Alcon Piano Studio
Prospective Student Information
Thank you for contacting me about piano lessons. My business thrives on referrals and each year I
am able to welcome a number of new students into the studio.
Instrument: You need a piano or keyboard to play at home for lessons to be worth your time and money.
It does not need to be a full size keyboard, but you need full size keys, preferably weighted - which means
touch sensitive for volume control.
Lesson Time: I teach Monday through Saturday during the school year and continue lessons in the
summer on a limited schedule - usually Monday through Wednesday. Current students have taken first
choice of the available times, so seeing if there are open lessons times that work for your schedule is the
first order of business. This is more easily done over the phone than by email. If there are not any times
that will work right now, I can put you on a waiting list or refer you to another teacher.
Interview: If we are able to find a time that works and you have a home instrument, I like to set up a
time to meet before lessons begin. In the age of internet, you may know me and I you only from an
internet source. As a matter of safety, it is important to meet and feel comfortable having students come
into my home each week. The interview also provides an opportunity to evaluate younger students for
readiness and determine if they will be successful as they begin piano study. Younger students will need
daily supervision with practice at home. Parent commitment is critical for lessons to be successful and
positive.
Studio: I have three full size pianos in my studio and a wealth of teaching resources at my fingertips.
Students have unique opportunities for ensemble playing and for using studio interactive computer music
theory software programs. Students also have access to a studio monitored online music theory game site
from any home computer.
Cost: Lessons during the nine-month school year are billed monthly based on the average of four lessons
per month. Thirty-minute lessons are $95 a month. Forty-five minute lessons are $132 a month.
Summer lessons still billed monthly, but students select and pay for only the dates they can attend. All
summer lessons are 45 minutes long and $30 each. I charge a $30 deposit (due at the first lesson) that is
refundable if I am given a 30 day notice when you stop lessons.
Ages: Beginners and continuing students age 6 to adult. The younger the student, the more the parent
must be actively involved in home practice.
Method: I use a variety of lesson materials and resources with students. Private lessons allow me to
customize lessons to each individual student. Students play all kinds of music including popular and
classical – solos and duets. We study music theory, technique, composition and music history. Piano isjust the perfect instrument to learn all about music.
Progress: Every student progresses at their own pace. Many individual factors can influence progress
including the amount and quality of home practice and the age the student. I track levels of student
achievement in several areas of musicianship including sight-reading, technique, music theory and
rhythm.
Performance: Our main focus at the lesson is on reading rather than on performance because the ability to read music is more valuable as a lifetime skill than the memory of a few select pieces for performance.That said - students do have opportunities for memory performance during the year in festivals and recitals. I recognize memory as a skill to be developed and offer reward certificates and prizes for the
number of measures the student can collect throughout the year.
Adult Beginners and Continuing Students: Adults usually choose to study piano for pleasure and
enrichment. They do not participate in the studio recitals. Adult lessons are individualized to their
specific goals and interests while still covering all of the basic skills they need to move forward.
I hope this information is helpful to you. Please feel free to call or email me with any other questions you may have.
Susan Alcon
336-852-4596 (no texts)
musicalcon@hotmail.com
alconpianostudio.com
