Concert Pianist
Fabio Álvarez
FABIO ÁLVAREZ PIANO STUDIO
WELCOME!
STUDIO POLICY
MISSION STATEMENT
Fabio Álvarez Piano Studio uniquely teaches and emphasizes a set of multidimensional values that can be broadly categorized into three pillars:
STRENGTHEN ↔
Complete mastery of the fundamental elements – technique, theory, ear training, and sight-reading – is necessary to establish a solid foundation in any student’s musical training.
SEEK ↖↗
Curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking are celebrated as the pathways to unlock true, dynamic, and passionate musicianship.
SOAR ⬆
Students are inspired, motivated, and driven to reach for the highest standards of excellence and personal achievement through examination, competition, and performance.
TUITION
Tuition is charged on a monthly basis. The amount per month may vary depending on the number of lessons that are scheduled. Please contact me through the “Contact” webpage or at fabioalvarezpianist@gmail.com for current tuition rates. Check the Billing section below for more details on how to pay for tuition.
STUDIO RECITALS
Studio Recitals are special highlights during the year to showcase the performances of students. They provide students with further incentives to practice hard and excel to the best of their ability. Recitals greatly boost self-esteem and confidence levels in all students and reinforce performing habits made by quality pianists.
Studio Recitals occur twice a year: a Fall Recital in November and a Spring Recital in May.
A non-refundable Recital fee of $30 per student ($45 for families with multiple students enrolled) per student, per recital, which will be added to the invoice of the month the recital occurs. For virtual recitals, there is a discounted non-refundable Recital fee of $15 per student, and $25 for families with multiple students enrolled.
The participation of students in these recitals is highly recommended, but not required. Those who wish to opt out of the Studio Recital must notify the teacher before the 15th of the previous month so that the Recital fee will not be charged. Students who have signed up to participate must attend and perform (unless there is a family emergency or illness).
All performances (with the exception of duets with another student) must be memorized. Memorizing ensures the utmost mastery of the students’ piece(s).
LESSONS LENGHT
Lesson lengths are determined as follows:
Level: Lesson Length
-
Level Beginner: ½ hour/week
-
Level Intermediate: ¾ hour/week
-
Level Advanced: 1 hour/week
Longer lessons and/or more frequent lessons are recommended for:
-
Students who want extra help with theory: add 15 minutes to regular lesson length.
-
Students who are playing at a significantly higher level than their level add 15-30 minutes to regular lesson length.
-
Students who are pursuing more advanced study and are preparing for competitions: double regular lesson length.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Required minimum practice schedule::
Level: Practice Schedule
-
Levels Beginner: ½ hour; 5-6 days/week
-
Levels Intermediate: 1 hour; 5-6 days/week
-
Levels Advanced: 1½ hours; 5-6 days/week
Longer practice sessions are recommended for students who are pursuing more advanced study and are preparing for competitions (e.g., double the required minutes per day). Progress is directly related to quality practice time. Motivated younger students should take advantage of their less demanding school schedule to build technical skills, repertoire, and musicianship before the rigors of high school.
BILLING
The invoice for a given month is sent out by e-mail on the 15th of the previous month, and payments are to be received on or before the 25th of the month the invoice was sent. There is a late fee of $40 if payment is not received by the 1st of the following month.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
The studio provides three different payment options to pay for the monthly tuition.
By Bizum: 605194742 - write the month the tuition payment is for on the description box.
By Paypal: fabioalvarezpianist@gmail.com – you must link your Paypal account to a checking account to avoid any transactional fees from Paypal.
By Cash
If this is an issue, please contact Fabio.
MAKE UP-LESSONS
Students are expected to make it a priority to attend all of their lessons. While the studio provides up to three (3) make-up lessons for “missed” lessons per year, a refund for any portion of the tuition will not be provided. Additionally, unused pre-paid tuition cannot be rolled over to future months during the school year. The only exception to this can be made during summer months.
If the student will be missing a lesson for any reason, he or she must notify the teacher as soon as possible (at the very least a 48-hour notice) to schedule a make-up lesson. In the case of an emergency or illness that cannot be notified within the 48-hour period, a make-up lesson may be provided at the teacher’s discretion.
IN-PERSON LESSON PROCEDURES
If a student comes to the teacher’s studio for lessons, the student must show up five minutes early to start on time.
If the teacher is coming to the student’s home, he or she must be ready to start upon arrival. Furthermore, the noise level must be brought down and there must be ample lighting to ensure the most optimal working space for the student. If the student’s home has a pet, the pet must be kept in a location that would not distract the teacher and student during the lesson.
It is absolutely important to bring all books and notebooks to lessons. A lesson can be wasted when the proper material is not readily available. Failure to bring materials is not grounds for a make-up lesson.
Parents are encouraged to watch the lessons of their child(ren) for the sake of being able to support their child(ren) better during the week. Parents who do choose to watch the lessons are not allowed to interrupt the teacher and the student.
IN-PERSON LESSON PROCEDURES
Virtual lessons are generally conducted over FaceTime. In the case that an Apple device is not available for use, there are other virtual platforms that can be used, such as Zoom and Skype.
Devices with larger screens (like laptops and tablets) are highly encouraged; however, using phones is acceptable. It is crucial for the device to be firmly planted on the side of the instrument to provide a full-length view of the keyboard and view of majority of the student’s body, especially the hands and face. Camera should be at a horizontal angle. It is also important that devices are fully charged prior to the lesson.
In the case the teacher does not have access to the music the student is learning, the student is responsible for sending scanned copies of the music prior to the lesson.
Virtual lessons require adult supervision for students who are ages 6 and younger to make the lessons run smoothly. In the event that a technological or logistical error occurs, the adult can provide assistance in that area to the child.
Lesson notes from the teacher are scanned and emailed to the parent after every lesson. It is important that lesson notes are printed out immediately so that the student has access to the weekly assignments and goals.
There are no discounted fees for virtual lessons. Make-up lesson policy also applies to virtual lessons.