Poppingviolinandviola.com

Violin and Viola Studio of Ingrid Popp

Lesson Policies

Policies for All Students: 

Tuition is due by the first lesson and then on the 15th of each month thereafter. A $10 late fee will be charged for payments not received within 5 days of the due date. Payments can be made by Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or check. Payment is due in advance of the first lesson. Students will not be allowed to start lessons until payment is received. 

Missed Lesson Policy:

Lessons missed due to student absence will not be made up or refunded. Lessons missed by me will be made up. I will offer at least 3 possible makeup times, if a student cannot schedule a makeup after a reasonable effort, the lesson will be forfeited. 

A lesson swap list will be sent following the finalization of the schedule. If a student opts out of the swap list they will not be permitted access to the list. 

Lateness Policy: If you are late for your scheduled lesson, the lesson will still end at the scheduled time. If you are more than 10 minutes late for a 30 minute lesson (15min/45 min. or 20min/60min lesson) and do not notify me via text or email, I will consider the lesson missed and the lesson will not be made up. If I receive notification I will wait until the end of your scheduled time. 

Inclement Weather Policy:

In the event of inclement weather making travel hazardous, lessons will be offered online via Zoom or FaceTime. If the inclement weather results in power outages, up to two possible makeup times will be offered for the lesson. 

Illness Policy:

Please do not come to a lesson if you are sick. Students with mild illness who are still up for a lesson may opt for an online lesson at their regular lesson time. A student who comes to an in-person lesson visibly ill will be sent home and the lesson will be forfeited. 

Termination of lessons: 

If you wish to stop lessons for any reason, an advance notice of at least 4 weeks is required. Students on the tuition plan who stop lessons before the required 5 months will be charged the difference between the tuition rate and per lesson rate for lessons taken. 

Materials: 

Students are expected to have and maintain an instrument of the proper size and quality as instructed. All students should have an electronic tuner and metronome (or a combination device) that is available to use during their practice. Students should also make every effort to purchase additional materials (books, strings, rosin, shoulder rests, etc. ) in a timely manner. 

Orchestra/Ensemble Music: 

Students are welcome to use their lesson time to ask for help on orchestra/ensemble music from school or outside groups, or audition excerpts.

Lesson Notes:

There are four options for lesson notes. 1. The student (age 12 and up) or parent takes their own notes during the lessons. 2. The teacher takes notes on an assignment sheet that is given to the student after each lesson. 3. The teacher takes notes in a notebook provided by the student and brought to each lesson. 4. A PDF with lesson notes including practice assignments will be emailed or texted to a parent or teen/adult student after each lesson. Please let me know the preferred email/phone number for these notes.

Practice: 

In order to get the most out of lessons, students are expected to practice regularly. A minimum practice commitment of 20 minutes per day/ 5 days per week is recommended and more practice time may be needed for progress especially at more advanced levels.

Lesson Length Recommendations: 

Depending on scheduling availability, and practice commitment, 30 minute lesson are recommended for beginning students through the end of book 1, 45 minutes for students in books 2-4, and 60 minute lessons for students in books 5 and up.

Online Specific Lesson Policies: 

Equipment and Set-up:

  1. Zoom or FaceTime with a strong internet connection. 
  2. Stand (preferred) or sit facing the camera so that the bow and fingers are both visible on screen. If using an iPhone or iPad make sure screen orientation is unlocked and set sideways on landscape (this give me the clearest view of the student).
  3. If you are using a newer iPad/MacBook please be sure that the “center stage” setting is turned off.
  4. No moving ceiling fans or flashing lights should be visible during your lesson.
  5. Students must have a metronome and tuner/tone generator available to use during their lesson (these must be available on a different device from the one used for Zoom or FaceTime as they cannot be used simultaneously).  Either a separate phone or tablet with the Tonal Energy app installed or the “Korg TM-70T Tuner and Metronome w/ Sound.” Other devices/apps can be used, but students must have a metronome with subdivision options, an electronic tuner, and a tone generator (for learning to play in-tune by ear with drone pitches) with all notes. 

Technological Malfunctions:

  1. If my internet connection fails, lessons will be made up.
  2. If a student’s internet connection fails, the student will be offered one possible makeup time, if that time is not possible, the lesson will be forfeited. 
  3. If one platform fails to work, I will offer the option to switch platforms (Zoom to FaceTime or the reverse). 
  4. Regardless of technological glitches the lesson will start and end at the scheduled time. 

Lesson Notes:

A PDF with lesson notes including practice assignments will be emailed to texted to a parent or teen/adult student after each lesson. Please let me know the preferred email/phone number for these notes.

Orchestra/Ensemble Music: 

Students are welcome to use their lesson time to ask for help on orchestra/ensemble music from school or outside groups, or audition excerpts. In order to help students with this music, I will need to receive a pdf scan/copy of the music by the start of the lesson.