Holland Music Studio

Termination of Lessons

Lessons are a semester commitment. If a semester is not working, rescheduling may work. If you wish to terminate lessons, a two-week notice is required. Payment is required for the two weeks whether the student wishes to continue with lessons or to be absent. If you wish to take a break for a semester and stop lessons, feel free to sign back up, but you may not be given the best times. Priority in scheduling is given to those who participated in the recent semester.

Music Lesson Time-Slot

Weekly timeslots are reserved for each student.

• In-studio students who are late may not receive an extended lesson. It will depend on the instructor’s schedule.
• In-home students will see the instructor be delayed from travel occasionally. The instructor will adjust the lesson time and ensure that a proper lesson is completed.

Keyboard/Piano

A proper keyboard or piano IS REQUIRED for ALL students. Within 6 months of playing the piano, most students will have to do things that a cheap $50 keyboard cannot do.

• If you have or are buying a piano, consider having the piano checked and tuned by a certified tuner. If you are in the Tulsa area, Sam Hull has been terrific.
• If you are buying a keyboard, the features to look for are as follows…
  • Fully weighted
  • 88 keys
  • Has speakers
  • Comes with a Pedal, Stand, and Music Stand

Recitals

Recitals are a terrific way to show others how you or your child has developed over a semester. It also helps to reduce anxiety when playing for others by playing in a safe space where everyone playing is a student. Two recitals happen every year. Our spring recital includes songs from Beethoven to Broadway, Strauss to Spotify, or even Disney to Debussy. We even have some students who want to play their favorite songs from church! For our Christmas recital, students play Christmas songs. There is a recital fee of $10 to help cover costs. We also do require participation unless we are given a heads-up a month before the recital.

Practice and Parental Support

The most important factor in lessons is not what the instructor does, but what the students/parents/guardians do. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to wait and talk about student progress at the end of the lesson. Parents can even sit in and listen to every word said. Students progress more quickly when parents and guardians take an active role in their lessons and practice sessions.

Students also have an important job; PRACTICE. Daily practice is strongly encouraged. A quick learner who does not practice will not be better than a slow learner who practices daily. Sufficient daily practice time is the surest guarantee that students will experience consistent progress in music.

Tip* If a student is having issues concentrating, breaking up practice sessions can help. Practicing 5 minutes before school and 5 minutes when a student gets home may work better than 10 minutes at one time.

For our youngest students, Parents and Guardians may need to sit in on practice to help them with focus, reading, and understanding. With young children, attention spans need to be developed. It is very easy for them to just mindlessly play instead of practicing. One strategy is to set a time for 5 minutes of practice, and then allow a 2-minute break in between. This can allow their minds to rest, which should increase concentration and decrease frustration. Some children may experience a feeling of isolation and lose motivation to play if nobody is nearby to hear them practice. Being active and providing encouragement can create more opportunities for your child to excel and love music!