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ACADEMY POLICIES

HSA Studio Policy
This Policy is provided to establish a clear understanding of what is expected of you and your child as well as the teachers at HSA.
Lesson Behavior

  • Please arrive on time with all materials that will be needed for the lesson; lessons will not be extended for those that are not ready to begin on time.

  • Parents must accompany their children to all lessons; parent involvement is an integral part of the Suzuki method.

  • Family members are welcome. If siblings are attending, make sure they have a quiet activity as not to disrupt the lesson.

  • Please turn off all cell phones before entering the lesson.

  • Parents, please bring a notebook to take notes during the lesson; this will ensure that practice goals are met at home during the week.

  • Please take care of business at the beginning of the lesson not the end; i.e. paying of bills, anticipated absence, etc.

Billing
Tuition fees are paid directly to the private teachers and are due the first week of classes. You may choose to pay half of the tuition fee the first week of classes and the second tuition payment is due on the scheduled first day of class the week of classes each semester. There is a $10 late fee if the check is received 10 days past the due date. Tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Missed Lessons
Students are charged for all lessons for which they register. Notification of a lesson cancellation by a student is a courtesy to the teacher, but does not excuse payment for contracted lessons. With respect for the teachers’ making a livelihood and having other professional commitments at other times, we maintain a no make-up policy. FSA instructors are not obligated to schedule make up lessons for those missed to student non-attendance, illness, vacation, etc. If the teacher is absent, the lesson will be made up or extended into summer lessons. The teacher is not obligated to make up missed make-up lessons.
Home Practice
To ensure the best progress and experience, students are required to practice the length of their lesson 6 days a week. There is no magic when it comes to making progress. You must put the time in to get rewarded! Establishing regular listening to the CD/tape is essential. Listening should be double practice time.
Group Repertoire Classes
Emphasis is placed on ear training and developing good posture, beautiful tone, and musical phrasing. Parents are required to attend all repertoire classes, including advanced classes. Group classes are mandatory.
Tardiness at groups is disruptive because the teacher needs to stop and tune the instrument for the student. Observation of groups or other private lessons is welcome.
Weather Cancellations
Cancellations due to weather are based on the Madison County School Policy. If Madison County is closed HSA group lessons will be cancelled. Please email your teacher to find out about your private lessons. You can refer to the radio, television, and internet for school closures.

Every Child Can Learn
More than fifty years ago, Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki realized the implications of the fact that children the world over learn to speak their native language with ease. He began to apply the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music, and called his method the mother-tongue approach. The ideas of parent responsibility, loving encouragement, constant repetition, etc., are some of the special features of the Suzuki approach.

Parent Involvement
As when a child learns to talk, parents are involved in the musical learning of their child. They attend lessons with the child and serve as “home teachers” during the week. One parent often learns to play before the child, so that s/he understands what the child is expected to do. Parents work with the teacher to create an enjoyable learning environment.

Early Beginning
The early years are crucial for developing mental processes and muscle coordination. Listening to music should begin at birth; formal training may begin at age three or four, but it is never too late to begin.

Listening
Children learn words after hearing them spoken hundreds of times by others. Listening to music every day is important, especially listening to pieces in the Suzuki repertoire so the child knows them immediately.

Repetition
Constant repetition is essential in learning to play an instrument. Children do not learn a word or piece of music and then discard it. They add it to their vocabulary or repertoire, gradually using it in new and more sophisticated ways.

Encouragement
As with language, the child’s effort to learn an instrument should be met with sincere praise and encouragement. Each child learns at his/her own rate, building on small steps so that each one can be mastered. Children are also encouraged to support each other’s efforts, fostering an attitude of generosity and cooperation.

Learning with Other Children
In addition to private lessons, children participate in regular group lessons and performance at which they learn from and are motivated by each other.

Graded Repertoire
Children do not practice exercises to learn to talk, but use language for its natural purpose of communication and self-expression. Pieces in the Suzuki repertoire are designed to present technical problems to be learned in the context of the music rather than through dry technical exercises.

Delayed Reading
Children learn to read after their ability to talk has been well established. in the same way, children should develop basic technical competence on their instruments before being taught to read music.


From the Suzuki Association of the Americas

 

WHAT IS THE SUZUKI METHOD?

ENROLLMENT

All of our instructors are trained in the teaching methods of the renowned Japanese pedagog, Shinichi Suzuki. Some of those features include parent involvement at the lessons and home practice, a loving environment, and constant repetition. We encourage you to learn more about the Suzuki Method.

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Each student in our program receives two weekly lessons: One group class and one private lesson. We currently offer classes for violin and viola, and cello. Our calendar is divided into two 16-week semesters: Fall & Spring; and one Summer term. There are 14 lessons + group lessons taught over 16 weeks. You may enroll at any time during the year.

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We would like to get to know you (and for you to know us!) before committing to lessons.

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To enroll in lessons, or for all other lesson inquiries, please fill out our form below. One of our instructors will be in touch with you to go over the details of the program, and match you with an instructor who has mutual availability.

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