ValiMor Music Studio

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Be on time for scheduled lesson with all necessary supplies-books, binder, flash cards, assignment sheet, etc.  
  • Keep lesson cancellations to a minimum.
  • Students are asked to wash hands before every lesson in an effort to minimize germ transferrance.  No gum please.
  • Be prepared for lesson by practicing at home in an efficient manner as shown to you by your instructor, generally five to six days a week.  Write down questions that come up in home rehearsal.  Keep track of home practice.
  • Be accepting of constructive guidance that pertains to your growth as a musician.
  • Be adventurous in trying new concepts, different styles of music, performing in festivals and recitals.
  • Attend as many outside musical performances as possible.
  • Relay information from your instructor to your parents or guardians faithfully.


PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provide a well-tuned, quality instrument.  This instrument may be an acoustic piano, or full-sized digital piano with weighted keys.  Toy keyboards are not acceptable.  An appropriate height bench is also necessary.
  • Provide a dedicated area for your child to practice.  Students will not be successful practicing in a room where other siblings will interrupt their practice.  But, a piano placed in an area where the student walks by it several times a day will encourage them to sit down and play. 
  • Help the student commit to lessons.  Do not expect them to master their chosen instrument in a few months.  Proficiency in music develops over years of study.
  • Encourage your child in a positive way.  It is very strongly recommended that parents sit with young students at the piano, even if the parent has never taken lessons.  Read the page with your student.  Ask him or her to explain it to you in their own words and demonstrate.  If there is a concept that your student is not familiar with or has forgotten, please note this in the lesson book.
  • Be creative as you help your child make their practice time a part of their regular routine.  
  • Parents are able to request to be present during their child's lesson.


THE STUDIO SPACE-Devils Lake

  • The room in which we have lessons is small.  Siblings are allowed to attend each other’s lessons if they are also taking lessons, and if they are not distractive.
  • We share space with Miki's School Of Dance.  Students and family members are expected to treat the facilities respectfully.  Please remain on the carpet runner when going into the studio so dirt is not deposited on the dance floor.  
  • Use the restroom before lessons begin so there is minimal interruption to dance classes in session.  Wash hands after visiting the restroom.

THE STUDIO SPACE-Edmore

  • Because many families live outside of Edmore, students are welcome to wait for their lesson at my home after school. They may bring snacks and drinks; please take care of any wrappers or trash.  If students have a specific need of something due to illness such as diabetes, please send some with your child so it can be on hand. 
  • I encourage students to work on homework while they wait, but I cannot supervise them.  Students are expected to behave in a polite and respectful manner. Students whose behavior is unacceptable will not be allowed to wait in my home.  
  • It is asked that students keep themselves within the living/dining/kitchen area while waiting. Bedrooms, office, garage, and laundry are off-limits to students. If the weather is nice, students may also sit on the back deck.  
  • When arriving, students can ring the doorbell and come in. You do not have to wait outside until someone comes to the door.  Be aware-our dog, Howie, loves to greet people at the door, and can be mischievous and will sometimes try to sneak out the door.  Our family policy is, "If Howie bolts on you, you get to go find him!" Dmitri Katalevsky and Puck also likes to venture outside. They are wanderers, so they must also be retrieved. This will involve crawling under trees!
  • Students have the privilege to play on a high quality grand piano, and are expected to treat it respectfully.  
  • We have a unique opportunity to work with each other on duets and trios because of our waiting situation.  Not many students are afforded that luxury, and I plan to utilize it during their lessons.  


CANCELLATIONS AND MAKEUP LESSONS

In general, in order to be eligible for a makeup lesson, 24 hours notice is necessary.

  • It is requested that parents inform the instructor as soon as possible if a student is ill.  It is common for a child to go to school feeling well in the morning, but come home sick after school.  In those situations, or any other illness that is reported, a makeup lesson can be rescheduled within a reasonable amount of time, generally two weeks.  If a student becomes ill the night before the scheduled lesson, please inform the teacher that night, rather than wait until the next day. There is a separate page for COVID policy. 
    • If a student has a contagious illness such as influenza, stomach flu, pinkeye, strep throat, head lice, etc., the student should be kept home. If a student comes to lessons obviously contagious or otherwise unable to work in lessons due to illness parents will be contacted to collect their child. There will be no makeup lesson and lesson fee will be charged.
  • Other reasons a makeup lesson would be scheduled would be for family emergencies and school closings due to weather/road conditions.  It is requested that doctor/dentist and other appointments be made outside of lesson time unless it is an emergency. 
  • Parents have chosen this lesson time for their child because it was the most optimal time for them that was available.  This time has been reserved FOR YOU, and if the student forgets a lesson, that time is not able to be filled on no notice.  Therefore, lesson fees will be charged for forgotten lessons, and no makeup will be scheduled.

SPORTS TEAM AND EXTRACURRICULAR SCHEDULE CONFLICTS

  • Oftentimes students are involved in other activities such as sports, drama, speech, music, dance, etc.  These activities are important to developing well-rounded individuals.  Unfortunately, if there is a scheduling conflict between piano and sports practice, games, musical and theatrical performances, piano is usually the activity that is neglected.
  • Some students will continue with lessons, with the knowledge that there will be adjusted expectations for that period.  For example, piano and dance students who also want to participate in Gold Cup festival in February will receive their Festival music much earlier than the other students.  
  • Sometimes it is necessary for the student to put piano/voice lessons on hold during their sports season.  If this occurs, students will be charged a Continuing Reservation Fee, which will be half their regular rate.  This will keep their lesson time reserved until the sports season is complete and they can resume lessons.  The reasoning for this fee is if there are a considerable amount of students who discontinue lessons during sports seasons, it creates a very noticeable drop in studio income.  It not only creates issues for the teacher with family budgeting, but also for studio improvements.


PAYMENT

  • Lessons fees are $22/30 minutes ; $33/45 minutes.
  • Beginning piano students start with a 1/2 hour lesson.  After the first year of study, the student may choose to expand that time to 45 minutes.  All piano students who are playing at the Late Elementary stage will expand into a 45 minute lesson.
  • Monthly invoice will include lesson fees, book charges, festival registrations, and any other expenses incurred by the student.
  • Invoices will be emailed to the responsible paying party the last week of the month.  Payment is due one week after receipt.  A $25 late fee will be charged for any payment that is not paid by the fifteenth of every month.

Payment options include:

  • Sending check with child to next lesson.  Checks may be addressed to Valerie Sampson.
  • Sending check to Valerie Sampson, PO Box 218, Edmore ND 58330.
  • Using PayPal.  My email address is ValiMorStudio@gmail.com.  There is a hotlink directly to the studio PayPal account in the monthly invoice.
  • Parents may also choose to pay in quarterly or semester payments.  Charges will vary due to length of lesson.  A running balance will be kept.  Parents will be notified when the balance is below $100.  All books, festival fees, and other charges will be subtracted from this payment as well.


DISCONTINUING INSTRUCTION

  • Although we never want to think of it, there may be reasons why a student chooses to discontinue lessons.  Before that decision is made, please feel free to contact the instructor to discuss any concerns they are having.  Many times more effective communication is all that is necessary.  However, if the decision is made to discontinue, it is requested that two weeks notice be given so the student and instructor have time to wrap up instruction.  The responsible paying party will be sent an invoice for any charges and lesson fees due, payable one week after receipt.
  • The studio does reserve the right to discontinue instruction with students who have displayed disrespectful behavior on a regular basis, consistent lack of preparation and/or disinterest in lessons, non-adherence to Studio Policies, and/or excessive absence.


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