The Music Studio Difference...
Consistent, Convenient, Complete!
The Music Studio
-- combining the traditional private music lesson with modern technology for a complete music program
The Music Studio Difference... Consistent, Convenient, Complete!
The Music Studio -- combining the traditional private music lesson with modern technology for a complete music program
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| Frequently Asked Questions What should I look for in a music studio?
I want to choose quality over price, but how do your private tuition rates compare with other area studios? Comparing hourly rates, our per lesson fee is $38.75 (current rate for year-round lessons). The average hourly rate amongst commercial area studios is $45.00. Note: Private, home-based studios offer such a variance in price, schedule and programs that it is difficult to provide an accurate average rate. Our Year Round Tuition Plan is the most economical and offers a 10% discount if paid in full by the registration deadline. I need a more economical lesson for all my children...do you offer affordable group lessons? We do now! With the addition of our new piano lab, we now offer 2 year-round, small-group piano classes for ages 8 - 11; one for beginners with no prior musical experience, and one for late beginners who have had a little music experience. We do not have a lot of available studio time to offer multiple classes, so only two will be offered through the year, with 4 possible slots per class. Minimum practice standards must be kept by the group students in order to maintain their seat in the class. If the classes are full, we keep a waiting list of interested students. Do I need to buy a piano to take piano lessons? And, I don't know anything about pianos...where do I start looking for one? Students must practice between lessons to progress in their music studies, so if you do not currently own a piano or have consistent access to one, you should consider purchasing one. We recommend that the piano, whether acoustic or digital, be full size (88 keys) and have weighted keys. Although we are not a retail establishment, we have several different types of pianos that we use in our studio and would be happy to give you a tour, explain the pros and cons of each and let you test them out. Also, the digital Clavinovas in our studio are for sale at a sizeable discount to our students. Where can I rent an instrument? For band and orchestra rentals, we recommend Bang Music on Garrisonville Road, Stafford. Keyboard and piano rentals are harder to find, but please ask us for assistance...we can help! What will my weekly lesson at The Music Studio be like? Our private lessons for ages 7 and older are one hour each week -- 30 minutes with an instructor, 30 minutes of theory lab. The time you spend with your instructor will include review of assigned material, sight reading, technique (positioning, posture, movement, etc.), performance, and practice recommendations for the week. Although your lesson with the instructor will be one-to-one, there will most likely be other students present in the theory lab. Your theory lab time is self-paced, independent study in a computer lab setting. The software programs your instructor assigns are designed to support the lesson or to work on some specific musical aspect. Our programs are very user-friendly, and most are narrated, include testing and record keeping, and will bookmark your place in the program from week to week. We offer students ages 6 and younger shorter lesson options. How do I register for lessons or classes? To register for any of our lessons, please call Susan at 540.659.0506. This will give us a chance to chat personally, invite you for a tour of The Music Studio, and get you entered into our computer system for the lessons you want. We can complete registration right over the phone or in person. On line registration is not yet available, but we estimate that this feature will be available during fall 2008 and will include various payments options (debit, credit or automatic draft). I notice that you strongly recommend students play in the recitals. Can we opt out of them if my child is apprehensive? We are asked this question a lot! When it comes to recitals, we don't want to force anyone to do what they really do not want to do. However, performing can be a very positive part of music lessons. Some benefits include
Our lesson program includes recital preparation in the way of group lessons and rehearsals, as well as individual work with instructors on how to practice effectively for a performance. How much should I practice? If Students must have a specific time frame, we recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of quality practice daily. However, our instructors will advise each student individually on various practice techniques, how to practice efficiently and effectively, and what the best routine is for your course of study. The initially-recommended "30 minutes" often needs to increase depending on the amount and level of music assigned, but most instructors will agree that practice must be done daily. What can I do at home to ensure my child gets the most from lessons? Set your child up for success by providing the proper instrument, lighting and seating for practice at home. Assist in setting aside ample time for practice without interruption. More importantly, understand that students will have inspired moments when they just want to play their music, and these moments may not be within the allotted practice schedule. Parents can support to their children simply by listening to them practice and offering praise (it's no fun to always practice alone and never get any positive feedback). Make sure that they are practicing, and be involved with their music so you can keep them on track (sometimes all that wonderful playing isn't what the teacher assigned!). Also, the more children are exposed to music, the more effective their musical studies. Promote listening to different genres of music, watching classical music videos/DVDs, reading about composers, musical computer games, and attending events such as concerts, recitals or musical theater. If they have the opportunity to take band or strings at school, playing more than one instrument will greatly add to their lesson quality and reading skills (as will joining a choir or chorus). Your church may also be willing to let them occasionally perform or partake in an ensemble. What other fees are involved in taking lessons? Our monthly tuition is the only fee that we charge unless the student wishes to enter an outside event where a registration fee might be required. Your tuition covers the cost of your weekly lessons, theory lab time, 3 to 4 group lessons per year, rehearsals, and two formal, catered recitals per year. We no longer collect a book escrow as students are encouraged to shop for their own music (as designated by their instructor), but generally the cost of books is minimal. Instructors will sometimes purchase special music for students, and when this happens the charge will appear on your next monthly statement and payment may be included with tuition. Where do we find music when we need it? And, why won't teachers get all the music for us? We recommend several places for books, sheet music and music supplies (listed below). At one time we teachers did do all the shopping for music. However, we have found that our students and parents become more involved in lessons and appreciative of music and composers if they can share in the "hunting" process. So, we want students to take the opportunity to browse through music stores and see all the wonderful music that's available. We also think this keeps parents in touch with what their children are studying. The next time you go to a music store, choose some to actually try out...ask the cashier if there's an open practice room and try a little sight reading! Recommended Music Stores: Music & Arts Center, Woodbridge (probably the best option for sheet music browsing) Bang Music, Stafford Roberson's Music, Fredericksburg
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Send mail to TheMusicStudio@aol.com or FlinnPiano@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site.
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