Studio and Lesson Policies
Here is a review of my private lesson and studio policies (please read - there have been some changes):
Kids are busy! Sports obligations are often particularly difficult to work around, but I would like to encourage that regular attendance of and preparation for private lessons also be a priority in order to be a part of my studio.
- Students must bring their own cello to every lesson. While we do have a few extra cellos for the students to use during orchestra classes, the student must bring their own instrument on their lesson day with me. Every cello is built and set up differently. To build and maintain good intonation (playing "in tune") and good technique, our finger and arm muscles must have consistency. Switching cellos can lead to poor muscle memory and difficulty with intonation and bow technique. If bringing their own cello once a week isn't possible, please let me know so we can work something out.
- And of course, the students must have their own instrument at home to practice on.
- Students must bring their own private-lesson music to every lesson. We constantly make notes, technique reminders and fingerings in the music. Practicing without these notes and coming to lessons without them is counterproductive and slows down learning and progress.
An easy way to remember to bring their music is to encourage the students to keep it all in one binder with their orchestra music (lesson books can be tucked into binder pockets), and pack it in their backpacks every morning with their school work or into their cello case pocket.
- Students who routinely come to lessons without their own instrument and/or without their own music may be asked to forfeit their lesson that day and will be charged for the missed lesson.
- Cancellation policy: Things come up, for all of us. Because of my performance schedule, there will be some weeks where we won't hold lessons or I will need to shuffle the schedule around. And I know that things come up for you, too! I will always do my best to give you as much notice of a cancellation as I can. I hope that you will do the same for me. Text messages or emails are fine!
- Practicing Requirements: I discuss the unique practice goals for each student at their lessons. Dr. Suzuki (of the Suzuki Method) is famous for saying “You don't have to practice every day, only the days that you eat." While I would LOVE IT if every student practiced every day, I know that's not a reality with Waterford's homework load. I do require a minimum of practicing 5 - 6 days a week, the amount of time is dependent on the age and level of the student, usually between 20 minutes (beginners) up to an hour or more a day.
- The repertoire I have chosen for the students' private lessons is designed to build the techniques and skills needed to play their solo pieces and can be applied to their orchestra music as well. It is the student's responsibility to be prepared with their private lesson music, since that is the main focus of our lessons. I am happy to spend a few minutes per lesson working on the Waterford orchestra music, but the primary focus of our lessons should be on building techniques and learning the private repertoire. If your student needs more help with the Waterford repertoire, let me know and we can make adjustments to this requirement. If a tutor is preferred to help solely with the orchestra's pieces, I'm happy to help make those arrangements.
- Students are required to have a metronome and a tuner. There are some great combination metro-tuners (I like the KORG TM-40 or similar) or there are a number of metronome and tuner "apps" for iphone and android, etc.
- Participation in the group lessons and the spring recital will be mandatory. Please plan ahead to make arrangements for the student to be released from any work obligations and sports obligations, where possible, on the day of the recital.
- Payments: On a per-lesson basis. Please pay ahead for a series of lessons or I can send you a monthly reminder of your balance. Because of my perfoming engagements, there will be times when we need to reschedule a lesson. For that reason, I do not charge a "monthly rate" and instead prefer to work on a "per-lesson" basis. If online payments are convenient, I accept Venmo, PayPal, checks or cash. Please ask for the link at your next lesson. It rarely comes to this, but I do reserve the right to charge a 10% late fee for each week of non-payment of lesson balances.
And lastly (and I hope you made it this far!),
- I encourage every student to listen to recordings of the great cellists, and also to attend a classical music performance at least once every year. Utah is fortunate to have the Utah Symphony - Utah Opera here in Salt Lake City, one of only 18 full-time orchestras in the country, along with a number of other high caliber organizations like the Utah Chamber Artists, the Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir and Orchestra, the Orchestra at Temple Square, and the Nova Chamber Music Series just to name a few off the top of my head. There is no substitute for hearing and watching a professional orchestra or chamber group live and in-person. It is so inspiring, and classical music needs our support in order to survive. Please see the "Go to a Concert!!" and "Resources and Links" pages for links to some of these fantastic organizations.
- I encourage the students to seek out music that appeals to them and bring it to our lessons. In addition to our classical repertoire, I love to work on other genres with my students - things like Jazz, Celtic, Rock, etc. The internet is a great resource for things like that. I hope you will encourage them to be proactive and seek out sheet music to buy or print, and encourage them to bring it to our lessons. My goal is to make playing the cello fun!
Thank you so much for being a part of my studio. I am truly grateful for your support and for your dedication to music and to the cello!
Please feel free to contact me at any time!
-Cassie
Kids are busy! Sports obligations are often particularly difficult to work around, but I would like to encourage that regular attendance of and preparation for private lessons also be a priority in order to be a part of my studio.
- Students must bring their own cello to every lesson. While we do have a few extra cellos for the students to use during orchestra classes, the student must bring their own instrument on their lesson day with me. Every cello is built and set up differently. To build and maintain good intonation (playing "in tune") and good technique, our finger and arm muscles must have consistency. Switching cellos can lead to poor muscle memory and difficulty with intonation and bow technique. If bringing their own cello once a week isn't possible, please let me know so we can work something out.
- And of course, the students must have their own instrument at home to practice on.
- Students must bring their own private-lesson music to every lesson. We constantly make notes, technique reminders and fingerings in the music. Practicing without these notes and coming to lessons without them is counterproductive and slows down learning and progress.
An easy way to remember to bring their music is to encourage the students to keep it all in one binder with their orchestra music (lesson books can be tucked into binder pockets), and pack it in their backpacks every morning with their school work or into their cello case pocket.
- Students who routinely come to lessons without their own instrument and/or without their own music may be asked to forfeit their lesson that day and will be charged for the missed lesson.
- Cancellation policy: Things come up, for all of us. Because of my performance schedule, there will be some weeks where we won't hold lessons or I will need to shuffle the schedule around. And I know that things come up for you, too! I will always do my best to give you as much notice of a cancellation as I can. I hope that you will do the same for me. Text messages or emails are fine!
- If a student forgets a lesson or otherwise does not show up to a scheduled lesson, I do charge for the missed lesson.
- I require at least 1 hour's notice of a scheduling conflict before a missed lesson, otherwise I do charge for the missed lesson.
- Practicing Requirements: I discuss the unique practice goals for each student at their lessons. Dr. Suzuki (of the Suzuki Method) is famous for saying “You don't have to practice every day, only the days that you eat." While I would LOVE IT if every student practiced every day, I know that's not a reality with Waterford's homework load. I do require a minimum of practicing 5 - 6 days a week, the amount of time is dependent on the age and level of the student, usually between 20 minutes (beginners) up to an hour or more a day.
- The repertoire I have chosen for the students' private lessons is designed to build the techniques and skills needed to play their solo pieces and can be applied to their orchestra music as well. It is the student's responsibility to be prepared with their private lesson music, since that is the main focus of our lessons. I am happy to spend a few minutes per lesson working on the Waterford orchestra music, but the primary focus of our lessons should be on building techniques and learning the private repertoire. If your student needs more help with the Waterford repertoire, let me know and we can make adjustments to this requirement. If a tutor is preferred to help solely with the orchestra's pieces, I'm happy to help make those arrangements.
- Students are required to have a metronome and a tuner. There are some great combination metro-tuners (I like the KORG TM-40 or similar) or there are a number of metronome and tuner "apps" for iphone and android, etc.
- Participation in the group lessons and the spring recital will be mandatory. Please plan ahead to make arrangements for the student to be released from any work obligations and sports obligations, where possible, on the day of the recital.
- Payments: On a per-lesson basis. Please pay ahead for a series of lessons or I can send you a monthly reminder of your balance. Because of my perfoming engagements, there will be times when we need to reschedule a lesson. For that reason, I do not charge a "monthly rate" and instead prefer to work on a "per-lesson" basis. If online payments are convenient, I accept Venmo, PayPal, checks or cash. Please ask for the link at your next lesson. It rarely comes to this, but I do reserve the right to charge a 10% late fee for each week of non-payment of lesson balances.
And lastly (and I hope you made it this far!),
- I encourage every student to listen to recordings of the great cellists, and also to attend a classical music performance at least once every year. Utah is fortunate to have the Utah Symphony - Utah Opera here in Salt Lake City, one of only 18 full-time orchestras in the country, along with a number of other high caliber organizations like the Utah Chamber Artists, the Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir and Orchestra, the Orchestra at Temple Square, and the Nova Chamber Music Series just to name a few off the top of my head. There is no substitute for hearing and watching a professional orchestra or chamber group live and in-person. It is so inspiring, and classical music needs our support in order to survive. Please see the "Go to a Concert!!" and "Resources and Links" pages for links to some of these fantastic organizations.
- I encourage the students to seek out music that appeals to them and bring it to our lessons. In addition to our classical repertoire, I love to work on other genres with my students - things like Jazz, Celtic, Rock, etc. The internet is a great resource for things like that. I hope you will encourage them to be proactive and seek out sheet music to buy or print, and encourage them to bring it to our lessons. My goal is to make playing the cello fun!
Thank you so much for being a part of my studio. I am truly grateful for your support and for your dedication to music and to the cello!
Please feel free to contact me at any time!
-Cassie