Piano, Music, and Voice Lessons | Pikeville, Tennessee

General Information

Ivory Music Studio stands on the 3 P's: PRACTICE to PERFECT to PLAY

We're looking forward to helping you learn, enjoy, and build confidence in becoming proficient on the piano. Whether or not you improve depends on your motivation, interest, and commitment to practice!

Instruction consists of weekly private piano lessons in which repertoire, note reading, technique, practice skills, and music theory are emphasized. Lessons are 45 minutes in length.

Tuition

Monthly tuition: $60 ($15 per each 45 minute lesson).
Tuition does not include the costs of music and other materials.
Tuition is due at the first lesson of each month.
You may withdraw from the lessons only upon completion of the lessons that billed month. If you decide to drop out during the course of the paid period, the remaining tuition amount will be forfeited. Please give a two-week notice of the withdrawal from lessons.

Missed/Canceled Lessons

Our hope is that each student will experience the excitement of progress from week to week. The key to that is consistent practice and consistent attendance. If you or your child must cancel a lesson, be sure to contact the studio via email at least one day in advance, by 7PM. If you or your child misses a lesson (and credit is to be applied to the next billed month) it must be for one of the following reasons:

Illness
Death in family
Severe weather
Instructor cancels

Rescheduling a lesson is a possibility if there are time slots available. Those times will be available on the website calendar on first come/first served basis. Lessons missed by the instructor or due to holidays/vacations will be rescheduled at another time agreeable to both the student and the instructor.

Practice at Home

Consistency is important in learning, especially in music study. Regular practice assures rapid improvement of musicianship and skills. You or your child are enrolled with the understanding that you have access to a piano or an appropriate electronic keyboard in your home for practice. Your practice environment at home should be respectfully quiet and free from the sounds of a TV or any other distracting sounds.

Students usually make the most of their practice if it is scheduled ahead of time, and is at the same time each day. The most efficient practice time is usually when there is no "rush" to be done. It is ok to split the practice time or even practice longer. Make practice a daily routine and concentrate on completing homework according to the suggestions written in the lesson plan.

Parents Role

The parent's role in developing good practice habits cannot be overestimated. It is often the parents who keep their children motivated and focused on the task. Parents are strongly recommended to monitor student's practice times completed by signing off on their weekly practice sheet in their lesson book. If they do more than agreed on please document extra time. Parents should not bribe, coerce or nag their child as it only promotes lessons as a chore rather than a "want to". Their lesson will reflect lack of practice and it will be addressed it in their technique by keeping them accountable for their effort.

Suggested daily practice:

Grade Level	Practice Time
1-3	30 minutes
4-6	45 minutes
7-8	1 hour
High school	1.5 hours

These are suggested times and are determined by the student's skill level.

Equipment Needed at Home

For piano students,:

A piano that is kept in tune and in good working order (see the instructor if you need the name of a professional tuner/technician) OR
An electronic keyboard that meets all of the following criteria:

Has at least five octaves of standard-sized keys - no small keys
Is touch-sensitive (can play louder and softer by the way you play the keys) - preferred
Has a damper (floor) pedal plugged into it; (only necessary for advanced)
Has a stand that allows the student to set it at the same height as the keys on a regular acoustic piano
Has a music stand that allows music to be set up in the same position as it would be on an acoustic piano

A metronome (see the instructor for more details as most phones have availability)

Required Materials

Notebook
Pencil (with functional eraser)
Books-handouts (to be determined with instructor at the first lesson)

Recitals

Performing publicly is a vital element in the piano performance education. Recitals provide an excellent opportunity for students to demonstrate the skills learned during the months prior as well as to gain experience as a performing artist. Student recitals are mandatory and held every 4-6 months in a setting that fits the theme and style as chosen by the students themselves. Options former students of Ivory Music Studio chose:

Classical with projected pictures of what they felt the music was trying to depict
A style of music they liked and asked a friend/family member to sing or play along on their instrument
Duets of choice done by a younger and older student at Ivory Music Studio

This is the time when we are creative and collaborate to make the recital enjoyable for everyone attending!! A reception follows each concert with food that fits the theme.

Also, twice a year we attend a concert, musical, or outing that shows the versatility of being a musician or a piano player. This outing is not mandatory but strongly encouraged!!

Conferences

Parents are invited to schedule a conference with the instructor at anytime to discuss your child's program and progress. Contact your instructor prior to the lesson to make an appointment.