Friday, August 25, 2017 by Yulia Berry | Lessons

The school year is about to start, and with every new year, students are getting busier and busier! They do so many after-school activities that sometimes, it seems it's impossible to attend them all!

I understand how busy my students' lives are. That is why part of my teaching approach is helping students understand not only the importance of practicing, but how to efficiently practice so that no time is wasted when practicing at home. I also understand when other commitments arise and a student must miss a regularly scheduled lesson.

While many private instructors have a strict “no refunds, no make-ups, ever” policy (in fact, that seems to be the norm when looking at various private studio policies online), I recognize that there may be times when a student might need to reschedule. That is why I offer one make-up lesson per semester, built into the studio calendar and I always try to make up more lessons, as long as my schedule allows it and a reason for a missed lesson is a sickness or an emergency situation.

However, I recommend that students and parents of students read this article: Make-up Lessons From An Economist’s Point of View. I think it will spill some light on how missed lessons affect the teachers' life and schedule.

The article is written by the parent of a young violin student, who also happens to be an economist. The author describes what make-up lessons mean to her, and also what they mean for the teacher in terms of time and income sacrificed.

It’s a great read, and I highly recommend everyone enrolling in private music lessons read through it!

http://ottawasuzukistrings.ca/makeuplessons/

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Friday, August 25, 2017 by Yulia Berry | Registration

The Fall semester starts on September 10. If you haven't signed up, please, do so now. Only a few time slots left.

• Flute lessons for children and adults in Quincy Center (South Shore of Boston, MA)! 
• ANY LEVEL. 
• Ages 6+ 
• No previous music experience necessary to enroll. 
• Performance opportunities with a professional accompanist. 
• Chamber classes.

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Tuesday, August 8, 2017 by Yulia Berry | Lessons

A parent once asked me,

Why do you spend so much money and time for your daughter’s ballet classesand rehearsals so that she goes on stage once a year?

This is what I answered:

Well , let me tell you a secret. I don’t pay for my daughter to dance on stage once a year. Do you want to know what I’m paying for?

I am paying for my daughter to learn to be disciplined.

I am paying for my daughter to learn to take care of her mind and body.

I am paying for my daughter to learn how to work with others and be a good team member; and to develop her creativity.

I pay so that my daughter learns to face disappointment when she doesn’t get what she expected, and discovers that it is essential that she works harder.

I pay so that my daughter learns to achieve her goals.

I pay so that my daughter understands that it takes hours and hours of hard work and training to obtain results and that success does not come overnight.

I pay for the opportunity that my daughter has to make life lasting friendships.

I pay so that my daughter spends time at rehearsals and not in front of a screen.

I pay for those moments when she comes home so tired that she has no more time to waste.

I pay for all the teachings from this beautiful artistic discipline: responsibility, commitment, self confidence, conviviality, etc.

I could go on, but just to summarize I’ll tell you that I don’t pay for ballet classes, I pay for the opportunities that this discipline offers her to develop skills that will become quite useful all along her life and that will give her an opportunity to treasure life.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/effects-ballet-classes-schools-dont-tell-you-mironova-evdokimova-

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