info for new students

Welcome! Here is most of the info you will need before starting up lessons with me. 
If you can read through this thoroughly, we can get all the official dry business stuff out of the way and be ready to get our fiddles out and have fun!
1. Before We Start
2. Tuition
3. Register to the Online Studio
4. What to bring to your lessons
5. Practice requirements
6.​ The studio
7. Your traveling teacher

1. before we start
Before we schedule our first lesson I ask that you do the following:
1. If you haven't already, provide me with your contact phone number.
Mine is (503) 999 7011, please put it in your contacts.
2. Please read through the following points throughly, and follow the links for both the Fees and Cancellation Policy and the Registration pages, where you will be directed below.

2. Tuition
Please read this  Fees and Cancellation Policy thoroughly. It will help things run smoothly for all of us if you note the specifics of the fee structures and the cancellation policy as it will apply to you. By registering to the online studio, which is the next step, you will be stating your agreement to all points within the Fees and Cancellation Policy.

3. Register to the online          studio
I welcome you to register to my online studio, a requirement for starting up with our lessons. It’s the organisational tool for my teaching, and also useful for you to log in and view your own lesson schedule, make changes on the calendar, view special class events, make payments online, etc. Please fill out this form via this link to create a username and password for yourself:
​https://mirabaipeart.musicteachershelper.com/registration-1-1
IMPORTANT: By registering to my online studio, you are agreeing to my Studio Fee Cancellation Policy, see #2 above. 

4. What to bring to your        first lesson
Things I suggest to bring to the lesson, along with your violin are:
- a shoulder rest if you have one
 - sheet music If you have sheet music  or music books you have been working with or that you're excited about please bring them!
- a folder for handout sheets
- a notebook so you can make notes on all the super-interesting important points you will want to remember for practising at home!
- a recording device i.e. your smartphone or other gadget (useful but not compulsory)
- focus, laughter, and your ears. (compulsory)
- readiness to practise at home!! 

IN PERSON LESSONS DURING THE PANDEMIC
These take place in a 8 x 10' room with large open window, air filter, distancing and masks required (according to vaccination status)

FOR ONLINE LESSONS
Prepare well for our online lesson by having your instrument out of it's case, tuned and ready to play ahead of time. Have your sheet music and notebook handy, and your music stand set up in a good place nearby before we start.
Please set yourself up with good lighting, making sure your microphone and speakers work well. I'll need to see your whole upper body and arms in the frame if possible!

5. Practice requirements
By taking lessons with me you are agreeing to a certain amount of regular practise for yourself/your child. To maintain regular practise is a non-negotiable requirement for continuing lessons together.

FOR STUDENTS YOUNGER THAN 10:
It is recommended that a parent or guardian be present for lessons so as to be able to help them remember important things from the lesson to take into their home practise, and that often involves taking simple notes in a dedicated violin notebook so as to keep track of new ideas, techniques, tasks and projects. Also this can involve some kind of practice chart (for stickers and rewards!) Click here for an example chart.
For young students, it's important to have a 'practise partner' to actively help them with their practise sessions.
Practice at least 4 days each week is recommended.
10-15 mins for the young ones
20+ mins for kids from age 7.
It's good if the 'practise partner' can be the same person who accompanies them to their lessons. Sometimes more than one parent can share this responsibility, but often it's just one.

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND 10 AND UP:
At this age young people can grow into independance in their practice. During this transition, parent/guardian's involvement can be a little more hands-off and more about checking in, providing encouragement and motivation, and inviting the student to play for them on occasion (if the vibe is right!). Or even playing music together, with the parent accompanying, or in a jam like setting.

FOR ADULT STUDENTS:
Recommended 20 -60 mins of practise most days throughout the week, minimum 4 days per week.  As adult students it is your responsibility to take notes to guide your practise throughout time time in between our lessons.

6. the studio

MOSAIC STRING ACADEMY
5120 SE 28th Ave, Portland OR 97202

  • The new entrance to the Mosaic String Academy is on the South end of the building (the opposite end of the building to the beautiful Ardent Coffee Shop)
  • The parking lot right there on the South Side is currently not available for use by Academy teachers and students (it's reserved by the residents of the nearby apartments), so you can either park at the lot on the North side of the building, or on the street. Or ride your bike or catch a bus! For info on bicycle parking please contact me.
  • the Mosaic String Academy is requesting that all students/parents enter the building a minute or so before the lesson time, and no earlier, to avoid too many people in the Academy at one time. 
  • Masks are required in the hallway. Please sanitize hands upon arrival and/or wash hands in the bathroom which is to the left down the hallway.
  • My studio is the first door on the right. 
  • My studio has a shoes-off policy. You can take your shoes off at the door inside in the hallway. If you tend to get cold feet, I suggest bring warm socks ;)
  • In my studio room, a HEPA filter air purifier with effective filtration for particles as small as 0.1 microns will be running, and the large window will be open. 
  • As I myself am fully vaccinated, adults and teenagers who are vaccinated have the option of being mask-free inside the studio room. This decision is up to each student and family. The room will be big enough for us to comfortably practice social distancing. 

7. your traveling teacher
Every now and again (when it's not a pandemic) I need to leave town for trips as a performing musician and Australian ex-pat. While I need to travel occasionally, I always take my role as your teacher very seriously and will continue to be present with you as much as I can during these travels via email/phone/skype. For any trip longer than 3 weeks I'll usually be offering online lessons, with the exception of some tours. 
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