Hello and welcome!

PRACTICE + PARENT INVOLVEMENT

• One of the most important factors in a young child’s musical growth and development is the involvement of the parent. If the student is under 10 years old, it is expected that a parent or guardian will attend each lesson and assist in their child’s personal practice. This is critical in helping the student remember what was covered in each lesson and what should be addressed during practice time. Of course, this isn’t always possible, but it is highly recommended and encouraged.

• Students should plan to practice 5-6 days per week. Families should schedule time each day to allow for consistent practicing. This will ensure that the student is prepared for lessons and will have greater confidence in their playing.

• Students will progress to the next piece when the teacher sees fit. Specific technical and musical improvements must be made in order to pass off each piece. While every teacher is different, I expect my students to have their pieces memorized and be fully comfortable with the notes and technique before moving on. Students that practice slowly and consistently will naturally progress faster through their music. Please respect my decision to continue working on a piece if I feel it is not ready to pass off. When the student puts in the effort required to master the skills of the piece, we will move on. 

• Students will leave each lesson with a list of goals and practice items that they will be responsible for in the following lesson.

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SCHEDULING OF LESSONS

• Lessons are given on a weekly basis, and will be 30, 45, or 60 minutes long, depending on the needs of the student. 

• All lessons will be at Donni’s home or on Zoom. If students wish to have lessons in their own home, there will be a travel fee based on distance and time spent traveling. 

• I am an active performer and sometimes my performance commitments will require alteration of the schedule. Please be flexible when I need to move your student’s lesson because of professional commitments. If I need to reschedule, I will try to let you know at least three days in advance.

• Please let me know if you expect to be late for a scheduled lesson. If the student arrives after their time, their lesson time will not be extended into the next hour to make up for lost time. If for some reason Donni is late, the lesson will be held for its entire length, or a complimentary lesson will be scheduled later at no charge to the client.  

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LESSON LENGTH + PAYMENTS

• Recommended lesson length (older students may consider a longer time)

  • Pre-Twinkle through Suzuki Book One and beginners: 30 minutes

  • Books 2-3 and intermediate students: 45 minutes

  • Books 4+ and advancing students: 60 minutes

  • Please note that these times are generalized. Students that practice regularly and are making great progress may consider lengthening their lesson time. This will enable us to cover more material and reach the highest level of playing possible.

• Payments can be paid in one of two ways.  

  • Weekly payments: those who wish to pay on a weekly basis should have their payments sent before the lesson begins

  • Monthly payments: lessons must be paid for before or on the first lesson of the month (those that haven’t paid by the second lesson of the month will be charged a $25 late fee).

  • Payments can be made through Venmo (@donnievans), cash, or check (please make checks payable to “Donni Evans”).

• Students are responsible for buying music books and materials.

• Studio pricing can be found here. 

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WHAT TO BRING TO LESSONS + RECOMMENDATIONS

• What to bring to lessons:

  • Violin + Bow

  • Shoulder Rest/Pad

  • Rosin

  • Any music that we are working on (scales, Suzuki, etudes, shifting book, orchestra music, etc.)

  • Notebook + pencil to take notes on practicing tips, expectations, and weekly practice goals

  • A positive attitude + willingness to participate

• If you are considering purchasing a new violin or moving up a size, please consult me before doing so. This will help to make sure your student is ready for a new size and I can give recommendations on where to go and what to look for.

• Please have your student keep their nails trimmed short. Long nails make it impossible to have good violin technique. 

• Participation in orchestra helps students to find friends who also enjoy music. Musical friendships and friendly competition will motivate them to practice and give them greater incentive to excel. I strongly encourage my students to play in their school orchestras as well as any honor, ambassador or youth orchestras in their communities. 

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PRACTICING AT HOME

• How long should I practice?

  • Beginners through Suzuki Book 1: 30 minutes

  • Suzuki Books 2-3: 45 minutes

  • Suzuki Book 4: 60 minutes

  • Suzuki Books 5+: 90-180 minutes

• A good rule to follow: only practice on the days that you eat.

• It is normal for a child to not always want to practice. Please gently encourage them when they are needing motivation. Consistent practice makes a difference in how a student progresses. Without practice, the student won’t be able to learn new concepts, lessons will become highly repetitive and the student may lose interest. I encourage you to set a specific time each day for your student to practice and adhere to it as much as possible.

• Make sure they are practicing everything assigned for the week (scales, arpeggios, interval study, etudes, shifting books, and pieces). The best thing parents can do is help motivate their child to practice.

• I may ask your student to listen to assigned classical music during the week. This will help motivate them to work harder. If you would like a playlist for your student, just ask. 

• It is highly recommended to have the CD for each Suzuki book. Students should listen to their piece often and practice their part with the recording on the CD once they have learned the notes. This will help them learn the piece more quickly, understand how their part aligns with the piano, and make practicing more enjoyable for them.

• Taking your student to live classical music performances can help to inspire them and keep them excited about playing the violin. 

• If your student has questions during the week, contact me. I am always happy to answer any questions that they have.

 

ZOOM LESSONS

• Please have your student’s violin tuned prior to the lesson starting and have their music on their stand, ready to use. 

• You may ask to record your lesson if you would like to watch it for reference. 

• An external microphone will greatly enhance how I hear your student and will help to make lessons more effective. If you need microphone recommendations, just ask.

• Make sure to Enable Original Sound and turn on Echo Cancellation in your Zoom Settings.

• Please place the recording device so that I can see the bow and the left hand clearly. During the lesson the room should be quiet and without distractions. Students should always have a pencil, eraser and notebook on hand to take practice notes that they can refer to during the week. 

 

24 HOUR CANCELLATION POLICY

• Your lesson time is reserved exclusively for you. I have put all other professional engagements and work opportunities aside to be present at your student's lesson. My time as well as yours is valuable, please respect these boundaries.  

• Lessons that I cancel will be rescheduled or refunded.

• If you aren’t able to attend your lesson, please notify me by email or phone at least 24 hours before their lesson time. Lessons that are missed or cancelled by the student with less than 24 hours’ notice will not be refunded. Adding an additional lesson to make up for the lost time may not always be possible.

• Emergencies or other situations may arise. If this happens, please let me know.

• If your child is sick, please notify me as soon as possible.

 

TERMINATION OF LESSONS

• I reserve the right to terminate lessons if the student…

  • Is not practicing and is unprepared for lessons on a consistent basis

  • Comes with a bad attitude or lack of interest consistently

  • Is missing lessons regularly

  • Has missed a significant number of payments

• If you wish to discontinue lessons with me, please notify me at least one month in advance so I can plan accordingly.

 

Please reach out if you have any questions.