Studio Handbook and Policies for Centre for Musical Minds, LLC

"Extraordinary Results in Every Student"

These policies effective June 1, 2010

Mission Statement

The Centre for Musical Minds, LLC is an educational institution, affiliated with the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy--the country's leading center for innovative music education at the keyboard.

Our facility is conveniently located in Frisco, Texas providing group and private instruction of the highest quality for pre-school, elementary, middle and high school, adult beginner through advanced learners.

We believe there is music in every person, and that all people, through music, can become happier, more confident and more creative human beings.

Our mission is to provide a warm and supportive environment in which all students can explore the world of music with confidence and joy.

Parent Expectations and Responsibilities

Support the fulfillment of your child’s responsibilities. Consistency is the key to learning a musical instrument
Encourage progress. Many small steps throughout the year yield big results!
Remind your son/daughter of daily practice and help them to schedule this practice time in their daily routine.
Provide a practice environment that is free from interruptions (family, friends, TV, computer or phone.)
Be financially responsible and pay tuition ON TIME. Late payments result in late fees. For questions regarding tuition and your account, email admin@centremm.org
Communicate with the teacher about any questions or concerns you have regarding the student, music, practicing, festivals, recitals or lesson content.

Student Expectations and Responsibilities

Schedule 15-30 minutes of practice each day for at least five days per week. Two of those days must include the day of and following the private lesson. Remember: playing is not practicing!
Complete all assignments the teacher has written down on the assignment sheet. Practice steps are included verbally in the lesson, and on the lesson assignment sheet.
Review carefully any suggestions or instructions given in the previous lesson. I will write the main goals of each assignment on your assignment sheet.
Arrive promptly at your lesson time, or two minutes early. If you arrive five minutes late, your lesson is five minutes shorter. You reserve the time slot, not the number of minutes.
If questions arise, be sure to ask your teacher questions during lessons; I want you to understand the assignment and expectations.

Teacher Expectations and Responsibilities

Provide each student with the personal attention and respect necessary to develop his/her individual talents.
Guide each student to a greater understanding and enjoyment of music.
Guide each student towards an awareness of her/his capabilities – clearly communicating short-term and long-term goals. This may be verbal or written communication.
Encourage a feeling of success at each student’s individual rate of learning.
Guide each student towards Musical Independence and Initiative through a balanced program of theory, technique and repertoire.

Theory

Essentially, studying the “grammar” of the language of music.

Technique:

The physical mechanics of playing piano.

Repertoire:

A list of pieces to be learned based on standard classical, jazz and popular music essential to gaining an understanding and appreciation for music of many different kinds.
Report the progress of the student to the parent, listen to any concerns and answer any questions that the parent and student may have.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all scheduled lessons per each spring and fall semester. You are scheduling a specific time period, on a specific day, each week. This means that if your lesson is scheduled for Thursday at 3pm for 30 minutes – it is imperative you arrive on time. If you arrive 5 minutes late, the lesson will still end at its scheduled time. We are very prompt and respectful of time – we expect the students and parents to demonstrate the same respect to us. This includes dropping students off AND pickup of students at the conclusion of the lesson.

CMM has a specific number of weeks on the calendar. Our tuition and enrollment fees are non-refundable and makeup lessons are not scheduled. Please plan lesson times and social engagements accordingly. In the event that an emergency should take place, please contact our office administrator to discuss possible (though not guaranteed) options.

Summer participation in lessons will be expected and scheduled on an individual basis. Each student is learning a new language and without reinforcement, new ideas, a change of pace and practice – they lose the very skills they have worked so hard to attain over the course of the past nine months. The investment you as parents have made is too great to take months off and expect to pick right back up where we left off. Our studio and its staff plan well in advance so please plan for one week of piano camp three hours per day, (offered numerous times throughout June and July) and two individually-scheduled private lessons.

Practice

"You don’t have to practice every day,
just on the days that you eat."

This is good advice, but not always the most practical. The most important time for the student to practice is immediately following the lesson – or at least on the same day as the lesson, after the student has received instruction. Research indicates that retention rate is as high as 90% on the first day, whereas it drops to almost 60% if the students waits just 24-hours.

We at CMM say aim for six and expect five days of practice. If a student has 30 minute lessons, a good daily practice session would last between 15 and 20 minutes each day. If a student has a 45 minute lesson, a good daily practice session would last between 30 and 45 minutes each day.

You get out of it what you put into it – what we require is consistency and the results speak for themselves.

Absence

No makeup lessons are scheduled. At the conclusion of each semester there will be a group class your child can participate in, in place of the missed lesson.

Drop-off/Pick-up

Prompt drop off and pick up are expected. It is unacceptable for a student to be waiting more than 5 minutes for the parents to pick up, as we do not provide a daycare service and cannot be responsible for the student after their lesson is finished. Parents are welcome to wait in the waiting area.

Private Lesson Tuition

Tuition is non-refundable and due on the first of each month, one month in advance. Tuition for the 2010-2011 academic year is as follows:

30 minute lessons: In full: $520 or $130 monthly due ON or BEFORE the 1st of each month, in advance; (In full: $560 or $140 monthly for Miss Kristin, Mr. Neeki or Dr. Holland)
45 minute lessons: In full: $740 or $185 monthly due ON or BEFORE the 1st of each month, in advance; (In full: $780 or $195 monthly for Miss Kristin, Me. Neeki or Dr. Holland)

August 1 – first payment due for Fall

Tuition may be paid in full August 1 for Fall, December 1 for Spring and April 1 for Summer. Paying early has its perks! Pay in full by July or November 1 and receive an additional 5% off. Pay in full for summer by April and receive a free Summer Session.
A $15 late fee charged if payment is received after the 1st
Students will not be allowed to participate in lessons should tuition be past due more than 10 days. Parents/guardians are responsible for tuition for the remainder of the semester.
In July of each year there is a $130 enrollment fee per student. This enrollment fee covers any additional costs such as flash cards, music, recital rental fees, etc…This fee does not include festival registration or competition registration.

Recitals

Each student is expected to participate in at least one recital per year. Recitals have been held in private homes suitable for a recital, SMU Recital Hall, Grand Staff Pianos in Addison and Steinway Hall of Plano. On any given year, there are usually three recital options. Please see calendar for more specific dates.

Festivals, Certificates and Theory Exams

Each CMM student has the option of participating in our annual Fall Performance Evaluation and/or our Spring Achievement Auditions. Each event will be judged by Dr. Annie Lin and Dr. Steve Hall; internationally acclaimed pianists, teachers and clinicians. Centre for Musical Minds distributes theory evaluations to each student based on their level - NOT based on their grade in school. These evaluations are fair, based on practical theory for ALL musicians, and sent home over the December break. Our students enjoy showing us what they know!

CMM students also have the option of earning their National Music Certificate. The National Music Certificate Examination is a rigorous international standard curriculum and teachers at CMM are well-equipped to facilitate and implement this curriculum, should a family decide to participate. More information can be found at www.NationalMusicCertificate.org

Inclement Weather

Should the need arise to cancel lessons due to bad weather; the lessons will be made up at the conclusion of the semester, or by the individual teacher. The lesson may be made up in the form of a master class, group class or individual lesson.

* Centre for Musical Minds is not responsible for lost or stolen items left unattended in the waiting or studio areas.

**Centre for Musical Minds is also not responsible for students/children when not with their teacher during their regularly scheduled lesson time. This includes but is not limited to: dropped off early, picked up late, or show up at the unassigned lesson time.