Communications
Open communication between parent and teacher is critical to success in any educational endeavor. In addition to formal visitation classes and lesson observations, we urge you to use the telephone or e-mail to communicate directly with your child’s group and/or private teacher.

Each week students take an assignment sheet home from their lessons. Please check this assignment frequently for up-to-the-minute notices on calendar, activities, etc.

Missed Lessons
Since we see each student only once or twice a week, attendance at every lesson is extremely important. Group lessons missed by students cannot be made up under any circumstances. For private lessons, if the instructor is absent, lessons will be made up at a mutually convenient time. There are no refunds or credits for lessons not taken during the term. However, our teachers will make up a maximum of one missed private lesson per year.

A twenty-four hour notice is required for any cause except illness. If a student cannot attend a scheduled make-up lesson, it cannot be rescheduled.

School Closings
In the case of school closing due to inclement weather, make-up lessons will be scheduled. We will make every effort possible to make decisions regarding closing before 1 p.m. If the school is closed, there will be an announcement on the answering
machine. Announcements will be posted on this web site, and will also be made over WPST 94.5 FM.

Suggestions to Parents for Productive Practice
We at the New School for Music Study recognize the challenging schedules of today’s school children. Because of the many demands on each child’s time, a significant portion of private and group lesson time is dedicated to addressing how to make practice both efficient and productive. The entire family can play an active role in making lesson and practice time effective.

1. Immediately after the lesson, ask your child to tell you what s/he learned that day, to show you the new assignment, and especially to tell you what the teacher had to say about the lesson.
   
   
2. At the first practice session following the lesson, spend a few minutes with your child helping her/him practice one or two of the pieces. Even if you do not play the piano, encourage your child through the instructions on the assignment sheet. For example, we ask our students to use established practice steps to learn new music.
   
   
3. If there are questions about assignments, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s private teacher to discuss.