On It Music Studio Information
On It Music, my private music studio, is open to enthusiastically eager learners. I teach violin, viola, cello, and piano and music theory at all levels. Starting out, I generally utilize the Suzuki Pedagogy and Repertoire, depending on student level. While living in the New York area, I learned and incorporated the State Music Association’s (NYSSMA) standards for scales, sight reading, technique, and repertoire into my own methodology. Currently steps outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, I teach out of my studio in Hamilton while also serving online students all over the world. Though in the past I have been an “in-home” teacher, at this time in my life I’m committed to teaching only in studio, online, or in partnership with a larger studio. As my studio of Hamilton students grows, I want to host group classes as well as performance ensembles that are part of the lesson package. The current lesson package covers my current rate and other fees; I am open to negotiation and circumstance.
IMPORTANT COVID-19 INFORMATION: To help slow the spread of the corona-virus, masking is optional while in the studio. However, hand washing is mandatory and available. If you are coughing or sneezing due to any host of ailments, including allergies* and the common cold, please use a mask. I have disposable paper masks available. *Note for allergies: I have 2 cats. Sick/ Missed Lesson information listed below.
The Successful On It Student
Is prepared for the weekly lesson with questions and demonstrates improvement.
Voices concerns and is comfortable discussing bodily calisthenics. Important: Music lessons are academic (brain) and physical (body), yet demand emotional energy (heart), too.
Shares their love for music and art by performing for family, friends, and the community - we practice what we preach!
Listens to music… constantly! Definitely has their repertoire on a favorite playlist, listens to music with their instrument at large, and finds new artists and niche music genres. Anyone heard of JanaJana?
The responsible Parent/Guardian is recommended to attend lessons with students under 18 years-old and required to attend with students 12 years-old and under. The responsible Parent/Guardian helps the student at home during the week to both attain and maintain the success for the student. This responsible Parent/Guardian does not need to have previous classical music experience, only an earnest love for nurturing art in their student. The home environment also needs to be filled with music at all times.
On It Music Payments and Lessons
For New Students to On It Music, I accept payments via Zelle, Venmo, or Apple Cash, personal check, and USD Cash. I prefer that multiple lessons be booked and purchased before the Lesson, so as to give all the time and attention to the student and the reason for our meeting. However, I know everyone has a situation and that may not be possible. Therefore, if you wish to pay lesson-to-lesson, please have your method of payment ready at the beginning of our scheduled meeting time.
If you choose to book and purchase multiple lessons, I honor the number of lessons purchased unless there are too many cancellations. All payments are final. If I, the teacher, need to cancel, I always first try to reschedule the lesson as soon as I know I have conflict or illness. If the lesson cannot be rescheduled within the week of teacher cancellation, the lesson will be kept as credit to be used anytime for anyone within the student’s family or forwarded to a friend. A teacher-cancelled lesson is always made up. If the student (responsible Parent/Guardian) needs to cancel, try to already have a make-up time available. In scheduling weekly lessons, we will already discuss many times we could have lesson; generally one of these times works for make-ups. For in-person lessons, make-up lessons will be honored if the cancellation was 24 hours or more before the scheduled lesson time (12 hours for online lessons). Sickness can be sudden and will be allowed for case by case. However, as with school or any other professional appointment, if the student is showing illness the night before the scheduled lesson, go ahead and text me so we can begin the rescheduling process even if the student returns to school and feels fine the next day. If the cancellation by the student (P/G) cannot be made up in a timely fashion (up to 4 weeks after cancel) then the lesson payment is forfeited. If the student (P/G) cancels the lesson within 24 hours for in-person or 12 for hours for online of the scheduled lesson, the payment is forfeited.
Scenarios:
Ann’s lesson is scheduled for Wednesdays at 1pm for in-person at 45-minutes. Ann starts feeling ill Tuesday night and has signs of a fever. Ann’s guardian should text teacher to begin to possibly reschedule lesson for the other time that works though tight in the schedule: Fridays at 11am. Wednesday morning, Ann feels fine. Ann’s guardian texts teacher and Ann can go to regular Wednesday lesson. Best Scenario.
Ann’s lesson is scheduled for Wednesdays at 1pm for in-person at 45-minutes. Ann starts feeling ill Tuesday night and has signs of a fever. Ann’s guardian hopes for the best. Ann is still sick, nay worse, Wednesday morning. Aura’s guardian texts teacher for that reschedule Wednesday morning, utilizing the universal 1-free-sick-day card for the semester. No worries, and Ann feels well by the Friday squished time but is still able to have lesson for the week and can come prepared for following Wednesday lesson. Less good, but still viable. Every corporate job or teaching responsibility I’ve had there is an understanding that sickness happens, but is quite preventable. If one is sick, one must try to limit absence to twice a year, or once a semester.
Ann’s lesson is scheduled for Wednesdays at 1pm for in-person at 45-minutes. Ann remembers Tuesday morning that their Optometrist appointment is the following day during the lesson time. Ann’s guardian texts teacher and is able to set up the fall-back Friday lesson time. Best Scenario.
Ann’s lesson is scheduled for Wednesdays at 1pm for in-person at 45-minutes. Ann remembers Wednesday morning that their Optometrist appointment is during the lesson time. Ann’s guardian has 2 options: cancel/reschedule the Optometrist (follow up with them what their policies are); or cancel the lesson with teacher and forfeit the payment already made.
I do understand that things come up that we don’t expect and I am open. As long as there is open communication between me, the teacher, and the responsible parent/guardian concerning schedule and meeting lessons, talk of forfeiting any sort of payment usually does not exist.
Calendar Holidays
I take some holidays but not others and it differs every year! The life of a performing musician… Any the following is a list of events throughout the year that teacher and student need to keep in mind for scheduling.
First day of School - end of August?
Labor Day - first weekend in September
Thanksgiving - fourth weekend of November (Wednesday??)
December… So much happens until January and school starts
Spring Break - When is yours?
Easter / Passover - March / April, is it overlapping with Spring Break?
Memorial Day - end of May
Summer Holiday - end of May or June?
Summer Camps - Interlochen runs from end of June to beginning of August
Of course, please let me know as soon as possible about scheduling conflicts, the earlier the better! Depending on your Lesson Package purchase will determine how we schedule and look at the calendar. The 4 and 12 lesson packages are designed for weekly meetings. Lesson on a non-weekly schedule will likely utilize the Trial Lesson as a one-off each time.