Author: whaby

Wanda J. Haby. MA
Fadi T. Helwanji, Ph.D.
Performer and Teacher

Music is the language of your soul

Studio Guide

2015— 2016 Policies

Fine Arts
Piano & Voice Studies
Recitals
Competitions
Special Programs
Diction Coaching

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Table of Contents

Studio Philosophy & Methodology 3
Philosophy
Teaching Methods
Keyboard Genre
Practice Time
Tuition and Billing 4
Billing Options
Fees and Supplies
Method of Payment
Studio Calendar 5
Semester Calendar
Studio Closures
Summer Lessons
Lesson Policies 6
Cancellation of a Lesson
Makeup Lessons
Lesson Exchange
Late Students
Performances 7
Recitals
Competitions
Special Programs
How Lessons Work 8
Lesson Structure
Semester Appraisal
Supplies
Diction Coaching
Expectations 9
Student
Parent
Notes 10
Enrollment Agreement 11

Wanda J. Haby. MA
Fadi T. Helwanji, Ph.D.
Performer and Teacher

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Studio Philosophy & Methodology

Philosophy
Music is a universal language that touches the life of every being; it plays a significant role in all cultures impacting human experience.
We believe in providing our students with innovative and creative musical techniques to express their feelings by:
Building their musical knowledge
Enhancing their quality of performance.
We aggressively strive to accomplish our mission.
Technique
We tailor teaching to the strengths, weaknesses, and interests of the individual student.
We recognize the diversity of students learning styles and pace.
Our approach constantly challenges the student with progressively more difficult material.
Teaching Methods
Piano: We teach fundamentals, including solid theory. Students can expect a combination of methods to include Bastien, Pace, and Faber supplemented by sight-reading and music history & appreciation resources.
Voice: We teach sight reading skills and fundamental exercises. Students can expect a combination of art songs, classical, and musical theatre repertoire. Other selections, fitting to the students’ ability and level, will supplement traditional studies.
Keyboard Genre
The student will study music from the classical repertoire, Baroque through Romantic and contemporary, including ragtime and popular music. All students play duets. If the student shows interest in jazz, improvisation or composition, these will be included in the lesson.
Practice Time
Set up a daily, uninterrupted practice time to establish a routine. Keep a practice record and work toward musical goals rather than simply counting minutes. The study of music is rewarding and enjoyable, but it is also work! To ensure you get your money’s worth out of lessons, make your studies a productive experience. Suggested daily practice times:
7-8 years old: 15 minutes 9-11 years old: 25 minutes 12-15 years old: 35 minutes
16 and older: 45 minutes

Studio Number: (210) 392-2135

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Tuition and Billing

Choice of Two Lessons
30 min - $35
45 min - $45
Billing Options
Monthly: (Semester lessons equally divided by months regardless of number of lessons in a month)
MONTHLY Option
30 min $131.25 per mo Sep-Dec
45 min $168.75 per mo Sep-Dec
30 min $145.83 per mo Jan-Jun
45 min $187.50 per mo Jan-Jun
Monthly: Due 1st Lesson of month.
SEMESTER Option
30 min $525 for Sep-Dec
45 min $675 for Sep-Dec
———
30 min $ 875 for Jan-Jul
45 min $1125 for Jan-Jul
Semester: Due 15 Sep & 15 Jan.
Books and Supplies
Expected Fees
Books: $50 - $75 per year
Recitals: $15 – $30 per recital
Field Trips: $5 – $25 per venue
Competitions
Non-negotiable entry fees vary with sponsoring organization.
Method of Payment
We welcome cash, check, or money order. You will receive an invoice and receipt for your records.
NSF
A $15 fee will be charged for NSF checks. After the second NSF check, only cash or money orders accepted.
Refunds
NO refunds will be given once a payment is made. Exception applies for students terminating when given a month’s advance notice if payment made by semester.
Late Payments
If you must be late with payment for good reason, notify the teacher when you become aware of the necessity.

Studio Number: (210) 392-2135

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Studio Calendar

Semester Calendar
40 weekly lessons, beginning in September and ending at the end of June.
1st Lesson of Calendar Year:
Day following Labor Day weekend
Last Lesson of Calendar Year
The last week of June.
Studio Closures
Thanksgiving weekend,
Christmas & New Years week
Spring Break
Holy Week/Easter
Summer Lessons
All lessons taken in the summer months (July and August) may be paid for weekly. Understandably, many students go on vacation in the summer and will not be expected to make up any missed lessons.
There will be no charge for missed weeks except when a student fails to show up when expected or fails to give sufficient notice.
Provide at minimum, one week’s notice when you plan to vacation so the time slot you normally hold can be used for someone else.

Wanda J. Haby. MA
Fadi T. Helwanji, Ph.D.
Performer and Teacher

Page #

Lesson Policies

Cancellation of a Lesson
Your lesson time is reserved exclusively for you. Missed lessons are not made up unless it is a:
Last minute illness.
Family emergency/death in the family
Inclement Weather: In the case of inclement weather, whether schools/businesses have closed or not, if you feel it is too dangerous to drive, we will try to arrange another time.
Late Students
Promptness is expected. Students arriving late for their lessons will NOT be given extra lesson time to make up for tardiness. If a student is late for a lesson, he/she will lose the time he/she is late.
Makeup of a Lesson
A make-up lesson will be scheduled at the earliest possible date.
No refunds or adjustments will be given for lessons missed or forgotten. There are no exceptions to this policy. Lessons missed due to the teacher’s cancellation will be made up at a convenient time for all. Once your scheduled lesson time is in place, it is expected that music study will have priority.
Lesson Exchange
If an occasional schedule conflict should arise, you may use the Lesson Exchange List to trade lessons with another student and then inform the studio of the change.
If a student misses the traded lesson, a make-up lesson will not be scheduled. Obviously, both parties must agree in advance to the exchange. In the event of a misunderstanding and two students arrive at the same time, we will teach the one who is regularly scheduled at that time, unless both parties agree to a change. An excess of missed lessons will result in the student being dropped from the schedule.
“No shows” and cancellations other than as described above will be charged as though the scheduled lesson was attended.
Terminating Lessons
The teacher will terminate lessons when student is irregular in attendance, fails to adequately prepare lessons 3 times in one semester, is disruptive or disinterested in lessons. Parents may terminate lessons at any time following a conference with the teacher.

Wanda J. Haby. MA
Fadi T. Helwanji, Ph.D.
Performer and Teacher

Page #

Performances & Special Programs

Recitals
All students participate in three recitals a year, whether private or group, to share music with friends and family and to develop performance skills.
October: Public recital
December: Private recital
June: Public recital
NYSSMA Dress Rehearsal schedule is two weeks prior to the event. This gives the student an opportunity to try out their pieces in front of an audience of their peers.
Competitions
Students may be selected to participate in judged competitions. If interested, these experiences give students an incentive for hard work, provide an objective evaluation of their performance, and result in a feeling of accomplishment. In order to avoid negative attitudes toward performing, and perhaps toward music in general, students are never required to participate in competitions.
Special Programs
We require at least two special field trips to local performances each year.
Recital and Competition Attire
Proper concert attire is expected for adjudications and performances - coat and tie for gentlemen; dress for ladies; dress shoes for all. No student may enter any competition, audition, adjudication or performance anywhere without this teacher's permission and assistance.
Quarterly Group Theory & Musicianship Classes
Each Quarter, the studio offers a group class in theory and ear training. Theory and ear training open doors to true musical understanding. We will learn about a composer, play our original compositions or perhaps meet a composer. These classes vary each year ~ there's a lot more to learning music than just reading notes.

Wanda J. Haby. MA
Fadi T. Helwanji, Ph.D.
Performer and Teacher

Page #

How Lessons Work

Lesson Structure
Technical warm-ups
Review of Lesson
New Material
Theory
Sight-reading
Creative work
Semester Appraisals
At the end of each semester, a conference is held at the end of the student’s scheduled lesson.
Music Books
The teacher will choose appropriate materials to fit the needs of each individual student. The teacher will purchase the materials on behalf of the student and directly provide them to the student, payable on receipt. During the semester, additional music for recitals, competitions, or materials such as metronomes and flashcards may be required—if supplied, payable on receipt.
Typical Supplies
Theory Book
Scale and Exercise Books
Lesson Book
Solo Sheet Music
Christmas Books
Practice Book
Steno Pad
Pencil
Mirror (Voice Students)
Diction Coaching
Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Latin
Brief phonetics overview using IPA
'Hands on' non-academic diction class for those preparing songs for auditions, competitions, or ongoing vocal study.
Read one syllable at a time per beat until the new sounds have set with your tongue and mouth. Gradually increase the pace until you reach the tempo of the music. Then move to rhythmic reading until you are ready to put it together with the music!

Wanda J. Haby. MA
Fadi T. Helwanji, Ph.D.
Performer and Teacher

Page #

Expectations

Student Expectations
Arrive at lessons on time with all materials in hand.
Wash hands before beginning the lesson—voice or piano!
No food, gum, beverages, or candy during lessons!
Piano students should trim fingernails before arriving for lessons
Enter studio quietly and take a seat – do not disturb the teacher or other students.
Arrive at lessons prepared from appropriate practice and with a positive attitude.
If student is a minor….
Parent Expectations
Provide a tuned instrument for appropriate practice in a well lighted area as free from distractions as possible.
Provide your child with a steno size notebook for weekly assignments and read it each week.
Encourage good practice habits. A set time each day works well. Younger students should have daily practicing supervised if possible.
Keep your child’s fingernails cut short and remind him/her to have clean hands for lessons.
Pay for lessons the first lesson of each month unless other arrangements have been made.
Parents are encouraged to attend lessons, however it is not required.
If you do not observe a lesson, please pick up your child punctually at the end of the lesson time.
If you are waiting in the studio for your children's lessons to be completed, remain quiet and do not interrupt. This will assure your child gets the maximum benefit from the allotted time with the teacher.
Make it clear to your child the teacher's time (and your money!) are valuable and neither should be wasted on poorly prepared lessons, improper behavior, or a generally bad attitude from the student.

Wanda J. Haby. MA
Fadi T. Helwanji, Ph.D.
Performer and Teacher

Page #

NOTES

Questions I have...
About These Policies
These Policy Statements and the inclusive Tuition Plan & Study Plan comprise the Business Policies of H & H Fine Arts Studio.
Your signed Enrollment Agreement is your acceptance of these policies in their entirety. From time to time, changes may become necessary. These Policy Statements are in accord with the most recent recommended professional policies of Music Teachers National Association.

Studio Number: (210) 392-2135

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Enrollment Agreement

This is to enroll (name)
____________________________
in The H & H Fine Arts Studio for the 2013-2014 season.
I have read the Business Policy Statements, Study Plans, Tuition Plans and breakdown of all fees and understand and agree to them in full. I am aware of the educational policies and practice requirements and agree to encourage my child (or myself) to strive for excellence to meet the expectations of this fine arts studio.
The Approved Practice Time is
15 25 35 45 minutes.
The basic weekly lesson tuition is
$___________________.
This student is accepted for study
________________________
Wanda J. Haby, Teacher
____________________________
Parent or Adult Student's Signature
Student Information
Name:______________________
Nick-name:___________________
Address:_____________________
____________________________
Home Phone:________________
Cell Phone:___________________
E-mail:______________________
Day & Month of Birth:___________
If Minor:
Grade in Sep 2015: ______
School Name:_________________
Parents' Names:______________________
Optional Medical Notes/Allergies

Studio Number: (210) 392-2135

Music
is the language
of your soul

Wanda J. Haby. MA
Fadi T. Helwanji, Ph.D.
Performer and Teacher

Tel: (210) 392-2135

PO Box 2734
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
E-mail: wandahaby@yahoo.com