School Year 2023-2024
Parent/Student/Teacher Agreement
Dear All,
My number one priority in teaching is to be a productive, focused instructor and mentor, who sets each student up for success in achieving their musical goals.
I teach a small select group of private students. I choose new students from among intermediate to advanced players meeting all the following criteria:
● Have clear musical goals
● Are self-motivated
● Understand the importance of and are committed to consistent practicing and playing
● Come to each lesson prepared to learn and grow in their study of the piano
● Are willing to commit to studying with me 10 months of the school year – End of August to the 3rd week of June
Tuition
Student and teacher agree to the commitment of the term - Last week of August through the third week of June. Tuition may be paid by the month or per semester. Thirty-minute weekly lessons are $100 monthly or $500 per semester. Forty-five-minute lessons are $150.00 monthly or $750.00 per semester. First semester runs the last week of August through January. The second semester runs February through the third week of June. The semester payment is due at your first lesson of each semester. For those who would prefer to pay monthly, your tuition is due at the first scheduled lesson of each month. Note: Monthly payments are not strictly based on the number of lessons in the month. Months may include 3, 4 or 5 lessons. Recitals, performances, preparation, and venue fees are all included in the tuition fees. Checks are always to be made payable to Michelle Van Allen.
A final note regarding tuition: At times, parents have asked permission to stop lessons at the end of May instead of June. There is concession in adjusting for this modified scheduled when discussed at the beginning of Fall lessons. In such a case June tuition is not charged. The reason that I teach in June is to make the summer break shorter. Experience has shown that students lose significantly more ground in piano following a 12-week summer break than an 8-week break.
Music Books
I will help everyone select an appropriate repertoire of music throughout the year. With parents’ permission, I will happily order and gather music (or help to order music online). Parents can reimburse me as book orders come in.
Lesson Attendance
Your lesson time is reserved for you. Please courteously be on time. If you have not practiced, come to your lesson anyway! If you forget your music, come to your lesson anyway. If you are having a bad day, come to your lesson anyway! I can ALWAYS make your lesson time worth your while, and consistency in attending your lesson is essential! If you have a conflict and you can give me at least 24-hour advance notice, I am willing to make allowances for unexpected needs on a quarterly basis. Note: If you reschedule, coming during the school day is most helpful to me, if it is at all possible. IF you have a prolonged need to change your lesson time, we may be able to find another student who is willing to switch with you for a “season” of time (sports usually cause this conflict). THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR WORKING WITH EACH OTHER!
Illness
If you must cancel a lesson due to illness, I’ll do my best to accommodate a make-up lesson. This may come in the form of a private or group lesson, depending on the season.
If you are not feeling well, but well enough to have a lesson, please wash hands before your lesson and consider wearing a mask. (Please be reminded, I need to stay well as a teacher, and more importantly, I am my mother’s caregiver. I want to minimize the risk of her getting sick.) If you are well enough to have an online lesson, I’m willing to do that as well. Just ask for this. Please be sure my number is in everybody’s phone: Michelle Van Allen - 406-250-3525
Your Schedule for the 2023 - 2024 School Year
Lessons began the week of August 28, 2023. The week of October 2nd, there were no lessons. Thanksgiving week (November 21-24, 2023) there are no lessons Tuesday through Friday. Christmas break will be from Dec 22nd - Jan 1st. Spring Break will be the week of March 25th, 2024, as it is always observed to correspond to local School District #5 schedule. May 27th is Memorial Day. There will be two other canceled lesson times in the spring to be announced once I know dates. They’ve already been counted in my teaching schedule/commitment.
This Year's Events
Note: not every student is involved in all the following activities. They are simply offered through my studio for students to gain valuable musical experience.
First of all, please remember that you are playing first for you…for the love of playing and making music! If this is your main focus, it is a noble and worthy goal.
FREE CONCERTS for piano students – Glacier Orchestra has an open invite to local piano students to come for free to certain concert clinics. November 17th will feature flute and percussion with Suzanne Teng and Gilbert Levy. February 16th will feature pianist, Terrence Wilson. These are highly inspirational and formative. Simply tell Michelle your level of interest and she will work on reserving seats for you. Note: Parents must their children to these concerts if I am not able to attend.
Kalispell Area Music Teacher Festivals: Students may attend the KAMTA festival, March 8-9, 2024. Participation includes performing, having the experience of be adjudicated by a master teacher and those with high honors will be invited to play in the honors recital which immediately follows each festival.
KAMTA performance opportunities: February 11th will be performance day, with Romantic Era themed music. Please let Michelle know your level of interest in participating, so we may sign up in a timely manner.
Piano Boot Camp – for any student who is preparing for competition or performance throughout the school year. I will be hosting these on random Sunday afternoons. Stay tuned.
Winter Recital – Sunday, December 17, 2023 at Buffalo Hill Terrace Chapel/Auditorium. Two performances 3pm and 4:30pm. Please let Michelle know your time preference and she will work to accommodate you.
District Music Festival for High School Students (open to students attending public high school) – April 11-13, 2024
Spring Recital – Sunday, May 5, 2024. Save the date. Time and venue TBA
State Music Festival – May 3-4, 2024 Location TBA
Stillwater School Music Festival (open to homeschool and private school students. Time and date TBD
Piano Camp at the U of M: All my students (8th - 12th grade) are eligible to apply for piano camp and are also eligible to apply for a scholarship to help with the costs of the camp (because I am a local, state and national affiliate of the National Music Teachers Association). Piano camp will be one week during June of 2024.
Additionally, I can help connect and prepare students with opportunities to play in bands, church music teams, at public venues such as the hospital and assisted living facilities, etc.
Preparation and what to bring to private lessons
1. You, the musician - even if you have nothing else with you!
2. Bring music (a music bag is a great idea, to protect books)
3. Bring a good quality, spiral bound notebook to your lesson (many already have one). This is very important, as it keeps students and I focused on our goals and what we are accomplishing each week.
4. A recording device, such as a smartphone, is super helpful, when we are working on ear training.
5. Arrive at your lesson promptly.
6. At our first lesson, we will pick out music and books, make a practice plan and set goals for the school year.
7. A well-tuned piano is essential for ear training and gratification in playing. I recommend Daylor McFate. He is an excellent technician, dependable and largely available. His number is 406-839-5942