Studio policies

Lessons

Lessons take place once a week at the same time and day each week and are either 30 minute, 45 minutes or 60 minutes. Lessons generally consist of review from that week’s practice, addressing issues or concerns and building of knowledge and repertoire. Depending on the student’s musical tastes, we may explore various classical music, jazz, rock, pop, fiddle or music from tv and film. We may also dabble in composition. Music theory, scales and arpeggios, note reading and technique are always covered in lessons as well as ear training and improvisation. 

Materials Needed

To set your child or yourself up for success, you will need to invest in the following....

Violin students will need a violin in good working order, a bow, rosin, shoulder rest, music stand, and book. Beginners will usually start with the All For Strings Book #1 and or/Suzuki Book #1. Rental outfits will generally contain a violin, rosin and bow. Shoulder rests may or may not come with the outfit. Please ask your string shop prior to purchase. Flashcards or a Flashcard app on your phone may also be needed to aid with note reading as well as a tuner or a tuner app (I like Cleartune). A metronome is also a tool to help you play in rhythm-you can find a metronome on www.metronomeonline.com or simply Google “metronome”.

Viola students will need a viola in good working order, a bow, rosin, shoulder rest, music stand, and book. Beginners will usually start with the All For Strings Book #1 and or/Suzuki Book #1. Rental outfits will generally contain a viola, rosin and bow. Shoulder rests may or may not come with the outfit. Please ask your string shop prior to purchase. Flashcards or a Flashcard app on your phone may also be needed to aid with note reading as well as a tuner or a tuner app (I like Cleartune). A metronome is also a tool to help you play in rhythm-you can find a metronome on www.metronomeonline.com or simply Google “metronome”.

Cello students will need a cello in good working order, a bow, rosin, chair strap or endpin donut, music stand, and book. Beginners will usually start with the All For Strings Book #1 and or/Suzuki Book #1. Rental outfits will generally contain a cello, rosin and bow. Chair straps or endpin donuts may or may not come with the outfit. Please ask your string shop prior to purchase. Flashcards or a Flashcard app on your phone may also be needed to aid with note reading as well as a tuner or a tuner app (I like Cleartune). A metronome is also a tool to help you play in rhythm-you can find a metronome on www.metronomeonline.com or simply Google “metronome”.

Piano students will need to access a piano or a 88 weighted keyboard and Purchase a book. Beginners will usually start with Alfred Book #1 for Piano and or/Junior Hanon. Flashcards or a Flashcard app on your phone may also be needed to aid with note reading. A metronome is also a tool to help you play in rhythm-you can find a metronome on www.metronomeonline.com or simply Google “metronome”.

We also find music and arrange music whenever we are able to; we take great lengths to find music that you or your child will have fun playing, but you may also need to purchase additional sheet music online or other books.

Sizes (string instruments)

Violin:

1/16 for children 3-5 years old

1/10 for children 3-5 years old

1/8 for children 3-5 years old

1/4 for children 4-7 years old

1/2 for children 6-10 years old

3/4 for children 9-11 years old

4/4 for children 12+ and adults

Viola:

1/8 for children 3-5 years old

1/4 for children 5-7 years old

12’ for children 7-9 years old

14‘ for children 9-12 years old

15’ for children 11-13 years old

15.5’ for children 12-14 years old

16’ for children 14+ and adults

16.5 for children 14+ and adults

Cello:

1/10 for children 3-4 years old

1/8 for children 4-6 years old

1/4 for children 5-7 years old

1/2 for children 7-11 years old

3/4 for children 9-15 years old

4/4 for children 15+ and adults

Practicing and Practice Reward Program

Children 5-11 may enjoy logging their daily practice and earning points towards small prizes to encourage practice and to encourage goal setting. The teacher and student will agree on a duration; 15-20 minutes for very small children, 30 minutes, 45 minutes or an hour of practice which will equal 1 point. Students may earn up to 7 points a week even if they practice beyond their goal. The teacher will record these points at each lesson, and points may be redeemed at anytime for prizes worth 25, 35 and 45 points. A link will be sent to parents for prizes on Amazon and be fulfilled by Amazon. Practice logs will be sent via e-mail.

In general, you will want to commit to practicing 15 minutes-1 hour+ daily. It is always better to practice a little each day than once a week, as you will see a lot more progress over time. Watching videos of great artists, listening to other artists play, and attending your lessons are also investments of your time which you may find enjoyable and challenging. Without practice, lessons become difficult as I will not be able to see your progress and teach you other techniques or further you in your musical growth. Practice is a must when learning any activity. Practice mutes may be an option for violinists, violists and cellists if sound presents an issue at home. Practice mutes are a simple device made out of metal or rubber placed gently over the instrument’s bridge to producer a much quieter sound. Practicing with a practice mute should only be done sparingly, as we work on tone, projection, dynamics and articulation...all difficult to hear with a muted sound.

Payment and Continuous Lesson Policy

To maximize lesson time together and avoid taking away time from our lesson, please make sure you handle payment arrangements prior to the lesson. Many thanks!

Please note that all of our 45 minute and 60 minute lesson packages are continuous and are first come, first serve. There is a 24 hour Cancellation Policy. Please cancel in writing by e-mail 24 hours before your scheduled lesson. You will receive a confirmation from Nancy noting your cancellation.

The lesson will then be pushed to the following week, and the lesson after that will also push, etc. If you do not cancel within 24 hours of your lesson and or do a no show, the missed lesson will count as one of your prepaid lessons. Please limit your cancellations to 1-2 per month, as the studio now has a limited capacity and there is a wait list for available lesson times on Sundays. If Teacher Nancy needs to cancel, she will notify the student at least 24 hours in advance.

Please make your lesson payments on the 4th or 8th lesson of your series to ensure continuation of your reserved lesson time slot. 

Every student of Leggy Fish Music Lessons has a free individual account with our lesson logging system called LessonMate. LessonMate is a secure website accessible with your own password where teachers post information; i.e. music homework assignments, audio files, notes, PDFs and more. Best of all, you have access to past assignments and files in your account as long as you are a current student of Leggy Fish Music Lessons!

We use LessonMate:

1.) Lesson Logging

Nancy spends the last 5 minutes of class writing down assignments, reminders or record short videos to help remind you of the things you may want to work on through the week. 

Leggy Fish Music Lessons does not offer lessons for winter break, spring break, summer break, and Thanksgiving break (see schedule for dates). If your lesson occurs during these times, your lesson simply moves to the next time we are open and teaching. 

Thanks for taking the time to review these policies prior to purchasing lessons!

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