Music Lessons with Lorraine

Lorraine Musson

Who am I!

Piano Lessons with Lorraine Musson

As a member in good standing of the Olympia Music Teacher’s Association and the American College of Musicians, I subscribe to policies in accordance with the guidelinecs established by the above organizations.

Expect good things from your experience in my studio. I encourage students to reach their full potential and challenge them to a higher standard. I receive a tremendous sense of satisfaction from the learning process. To me, learning/teaching is fun! Therefore, I attract students that are driven, competitive, and/or excited to learn.

I believe in the tripod team of parent, student, and teacher. I highly encourage a parent or guardian to sit in the students’ lesson. It is the only way a parent can successfully assist the student at home. I expect a parent/guardian to assist in the students’ success. Please, sit in.

Know that this is a contract between us. If I feel that we as a team are not working well together, I will notify you and suggest other teachers whose style may better suit you.


2011 – 2012 School Year Policy

Yearly Schedule

The studio 2011-12 school year begins on Sunday, June 26, 2011 and ends on Saturday, June 23, 2012. There will be no lessons scheduled during the week of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and Spring Break. Because of the layout of the school year, this gives us a 48 week year.

I will be teaching during the summer time on Tuesdays from 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Wednesdays from 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM, and Thursdays from 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM. I will be grouping students together into summer classes of four students each.

I will be teaching during the school year from 10:00 AM through 9:00 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and from 9:00 AM through 5:00 PM on Saturday. I will schedule students on a first-come first-served basis beginning on Sunday, June 12, 2011. Please send your request for day and time via email to: lorraine@theolympiastudio.com. A $25.00 non-refundable reserve and administration fee will hold your spot for the fall.

Please refer to the schedule during the year so as not to miss lessons or arrive for lessons during a break. This schedule will follow this transmission.


Fees

I charge monthly fees only, not per lesson fees. A total of 48 lessons will be given between Sunday, June 26, 2011 and ends on Saturday, June 23, 2012. Please note the missed lesson policy.

Fees are:

  • $76.00 per month for a 30 minute lesson.(approximately $19.00/lesson)
  • $114.00 per month for a 45 minute lesson.(approximately $28.50/lesson)
  • $152.00 per month for a 60 minute lesson.(approximately $38.00/lesson)

All 48 lessons will be paid for. I do not give refunds for lessons not taken if a student chooses to terminate lessons.

The amount of time spent in lesson will be determined by the students’ level of study as shown by the following list:

  • EA through ED students 30 minute lesson minimum
  • ED through ID students 45 minute lesson minimum
  • IA through PD students 60 minute lesson minimum

Where the levels cross over, the teacher and parent will determine the amount of time in lesson.

Monthly fees as stated above are due as shown on the yearly schedule. A late fee of $15.00 will be charged for any payments made past the 10th of the month.

A penalty fee of $30.00 will be charged for any NSF checks.


Missed Lessons

The following policies have been designed in accordance with the guidelines of the Olympia Music Teacher’s Association and the American College of Musicians. They are designed to help encourage the most productive learning environment for the student.

As with other schools, public and private, it is not possible to offer rescheduling for missed classes.

However, if a 48 hour notice is given for a missed lesson, the lesson will be rescheduled pending studio availability or forfeited.

If 48 hour notice is not given for a missed lesson, the lesson will not be rescheduled and will be forfeited.

If I miss a lesson, the student has the option of rescheduling pending studio availability or forfeiting the lesson.

Parents and students are responsible for scheduling the student for a make up. Missed make ups for any reason constitute a forfeit of the make up. The teacher is not responsible for reminding the student to sign up for a make up. Nor is the teacher responsible for reminding the student of their make up they scheduled.

    I will not make up any lessons missed during:
  • The summer time.
  • The week following Labor Day.

Please, do not ask for any other consideration.


Practice

Practice is also crucial in the success of any music program. Practice times will be determined individually. I leave it in the hands of the parent/guardian to be sure the practice time is adhered to and productive. If a student arrives to the studio more than four times during the year without practice or preparation, I reserve the right to terminate the student.

The amount of time spent in practice will be determined by the students’ level of study as shown by the following list:

  • EA through ED students 15 to 20 minutes minimum per day
  • ED through EF students 20 to 30 minutes minimum per day
  • EE through IC students 30 to 45 minutes minimum per day
  • IA through PD students 45 to 60 minutes minimum per day

Where the levels cross over, the teacher will determine the amount of practice time.


Transfer Students

The studio no longer accepts transfer students from within the Olympia/Lacey/Tumwater area unless that teacher has moved, retired, or passed away.


Recitals, Festivals, Master Classes, Adjudications, and Auditions

Students are responsible for all fees relating to recitals, festivals, master classes, adjudications, and auditions.

It will be assumed that students will be participating in activities scheduled through the studio THAT THEY SIGNED UP FOR during evaluations in June 2011. It is the student or parent’s responsibility to notify me of any changes three months in advance of the event as I pay for these events two to three months in advance.

If the student chooses to participate, the student is responsible for the fee from that time on regardless if they actually participate or not. If the student decides to drop after registration, they must relinquish the fees unless there is a student willing to take their place.

If there is a substitute student available, they will be required to pay for their entry. However, those funds will be given to the original student as reimbursement. Keep in mind, the original student can only be reimbursed an equal or lesser amount of what they have paid based on what the substitute student is required to pay.

If the student chooses not to participate, I will not enter them into the activity and they will not be charged. However, if they decide to participate after the fee deadline, they may do so as a substitute student only if another student has dropped.

As a member of the Olympia Music Teachers Association, I participate only in the concerto festival in the fall, master classes in the fall and winter, conference competition, and spring adjudications and honor recitals. Fees range from $35.00 to $50.00.

I am also a member of the American College of Musicians which provide an audition at the end of every year to test the students accomplishments and give somewhat of a report card for that particular school year. Fees range from $35.00 to $60.00.

I participate in the OMTA Musicianship Exam. Fee is $10.00.

I schedule as many master classes as I can procure master teachers. They are spaced sporadically throughout the year. Fees are $75 per hour and can be prorated for shorter times.

Finally, I provide a recital at the end of each semester. They are scheduled at the United Churches in Olympia at the corner of 11th and Capital. Recital fees are $7.50.


CLASSROOM SCHEDULE