The Piano Studio of Christy Wisuthseriwong at The Music Academy of North Carolina
I
present a balanced and well-rounded approach to making music. For students of every level, I incorporate a
variety of different activities in lessons, including solo and ensemble repertoire,
technique, sight-reading, and theory.
My aim is to build a solid foundation of musical knowledge for the
student, encourage fun and creativity, and provide a nurturing and positive
environment with emphasis on the following areas:
- Building
note reading and rhythmic skills
- Integrating
music theory knowledge
- Developing
aural skills through ear training
- Developing
proper technique
- Establishing
a healthy physical presence at the piano – incorporating good posture and
body habits from the beginning
Attendance Policy: IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
MANC
has a no-makeup policy for lessons missed by the student. If you know in advance that you will not be
able to make a lesson, please let me know.
With advanced notice, I will work with you to reschedule a lesson so
that the lesson time is not lost. Please do not come to a lesson if you are
sick. I do not reschedule for
no-shows or last-minute cancellations (less than 24 hours’ notice).
Please
give me 24 hours notice if you must cancel a lesson. Any lessons that I cancel will be rescheduled
and made up at the earliest convenience.
Once a time for a make-up lesson has been mutually agreed upon, that
time will function as a regular lesson and cannot be rescheduled or made up if
missed.
Inclement Weather Policy: In the case of inclement
weather, The Music Academy often remains open. The Music Academy will close if
conditions become dangerous. Announcements of closing will be on The Music
Academy’s website, announced via email, and posted on WFMY-2, WGHP-Fox 8,
WXII-12, and Facebook. The Music Academy
guarantees one make-up lesson if lessons or classes are canceled due to weather
conditions. Additional make-up lessons due to closure will be at
the discretion and scheduling
availability of the teacher. No refunds will be issued. If The
Music Academy remains open but a student chooses not to come, the teacher is
not responsible for scheduling a make-up leson.
Practicing Expectations: CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY
Consistent
practice is essential for progress!
Practice requirements will vary for students of different ages and
levels, but here are some general practice guidelines:
Beginners 20-30 min. each day, 5 days/week
Intermediate 30-45 min. each day, 5 days/week
Advanced 1 hr. each day, 5 days/week
Another
good way to think about practicing is take the length of your lesson and
practice at least that same amount of time every day!
Practice
expectations will be discussed individually with each student and parent. Studying piano is a daily commitment outside
of lessons. Practicing a little bit
every day is much more effective than cramming in a long practicing session the
day before the lesson. Remember, the
more time that you put in with consistent and thoughtful practicing, the
quicker you will see improvement!
Very
young students or beginners benefit from having parental supervision or
guidance in their practicing at home. I
often encourage parents of young beginners to also sit in on lessons, unless that
proves too distracting for the student.
Once a student is older and more mature, it is easier for practicing to
be self-guided.
Lesson Expectations
Be on time for your lessons, and be
prepared! Come to my door and knock at
your lesson time. Have your books and
any other lesson materials with you.
Piano lessons are a cell phone free zone. Please have your phone turned off or set the
ringer to silent during your lesson time.
The student’s fingernails should be kept short and clean. I do not allow chewing gum during lessons!
Performance
Public
performance is an important element of learning music. It gives the student a chance to build
self-confidence and poise, and it provides an opportunity to display new things
that he/she has learned. Performance
opportunities are available through recitals offered by the Academy. I strongly encourage each student to give at
least one memorized performance per semester.
In addition to monthly Student Showcase Recitals, other performing and
evaluating opportunities will be recommended to students based on their level
of preparation and achievement: the MANC
Piano Festival in the fall, and the GMTA and other piano festivals and
competitions in the spring.
Attending
performances is just as important.
Hearing live performances of many different types of music is often more
inspiring and motivating than sitting through a piano lesson! I encourage all of my students to take
advantage of performances offered at MANC and in venues around the
community. I will notify students of
local events of interest and encourage participation in these events.
Final Words
I
always try to keep communication open between myself and the student, and
between myself and the parents, throughout the semester regarding expectations
and progress. Please feel free to
contact me if you have any thoughts or concerns.
