Hastings Piano Policy

Lessons are held once a week. 

Lessons are held in a private studio that serves as both an art and music studio located at 102 S Lincoln in downtown Hastings. 

Parents are welcome and encouraged to sit through piano lessons. 

From the beginning of piano lessons, students are provided with a binder. Over the course of their study students are given extensive collection of classical music and information. This is a great start to building their own music library. Students are encouraged to listen to classical masterworks and write down composer and Opus or file number. The sheet music will likely be available in the studio library and provided free of charge. 

Stuhr Music Festival - Students prepare 2 memorized pieces of music in contrasting style.  They have the opportunity to play for an adjudicator and earn ratings and awards. 

Continuing piano during the summer months is vital to retention and progress.  Summer lessons are scheduled using a flexible online calendar.  During the  3 month school break,  students reserve 12 lessons spots around their summer activities and vacations.  Students can also access the calendar and cancel  and reschedule any lesson.  Summer offers several tuition payment options including   discounts if you choose to pay in- full  for the summer package.  Taking lessons during the summer reserves your regular school schedule spot in fall. 

 The lesson method books are from Faber Music and available and purchased through the piano studio. This curriculum is supplemented with additional and even advanced music theory. 

A clear understanding of music theory leads to a greater appreciation of music and ownership of the skills they are learning. 

When a student comes to a lesson and plays the prepared assignment, note recognition, rhythm, dynamics, hand position and posture are observed. Corrections are made and success is encouraged. New concepts are discussed by analyzing the theory, key signature, chord structures and intervals of the new music. 

The remainder of the lesson is left for activities that reinforce ear training, rhythm, terminology and note recognition. After a student has successfully completed level 2 of the curriculum, they are given the opportunity to start a much more demanding classical curriculum. Students study Bach, Mozart and Beethoven among others. This is optional but the majority of students chose to study the classical masterworks. Many study materials and teaching guides are used when assigning students these works. The guides help determine the level the students are performing and recommended complimentary pieces. When a student reaches this level of study, it is important to customize curriculum to enhance strengths and improve weaknesses. Students learn to play classical music as it is a foundation for every other style of music. Students also learn styles such as Jazz, Gospel and Contemporary Christian. Instruction in improvising, following a lead sheet and music composition is incorporated into the music lesson.  

 Students should practice on a well maintained piano or digital piano. The piano must be tuned yearly. The student works at developing tonal memory and a musical ear. This is as important as learning notes. It is impossible to develop a musical ear when learning on an out-of-tuned instrument. Most importantly, students will lose interest. You will be surprised at how much extra practice time your student will put in after a piano is tuned. 

Students are expected to practice their lessons at home and outside of the regular piano lesson. 

Students should bring all flash cards, binders and curriculum books to lessons. Any music or theory worksheets should be left in the binders so they do not get lost. 

Students are expected to listen to  piano music. The more exposure the student has to music the easier they will learn to play any genre and style of music. 

CANCELLATION  If I cancel I will prorate the next month's tuition. 

INCLEMENT WEATHER.  It will be up to you whether you attend lessons when the weather is questionable. To help offset missed lessons, I’ve scheduled a once-a-month make-up lesson on the first Saturday of each month at 8:00 a.m. This will likely be a group lesson and is well worth attending. 

 TUITION Lessons are held weekly. Tuition is paid once a month and is the same regardless of the number of lesson in that month. Some months have four weeks of lessons, some five but tuition remains the same. Tuition payments are due the first lesson of the month. You can pay with check, cash or utilize an online payment.  Summer lessons are offered monthly or via a summer discount package. 

There are no lesson scheduled for 2 weeks over Christmas break, 1 week over Thanksgiving and a week in April. Monthly statements are not prorated for these Holidays. 

 ADDITIONAL FEES Additional registration fees may be required for auditions and competitions.