While summer lessons are optional, they are strongly encouraged, even if at a slower “maintenance” pace. Just as students going three months without reading would have a lot of ground to make up in the fall, a student going three months without reading music will spend much of the fall ramping back up to their spring skill level.
Every-other-week lessons are an option during the summer. Schedule as many or as few lessons as you’d like; students are billed for scheduled lessons only. The summer months can also be a great time for new students to begin lessons or “try it out.” Summer 2021 lessons will be offered from June 1 to September 3 (with the exception of my vacation, the week of July 5) and will be scheduled from 3:30-7:00 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Additional teaching hours will be added if warranted by the number of summer students. Summer lesson day/time will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. The summer lesson schedule will be made available to registered students for self-scheduling online (on SignUpGenius). Summer students may reserve their summer lesson days/times early (for best availability), or at any time during the summer (dependent on availability). If your schedule changes, simply change your lesson to a different day/time! (Scheduled lessons may be modified on SignUpGenius, no later than noon on the Sunday before the lesson.)
A non-refundable fall tuition deposit of $175 is required to hold a fall opening for students taking fewer than 5 lessons over the summer. This deposit will be applied to the Fall Statement, but is non-refundable in the event that the student does not return in the fall.
Summer 2021 Lesson Rates: (for ease in self-scheduling, all summer lessons will be 30 minutes in length)
- Tuition (Private Lesson Rate): $40 per 30-min. lesson
- Tuition (Group Lesson Rate): $30 per 30-min. lesson
Current students may choose Traditional Private Lessons (with or without the MTNA Achievement Program, below); or one of the Summer Camp Track options. (New, first-time students must select Traditional Private Lessons unless approved by Instructor.)
MTNA Music Achievement Program
Through my membership in Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), students continuing with traditional private lessons this summer have the option to participate in the Music Achievement Award Program. Teacher and student work together to set realistic, attainable goals. Students achieving their goals by the end of the summer receive a certificate of achievement. Minimum 5 lessons, no maximum. Goals may include, but are not limited to:
- Attend a live concert/recital/musical
- Watch a music-related movie
- Read a music-related book (music history, composer biography, etc.)
- Compose a song
- Play piano in a religious service, nursing home, senior citizen center or civic event
- Participate in school choir/band/orchestra or church choir/orchestra for the summer, or attend band/orchestra camp
- Learn a piece from a genre that is new to you (e.g., jazz, sacred, Broadway, Disney, top pop hits, duet, Baroque era, etc.).
- More ideas
Summer Camp Track Options
Continue traditional private lessons during the summer – or mix it up with one of these fun Camp Track options (available in private or group lesson format!):
- Duet/Ensemble Camp – Find a partner (or 2 or 3! up to 4 players on 2 pianos) and sign up for group lessons! You and your partner(s) will share a lesson block and be coached through your piece(s). Partner with your friends, siblings, and/or parents (not necessary to be a current student to participate). Minimum 5 lessons, no maximum — we’ll learn as many songs as time allows! Depending on interest, an ensemble party may be held at the end of the summer ($15 fee/student) for sharing our learned pieces with friends and family. If you are interested in Duet Camp and would like to be paired with another student (at a comparable level), let me know and I will see what I can do! There is a wide variety of duet music available, including classical, pop, Broadway, Disney, and Latin-inspired. Minimum 5 lessons, no maximum.
- Theory Camp: Learn valuable theory, ear training, and keyboard skills by working through an MMTA theory exam workbook (levels 1-10 available)! Upon completion, students may take the exam (optional; exams administered by MMTA; successful completion of exam earns Challenge Award Points for ribbons/trophies, and will be recognized at next Spring Recital Awards Ceremony). Sign up with your friends for a group experience/rate! (Additional $12.95-$45 fee for workbook/exam fees, depending on level and whether exam is taken or workbook only.) Minimum 5 lessons, no maximum.
- Composition Camp: Learn tools used by composers to write music; compose your own songs; input them into notation programs and print out the finished product! Note: Composition skills side-effect = increased theory skills! Minimum 5 lessons, no maximum.
- Sight-Reading Skills Camp: Develop your sight-reading skills by working through an MMTA exam workbook! Upon completion, students may take the exam (optional; exams administered by MMTA; successful completion of exam earns Challenge Award Points for ribbons/trophies, and will be recognized at next Spring Recital Awards Ceremony). (Additional $10-30 fee for workbook/exam may apply, depending on level and whether exam is taken.) Minimum 5 lessons, no maximum.
- Camp Track options will be available as private lessons or group lessons at group rate, depending on demand.
- Sign up with your friends, siblings, and/or parents (not necessary to be a current student to participate)!
- Recruit a friend to make it a “group” – All it takes is two students for the fun of a shared learning experience and to qualify for the group rate!
- Camps may be selected in addition to private lessons or in place of private lessons.
- By requesting a group camp, Students and/or Parents agree to have their name and contact info (telephone and email address) shared with others in their group for scheduling purposes.
- Camps and group lessons are only for students with prior piano lesson experience (not first-time beginning students).