FEES 

Please email me teddingtonviolin@gmail.com for details about current fees.

• Please note that fees for online lessons are the same as for in person lessons.
• Please note that trial lessons are not free of charge, but the usual fee applies depending on the length of the lesson.
• I regret that I'm unable to offer a sibling discount as places are highly sought after.​
• Fees for lessons at St James's School may differ. Please contact me for details.
• 45 minute lessons are now the default option for all pupils aged 7 and above, as it is not realistic to cover scales, etudes and repertoire and exam preparation (where applicable) in just 30 minutes.
• Very young pupils (under 7) can have 2x 30 minute lessons a week.
• As the pupil progresses, 60 minutes are recommended for higher grades (6 - 8) and diploma level pupils, regardless of their age

Pupils Concerts: 
Pupils who are ready to perform are encouraged to take part in pupils concerts, both in solo  and ensemble performances. 
Concert fee is approximately £20 per performing child, tbc for each concert, depending on the venue, and includes accompanist fees. Free entry for families & friends is included in the concert fee.

Ensembles/mini master classes and violin days: 
In addition to one-to-one lessons, pupils who are ready are expected
to play in ensembles and take part in violin weekends.
Ensemble Participation Fee for the whole Spring Term 2024 was £50  (incl. Richmond festival entry/accompanist fees).

• Ensembles run in addition to individual lessons and participation is strongly encouraged, but voluntary.
• Once the ensemble fee has been paid for the term, pupils can drop into as many rehearsals as they like.
• It is not possible to have ensemble/group lessons only without attending weekly one-to-one lessons.
• pupils who are ready to take part in festivals, such as Richmond Festival in March and Kingston Festival in November, will be encouraged to do so, in the ensemble and/or solo categories

NEW PUPILS: 
CONSULTATION/ASSESSMENT LESSON
I am currently highly oversubscribed and due to extremely high demand for places, there is now a selection process in place for potential new pupils.
​If a place becomes available, new pupils will be invited to attend a consultation/assessment lesson, which is priced at the normal fee depending on the length of the lesson. 

• This lesson is an opportunity to see if there is a good fit between the pupil, parent and teacher. 
• The length depends on the age and ability.
• ​The lesson is not a guarantee of enrolment.
•  After the trial lesson, three further lessons will be on a trial basis where payment is made on the day and with no obligation to continue on either side. After that, if the pupil, his/her parents and I mutually agree to continue, payment will then be required for a minimum of 6 lessons in advance.
• Important factors in my decision to offer a pupil a place include: commitment to regular practice, support of the parent and understanding of my policies, and a genuine willingness to learn and - if applicable - to make an effort to change any bad habits.
• Of course it always has to be a mutual decision! The pupil and their parents decide if they wish to accept the place.​​

What to expect:
A parent of children under the age of 11 must be present in this lesson. Parents of older children/teenagers are warmly invited to attend, too. There will be a chance to ask questions, but feel free to email with any queries you may have prior to the lesson.

For a complete beginner, this will essentially be their very first violin lesson.
Parents will be given information about what is expected in terms of necessary equipment (which size violin, or whether an existing violin they have will be suitable etc) and practice and get an idea about my teaching style.

Transfer Students:
Potential pupils who had lessons before with another teacher should expect to play something so I get an idea about their playing. Depending on their level this could be one or two scales and arpeggios, a study and/or one or two pieces they have studied with their previous teacher. The rest of the lesson will be very much like a normal violin lesson, so they get to know my teaching style and I get an idea of how they respond to it. 
Please bring your violin with shoulder rest and all of the music you have used until this point.  If the stack of music seems too much to carry, you may bring a complete list of previously studied works instead, along with the music for your most recent studies, scales and repertoire.

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Policy

Teaching philosphy

• Julia emphasises correct technique, proper posture, and a beautiful tone  right from the start over all else, and believes in maintaining a serious and supportive learning environment.
• She has a lot of experience preparing pupils for TRINITY and ABRSM exams (all grades from Initial/Grade 1 to Grade 8 - both digital/performance  as well as face to face options) and diplomas such as ARSM with 100% pass rate and mostly merits and distinctions.
• However, if you are simply looking to pass through the next three exam pieces without building up strong foundations, she might not be the right teacher for you.
• Pupils are encouraged to explore repertoire outside the exam syllabus and to practise etudes and studies, the backbone of violin technique.
• All pupils, regardless of their age or level, are given performance opportunities in pupils concerts
• Julia also prepares suitable pupils for festivals and auditions (e.g. scholarships, NCO, NYO).

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The role of the parent

• The parent of a primary school  pupil silently takes notes during private lessons and supports and supervises daily practice at home.
• ​It is the parent’s responsibility to establish a practice routine at home.
• For young beginner pupils. parental involvement is the key to the child’s progress.

​Violin & Sheet Music

• ​Parents  are expected to purchase their child's sheet music and violin including accessories (see FAQ) as advised by Julia. 
• Please be prompt in purchasing your violin, any accessories, books, music and  other equipment, and follow Julia's advice regarding violin size & shoulder rest to avoid wasting money or lesson time.
• The Old Violin Workshop is local (Hampton Hill) and provides a friendly and efficient, specialist service for all things violin related. For sheet music orders, there are several online music stores that deliver in less than a week.

Practice

• ​All students are expected to maintain a routine of practising​ 6-7 days per week with the support of a parent/guardian. 
  
• Daily Practice expectations: Starts at 15 minutes and will go up to 30 - 45 minutes or more at higher levels.​

Attendance

• New for school year 24/25:
  Lessons will now follow terms of most nearby independent schools. Optional extra lessons can be booked during the additional state school term time weeks.
•  Julia has completely full teaching schedule, making it incredibly difficult to reschedule lessons.
• By reserving a time for the term, you have committed to a weekly lesson time for you and nobody else.  Please make every effort to attend, unless your child is ill.
• Please be advised before deciding to sign up that Julia teaches back-to-back, so the duration of the lesson includes unpacking and tuning the violin/packing up.
• ​Please see below for further details.

​​LESSONS CANCELLED BY THE TEACHER

• Of course, if I have to cancel a lesson or if I have to cut it short, then I will either re-schedule or provide a refund accordingly.
• I will try to give as much notice as possible for pre-arranged absences (the reason will usually be a concert engagement).
• Please ensure I have your mobile number, so I can notify you by text or whatsapp if sudden onset of illness or last minute emergency prevents me from doing a lesson. 

​PAYMENTS

• ​The first 4 lessons can be pay-as-you-go.
• ​Once a weekly space has been offered, lesson fees will be invoiced for the whole term (or pro-rata if starting mid-term)
• Parents can pay in full or in two instalments.
• Payment is due within 7 days of receipt of the invoice. Please notify me in confidence if there is a genuine reason for late payment.
• ​Overdue tuition fees of more than 28 days without any explanation given will incur a £25 late fee and may result in discontinuation of lessons
• ​Lessons cancelled by the teacher will be made up, credited for the following term or refunded accordingly.

TERM TIME LESSONS

• Term dates Autumn term 2024:
  12 core weeks:
  9th September - 13th December incl. 
• Half term: 19th October - 3rd November
• optional extra lessons may be possible on Saturdays 7th September, 14th December,
  on certain days during the Autumn half term and in the week beginning 16th December on request. These will be invoiced separately

ONLINE LESSONS

• Generally, pupils should aim to attend in person where possible.
• But remember: I continue to offer the option of online lessons via Zoom or Skype even at extremely short notice - e.g. in cases of minor illness, inclement weather or transport/childcare problems.
• If you opt for an online lesson instead of cancelling a scheduled in-person lesson, you do not lose the lesson or the lesson fee.
• Even very short notice is fine - but do give me a few mihttps://rebeccasingermanknight.com/teddington-piano-teacher-lessons-twickenham-richmond-new-malden-kingston-hampton-fulwell/piano-teacher-in-teddington-twickenham-richmond-fulwell-hampton-kingston-new-malden/​nutes to log on.​
• Online lessons have the exact same fees as in person lessons.

PRACTICE AND PROGRESS

• Pupils are expected to practise daily between lessons; the assignments are tailored individually and will be based on the pupil's age and level.
  
• Depending on the age and level of the pupil, between about 20 and 60 minutes of daily practice are expected. Of coruse, pupils are welcome to practise more!
  
• If it becomes clear that the pupil consistently does not practise enough, I reserve the right to dismiss a pupil. I will always communicate any concerns about practice and/or progress to the pupil and their parents first, to give the pupil a chance to improve within a set time frame.
• Young children must practise between the lessons under the supervision of an adult whose attendance is required during the lessons.
• Short trimmed nails are compulsory.

CANCELLATIONS

• If you need to cancel a lesson for any reason please give as much notice as possible.
• I understand that sometimes, it is not possible to give much notice, for example if there is a sudden onset of illness or transport problem (e.g. bus or train strike) and a pupil is unable to attend.
• As a general rule, a child who has been sent home from school or is too ill to attend school or is obviously feeling unwell or might be contagious should not come to the violin lesson (although an online lesson can sometimes work in cases of minor illness).
• If there is a genuine reason for absence, such as illness or injury, bereavement/funeral, a compulsory school event or similar,  I will do my best to re-schedule a lesson you have to cancel, within the two weeks following the lesson cancelled by you, but this is no longer guaranteed (and, due to my  full teaching schedule, unlikely).
• If I'm unable to reschedule in the same term, then the lesson and payment is forfeited..
• There are generally no refunds and reschedules for lessons missed by pupils due to birthday parties, sleepovers, visiting friends, sporting events.
• There are no make up lessons and refunds for make up lessons that are missed by the pupil for any reason.
• Any absences I haven't been informed of by the start of the lesson ("no shows") will be charged in full at the usual rate.
• Please bear in mind that you don't just pay for the actual lesson, but for the weekly slot reserved for your child. I cannot normally fill a slot on a one-off basis if I can't offer the prospective new pupil that slot as a regular weekly slot.
• I will use my discretion on a case by case basis if there are genuine reasons, as outlined above.

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