Lessons

Fees 2023-2024

Private lessons:

$32.00 per 30 min. ($48 for 45 min., $64 for an hour) based on a 34-week teaching year. I no longer charge a registration fee. Lesson books or exam fees are extra.

The annual 34-week total is divided by ten monthly payments and prepaid, either

recurring pre-authorized bank debits
year's payment in full
postdated monthly cheques

The lesson time you have selected for the fall can be held by prepaying the September fee. If you stop lessons during the year, the exact number you have had will be calculated, and the balance refunded or invoiced to you.

Year's total fees, for 34 teaching weeks:

for 30 minute per week lesson: $1088 (or $108.80 per month for ten months)

for 45 minute per week lesson: $1632 (or $163.20 per month for ten months)

for 60 minute per week lesson: $2176 (or $217.60 per month for ten months)

5-week lesson cards; 30 min $160, 45 min $240, 60 min $320.

To set up recurring direct payments, go to your banking app, choose 'make an e-transfer' and look for the 'how often?' button, where you can select monthly payments and the date, first of the month.

and more info.....

Teaching calendar 2023-2024

Supplies you need every week;

Term 1 (15 weeks) ...begins Monday Sept 11

theory/practical exams: online any time
Nov 7 deadline for in-person
one mid-term break tba
in-person theory, Friday Dec 8
Christmas recital tba

......ends Thursday Dec 21

Term 2 (9 weeks) .... begins Saturday January 6

entries close Jan 9 for piano-only April exams, Victoria; online exams any time.
practical exams tba - around Jan 20
Cowichan Music Festival, mid-February tba
entries close Tues March 5 for June in-person practical and May theory exams. Online exams any time.

......ends Saturday March 9

III

Term 3 (10 weeks) .....begins Saturday March 25

theory exams online any time; some offered in person, Friday May 10
practical exams, Cowichan/Sylvan early June, or online any time EXCEPT June
year-end recital, early June

.......ends Saturday June 1

Supplies you need every week;

3-ring binder (1/2" or 1 ")
music books
carry-bag to keep then together - and dry

I run a flexible year, so if I offer you extra lessons before a performance, or if I have to cancel, there's no extra cost or refund at that time. At year-end, I'll tally up the lessons you've had this year, and then adjust remaining lessons as needed to make sure you've had 34 lessons.

Practice

Probably the single most important factor in a music student's success and enjoyment is the regularity and quality of practice. All the talent in the world won't help if you don't put in the time and repetitions to get your fingers used to the repeated muscle movements that musicians make. If you're involved in sports or dance, you'll already know that. When you're competent, it's fun - and when you're not - "it's boring!" You can help by -

setting aside a regular time for practising, just like brushing teeth or doing homework. After or before dinner, or school, might work, depending on your family's schedule and your child's temperament. Like any physical skill, it's all about regular repetition.
Listing music practice in the agenda will help school teachers be aware of this extra time commitment and might help your child remember to get it done as part of their homework routine.
noticing successes at least as frequently as mistakes. You might want to start a keepsake video file of polished pieces so you can all admire progress - and so can Grandma in Ontario!

Junior Group Lesson

Advanced Music History groups

6 hour-long group classes for younger students, generally on the Wednesday 2-hr early-dismissal afternoons; 1.45 - 2.45 or as arranged.

During the pandemic, these classes have been on hold.

All younger students are enrolled in group classes if possible. They are effective and popular - children learn confidence in performing in front of others, connect with other students, review reading, theory concepts, and practise ear/rhythm skills, mostly not practical in private lessons.

Advanced Music History groups

History 9, 10, ARCT: fee $750.
I now recommend the online study course and exam.

If you prefer in-person group lessons-

all materials included; exam fees extra. The exam will be the second Friday in May every year. Classes are 45 min to an hour, depending on the number of participants, and will require follow-up review and listening exercises at home. Keyboard Harmony 9, 10 or ARCT will be taught in a private lesson.

Other theory levels, using the RCM books which match grade levels 1-8, are studied along with the regular lesson for both piano and cello students.