Lessons & Studio Policies
Pre-lesson Interview
Before signing up for lessons, I meet with a potential student to discuss what they are looking for in piano lessons, and I do some assessment of their musical skills. I discuss what I offer in piano lessons, and we make sure that the student and I both want to begin lessons together.
Lesson Lengths
I teach 40-minute, 60-minute, and 90-minute weekly lessons. Students enroll for a 32-week school year.
Group Studio Classes
Students will meet periodically to play for each other in a casual classroom environment.
Payment Options
- Check – made out to Dransfield Piano Studio
- Venmo – free app – no-fee transfers
Payments will be due monthly at the beginning of each month. I will also ask for a one-month deposit when beginning lessons. When discontinuing lessons, a one-month notice is required, and the security deposit can be used as the last monthly payment.
Studio
My recently renovated piano studio in Winchester, Virginia is large enough to hold both classes and performances, and yet intimate enough for private lessons. Although lessons will usually meet in my studio, I am able to offer Zoom/FaceTime online lessons as needed. In online lessons, I currently use three camera angles and a Blue Yeti microphone to enhance video and audio communication. Options will be discussed individually with each student to determine the appropriate setting for lessons. I will gladly help students understand how to download, install and use these video applications.
Make-up Lesson Policy
I will make up 2 lessons per school year. I must be notified in advance regarding an absence. Forgetting a lesson will be a forfeited lesson. If I miss a lesson myself for any reason, those lessons will always be rescheduled.
Tuition
The school year will be 32 weeks, or two 16-week terms. Tuition will cover the weekly lessons, group studio classes, participation in music festivals, competitions and Studio Recitals as deemed appropriate.
40-minute lessons – $60/lesson
60-minute lessons – $70/lesson
90-minute lessons – $105/lesson
Drop-in 60-minute lessons – $80/lesson
Photo/Video Release
Periodically, I would like to be able to use photos or videos of my students on either my website or social media. These would highlight student accomplishments and I can either use the student’s initials, first name only or full name, at their request. You may also choose to exempt yourself (or your child) from these photo or video postings.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Do I need an acoustic piano to take lessons? I am linking an article from Piano Technicians Guild 2009 which explains the difference between an acoustic piano and an electronic keyboard. I only teach acoustic piano lessons, which have quite different action and tone-producing mechanisms.
2. Are there books to buy? The only book you need to provide is a notebook of some type for me to write weekly assignments in at each lesson. For music scores, I will buy those for you so that we have them to use when I assign them; you will then reimburse me for those specific books.
Resources:
- “Ted Talk: How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain” by Anita Collins
- “Music Lessons were the Best Thing Your Parents Ever Did For You, According to Science” by Ted Barnes for mic.com
- “Is Music the Key to Success?” by Joanne Lipman for the New York Times
- “Early Music Lessons Have Longtime Benefits” by Perri Klass, M.D. for the New York Times
- “18 Benefits of Playing a Musical Instrument” by Michael Matthews for EffectiveMusicTeaching.com (PDF 102 KB)
Preparing for a Performance for younger students:
This children’s book, Henry the Steinway and the Piano Recital by Sally Coveleskie, is a fun way to prepare your child for recitals. The PDF link below is a worksheet to fill out after reading the book:
- “Preparing for a Performance: Lesson Plan” by Natasha Fondren for the Piano Technicians Guild (PDF 430 KB)