The Piano Studio of Amanda Schafer

"Music is a moral law.  It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything." --Plato

My Teaching Philosophy

Music is an essential part of a well-rounded education.

The teacher, the dedicated student, and the supportive parent create a powerful team that make music lessons a challenging and fulfilling experience.

My goal is to see my students become confident and artistic performers and to nurture a lifetime enjoyment of music.

Studio Policy

COVID-19 policy update as of June 2022: Lessons are available in person as well as online through the Zoom app. 

Rules for in-person lessons:

The studio is following the guidelines set by the Clay County Public Health Center and the Liberty School District. As of June 2022, masks are optional. We will continue to monitor the news and make adjustments accordingly. 

I have received my vaccination. The health of my family and my students is always a top priority.

Hand sanitizer will be available.

Students will wash hands before the lesson, and are encouraged to wash their hands after the lesson.

Students are encouraged to bring their own writing utensils in an effort to cut down on shared materials.

The parent or guardian may attend the lesson.  Siblings and friends must be supervised by a parent or guardian.  

Students are not to attend in-person lessons if they or any family members are unwell.  Online lessons will be provided in that situation.

Where do lessons take place?

My private studio is located at my home, which is located in the Clay Meadows area in Liberty. As of August 2021, I will also be on faculty at the Lydia Lovan Community School of Music at William Jewell College. Lessons are also available online through Zoom.

How much practice is expected?

Beginners should expect to practice a minimum of thirty minutes a day.  Intermediate and advanced students are expected to practice more.  Please keep in mind that when it comes to practice, it is not only the amount of time that you spend at the piano, but also how you structure your practice. I teach my students how to make the most of their practice time by teaching them how to practice efficiently.  Young students will require parental supervision during practice.

Nails must be trimmed short. Short nails enable students to play with the correct hand position that is essential to provide a quality sound, develop strong fingers, and to prevent hand strain and injury.

What kind of instrument is needed?

The student will need his or her own instrument at home for daily practice.  An acoustic piano is ideal.  A digital piano is also acceptable, provided that it has weighted keys, is full-sized (88 keys) and has a pedal.  A piano bench is necessary for proper form.  A foot stool or pedal extender may be used for very young students so that their feet have a comfortable place to rest.  A good reading light is also highly recommended.

Where should I wait while my child has his piano lesson?

Parents of young children may come and observe the lesson. You may also wait in the car, or explore the nearby park. Some students find it reassuring to have the parent in the room while the lesson takes place, while others find it distracting.  Sometimes I may require a parent to be present, such as is the case with very young children or those with behavioral issues.  Other times I might encourage a parent to wait in the designated waiting area, as it may be difficult for the student to concentrate with the parent present.  Every student is different.

Siblings and visitors are welcome, provided that they remain quiet and observe the studio policy. All siblings and young visitors must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

What do we do in the event of inclement weather?

My policy is that when the public schools are closed due to inclement weather, we do not meet.  We will hold make up lessons at a time convenient to everyone, or we can have an online lesson through Zoom.

What is the attendance policy?

Regular attendance of lessons is the responsibility of the student and parent.  The studio will not assume any financial responsibility for the student’s absence(s) due to illness, sports, school trips, etc.  Please note that once the semester is underway that changing your lesson time to accommodate sports or other activities may not be possible.  Please do not come to your lesson if you are sick!  The studio does provide quarterly makeup lesson days.

Please arrive on time.  If a student arrives late, time will not be taken from the following student’s lesson to accommodate late arrivals.

Emergency situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that frequent, unexcused absences may result in terminating lessons.

Makeup Lesson Policy

Every student is allowed one makeup lesson per semester.  Any lessons missed by the teacher will not count as your one makeup lesson, and will be made up at a time convenient for everyone.  Any lessons missed to inclement weather will not be affected by this policy.  Please note that makeup lessons are only available for the quarters listed.  They cannot be changed or rolled over into the next semester.

Tuition

Lessons are based on a monthly tuition which reserves the student a specific weekly slot and membership within the studio.  Tuition covers your private lesson as well as the teachers’ time spent planning each lesson.  Payment is due at the first lesson of the month.  I send out monthly invoices to each parent.  If you do not make the first lesson of the month, forget your payment, or put your payment in the mail, please make sure that I have received it by the 10 ^th      of the month to keep the $10 late fee from incurring. For those that pay the full semester tuition at the first lesson of the semester, a 10% discount will apply.

Tuition cannot be refunded.

Tuition payments can be paid with cash, check, PayPal, Venmo, or debit/credit card via Stripe.

Practice and Parental Support

Progress will not occur without regular, consistent practice.  Learning the necessary skills to play the piano will not happen just by showing up to lessons.  Music is a lifelong skill that requires commitment and concentration.  Parental support is important in musical training.  Young students usually require parental guidance when setting up a practice regimen at home.  It is often necessary for the parent to sit with the child and guide them through their homework for the first few weeks.

Music is a challenging skill.  Learning plateaus can be frustrating, but they are part of the learning process.  They can only be overcome with patience and persistence.

Consistent, thoughtful practice results in beautiful music, high self-esteem, and a sense of accomplishment!

Recitals

Our studio participates in a variety of recitals, festivals, and competitions. Some of these opportunities are in-person, while others offer an online option. There will be several opportunities to perform throughout the school year.  Our studio hosts a fall recital and a spring recital, which take place at the Steinway Piano Gallery.  As a member of KCMTA (Kansas City Music Teachers Association), I am eligible to have students from my studio play at certain events in the area.  As a member of Federated Music Teachers, we are eligible to participate in the association's festivals and activities as well. Students are also eligible to participate in the Royal Conservatory of Music Auditions. 

Terminating Lessons

Should you decide to terminate lessons, please understand that a one-month notice is appreciated.  In addition, the studio reserves the right to terminate lessons with any student for non-compliance with any of the stated lesson policies and requirements of any other inappropriate behavior.  Please note that tuition will not be refunded.