STUDIO POLICY
MAKING LEARNING HAPPEN!
TL;DR
LESSON CONTENT: repertoire, sight reading, technique, music theory, improvisation, ear training. Can have a method book or learn to do things like compose.
PRACTICE REQUIRED: enough to be ready for feedback.
LESSON COST: 30 minutes: $15; 45 minutes: $20; 60 minutes: $25 paid on the first lesson of the month
Student is responsible for purchasing method book, sheet music, etc. and will need access to a piano (for practice) as well as internet-capable device for theory assignments and to Skype lessons.
COMMUNITY SOCIAL MEDIA for the online studio.
Please read the full policy below if you're interested in lessons!
PRACTICE REQUIRED: enough to be ready for feedback.
LESSON COST: 30 minutes: $15; 45 minutes: $20; 60 minutes: $25 paid on the first lesson of the month
Student is responsible for purchasing method book, sheet music, etc. and will need access to a piano (for practice) as well as internet-capable device for theory assignments and to Skype lessons.
COMMUNITY SOCIAL MEDIA for the online studio.
Please read the full policy below if you're interested in lessons!
FULL STUDIO POLICY
LESSON CONTENT
All lessons include:
PARTICIPATION
At least some practice is required. Effective practice will be discussed to facilitate improvement, as will ways to find and expand practice time. Practice competitions may be held to encourage more practice. Typically, if something has not been practiced at all, Michelle will wait until it has been to hear it and provide feedback. Lessons may end early if not enough material has been practiced, and the unspent time will not be reimbursed, made up, or credited.
ATTENDANCE
Lessons may be cancelled and credited to the next month if done in advance (defined as at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled start time for non-emergencies, at least an hour for illness, and at least 15 minutes for emergencies). In the unlikely event Michelle cancels a planned-on lesson, the amount spent will be credited toward the next month.
For students ages four through six, Michelle highly encourages parent attendance during the entirety of each lesson so the parent can help the child practice when needed. Parents with students ages seven and up are welcome but not required to attend.
COMMUNICATION
Michelle encourages an open student-teacher relationship. Please text or email with any questions up to once or twice a week.
If the student is a child, an open student-teacher-parent relationship is encouraged. Please text or email with any questions from parent or student (up to once or twice a week). Michelle may want to periodically discuss progress with the parent.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Access to a Zoom-able device for lessons
Access to a piano that the student can use daily
Access to a computer or smartphone for music theory
Dependent on the student, one of the following method books: Faber, Alfred’s, Noona, Czerny, Piano Safari
Sheet music, determined on an individual basis
*Material costs not included in lesson fee.
TUITION
Lessons are $25 an hour, $20 for 45 minutes, and $15 a half hour. This covers lessons, theory helps, and studio activities. Payment for the month is due at the first lesson of each month for the number of lessons the student plans to attend. If a lesson is cancelled without a makeup lesson in its place, the amount paid for that lesson rolls over as a credit to the following month. If a students quits lessons mid-month, having planned to attend more lessons that month, the amount already paid will not be refunded.
When Michelle finishes MTNA certification, tuition will increase to $30 an hour, $24 for 45 minutes, and $18 a half hour.
Payment is accepted via Venmo (@michellehyltonpiano).
LESSON VALUE
Students can get the most out of their lessons by:
COMMUNITY SOCIAL MEDIA
Will be finalized in June or July. At least a FB page; potentially also Marco Polo or WhatsApp.
VIRTUAL STUDIO ACTIVITIES
Each semester, we have a studio class, guest masterclass, and recital to keep practice happening and help students realize what they're capable of--frequent performance opportunities are believed to increase self-efficacy.
FOR THOSE IN UTAH AFTER COVID-19
Additional studio activities:
All lessons include:
- Repertoire
- Sight reading
- Technique
- Music theory
- Improvisation
- Ear training
- Faber
- Alfred’s
- Noona
- Intermediate students: Czerny
- Young students/beginners: Piano Safari
- Transposition
- Composition
- Arranging
- Score reading
- Lead sheets
PARTICIPATION
At least some practice is required. Effective practice will be discussed to facilitate improvement, as will ways to find and expand practice time. Practice competitions may be held to encourage more practice. Typically, if something has not been practiced at all, Michelle will wait until it has been to hear it and provide feedback. Lessons may end early if not enough material has been practiced, and the unspent time will not be reimbursed, made up, or credited.
ATTENDANCE
Lessons may be cancelled and credited to the next month if done in advance (defined as at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled start time for non-emergencies, at least an hour for illness, and at least 15 minutes for emergencies). In the unlikely event Michelle cancels a planned-on lesson, the amount spent will be credited toward the next month.
For students ages four through six, Michelle highly encourages parent attendance during the entirety of each lesson so the parent can help the child practice when needed. Parents with students ages seven and up are welcome but not required to attend.
COMMUNICATION
Michelle encourages an open student-teacher relationship. Please text or email with any questions up to once or twice a week.
If the student is a child, an open student-teacher-parent relationship is encouraged. Please text or email with any questions from parent or student (up to once or twice a week). Michelle may want to periodically discuss progress with the parent.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Access to a Zoom-able device for lessons
Access to a piano that the student can use daily
Access to a computer or smartphone for music theory
Dependent on the student, one of the following method books: Faber, Alfred’s, Noona, Czerny, Piano Safari
Sheet music, determined on an individual basis
*Material costs not included in lesson fee.
TUITION
Lessons are $25 an hour, $20 for 45 minutes, and $15 a half hour. This covers lessons, theory helps, and studio activities. Payment for the month is due at the first lesson of each month for the number of lessons the student plans to attend. If a lesson is cancelled without a makeup lesson in its place, the amount paid for that lesson rolls over as a credit to the following month. If a students quits lessons mid-month, having planned to attend more lessons that month, the amount already paid will not be refunded.
When Michelle finishes MTNA certification, tuition will increase to $30 an hour, $24 for 45 minutes, and $18 a half hour.
Payment is accepted via Venmo (@michellehyltonpiano).
LESSON VALUE
Students can get the most out of their lessons by:
- Provided lesson sheets. Written explanations of each assignment in student's binder.
- NEW: Provided lesson synopsis videos! Taken in the last few minutes of the lesson so the student has a last chance for clarification on assignments. Makes shorter in-lesson explanations and more effective practice because student has something visual to refer to for things hard to explain on the lesson sheet, such as technique.
- Recording the lesson. This will need to be done on the student's own device. This is recommended for students who will watch the recording.
COMMUNITY SOCIAL MEDIA
Will be finalized in June or July. At least a FB page; potentially also Marco Polo or WhatsApp.
VIRTUAL STUDIO ACTIVITIES
Each semester, we have a studio class, guest masterclass, and recital to keep practice happening and help students realize what they're capable of--frequent performance opportunities are believed to increase self-efficacy.
- Studio class: Live Google Meet meeting where 5-6 students of a similar level play for each other.
- Guest masterclass: Live Google Meet or Zoom where a guest teacher gives a mini lesson to three students while we watch for what we can apply to our own practice.
- Recital: Recordings of pieces are complied into a video we can all enjoy.
FOR THOSE IN UTAH AFTER COVID-19
Additional studio activities:
- Attending a performance of collegiate level or higher. We discuss what we’re listening for before and talk about what we heard after.
- Piano party. Have some social time with each other and take turns providing background music.