Media Policy

The teacher reserves the right to use video recording or photographs of students for on the studio website, or other advertising materials, lesson demonstration, and YouTube. Photos taken by the teacher or that are shared with the teacher by other parents or students become the property of the studio and can be used at the discretion of the teacher in regards to the studio. The studio follows online safety rules in this matter.

 

Tuition schedule, absences and Illness

  • Tuition for the current month is due on the first lesson of the month. If you are not attending the first lessons of the month for any reason, your tuition is still due on this day. Drop a check, or send an electronic payment.
  • If tuition is not received before the first lesson, lesson will not be conducted and will not be refunded or rescheduled.
  • Tuition is based on the expected number of lessons/weeks for the following month. My schedule mostly follows the schools schedule. Therefore I expect students to attend all the lessons in their schedule. Cancellations/reschedules are limited to 1 lesson per semester (September- December and January-June). Other absences will not be refunded or rescheduled. Once lesson is cancelled, it can not be reinstated, this slot will immediately filled.
  • If a student decides to stop lessons, no refunds will be provided.
  • Summer lessons are flexible and based on student and teacher availability. The summer schedule is locked by June 1th and lessons have to be payed in full at the last lesson of June. No refunds or reschedules for the summer lessons.
  • If school is cancelled, lessons may be scheduled for earlier in the day when possible.
  • If your child is sick enough to stay home from school he/she will not benefit from a lesson in a constructive way.  Please do not send him/her for a piano lesson. You can take a video of his/her practice instead, and I’ll send you a comment. We also have an option of online lesson via Zoom. However special preparation should be done for it: stable camera, internet connection, quite room and all books and music ready.
  • If a child misses 3+ lessons per semester, his slot in a schedule for the next semester is not guaranteed. If there is a sickness or a serious/emergency issue, please discuss it with me.

 

Appearance and hygiene

  • Students should have their hands washed with soap before the lesson. It will prevent spreading germs.
  • Students are expected to have their nails cut short; it will prevent from getting stuck between the keys and promote the correct hand position. If a student does not have his/her nails short, a theory lesson will be conducted instead of piano lesson.
  • Sleeves should be easily rolled up, so the wrists should be exposed to check for hand position.
  • Rings, bracelets and other jewelry items worn on the hands must be put aside during the lesson.
  • Students are not allowed to wear coats, hats, hoods, or bags during the lesson.
  • If, due to weather conditions, shoes are not clean, bring a pair to change into in the studio.
  • If the student is using a music rug, please bring a pair of rubber socks.

 

Parents’ participation and attendance

  • Parents are encouraged to attend a lesson with the student to be able to help with practice at home.
  • Parents are not allowed to use electronic devices in class unless receiving an emergency call from a family member. Phones should be switched to mute (vibration only) during the lesson. It distracts a student and turns his/her attention towards the flashes or sounds.
  • Parents are allowed to bring other siblings to class as long as they are not distracting the student and are supervised by the parents.
  • If a parent cannot be present during the lesson, a child should be dropped off and picked up at the exact time of the beginning and end of the lesson.
  • If a student is late for the lesson, lesson time will not be extended; other students have the right to have their lesson at the scheduled time. I have a short gap between the lessons to discuss any questions or concerns. All other matters are discussed via email or phone. If needed, I’ll schedule a meeting with a parent.

 

Communication with the parents

  • I am always happy to talk to my students and their parents, answer questions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me about anything regarding piano lessons.
  • Please leave a message at 732-857-7143 or E-mail me at ryba01@comcast.net. Please note that I will not pick up my phone or answer and even read text messages while I am teaching. My students have the right to my undistributed attention. I will definitely get back to you as soon as possible.

 

Practice and homework

  • Students are expected to be prepared for each lesson.
  • My studio is goal oriented, so I evaluate students’ progress at the end of semester and share the results with the students and parents.
  • A regular time should be set aside each day for home practice in order to establish a routine that will become a daily habit.
  • Five undisturbed practice sessions per week are recommended. For the young students (age 4 to 5), 15 minutes a day is recommended 6 times a week. For the 6 to 8 year old students, 30 minutes a day 5 days a week is recommended. For the 9 to 12 year old students, 45 minutes a day is recommended. For the older students, practice time vary depending of the expected results.
  • Please remember: daily practice cannot be replaced by a fire drill at the very last day before the lesson. It doesn’t work, and skills will not be retained. Students need regular practice time and a routine.
  • If a student comes to the multiple lessons unprepared, and practice becomes a constant issue, I reserve the right not to offer a slot in a schedule for the next semester.
  • Please see the practice chart created by the Piano Teachers Association:

 

Child practice 2x/ a week for 15 min slow or no progress
Child practice 3x/ a week for 20 min slow progress
Child practice 4x/a week for 30 min moderate progress, information will be retained if you maintain this schedule
Child practice 5x/ a week/ 30 min good progress
Child practice 6x/ a week 30 min or more very good stable progress, new skills every week.
Child practice 6x/ a week for 1-2h student in competitions
Practice 4-6 h daily professionals

 

  • If written and/or oral homework is given, the student has to be prepared to be checked on the lesson.
  • Important note: Sometime during the course of taking piano lessons, your child may say something like, “I don’t want to practice,” or “I’m too tired to go to piano lessons,” or “I don’t want to go- I want to play with my friends,” “I want to quit,” etc… Just be aware that your child’s interest will probably not be consistent; but to be successful, you will need to be consistent in your encouragement and commitment to music instruction. In most cases, simply acknowledge your child’s comments, but then go on with your normal routine just as you would if you heard the comment, “I don’t want to brush my teeth,” “I don’t want to stop playing with my toys,” or “I don’t want to go to bed.”

 

Your home piano

  • Parents are expected to provide a working, regularly tuned piano. I strongly recommend an acoustic piano, but if, for some reason, it is absolutely impossible, an 88 key weighted keyboard is required. The instrument should be available to the student within the first two weeks of the start of lessons. I am happy to work with families in purchasing a good piano at a price they can afford.
  • For the young children, a foot stool is needed to maintain a good posture. Cheap foot stools are available in many stores. Please check the “Posters and other materials” tab.

 

Music and other materials

  • Parents are expected to purchase the recommended method books to be used by the students. They will be kept by the students.
  • I will lend or provide the music books or sheets free of charge.
  • Students are expected to have music staff paper; it’s easy to print free from the internet.
  • They also expected to have a simple notebook, pencils, and erasers.
  • I would suggest purchasing a simple mechanical metronome. It is not expensive, but will be very useful.

 

Students’ public performances and concerts

  • There are multiple opportunities for public performances. I have my class performance twice a year. Concerts, auditions and competitions are available from the state level to the international level.
  • Public performance fees are dependent on the venue.