Piano Lesson Openings!

Hello everyone!

I hope this post finds you all enjoying your new year! One thing I love about the new year is its a great time to think about starting your child in piano lessons! Music is such a healthy part of a child's life and one of my greatest joys in life is being able to help cultivate the love of music in children. I have several openings for lessons on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and would LOVE to begin teaching your child(ren). Please contact me with any questions! Thanks so much!

Miss Lacey

Policies and Procedures

Below is a copy of my policies and procedures for those with questions!
 
Fees –A 30 minute piano lesson out of my house is $15.00
Payment-Payment is expected in full at the beginning of each month.  Near the first of each month I will send an email/text with the coming months total in it.  At the next lesson you can send either check or cash with your child when they come in for their lesson.   If a lesson is missed during that month and I am notified about it at least twenty-four hours in advance then the next month’s bill will have one less lesson on it.  If there are ever any billing questions please don’t hesitate to ask.

Cancellation­-Parents and/or students have twenty-four hours to notify me if they aren’t going to be able to make a lesson.  The best way to get a hold of me is via a text message or call to my personal cell phone, number 630-730-6869.  Email also works well if sent at least a day in advance.  The email is lacey.miller.piano13@gmail.com.   If a lesson is missed and I am not notified of it before hand, you will still be charged.  I understand that in some cases there will be sickness/emergencies and if there are just please notify me and we will work it out.  If for any reason I have to cancel a lesson, then it will also be taken out of the next month’s bill.

Fingernails-Fingernails are to be kept short and clean to prevent clicking on the piano keys and to help the students better develop piano technique.

Piano Binders-Each and every student is REQUIRED to have a three ringed binder to put their instruction sheets in each week.  If a student does not have a binder, I will provide one for them and put the charge for the binder on the next month’s bill.

Weekly Practice-Students are expected to practice five days a week.  A full, daily practice is ONLY complete if the student has either played through all assigned songs three times each, or if the student has practiced the assigned songs for thirty minutes.  Time spent at the piano playing other music for fun is awesome, but does not count as practice time.  Practice is vital to learning new concepts and to improving skill.  Parents are expected to encourage their children to fulfill these requirements so that the piano lessons will have their full effect and benefit.   Parents will also be asked to sign their children’s practice sheet each week to ensure that beneficial practice is taking place.  A theory book will also be used as a weekly part of the practice schedule.  If a student goes more than a month without practicing regularly, they will be put at the bottom of my waiting list until they are ready/have the time to practice.  I will advise you if I have any concerns about your child(ren’s) practicing.

Reward System or “Piano Bucks”-Students will be rewarded for the time they put into practicing and the progress they make.  The students will be given the opportunity to earn “piano bucks” during each lesson.  On their instruction sheets that I will provide there is a chart that will keep track of how much they earn each week. The prize basket will include things such as candy bars, gum, and small toys/trinkets purchased by the piano teacher.  If there is anything you do not want your child to be able to purchase due to allergies or personal preference please contact me at 630-730-6869 or via email at lacey.miller.piano13@gmail.com .  This system will not only encourage the students to practice daily and achieve piano goals, but it will also help them manage their play money.  The students will only be able to purchase things out of the prize basket at the last lesson of each month, helping the students to better save and plan how they wish to use their earnings. 

Breakdown of money earning chart

Here is what is expected for each individual category on the student’s instruction page.

1.       Practice-Students will earn $5.00 for each day that they practice during the week.

2.        Focused Practice-Focused Practice will be rewarded dependent on how well the student practiced that week. Focused practice has several key points that I will be asking the students about each lesson.

a.       The student read what Miss Lacey put down on their piano practice sheet

b.      The student then thought about what it meant and explained it to themselves in their own words

c.       During their practice when the student found a hard spot instead of skipping it they stopped and worked on it by itself for five times before resuming practicing the entire song.

d.      The student worked on perfecting things like dynamics, pedaling, and counting

Deductions will be made from each category with short written notes on what the student can do to improve the following week.  The idea is to make it really hard to earn the piano bucks, therefore pushing the students to continually improve.

Music and Supplies-As the students’ progress and finish the piano books they currently have the parents/guardians will be responsible to pay for the new books at the next level.  Each student will also be required to have a theory book.  As the piano teacher I will go and buy the books they need and will add the price of the books to the bill for the next upcoming month.  If a student ever needs sheet music it will be purchased by me and then I will loan it out to the student until the song is complete.  If the student would like to keep the music they can then pay for it, or return it to me at no charge.  Any severe damage above wear and tear will be charged on the next monthly bill. 

Pianos-All students are required to have access to a full sized, weighted, 88 key piano.  If the piano is electronic, it MUST have weighted keys, meaning that playing loud and soft can be adjusted without the volume button on the keyboard.  This is a must because one of the first things taught in piano lessons is the importance of dynamics which can only be achieved with a real piano or a weighted key keyboard.  If you have any questions or concerns about your current piano please don’t hesitate to ask.

(Side note:  Craig’s list a GREAT place to find decent pianos for cheap, and also piano movers/tuners to get the piano to your house.  If you do not have space for an acoustic piano, a full sized, 88 WEIGHTED key keyboard will do; these can be found at music stores such as “The Guitar Place,”  (that’s where I got mine) or other music stores that sell instruments)

Disclaimer-I reserve the right to change these policies as I learn what works best for me and my students.  My goal is to make learning the piano a joyful experience for all involved.  I hope to get to know your children well and that they will learn to be comfortable with me.  I look forward to this opportunity to help your children learn to love music the way I do. 

References

1. Both of my boys (now age 11 and 12) took piano lessons from Lacey Miller for about three years in Lacey's home as well as in my home. She is a wonderful piano teacher because she has the perfect mix of warmth and no-nonsense that characterizes seasoned, wise teachers. My boys loved her, thought she was fun, interesting, and fair. Lacey is laid-back and realistic, but sets expectations and gives her students challenges they can achieve.


Her lessons were efficient and engaging. She talked with my child for a minute or two and then transitioned quickly to my child playing piano. Near the end of many lessons, she engaged my children with quizzes and games and had them working toward winning small prizes. My boys always looked forward to piano lessons. She also incorporated our song requests...allowing my boys to pick their Holiday songs and indulging one of my own song requests!


Lacey organized recitals for her students and she also joined in the celebration (in costume for Halloween or special song or treat--homemade root beer). The recitals were warm and relaxed and it was obvious that all her students felt comfortable and proud. When she gave my boys lessons in my home, my dog and three-year-old were always happy to see her as well. Lacey is a calm, practical person, and also very sociable and charismatic. She was an excellent piano teacher and we miss her!

2. Kirsten had a bit of a bad experience with a previous piano teacher so we were extremely happy to find that Lacey was patient and easy going! Kirsten always felt comfortable asking Lacey questions and figuring things out together when she had problems. She enjoyed going two piano lessons every week, it was never a chore. We'll miss Lacey!

3. Lacey was our very first piano teacher.  She started with us when my daughter was six and son was ten.  Then both instantly liked her (especially since she uses a reward system), and they always felt encouraged to try new things and push themselves as they grew.  She was wonderful in meeting them where they were (one knew how to read basic sheet music, the other had never been exposed).  While she taught them music and form, she also taught them to enjoy playing.  On a side note, my son struggles with focus at times, and Lacey was always kind as she guided his attention back to the piano.  I couldn't recommend her more and was very sad to lose her!

 

Hello everyone! My name is Miss Lacey and I recently moved to the Cincinnati, Ohio area in Green Township in Dent Ohio near Western Hills. I am currently looking for new students to finish filling my schedule on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons between 4:00-6:00 pm. Please contact me via email if you are interested in lessons for anyone age 6 and up! Thanks!

Miss Lacey