Guidelines & Policies
Welcome to private lessons! I look forward to working with both you and your family on this exciting endeavor. Together we will help guide you down your most successful path towards musical growth. I have put together these guidelines and policies to outline some general information about being a part of my studio. I also hope to describe expectations we should have of each other, and that both parents and students fully read these policies. Feel free to contact me if there are any questions or concerns you may have.
Lesson Goals
I think it's important for students to set goals, and I periodically sit down with students and talk about goals. Once we have a goal in mind, I provide materials and instruction to help students reach these goals. Here are the goals I strive to achieve with each student:
Demonstrate characteristic fundamental tone quality.
Develop fundamentals of brass playing. (Technique, articulation, flexibility, etc.)
Develop successful, self-reliant practice methods.
Achieve student's desired goals.
Required Materials
Bring all appropriate equipment to lessons every week. This includes, but is not limited to:
Instrument and mouthpiece in good, working condition.
Valve oil and slide grease.
Assigned etude books and solos.
Metronome and tuner.
Functional pencils.
Practice Expectations
Private lessons are most effective when instruction is reinforced through regular deliberate practice. Students will be given specific weekly assignments along with instruction on how to execute each assignment. It is the expectation that students return to the following lesson thoroughly prepared. I encourage students to plan ahead and practice 30-60 minutes a day. The quality of practice is more important than the length of practice. I recommend that students break up their practice times into smaller intervals with specific goals in mind. This keeps our faces fresh and minds alert! Practice should be done in a quiet environment free from distractions.
Payment Policy
As of 10/20/18, current pay rates (In person and online) are:
Contact me for current prices. In class lessons vary by your school for length of class periods. After school lessons are done in 30 or 60 minute time slots.
(I recommend a minimum of 1-2 60 minute lessons to start. For beginners 30 minutes is still recommended. Rushing through critical details and assessments is not my style!)
The following are acceptable payment types;
Cash
Check (Made out to Matthew Anklan
Paypal (which is integrated with this site through your parent login)
Venmo
Zelle
*Credit Card/Debit Card
* - Small fee via paypal applies. You can use a credit card, setup auto payments, all processed through Paypal. No account needed, click on the green dollar bill sign under “invoices” to use this, email with any questions!
If payment is not received a maximum of two lessons without payment will be given (if payment is forgotten). After two non payments lessons will be cancelled until balance is paid in full.
Attendance Policies
Absences:
We will establish a regular weekly lesson time, but there may be times we need to reschedule or cancel. I will do my best to give you notice before canceling or rescheduling lessons. I kindly ask that you give at least 24 hours of notice when canceling a lesson. This gives me the opportunity to adjust my schedule accordingly. It is unfortunate to drive 30 minutes across town for a lesson, only to discover my scheduled student is absent. For non-emergency cancellations without 24 hours of notice, including “no-shows,” I will require payment for the missed lesson.
What is an Excused Absence?
Illness: If your student stays home from school with an illness, this is excused. Staying home and resting is important for the well-being of your student and the other students at school. I am more lenient on the 24 hour policy in these cases, because sometimes you don't know whether or not you student is staying home until the morning of. However, I still need an email if a decision is made to keep your student at home. If not, the lesson will be considered a no-show and I will require payment for the missed lesson.
Family emergency of a serious nature: I understand that emailing a lesson teacher is the last things on your mind if an emergency were to arise. Please email me at your earliest convenience to fill me in, and I will mark this as an excused absence.
What is an Unexcused Absence?
Below are a few instances of unexcused absences, anything not listed above is considered unexcused and without notice will be charged. Please schedule outside rehearsals, study groups, practices, and sports to not conflict. I will work with you to find a convenient time and day, but things like Holidays and tests/exams are things students should plan for around lesson times.
Illness before/after school, but attended class during the day: If your student is well enough to attend school, they are well enough to participate in scheduled before/after school activities. This will be considered an unexcused absence.
Dentist Appointment: If you plan far in advance, please review your calendar to make sure there are no dentist appointments that will conflict with weekly lessons. If there is, try to reschedule the appointment or let me know about the conflict in advance. Without 24 hours of notice, this is considered an unexcused absence.
Also, review your band program's handbook about braces. If your student currently has braces, try and avoid appointments for tightening braces the day before or day of a scheduled lesson. There is often too much pain involved to have a productive lesson.
Tardies:
It is the student's responsibility to arrive to lessons on time. Students who are late to their scheduled lesson will only receive the remaining time allotted to him/her and will be charged for a full scheduled lesson. With the exception of in-class lessons, I encourage students to arrive a few minutes early, take their instrument out of his/her case, and wait for me by the lesson room door.
Scheduling
Scheduling student's lesson days, times, and lesson duration is a very challenging task. I will do my best to adhere to lesson requests, but due to the length of class periods, high school marching practice, available before and after-school slots, and number of students signed up for lessons, your flexibility is appreciated! Schedules will be made 1 month in advance which allows ample time for communication of conflicts.
Note: Scheduling priority is based off of tenure in my studio. Students with longer tenure will get first scheduling priority for their requests. Once these students are scheduled, priority becomes first come first served based off sign up time.
Make-up Lessons
Scheduling make-up lessons will require some flexibility on both ends. I respect the time of my busy students, and expect my time and schedule to be respected. Unexcused absences will not qualify for a make up lesson. For excused absences every reasonable effort will be made to make up time.
Note: If we are unable to schedule a make-up lesson, lesson payment for excused absences will roll over into the next month's invoice.
Lesson Termination
While this has never been a problem, I do reserve the right to terminate lessons at any time with full refund of outstanding time. Multiple unexcused absences, failure to pay, or poor attitude/behavioral issues are possible reasons to terminate lessons.
Due to graduating, disinterest, financial problems, I understand some students will eventually move on. If you terminate lessons I will refund remaining lesson time if applicable. The best way for progress is consistent focused study.