Studio Membership & Attendance information
August 2025
Welcome to the Norton Violin Studio! I am thrilled to provide a learning environment that can enhance a student’s experience & skills needed for independent growth! The Suzuki Method is the primary curriculum used in this studio, which allows students to be musicians that can hear, feel and read music with ease! Membership Dues for the Norton Violin Studio are due on the 1st of each month, September through August, with a grace period until the 4th. I will send a payment request via Venmo each month. Venmo (amynorton3) is the preferred method of payment. Your Studio Membership is divided equally into monthly payments.
Studio Membership includes
- Reserved weekly time for Private Lessons
- Once/month Group Lessons; Scheduled TBA Scheduled – *This can vary depending on studio size & some of our group lessons are also rehearsals
- All scheduled rehearsals needed with Ms. Amy for any Studio Recitals and/or student Solo Book Recitals. *Please note a fee for an accompanist is not included and is your responsibility.
- Annual Studio Recitals-(up to 3 per year)
- 1 Annual Parent-Teacher phone conference (Spring)
- Student Awards
*Lesson cancellations or no-show’s do not reduce studio membership fees.
2025-2026 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 ‘even’ year.
The next increase will be Fall Semester, 2026
NORTON VIOLIN STUDIO THIS-N-THAT
Studio Attendance
- With your Studio membership, punctual attendance to all scheduled lessons & rehearsals is appreciated.
- Please allow time for coats/shoes & instrument prep before & after lessons
- Please be respectful of my home, 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, however membership fees are not adjusted.
- If you cannot fulfill your membership during the full year of lessons, your membership will be forfeited.
Studio Communication
- Teacher-to-parent communication will be done mostly via text message. Please be aware when group texts are sent to avoid responding to the group text, but instead communicate with me privately.
- Please schedule a phone call with me for any unexpected changes to your studio enrollment.
- The studio website, www.nortonviolinstudio.com, has information regarding the books students need for their lessons, taking care of the instrument, weekly studio calendar & resources I recommend during lessons.
Expectations
- Weekly practice at home is essential for steady progress. Only enroll your child if there can be regular practice time set aside at home. Students will feel prepared with 5-6 of practice, and daily practice will yield the best preparation. The less your child can practice, the more lessons will be required for them to progress.
- In addition to weekly practicing, students are expected to spend time listening to the Suzuki repertoire on their own to supplement the instructions given during lessons. This is a vital part of the Suzuki curriculum and encourages ear-training.
“Perhaps it is music that will change the world”
-Pablo Casals in 1961 after hearing the students of the Talent Education (led by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki) movement in Japan
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.