Traverso Studios
at More Music for Brighton
Studio Policy and Rules
Fall Semester 2008
Welcome to Traverso Studios! I invite you to join many other talented young musicians as we explore the flute and its repertoire together. The following document provides valuable information for both students and parents, including descriptions of private lessons, a list of performance opportunities for the Spring semester, scheduling and attendance rules, an explanation of billing procedures, a list of required materials and a guide for parent involvement in the studio. If we each follow the simple rules that are spelled out in this policy, we will keep the business end of lessons running smoothly so that we can concentrate solely on making and performing music during lesson times.
Always feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. The studio phone number is 303-718-6901 and my e-mail is Jblue81@yahoo.com. For issues concerning lesson times or cancellations, or to request an in-person appointment please call rather than e-mail. I look forward to working with you and to embarking on a terrific semester!
Sincerely,
Jennifer J. Pauley
The private lesson is an opportunity for the student to explore the flute and musical expression, ask questions and receive constructive criticism in a fun, friendly, and risk-free environment. In order for the student to receive the most benefit from each lesson, he or she should come prepared. This means spending adequate practice time on the previous lesson assignments, exercises and repertoire, coming to the lesson on time and with all required materials (see section 5). Students will receive a practice guide at the end of each lesson listing weekly assignments. If the student has any questions about the assignment please call or e-mail. Students receiving a half hour lesson should expect to practice a minimum of 15 minutes a day, students coming for an hour lesson should spend at least half an hour per day.
The following list provides examples of some topics that may be addressed during a given lesson:
- Designing a helpful practice routine -Breath control - Tone production
- Embouchure development - Auditioning techniques - Vibrato
- Articulation - Form and Analysis -Technique -Theory
- Posture - Concert etiquette - Dynamic control
- Extended Techniques - Memorization - Stage presence
2) Lesson Scheduling and Attendance
Lessons and Performances: Students will select a weekly private lesson time. You may choose a half-hour slot or an hour slot and may take lessons every week or every other week. This time will remain the same every week in the semester (see later paragraph about lesson cancellations and studio holidays). Students must attend the entire studio recital scheduled for December 13th at 3:00pm at the RMCMA in Lafayette. Students are not allowed to play and then leave, but are expected to watch the other student’s perform.
Lesson Cancellation by the student: Lesson times will remain the same every week and will not be moved to accommodate other appointments. If a student needs to cancel a lesson, he or she must call the studio phone at 303-718-6901 and leave a name, contact number, the date of the lesson and reason for cancellation at least twelve hours in advance of that lesson. If a phone call is not made at least twelve hours in advance, the lesson will not be refunded and no make up lesson will be scheduled. If a student can’t attend their scheduled lesson, they may also have the option to trade lesson times with another student in the studio. This arrangement should be made between the students and then both should call the studio phone at least twelve hours in advance of the first switched lesson in order to explain the situation.
Holidays: Lessons are generally not conducted on major Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, 4th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day. Students may choose to skip lessons that fall on holidays or may schedule a makeup lesson. If students have commitments on other holidays and wish to reschedule a lesson, they must call the studio phone within 12 hours. I will be taking a family vacation around the Christmas and New Year holidays and will inform you of those dates by the end of Oct.
Tardiness: If a student arrives late to a lesson, he or she will be charged for the entire lesson time, but will only be taught from the moment the student arrives until the time that the lesson is scheduled to end. For example, a student who comes fifteen minutes late to an hour lesson, will receive a forty-five minute lesson, but pay for an hour.
3) Tuition
30-minute lesson $20.00 per lesson
1 hr lesson $40.00 per lesson
Tuition will be paid one month in advance. Tuition is due by the first of each month, bills will be mailed to the student’s mailing address by the 15th of each month. For example, a bill for November’s lessons will be mailed on October 15th and will be due by Nov. 1st. No refunds. Make-up lessons will be awarded according to the rules outlined in section 2.
Parents may also request to have the bill invoice e-mailed to their account. The file will be in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format. If the parent does not have this software, it is available as a free download at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/main.html (look for the free software link at the bottom right hand side of the page). The money that Traverso Studios saves on postage will be saved along with a certain portion of other studio profits in order to purchase instruments such as a bass flute for the flute choir. Lesson and performance rates will not change during the semester. Rates will be re-evaluated at the end of each semester and if a change is deemed necessary, the student will be informed at least two-months prior to the change.
Checks should be made payable to Jennifer Pauley, please do not send cash through mail. Lessons will be listed by date; other charges (see section 4) will be listed along with a description. A record of previous payments and check numbers will appear for reference just before the current month’s charges. If the parent or student elects to have the invoice e-mailed, please print one copy to mail with payment and one copy for the parent’s record. Please see attached sample bill.
4) Additional Fees
Ordering Materials: The student may purchase music from More Music for Brighton through the instructor during lesson times. In store purchases must be paid for immediately. If a required item is not available through the store, the instructor will order required music, books, recordings or materials for them. The price of the item plus tax and shipping and handling will be charged to the student’s account after the student has received the materials. These additional charges will appear on the nearest bill, along with a description of the items ordered.
Hiring an Accompanist: Performing with an accompanist is a valuable skill to learn and is important for all students to experience. Students may wish to perform with an accompanist for solo and ensemble competitions, concerto/ young artist competitions, studio performances, etc.
The student is welcome to choose a recommended accompanist from the following list, or use any other accompanist he or she is familiar with. Payment to the accompanist should be arranged between the student and pianist. Traverso Studios will not accept payment for accompanist fees or bill students for an accompanist’s services. The student will also be responsible for arranging rehearsal time with the accompanist.
The instructor needs to hear the piece with the accompanist at least one lesson before a performance. If the lesson time needs to be changed to fit the accompanist’s schedule, call the studio phone as soon as possible and arrangements will be made to find a suitable time.
List of Accompanists:
Judy Abplanalp
(303) 479-9970
Amanda Setlik
asetlik@gmail.com
Marlys Harp
(303) 659-3607
Muriel
Bennett (303) 857-2865
Gerrie Swart
(303) 659-2686
Don Wagner
(720) 203-6969
Christoph
Piorkovski (303) 387-9808:
Christoph_Piorkovski@Yahoo.com
Recital Fee: A recital fee of ten dollars will be charged in December to help with hall rental, program printing and recording costs for the studio recital. Each student will receive a CD of the performance.
5) Required Materials
Each student will need to bring the following items to each private and group lesson:
Flute: The student’s instrument should be in good repair and receive yearly maintenance inspections. For advice on purchasing or renting an instrument or for repair shop recommendations please don’t hesitate to call the studio phone at 303-718-6901.
Cleaning rag and tuning slide: Flutes are usually purchased with a metal tuning slide which is used to check cork placement (the instructor can demonstrate how this is done). The tuning slide can also be threaded with a handkerchief or scrap of fabric for swabbing out the inside of the flute tube. The flute should be swabbed out after every use to ensure a clear resonating space and clean pads and to prevent mold build-up. If the student’s flute does not come with a tuning slide, one can be purchased at More Music for Brighton. Wooden or plastic tuning slides are preferable to metal, as the metal can scratch the inside of the flute tube.
Pencil
Three ring binder: For students to keep records of assignments, notes and exercises
Notebook paper
Practice assignment sheets: supplied by the instructor at the end of each lesson
Music and exercise books: as assigned
The instructor may request that the student purchase exercise books, sound recordings or sheet music for study. The instructor will try to limit the number of required purchases to a reasonable number per semester. In addition, the instructor will attempt to keep required purchases to a minimum by allowing students to borrow books, music and recordings from the Traverso Studios library. These items must be returned by the end of semester. Students will receive fines for lost or late items. If the student has any concerns regarding the cost of required materials, please feel free to contact the instructor by the studio phone, 303-718-6901.
The fall studio recital will be the only required event, however; students are encouraged to attend as many events as they wish.
Traverso Studios Fall Recital: Traverso Studios will be holding its fall student recital at the RMCMA in Lafayette at 3:00pm on Saturday, December 13th. The RMCMA is a music school fifteen miles West of Brighton on highway 7. For complete directions please call or e-mail. The recital will take place in Lafayette since a majority of the studio resides in Lafayette. As the More Music for Brigthon studio grows, a separate recital will be held in Brighton for Brighton students. Each student will play one solo selection and will be placed in a small ensemble. Solo repertoire will be discussed and chosen during lessons, ensemble music will also be distributed in lessons. We will hold a dress rehearsal, time TBA just before our performance. We may also need to arrange 2 to 3 small ensemble rehearsals (held during student lesson times) prior to the concert.
Colorado Flute Association Fall Competition: Sunday, Nov. 9th 12:00-2:00pm Students will perform one required piece (entry form and requirements available for download from www.coloradofluteassociation.org) for a panel of judges. Students will be assigned a competition time. Please check-in fifteen minutes early, students may leave after their performance. Students must be members of the Colorado Flute Association.
Colorado Flute Association Presents Patricia George’s Flute Spa: Sunday, Nov. 9th 10-12am and 2-5pm. You may have read Patricia George’s excellent article in Flute Talk Magazine. Now’s your chance to meet her in person and engage in an interactive, fast paced day of flute exercises and performances. Excellent for middle-school age through adult. Participants do not need to be members of the CFA, but there is a discount for members.
Inglenook at Brighton and Euterpean Society Concerts: The Inglenook care center in Brighton is hosting performances for residents the first Tuesday afternoon of every month. This is an excellent chance to practice performing in front of an appreciative audience before the studio recital or before a competition. Students are also invited to perform at meetings of the Brighton Euterpean society the second Tuesday evening of every month.
Federation of Music Clubs Spring Festival: The North Denver Metro federation of music clubs chapter will hold its annual festival on February 28th, 2009 at the Maranatha Christian Center in Denver. Students may enter the flute solo event and perform two solos for a judge, one required piece from memory, one a piece of the student’s choice. Students may also enter a sight-reading event or theory event. Though this is a spring event, please let me know right away if you are interest so that we can begin preparation. I am requiring this event for my RMCMA students, it is optional this year for More Music for Brighton Students.
Colorado Flute Association Spring Flute Festival: March 14th 2009. This all day event will feature vendor booths, masterclass and Recital by Tadeu Coehlo, flute choir reading sessions, dalcroze and Alexander classes and much, much, more.
CFA Membership: Membership in the Colorado Flute Association provides discounted or free entry to events such as the ones described above, an annual newsletter full of Colorado-related flute information and networking opportunities for college bound musicians. Since I am a CFA member, membership in CFA through my studio is just $10. I am serving as membership coordinator for the CFA this year, so you may hand deliver your application and dues payment.
Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to take an active role in their child’s musical education. Parents are invited to observe all private lessons and performances. Parent’s also show a deep commitment and support in transporting students to and from activities and supervising at home practice sessions.
In order for students to receive the maximum benefit from parent involvement, please follow these simple guidelines when participating in Studio sponsored events.
1) Be as quiet as possible when observing private lessons. Do not be tempted to give advice or encouragement during the middle of the lesson, as this can both distract and confuse the student who is also receiving instructions from the instructor.
2) Leave discipline and instruction to the instructor during group and private lessons. If you have a question please don’t interrupt. Bring a notebook and pencil to jot down notes and ask questions at the end of the session.
3) Leave the cell phone at home. Cell phones will not be permitted at performances and can create a great distraction during lessons. If you forget to turn off your phone during a lesson, please don’t answer it in the studio. If you must answer, please go outside.
4) Other children may observe their sibling’s lesson, as long as they can remain quiet and entertain themselves for the duration of the lesson.
5) If a parent, guardian or family member causes a disruption or chooses not to follow the above rules during a private or group lesson or performance, he or she will be asked to leave.
6) The instructor may request a consultation with a parent or guardian at any time in order to remind them of Studio rules and etiquette or discuss their student’s learning situation.