Peden Piano Studio 

FAQ’s for Peden Piano Studio 

Do I have to have a piano?

1. All students must have regular access to a piano (acoustic or digital) for practice.   The quality of your student’s home instrument plays a significant role in their potential for success. 
2. If you prefer a digital piano, please invest in a full-size keyboard (88 keys) with weighted, touch-sensitive keys and a sustain pedal.  These features are critical for the student to gain essential piano playing skills.
3. Acoustic pianos should be tuned at least once a year, and kept in good working order.   

How much do I have to practice?

1. Regular home practice is essential for student success.   Ideally, students should aim for at least 5 days of practice each week.  Practicing time can range from 10 minutes a day for elementary students, 20-30 minutes for intermediate, to 45-60 minutes a day for advanced students. Please consider practicing piano just as important as completing homework for school.
2. Shorter, daily practice sessions are more effective than one or two long sessions per week.  The most important time for students to practice is right after their weekly lesson, to solidify what they have just learned.  Research has shown that retention of new knowledge drops to 60% after just 24 hours. It’s not a good idea to wait until the end of the week, then “cram” practice right before a student’s next lesson!
3. Parental involvement in home practice is crucial for student success, especially for younger students.  Please help your student to establish and stick to a practice routine, and see that practice time is free of distractions.  If you are the parent of an elementary age student, please plan to sit with your child for at least a portion of their daily practice time. Protect your investment into your child by helping them to make practicing the piano part of their daily routine.

Can I drop off my child early?

1. If you arrive early, please have your child either wait in the car or on the porch until their lesson time.There is a clock on the porch for your convenience.

Do students have to take off their shoes?

1. Students, if your shoes or boots are wet, please take them off and leave them on the porch or on the rug inside.
2. If you have smelly feet, please don’t be offended if I spray them with essential oils!

Can parents stay for the lessons?

1. Parents of new students are welcome to attend the first lesson to help their child get comfortable.
2. I prefer that parents wait outside or come back at the end of the lesson, but I do have a waiting area where a parent can wait in the living room.
3. Occasionally a student may request the parent or grandparent to come in to hear a special song.

Can siblings wait for each other at the studio?

1. If two siblings have back-to-back lessons, I prefer that they wait outside, at the playground next-door or in the car, but they may wait in the living room if they have adult supervision and can be very quiet.  Exceptions can be made for mature students.

Can we bring snacks into the studio?

1. Please do not bring snacks into the studio. We don’t want crumbs or sticky fingers at the piano.

How do students get picked up?

1. After the lesson, students may wait on the porch until their ride arrives. Parents are not required to come in. Students should be picked up promptly at the end of their lesson.
2. Students grades 7 and up may walk or bike home on their own if they live nearby. 
3. If your child is meeting the parent at the playground next door, please inform the teacher in advance.

How do I log in to the Student Portal on the Studio Website

1. Login: After you register, you will be given a username and password to log in to your account at the studio website, pedenpiano.mymusicstaff.com. Please keep your username and password in a safe place where you can refer to them easily.On the website you will be able to check your account status as well as cancel lessons and schedule makeups. (Please refer to the Attendance Policy.)

How are payments handled?

1. Tuition: The tuition is due at the beginning of each month. You will receive an invoice in your email that shows how much is due that month. Payments can be made by cash, check (made payable to Peden Piano Studio), automated bill payment through your bank, or credit card through Paypal. Please refer to the Tuition Schedule for more information.
2. Checks: Please allow up to 3 weeks for checks to be deposited. If you receive a late notice and you have already sent in a check, you may disregard the notice (they go out automatically). If your payment has not been recorded on the following month’s invoice, please contact me.
3. Late fee: A $10 late fee will be incurred for every 30 days a payment is late. Please pay on time.
4. Registration fee: Music books and materials are included in the annual registration fee and will NOT be billed separately. The registration fee will be pro-rated for new students joining after January 1st.

Will my child’s picture be used online?

1. Photos of students and video and audio recordings of student projects and performances may be posted online and used by the instructor for promotional and workshop materials.  Identifying information will be excluded or limited to first names only.  Parents wishing to exempt their students from any published media may do so by providing a written exclusion request.