Expectations And Policies

Updated January 2022

With the intention of giving you the best music lesson experience possible, I offer you the following expectations and policies from Grace Notes Music Studio.

BRAVO Youth Orchestra Guest Artist
Guest Artist for BRAVO Youth Orchestras in December 2015

Expectations

My expectations of each student are to:

  • Arrive on time for lessons
  • Practice the assigned lesson
  • Keep two playable reeds in rotation
  • Maintain your instrument in playable condition
  • Talk with me if you are not satisfied with the way lessons are going or if you are feeling less motivated than usual
  • Ask questions about your assignments and instrument. Be involved!

I welcome your questions, thoughts, and ideas about your educational and playing experience. If you keep to these guidelines, your success is ensured!

Clarinet & Saxophone Lessons

Your Grace Notes Music Saxophone & Clarinet Lessons include:

  1. Personalized instruction for your unique needs as a musician. Lessons evolve over time as your skill develops. The lessons can be used at any time during a calendar month. Unused lessons do not rollover into subsequent months.
  2. Education in sight-reading skills, instrument care, cane and synthetic reed use.
  3. An ongoing focus on both music appreciation and music theory.
  4. Two complimentary cane reeds each month to support your musical growth.
  5. Two performance opportunities each year with ongoing support for participating in those performances.
  6. Brief consultations by phone or email between lessons.

Throughout your time with Grace Notes Music, I’ll hold the vision of you already being the talented musician you dream of becoming. I’ll inspire and call forth your innate musical genius, walk side-by-side with you while you grow as a musician, and encourage you to have fun all along the way.

Recitals

Each student performs twice each year at the Spring and Fall recitals. These are fun opportunities for you to share your accomplishments with family and friends. Your recital performance consists of  playing in a small ensemble such as a duo, trio, or quartet. Playing groups are formed with other Grace Notes Music Studio students. You may also form an ensemble with family or friends upon approval by Mary Ellen Grace.  

You may also perform a solo work, with or without accompaniment. Accompaniment may be piano, guitar, ukulele, accordion, or another chord-playing instrument. In most cases, the music will be chosen for you in accordance with your skill level. However, I am always open to student ideas for solo or ensemble music choice. Performance in recitals is required except in extreme circumstances. 

Inclement Weather

If Portland Public Schools close due to inclement weather, and/or you are not comfortable traveling to my studio, I offer remote video lessons. The video platform I use is Zoom. Text or call at least two hours before your lesson to specify having a lesson on Zoom. The Zoom lesson will take place at the same time as your scheduled lesson. Each student is assigned a unique passcode for their own Zoom “room.” It is preferred that you use headphones or earbuds during a Zoom lesson. Read more about Zoom best practices.

Scheduling and Make-up Lessons

Please reschedule at least 24 hours in advance using the online scheduler to avoid being charged for a missed lesson. The online scheduler also allows you to add lessons 8 hours before an available time.

No-shows and cancellations made without 24 hours notice will be charged as a regular lesson. Unexpected illness on the part of the student is the one exception to this policy. If the student wakes up sick or comes home from school during the day, a make-up lesson is allowed. If the student’s driver is ill, they must make other arrangements to get the student to the lesson or stay at home and dial in to your private Zoom room. No make-up will be granted for driver illness. Text me when missing a lesson. (503) 888-5796. This is the most timely way to communicate.

Make-up lessons will be scheduled during the same month as the original lesson. If a missed lesson is in the last week of the month, a make-up lesson will be scheduled during the first two weeks of the next month.

COVID-19 Symptoms

Symptoms of Coronavirus can include the following:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever or chills
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • New loss of taste or smell

Symptoms can range from mild to severe illness, and appear 2-14 days after you are exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.

Fees and Payment

Lessons are billed at the rate of $65 per lesson. Schedule any number of lessons per month.

At the start of the month, Grace Notes Music Studio will generate an invoice for the lessons scheduled in the coming month. Payment is due by the first lesson of the month. Payment options include: Venmo [@musicmegga], SquareUp invoice, ApplePay. Refunds are subject to a 7% charge.

Parking and Other Logistics

The entrance to the studio is on the South side of the house. Please text me when you arrive and I will let you know when to come back. Enter through the gate and walk down the courtyard to the back of the house. The entrance to the studio is up 5 steps on the deck, first door on the left. Please remove your shoes upon entering. Thank you for respecting my shoes-off studio. 

Parking is available on SE Belmont Street in front of my studio. If you are dropping off a student, feel free to use the driveway as a drop off point. Once your child is safely dropped off with their instrument, please park elsewhere on the street, preferably keeping about five feet open on either side of the driveway. 

We share a double wide driveway with our neighbor to the West. It is fine to park in front of either house. Please leave about five feet open before and after the driveway itself and do not park in front of the driveway. 

My studio is located on the #15 bus line and a short walk from the #71 (SE 60th) line. Bus riders may find more information at www.trimet.org. 

If it works for your mode of transportation, you may put your instrument together before your lesson and be ready to play at your scheduled lesson time. Family members are welcome to sit in the waiting area during the student’s lesson, provided they do not disrupt the lesson. Since returning to in-person learning during the COVID Pandemic, there is no waiting area in the studio and only the student is allowed in the studio at this time. Further, lessons are separated by a 10-minute ventilation and cleaning period.

Thank you for your consideration of these policies and expectations.