Greetings, Parents & Students!
The fall semester is upon us! I hope that you have had a wonderful summer. This newsletter contains all the information for the upcoming year of piano study. Take a few minutes to read through the scheduling process, studio calendar and studio policies. Information in this newsletter is also available on the website, www.mrozinskipianostudio.com. The website is a great place to visit throughout the year for reminders of events and dates. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am looking forward to seeing each of you very soon and hearing about your summer adventures.
Fondly,
Vonnie Mrozinski
Scheduling and Time Requests
Lessons are available each weekday Monday through Friday. Please send three day and time requests. I will do my best to accommodate your first request. There could be multiple families that would like the same day and time, so patience and flexibility will help the scheduling process to move smoothly. Home-school students should request a morning or early afternoon time.
Studio Calendar 2016-2017
| August 22, 2016 | Fall semester lessons begin |
| September 5 | No lessons - Labor Day |
| September 24 | Mozart Group lesson - 9:00-10:00 AM
Chopin Group lesson - 10:15-11:15 AM |
| October 8 | Performance Classes: 8:30-9:15 AM and 9:30-10:15 AM |
| November 12 | Mozart Group lesson - 9:00-10:00 AM
Chopin Group lesson - 10:15-11:15 AM |
| November 23 + 24 | Make-up lessons only |
| November 25-27 | Thanksgiving Break |
| December 10 | Performance Classes: 8:30-9:15 AM and 9:30-10:15 AM |
| December 17 | Adult Musicale, 2:00-3:30 PM |
| December 19-January 1 | Christmas Break |
| January 2, 2017 | Spring semester lessons begin |
| January 16 | No lessons - Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| February 18 | Mozart Group lesson - 9:00-10:00 AM
Chopin Group lesson - 10:15-11:15 AM |
| February 25 | Performance Classes: 8:30-9:15 AM and 9:30-10:15 AM |
| March 27-31 | Spring Break |
| April 29 | Mozart Group lesson - 9:00-10:00 AM
Chopin Group lesson - 10:15-11:15 AM |
| May 5 | Recital Rehearsal 4:30-5:45 PM - students only |
| May 6 | Spring Recital, Rolling Meadows Library, 10:00 AM |
| May 13 | Adult Musicale, 2:00-3:30 PM |
Tuition and Music Festival Fees
Tuition includes weekly lessons, group lessons, performance classes and the Spring recital. New materials will be added to invoices as they are given to student. Entry fees for festivals will be added the month prior to the event.
An invoice will be sent by email on the first day of each month, September through May.
Payments are due by the 10th of the month.
Payments made be made by check, payable to Mrozinski Piano Studio, or through PayPal.
Tuition for weekly 45-minutes lessons - $155*
Tuition for weekly 30-minutes lessons - $105*
NWSMTA AIM Exam Levels 1-4 - $20
NSWMTA AIM Exam Levels 5-12 - $25
NSWMTA Sonata-Sonatina Festival - $15
NWSMTA Awards Competition - $35
*The Mrozinski Piano Studio recognizes that there can be times of financial difficulty. Please speak to us and let us know if a scholarship would help your student continue lessons.*
Adult Piano Study
Adults lessons per lesson rates are:
45-minutes - $42.00
60-minutes - $55.00
Plan now on attending the musicales! Saturdays, 2:00-3:30 pm, December 17 and May 13. Refreshments served afterward.
Studio Challenge 2016-2017
For the third year in a row there will be a “studio challenge.” Past years were the staff-note flashcard challenge and the Middle C challenge. This year will be the “30 Piece Challenge.” Inspired by pedagogue Elissa Milne and endorsed by pedagogue Wendy Stevens, students of all ages (!) will learn 30 pieces during the fall and spring sessions. “Students will gain a wide and practical knowledge and experience in a variety of music forms. Students will improve their sight-reading skills, learn a variety of styles and formats of music, play more musically because pieces will be learned well.” And “students will be happier…the more music they can play, the more confident and proficient they feel, leading to a generally happier student.”
At the first lesson, each student will receive a chart to keep track of pieces. Pieces need to be at least 16 measures (8 for beginning students). Pieces should be of three different levels: 1. Challenging. These would be pieces for the Sonata Festival, AIM, recital and musicales. 2. At student level. 3. Easier, fun to learn pieces.
What will students get out of it? A reward, of course! Students completing the 30 piece challenge will receive recognition and an award at the spring recital and musicale.
Student of the Month
May 2016
Name: Asha
Age: 10
School: home-schooled
Sisters: Anna, Alisha
Hobbies/Interests: running, playing the piano
How long have you played the piano: 5 ½ years
What are your favorite types of pieces: Romantic era
Favorite subject in school (besides recess!!): science
Favorite vacation/place: New Brunswick, Canada
What do you want to be when you grow up: a piano teacher
What else would you like to share about yourself: “My favorite food is pizza. I’d like to learn how to cook.”
Mrozinski Family Vacation
In June the Mrozinski family traveled to Camp Pendleton, CA to see our son, Benjamin. He graduated from Infantry Training Battalion (ITB). Benjamin is a rifleman in the Marines. Ask us for his most recent report.
Studio Policies – updated!
Calendar The year consists of three sessions: Fall (August-December) and Spring (January-May) and summer (June-July). A detailed schedule is available on the website.
Lessons Students will receive one lesson per week. Students will receive up to 32 lessons during the Fall and Spring sessions. Students may have up to eight lessons during the Summer session. Younger and beginning students may have a 30-minute lesson. Continuing and more advanced students will receive 45- and 60-minute lessons.
Group Lessons Beginning with the Fall 2014 semester, there will be two group lessons in the Fall and two in the Spring semester. Students will be grouped by age and level. Group lessons will be held on Saturdays and last 60 minutes.
Adult Lessons Adults will receive weekly or bi-weekly lessons. There will be a musicale for adults at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Adults are encouraged to attend and share two or three pieces with music. Refreshments are served afterward.
Missed Lessons Make-up lessons will be given for sickness and emergencies only. Family vacations and extra-curricular activities may not be used for make-up lessons. Students will be allowed a maximum of two make-up lessons per semester. Lessons missed due to the teacher will be made up.
Inclement Weather During the winter months, no lessons will be taught if local schools have canceled classes for that day. However, if parents wish to continue with the regularly scheduled lesson, they may, upon calling the teacher and confirming the lesson time.
Tuition Families will receive an invoice the first week of the month during the Fall and Spring sessions. The invoice will include charges for regularly scheduled lessons, festivals and music books. Payments not made by the 10 th of the month will receive a $10 late charge. Summer tuition packages will be available for 4-, 6-, or 8-lessons. Summer tuition is due June 15. Payment may be made by check, payable to Mrozinski Piano Studio, or through PayPal.
Music Fees for music books and festivals will be included in the monthly statements.
Practice Practice requires the same priority as homework. Parents are encouraged to help students find a regular practice time. A minimum of 30 minutes a day, six days a week for the average-age beginner is suggested. Younger students should have two 10-15 minute sessions. More advanced students are expected to practice at least one hour a day, six days a week.
Instruments Students must own an acoustic piano or electronic keyboard. Keyboards should have full-sized keys and at least four octaves. Acoustic pianos should be tuned at least twice a year.