festival --generally
held in February and requires two memorize pieces; students earn points each year to
accumulate and earn gold cups. There is a fee for this event.

Cobb County Music Teachers Association Fall Festival--generally held in October
and requires two memorized pieces. There is a fee for this event.

National Federation of Music Clubs Music Theory Cold Cup Festival--held in conjunction with the Federation Music Festival and provides students the opportunity to earn gold cups for their work in music theory. There is a fee for this event.

National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Composer Festival--provides students the opportunity to earn gold cups for their work in music composition. There is a fee for this event.


THE "A-LISZT" JUNIOR MUSIC CLUB
All students in the music studio are members of THE “A-LISZT” Junior Music Club, named after the famous piano and composer Franz Liszt This music club is part of the National Federation of Music Clubs that sponsors our Festival in February. All studio students receive a small statue of Liszt when they enter into lessons, and all students receive a club shirt to wear to our group lessons or other studio events.