Studio Membership & Attendance information
November 23, 2024
Welcome to the Norton Violin Studio! Membership for the Norton Violin Studio is due on the 1st of each month, September through August, with a grace period until the 5th. I will send a payment request via Venmo on the 2nd of each month. Venmo (amynorton3) is the preferred method of payment. Membership is divided equally into monthly payments.
Studio Membership includes
- Reserved weekly time for Private Lessons
- Group Lessons; TBA Scheduled once/month.
(Some of our group lessons are also rehearsals)
- Any and all rehearsals needed with Ms. Amy for student Solo Book Recitals. Please note an accompanist fee is not included and is an additional fee
- Annual Studio Recitals-(up to 3 per year)
- Extra rehearsals for studio recitals as needed
- 1 Annual Parent-Teacher phone conference (Spring)
- Student Awards
*Last minute cancellations or no-show’s do not reduce membership fees.
2024-2025 Membership Rate
- 30 minute/Beginner Level & Suzuki Book 1 = $125
- 45 minute/Intermediate Level & Suzuki Book 1-4 = $188
- 60 minute/Advanced Level & Suzuki Book 4+ = $250
Please note Studio Membership will increase every ‘odd’ year.
The next increase will be Fall Semester, 2025
NORTON VIOLIN STUDIO THIS-N-THAT
Studio Attendance
- With your Studio membership, punctual attendance to all scheduled lessons & rehearsals is expected & appreciated.
- Please allow time for coats/shoes & instrument prep before & after lessons
- Please be respectful of my personal time and/or other students’ time before & after your lessons.
- Group lesson attendance is expected & necessary as part of the Suzuki curriculum. Group lessons are scheduled once a month. Schedule is TBD.
- When you or I have unforeseen circumstances that require canceling lessons, I will do my best to provide an opportunity for a makeup lesson.
- If you cannot fulfill your membership during the full year of lessons, your membership will be forfeited.
Studio Communication
- Parents will need to download the free app, WhatsApp, to receive weekly studio communication.
- Please schedule a phone call with me for any unexpected changes to your studio enrollment.
- The studio website, www.nortonviolinstudio.com, has this information to reference, the studio calendar & resources I recommend during lessons.
Expectations
- Aligning with the Suzuki teacher-student-parent triangle, I value and appreciate parents attending weekly private lessons with their child! Please be prepared to pay attention and understand the techniques being introduced. Lessons flow better if the practicing parent is able to scribe or video assignments during each lesson.
- Please understand that the violin studio is intended to create an optimal learning environment. Please avoid bringing any noisy distractions to lessons that could directly affect the student’s ability to stay focused on their lesson. This includes; food, cell phones, siblings and toys. If siblings must come, invite them to bring a book or coloring pages. If any of these distractions prevent a positive learning atmosphere, please be sensitive to this.
- I expect students to practice 5-7 days/week. Home practice should be done with student & parent working together to create a positive environment where the beauty of music and mastery of skills can flourish! Remember, practice makes it easy! Please scroll down for information on how to practice at home.
How To Prepare For Private Lessons
- Please use a blank “WHAT/HOW” practice chart each lesson to write down practice expectations.
- Remember to gather your supplies at home prior to your lesson! Bring your Suzuki Method Books, Lesson Binder, Technique Books (i.e. scales) & other assigned music and/or foot chart.
- Please arrive BEFORE your lessons time begins to unpack your instrument & music.
- Students should always carry their own instrument & book bag, not the parent, please.
- Parents & students, be prepared to verbally communicate with me as well as through your music! Questions you have (parent & teacher) are always welcome! Parents, if you need to address sensitive concerns, please do so in an email.
- Parents, please have a 3-ring binder for weekly practice charts from our lesson, hand-outs and to keep the paper trail under control! You can toss practice charts after a month, or so.
Please click HERE to download & print your own weekly practice chart. There are also copies available in the studio each week.
How To Prepare For Group Lessons
- Group Lessons are part of the Suzuki Curriculum. If you are not able to attend group lessons, please communicate this with me. Come prepared to enjoy playing and working together with what you’re learning at home! Parents are not required to attend group lessons.
Group Lessons are 45 minutes and are held once/month.
How To Practice At Home
Book 1 Students=15-30 Minutes per day of practice
Book 2 Students=30-40 Minutes per day of practice
Book 3 Students=30-40 Minutes per day of practice
Book 4 Students=45-60 Minutes per day of practice
Book 5 Students=45-60 Minutes per day of practice
Book 6-10: Students=60+ Minutes per day of practice
“Knowledge + 10,000 = Skill!” -Dr. Suzuki
“Practice makes it EASY!” -Ms. Amy
Knowledge is gained during our lessons together. Skill is developed by repeating that knowledge carefully at home, improving with each repetition, until it becomes easy!
- When will you practice? If you make time for practice every day, it will make it much easier! Set aside practice time as you would for a doctor’s appointment to avoid conflicts!
- Find a good “practice zone” in your home. Somewhere where good tone can be developed, you have adequate lighting to read music, distractions are minimal, and the instrument is safe. Decide with your family whether or not keeping the instrument packed away or readily available is the best setup between practice sessions. Wall-mounted hooks are available for violins.
- Purchase a music stand when you begin Suzuki Book 2, or otherwise suggested. Ask me for recommendations.
- Purchase a Metronome/Tuner Combination. Phone apps are good, but the “real thing” is better!
- Establish how you will listen to SUZUKI MUSIC at home. MP3 player with headphones? CD player? Using car audio?
- Purchase a spare set of 4 strings for your sized instrument. Ask me for details.
- Always begin practicing with a scale played slowly, paying attention to beautiful tone, intonation, and smooth note changes.
- Spend time reviewing, learning, polishing or previewing parts of your pieces, or memorizing sections of assigned pieces. Never play something only once (unless you are on the stage performing it!). Always learn from your sound and play again, with a better purpose!
- Reviewing prior polished pieces and listening to the Suzuki repertoire is essential for proper technique and ear training. Remember, this is the “mother-tongue” method patterned how infants learn their native languages by listening!
- Ideas for what to think about & improve while you are practicing:
- Posture points: Nose-Scroll-Elbow-Toe-Slippery Slide-Bow Hold
- Soft monkey knees, tall back, and firm feet
- Names of the notes, especially during scales and arpeggios
- Subdivide the rhythm
- Breathing to enhance your sound
- Beautiful tone, especially paying attention to “peaks & valleys” in the melody
- Continuously curved Left-hand fingers
- Continuous Right-arm weight applied to the horsehair against the string
- Practice slowly to improve intonation and hear your violin ring as you play
- Learn using pizzicato-style to focus on Left-hand when needed
- Always repeat and reverse shifts, ensuring accuracy and proper motion
- Use a metronome at moderate speeds when assignments begin to feel easy
- Use practice rhythms & reverse scale passages: ribets and gallops, groups of 3, 5, 9, 13, going forward and reverse.
House Rules
Please use common courtesy & good manners while in my home and property. A bathroom is available for emergencies. Please do not make it a common habit to take lesson time for restroom visits.