Northumberland Violin Lessons

Calendar

Lessons begin the same week that school begins (Sept. 7, 2010). Lessons end the week before school ends (June 24, 2011).

There will be no lessons during the Christmas and Spring breaks, consistent with the public school closures.

There will be no lessons on Thursday April 21, 2011 as I will be attending the Stirling music festival.

I do not schedule regular lessons on the statutory holiday Mondays (i.e. Thanksgiving, Easter, & Victoria Day); however, I can sometimes schedule make-up lessons on these days.

Please note:   I do teach on P.A. days.

Number of lessons per year

Monday students have 33 lessons due to long weekend holidays. Please note that Feb. 14, 2011 is the new “Family Day” holiday; therefore, there will be no lessons or group classes that day.

Tuesday students in Belleville have 37 lessons. Those with lessons after 6 pm will have 36, as the Christmas recital will be on a Tuesday evening.

Wednesday – Thursday students have 38 lessons.

Friday students have 37 lessons. This includes the Friday before Christmas holidays and March Break. If you wish to exclude any of these dates, as they precede holidays, please inform me when you submit your cheques. There are no lessons on Good Friday.
Fees

My hourly rate as of September 2009 is $40.00 ( ½ hour $20; ¾ hour $30).

Method of payment

Only adult students taking lessons during “off peak” hours may pay on a per lesson basis using cash or cheque.

For children and teens, my policy is for monthly payments, due at the FIRST lesson of each month, as described below.

I prefer that parents submit post-dated cheques dated for the FIRST of each month (or at least the end of the first week), OR pay for an entire term (Sept. – Dec.; Jan.- Mar.; Apr. – June).  This is particularly important for parents who no longer attend their child’s lesson.

You may either make the payments for the number of lessons in that month (3, 4, or 5)
OR
if you prefer equal payments, take the total number of lessons for the year, multiply by your hourly fee, and divide by 10 (months).

Music Lessons During School Hours

For children under age 7, I do not recommend scheduling a lesson right after school. Children this age are usually unpredictable in the late afternoon, and this will result in poor performance in a lesson where mental focus is required. If the parent has the flexibility to schedule the lesson BEFORE SCHOOL, or at some point during the day, the child is usually in a much better state of mind to concentrate and co-operate.

“A child is excused from attendance at school if, – the child is absent from school for the purpose of receiving instruction in music and the period of absence does not exceed one-half day in any week” – Ontario Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER E.2, Part II, ss.21(2)(e)

Recommended lesson length

For students (ages 3 – 5 yrs) beginning Suzuki lessons with their parent: 1/2 or 3/4 hour lesson for the first 6 to 8 months while the parent is learning, until the child is ready to take a half hour lesson

Suzuki Book 1 & 2 students (RCM grades 1-3) OR older youth beginners: 1/2 hour lesson

Suzuki Book 3 & up (RCM grade 4-8) OR adult beginners: 3/4 to one hour, depending on personal goals (i.e. exams, auditions, orchestra repertoire)