• Lyrikos is located on the south side of King Avenue near North Star Avenue, next to Bonafacio. There is parking available on the north side of the street, as well as Ashland Avenue which runs perpendicular to King Avenue close to the studio.

• Parents or guardians should try to be present for the first few months of lessons if the student is a young beginner (around 5-7 years of age). See the Parental Observation section below for more info.

• Scheduling challenges may arise, but in order to maintain the level of commitment essential to the progress of piano study, it is expected that students and parents reserve a lesson time that will not conflict with other scheduled activities during the school year. Students may have multiple extracurricular activities that change during the year, and I will try my best to be accommodating, but I cannot guarantee that your lesson date and time can be changed based on other after-school commitments that come up.

   

• Piano lessons will cover the four basic pillars of music learning: music literacy, technique, performance, and theory. This includes studying classical, pop, jazz, contemporary, and world repertoire using method books and supplementary materials according to each student’s individual needs and interests.

• Beginning and intermediate students at Lyrikos take either 30- or 45-minute piano lessons each week. This allows enough time for the above pillars of learning, as well as time for educational activities away from the piano (iPad games, flashcards, etc.) and to speak briefly to parents about student progress. Younger students benefit from having these varied activities incorporated into their lessons.

• Advanced and/or adult students take 60-minute piano lessons each week. 
• Four group classes are included in the yearly tuition and occur in the fall and spring, taking the place of a regular lesson for the week. This is a chance for students to play for others of a similar age/level and learn valuable performance skills and audience etiquette. These classes may also include activities related to theory, history, ensemble playing, or improvisation.

• Students are expected to participate in a spring recital that is hosted each school year at the end of May. These are usually at the North Unitarian Universalist Church in Lewis Center.

• All students will have the opportunity to participate in Ohio Music Teachers Association events such as Pianorama and Out and About. Ask me if you are interested in learning more about these events.

• Tuition is as follows:
  • Beginner/intermediate students: $34 for 30-minute lessons or $51 for 45-minute lessons
    • Advanced students: $68 for 60-minute lessons
    • Four group lessons per year (in October, December, March, and May): $68 per lesson

• The studio calendar year includes the following lessons. You will be charged the same amount each month for the remaining months of the school year based on this lesson number:
  • 31 lessons from August of 2024 through May of 2025
  • 4 group lessons occuring in October, December, March, and May.

• Tuition payments are due by the 1st of each month and can be submitted through PayPal, Venmo, or check. A reminder will be sent through your choice of payment method. Accounts not paid on or before the first week of each month will be charged a $20 late fee.

• If a student starts lessons midway through the school year, their lessons will be prorated depending on how many lessons/months are left in the school year (ending in May of 2025).

• You may be invoiced to cover any musical materials I order for your child when we start lessons. Typically this is less than $20.

• Parents with children just starting lessons will be invoiced for their first tuition payment after completing this enrollment form. This payment is by their child's first lesson. 

• Students should take a total of 7 lessons in the summer (unless they are starting mid-summer, in which case it will be prorated). Out of the 10 weeks of summer, students can schedule these lessons for whatever weeks work for them. This helps account for breaks like summer camps and vacations. Music lessons are incredibly important to continue even in the summer to not lose progress.

• Depending on student availability and interest, optional group classes will be offered on specific musical topics like improvisation, composition, music history, and ensemble playing for $80 per class. 

• Students who are unable to take summer lessons may forfeit their lesson date and time in the fall on a first come, first serve basis as new students continue to sign up. Online lessons may be an option if your family will be out of town (speak with me about details and scheduling).

• Students are generally expected to practice four to five days a week, and the specific amount of time each day will be decided based on the student’s skill level and schedule. Above are some general suggestions for the amount of practice time in the Lyrikos studio. 
• Practice should stay regular and consistent just like doing homework during the week. Regular practice for smaller amounts of time helps retain progress and allows the brain to consolidate information, and this becomes more difficult if practice time is crammed into fewer days with missed practice in between.
• Lyrikos has a subscription to the practicing app called Practice Space, which helps to keep track of student practice and serves as a space for me to post assignments. Awards and prizes will be given throughout the year for the number of Practice Space points.
• If your child is not able to get this much practice in at home, I will work with them on a solution. Often this can mean adjusting their schedule, parental involvement, or difficulty of repertoire. Practicing should be established as a routine early on, and the work you put into learning an instrument equals the skill and enjoyment you will get out of it. However, I'm a believer that music lessons can still be incredibly meaningful to students even if practicing doesn't always happen! Come talk to me about it if this becomes an issue.

• As stated in the “Billing” section, you may be invoiced to cover any musical materials I order for your child when we start lessons or at the start of a new school year.

• For in-person lessons, a Lyrikos binder will be provided for students to store music in. Students should bring this to each lesson.

• Students must have access to an acoustic grand/upright piano or an electric keyboard before starting lessons, to ensure they are able to practice for the recommended amount of time each week. Tips on where to rent or buy an instrument are on the “Purchasing an Instrument” section of the Lyrikos website, as well as what makes and models are recommended. Please let me know if you are looking for a piano tuner, as an acoustic piano should be tuned every one to two years.

• Parents of young beginners (around ages 5-7) are recommended to attend lessons with their child for the first three months to get an idea of what they will be learning and so that they can help their child practice at home. I request that parents observe quietly to not to disrupt the flow of the lesson.

• Parents are also recommended to direct daily practice at home as needed during the first year of lessons for young beginners, in order to help their child establish a daily practice routine. Using the practice app, with all their assignments listed, can take some reminding. Even if you haven’t studied music in the past or are not musically inclined, it’s still possible to make sure your child is on track between lessons!

• Some students work better when the parent is not present for the entire lesson. If this is the case, I may have you stay outside in your car or on the outdoor bench, then observe for the last 10 or so minutes of the lesson so you can still stay informed.

• Students are given two make-up lessons each school year term (and one during the summer term) for any circumstances.

• Make-ups are always given if I must miss a lesson for any reason.

• All make-up lessons will be given during the second week of December, the last week of May, and TBA based on teacher/student availability in the summer.

• Parents should give at least two weeks’ notice before terminating lessons so I can schedule accordingly. If there are any concerns about lessons to the point where discontinuing is considered, please contact me first before deciding, as I am happy to work with each family towards resolving any issues. Often my students who quit music lessons because of a temporary challenge are the ones who later wish they continued!

• At Lyrikos, I am taking every precaution necessary to protect the health and well-being of my students and myself as our music-making continues for the 2024-2025 school year and summer term. I am fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu and am implementing the following guidelines in the studio for the foreseeable future:
  • I may be wearing a mask during the winter (germ season)
  • I have scheduled short breaks before each lesson to disinfect the instruments and studio space.
  • Students and parents are welcome to wear a mask in the studio as they see fit. I can provide extras if you do not have one.

• Please be mindful of your child's possible flu/strep throat/COVID-19 exposure and do not attend lessons if you or any family members/people you are in contact with have been sick. Do not bring your child if they have stayed home from school.

• My teaching schedule is 3 PM to 8 PM on weekdays. I may not be able to get back to you through text or e-mail during this time, but I will try to respond during my admin period from 12 PM to 3 PM.

• Photos and announcements containing a student’s first name may appear on the Lyrikos website, Facebook, or Instagram page. Students and families enjoy keeping up with everyone’s accomplishments and these posts are helpful to promote the studio as a small business. If you do not want your child’s name or photo posted, please let me know.

• Feel free to send me pictures and videos of your child practicing at home or performing for friends and family! I would love to include it on our social media pages and/or website.

I’m so excited for your child to join the Lyrikos studio and embark on their musical journey with me. I believe that each and every person has their own unique musical voice—that’s why I named my studio "Lyrikos”, the Greek word for lyrical! With their musical studies, your child will improve their reading, listening, and motor skills, but more importantly, they will enhance their patience, humility, emotional intelligence, and creative ability from the very start. I’m looking forward to a successful year together.

~ Holly Kessis, M.M., Lyrikos Music Lessons studio owner