Lindsay Stevens Violin Studio
Policies and procedures
Welcome to my studio! As your child’s teacher, I am excited to be able to bring your family into the exciting and rewarding world of music. I have been involved with music for 25 years & I truly feel that it is so important to share my gifts and talents, which makes me so excited and eager to share the knowledge that I have, in hopes that it will enrich the lives of your child and your family.
About me:
*Studied the Suzuki Violin Method since the age of two.
*Participated in the Utah Federation of Music clubs earning eight years consecutive superiors.
*Member of the Davis Youth Orchestra for one year.
*Member of the Utah Youth Orchestra, for four years, performing with the Utah Symphony.
*Played with the Utah All-State Orchestra for all three years of High School.
*Participated in Solo & Ensemble and was chosen to go to the state level all three years of High School receiving a superior each time.
*Traveled to Europe as a Member of YACP (Young Artist Chamber Players)
*Received a full-tuition music scholarship to Weber State University.
*Traveled to China with the Weber State Symphony.
*Performed for the closing ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in 2002.
*Participant ASTA Competition at Weber State University earning superiors for five years and winning 1st place in College division twice.
*Auditioned and was chosen twice to perform on the Weber State University Orchestra’s Annual Concerto Night
*Concertmaster of the Weber State University Symphony Orchestra.
*Recipient of Bachelor of Arts in Music from Weber State University.
*Certified in Suzuki Teacher training through book 7.
*Violin teacher since 2001
Suzuki Overview:
The Suzuki Method is a very involved and integrated program. Your child won’t be learning just the pieces in the Suzuki books, but the many facets of music! There are many technical elements that are required to learn the violin. Please be patient if extra time has to be taken to perfect some of these technical elements. It is hard not to get hung up on what “song” your child is learning, especially when there are other children to be compared to. Every Child will have different speeds of learning. My biggest priority as a teacher is to ensure that they can play their instrument well.
Let me explain a little about the Suzuki method and the reasons for its success. There are five core subjects that are integral to this program, the absence of any of these five subjects will inhibit your child and keep him/her from progressing. Think of these subjects as legs of a stool. If one of the legs is broken, than the stool will not work properly. All must work together in order for the stool to work. The same idea applies to the following subjects; they must all be practiced regularly in order for your child to be successful.
1. Parental involvement & guidance: I will not be there to practice with your child during the week, nor will I be there to help him/her through the tough times and build them up like you can. If there is something you don’t understand or have a question about, please call me. You need to practice with your child daily. Plan on being at every lesson until your child is in high school. I really will not be able to accomplish what is necessary without your help. Don’t be nervous if you have no musical training. You and your child can still achieve the same kind of success as a child with musically trained parents. Please do not drop off your child for their lesson (unless they are in high school). Please come to every lesson with a notebook for taking notes. I will show you what and how to practice from week to week. Please silence cell phones or switch them to vibrate for the duration of the lesson. If you must take a call, please take it in another room.
2. Listening: Listening is an absolutely vital part of your child’s musical training. Listening must be consistent and constant. Play the music while your child is playing, in the car while errands are being run, and while sleeping. It is so important that your child listen to the music repeatedly. Listening to the music that the child will eventually be playing is beneficial in several ways. First, the child will internalize the music subconsciously and consciously and will later help reduce frustration when learning the music. This will give your child confidence. Second, listening to the music will help train your child’s ‘musical’ ear. Thirdly, Listening to the music will help your child pick up the delicate nuances of music-specific to the violin-that cannot be taught. Listening is imperative to your child’s overall musical training. Listening, however, is not a substitute for practicing. It must be done in addition to practicing. I require 10-12 hours of listening a week. There are two types of listening: Active and passive. Listen Actively for at least 30 minutes a day. For passive listening, turn on the music while you are in the car, while your child is playing, eating, doing homework, or sleeping.
3. Group lessons: Group lessons are not only important in your child’s musical training, but they can be a lot of fun. A group lesson is an arena in which your child can learn to play in a group, which will help if they ever play in an orchestra or any type of chamber (small group) ensemble. Group Lessons will teach your child to not only listen to their own playing but also to listen to the other players and to musically “converse” with other players. Group lessons are also a great place to make lasting friendships! Music can form a strong bond and create deep friendships. There will be one group lesson a month. These lessons are not to be missed, they are just as important as an individual lesson. They cannot and will not be made up.
4. Consistent Quality Practicing: Practicing is so important! It is imperative that you and your child practice consistently. Quality and quantity go hand in hand here. It would be better to practice 45 minutes every day for six days rather than one and half hours three days a week. I require 6 days of practice a week. For students books 1-3, how much practice time that is required per week, will be discussed in our lessons. For students in books 4-7, I require at least 7 hours a week. Plan on, as a Suzuki parent, on practicing with your child for years! Don’t worry about your own musical background. I will show you just what to do. Your involvement in your child’s practicing is vital. You are with your child daily, you must be the one to enforce and help your child follow through with practicing. There will be bumps in the road. Practicing isn’t always fun. Together we will find ways to keep practicing a new and interesting experience.
5. Review: When your child reviews pieces that he/she has already learned, he/she will polish those pieces and make things that were once difficult, now easier. In order to participate in just about any Suzuki function, your child must have a current repertoire of review pieces. This means, that they should be able to play any piece that they have already learned at any given time. Review must be included in practice time and will be heard at lessons. If your child cannot replay a review piece, then we will have to take time to re-learn it or to bring it up to the level that should be.
Policies:
Individual lessons: Individual lessons are obviously, key in your child’s musical training. We need to see each other consistently in order to establish trust and a proper teacher-student relationship. If I have to cancel I will do everything I can to make-up your child’s lesson that week. Please try to trade with another student if you can’t make it to your lesson time. Please notify me if you do trade! If I need to cancel a lesson, I will make it up that week, if possible. If you cancel, I will make it up if I see the need: If there is an upcoming concert, recital, competition, etc. If you are going on vacation, I won’t guarantee a make-up lesson. Please come to lesson with all of your materials: music, notebooks, instrument, shoulder rest, etc.
Make-up lessons: I will offer make-up lessons on the last Saturday of every month. If you missed any lessons for that month, then you need to call and schedule a time with me.
Tuition: Included in the monthly tuition are: individual lessons, 1 group lesson, my annual teacher dues, payments for accompanists, recital hall rentals, piano tuning, and for general supplies needed to run a studio. I charge a monthly fee of $95 (60 minutes), $85 (45 minute lesson) or $76 (30 minute lesson). By paying month to month, you are securing your place in my studio. I will not give discounts for any reason. I will teach 44 weeks out of the possible 52 each year. I will also require at least 75 percent attendance during the summer semester. Please don’t bunch them up at the last minute. Vacationing is important and fun, especially when your children are out of school. It is important to not lose ground during these months. It can seriously hinder your child’s progress. Starting again in the fall will be difficult and frustrating. If too many lessons are missed during the summer, then the fall months will be used to play catch up and your child won’t be able to participate in any extra-curricular Suzuki activities.
Concerts and Recitals: Concerts and Recitals are absolutely not to be missed. These are crucial to their Suzuki training! The concerts and recitals that they participate in are what they work for day in and day out! Please make it a priority to attend.
