Baroque to Classical and Beyond

Studio Policy & Fees

 

Attendance

  • Please consider all current commitments before beginning piano lessons.
  • Choose your lesson time carefully. Once the term timetable has been drawn up, rescheduling the lesson time may not be possible.
  • Please arrive on time. My busy timetable means that arriving late usually results in a shorter lesson, while arriving too early usually results in having to wait until the scheduled time.
  • Missed lessons cannot be rescheduled or refunded. The exception is if the teacher is obliged to postpone a lesson, whereupon that lesson will be credited to the following term, or rescheduled for a time that is mutually convenient for both student and teacher
  • Parents/caregivers/friends are generally discouraged from attending as this may disrupt the lesson. In some cases, however, arrangements may be made to stay for all or part of the lesson.


Terms and Public Holidays

  • Shedea's Piano Studio is closed on public holidays observed in the ACT. If a lesson falls on a public holiday, it cannot be rescheduled but the cost will be deducted and the Term Fee will reflect the nine-week term. Please refer to http://www.det.act.gov.au/school_education/term_dates_and_public_holidays
     
  • Each term consists of ten, weekly lessons held at the piano studio. They usually coincide with ACT government school terms. New students may enrol for a portion of their first term.

 

Fees

30 minute lessons - $360 per term

45 minute lessons - $540 per term

60 minute lessons - $720 per term

  • Term payment by cash, or by cheque made payable to Shedea (not Shedea's Piano Studio), is to be paid in full before the commencement of term, or at the first lesson.
  • If you are considering discontinuing lessons during a term, please remember that any unused lesson times during that term are non-refundable.

 

Instruments

Acoustic Piano - Developing strong listening, playing and pedalling skills is difficult on a poor instrument. Your piano should be serviced by a reputable piano technician at least once a year. It is more cost effective to do this regularly, since a very out-of-tune piano may require several tunings over a period of weeks/months to bring it back into pitch. Most good pianos are built to last 50 to 75 years, but if you aren't sure what to look for in a piano please seek specialist advice before purchasing one older than 75 years.

Electronic or Digital Piano - You should have the full-size keyboard with 88 weighted keys and a sustain pedal (although a beginner might manage to get by with 61 keys [5 octaves] for one term, before upgrading). Keys must be touch-sensitive (meaning the sound will be loud if you hit the keys hard, and soft if you press them gently) and preferably have graded hammer action (you can discuss this with your piano sales advisor). You will also need a sustain pedal. If you have any questions, please contact Shedea on 6231 4882, or email shedea@shedea.com.

Books and Materials

The cost per year varies greatly depending on each individual's level of experience, rate of learning, personal goals, etc. The teacher can provide you with an itemised list and you may purchase them from a music shop, or she can obtain them for you, and you can reimburse her at the time of receipt. Transfer students may be permitted to continue working with the books they are already using.

Possible Additional Expenses

  • A music bag, to protect music books and materials and keep them together when travelling. Purchase one from a music shop, or use a recycled eco-friendly bag, or design your own original work of art!
  • Music flash cards are a very inexpensive but very useful learning tool and can be obtained from your local music shop. Alternatively, you can ask your teacher how to make them.
  • A metronome produces a ‘tick’ at precise intervals and is used to determine the tempo of a piece. It is not essential at the beginning of piano lessons, although it can be used in some practice routines. Shedea's Piano Studio uses the mechanical metronome, although many people use digital ones. Again, speak with your local music shop assistant.
  • Exam fees vary, and are subject to the type and also the grade of the examination. If you would like to consider enrolling for Piano or Theory exams, please contact Shedea’s Piano Studio.

 

this page last updated October 2011              

 

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