Fall 2011 Syllabus – Lessons with Steve Montes – pg. 1

WELCOME

Hello parents and students, and welcome to the 2011-2012 school year. I am so pleased to join many returning students and see so many new faces for this coming term. There are a lot of changes and advancements in this year’s

sequence of operations and many things may take time to adjust to. But overall, these changes were made to benefit the quality of lessons for our students and ease our overall experience! Once again, I look forward to meeting with many of

you soon, and here’s to a wonderful year of education, music, and life! SCHEDULING

Scheduling is now to be done 99.99% online. I say 99.99% because I know emergencies and conflicts arise, yet, I feel that our new system will greatly

reduce most complications and take minimal time to get used to. You can schedule lessons for an entire month or more, or up to a day before depending on availability. Please schedule as soon as you can to ensure an optimum for

your schedule is available. How it works:

1. Parents or students with parents permission may log onto:

www.stevemontes.blogspot.com

2. Once at the homepage, find a link that will take you to Genbook, an

online scheduling service. These links look similar to this:

3. Genbook will allow you to select many services. (i.e. Piano Lessons,

Instrumental Lessons, etc. under the “Service Category)

4. Once you’ve selected an appropriate time for you and your student,

you will then be asked to provide some simple contact information that

will only be used by me and not the Genbook site.

5. Confirm your lesson and “Presto!” I’m sent an electronic confirmation.

AVAILABILITY

As of September 1, 2011, I will be available for lessons on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:00am to 10:00pm. You may schedule an appointment anytime during these hours.

If you cannot find a time that works for you or your student, you may find classes at The Ruby Slipper Performing Arts Academy that might suit your student’s interests and your schedules as well. I teach at the academy on

Mondays and Thursdays. Please visit www.rubyslipperpaa.com for more information about classes offered and times.

Fall 2011 Syllabus – Lessons with Steve Montes – pg. 2

Days of Interest Unknown Availability - Friday, September 30th

Thanksgiving Break (Lessons optional) - Friday, November 25th Winter Recital – Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 – Time and Location: TBA

LOCATION OF SERVICES

I give lessons out of my home. It is located at 2511 S. Watson St., Visalia California, 93277. It is very close to Mountain View Elementary School, and near the cross streets of Whitendale and Court. Please visit my website for more

information, including a link to a map of this location. As of September 1, 2011, I will no longer give lessons outside of my home

for normal scheduling. However, if I have to miss a lesson that is arranged online for any reason, I will make the necessary arrangements to meet in a suitable location at a time that works best for you. Please visit the FAQ’s section

of this document if you have any questions. TUITION

Tuition will be due at the beginning of your first lesson of the new month. Lessons are $20.00 per ½ hour, which would translate into a 4-week month’s

tuition being $80.00 or a 5-week month’s tuition being $100.00. If you happen to start your lessons for this term in the middle of the month or are missing a week or two within a month, your tuition will be prorated accordingly.

I strongly urge my students and their families to avoid any unpleasantness and plan for tuition ahead of time, before your student’s lesson. I cannot carry

out a lesson until financial obligations are taken care of. You are always welcome to have tuition for the following month taken care of before the new month begins.

Our studio accepts all forms of payment (Cash, Check and Credit-Card) I strongly believe that no student or family be denied the benefits of a

fruitful and musical education due to funds or lack thereof. Please speak to me in private and arrangements can always be made. Again, please do not let other

financial obligations hinder your student’s musical education. I work for God and for you and your family, not paper. I implore you at the deepest level to speak with me if any obstacles meet you or your family’s musical growth.

Fall 2011 Syllabus – Lessons with Steve Montes – pg. 3

CANCELATIONS/RESCHEDULING

I hold a firm 24-hour notification policy when it comes to cancellations or rescheduling. I ask your family to be as precautious as possible when committing to your lessons, both online and financially. Please plan accordingly when

submitting tuition. Refunds will not be given if other extra-curricular activities or events coincide with lessons.

As I completely understand that some events cannot be planned a month in advance for, I would ask that you reschedule online as soon as you can if another event arises. You can always change a ½ hour lesson to an hour if time

permits. You can also meet twice in one week if the schedule permits. If a time cannot be found to reschedule, Mr. Steve Montes reserves the right to use discretion on arranging a time outside of the allotted time I have for lessons.

Rearrangements are not always guaranteed and tuition would therefore be forfeited for that week or month. I also deeply understand that illness, family and other emergencies arise.

Mr. Steve Montes reserves the right to use complete discretion if tuition is to be refunded or if another time could be rescheduled.

As stated above, if I miss a lesson for any reason, I will work with you on all levels, including change of venue, to reschedule. If a reschedule is not

possible, your tuition for that week or month will be refunded or applied to the next month if you wish.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS

1. A great attitude!

Nothing will foster or hinder your success more than your attitude! Please come prepared and ready to work! Come ready to sound

goofy, make weird noises, produce hideousness, and feel ridiculous! That’s why we call them LESSONS, not performances! Your willingness to allow me to use my experience to show you

what is “good” sounds/habits and what “bad” sounds and habits are makes our lessons fun!

2. Come prepared. Have all your music, a writing utensil, blank paper, schedules,

homework, hydration equipment, and a smile on your face at EVERY lesson at the START of each lesson! :D

Fall 2011 Syllabus – Lessons with Steve Montes – pg. 4

3. Practice.

Perfect practice makes practice perfect. Practice like you’ll perform because you’ll perform how you practice. Our lessons are not time for you to practice, but to learn what to practice. Practice is done on

your own time. Practice your assignment as long as it takes to make it ready to perform for your friends and family. If it takes 10 minutes or takes 10 hours, put as much time into your practice to

make your performance PERFECT!

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS (“L” for needed at lesson, “H” for needed at home only)

1. Music (L+H)

Please bring your music. Please bring your music. Please bring your

music! Without this, our lesson might as well not be arranged. Finding music for the beginning of each lesson is the responsibility of the student as assigned. Musicnotes.com and White’s Music are great

resources for sheet music. Please do not rely on Mr. Montes to have your music on hand. As I will always do my best to try and share the music in my library with my students, we must also remember to

support the musicians and industry to which your students are training to become a part of in the near future!

2. Writing Utensil and Paper (L+H)

These are essential for learning. Please do not rely on Mr. Montes to

have these supplies on hand. The student will be responsible to write down their own assignments in a place they will remember to check and in a fashion that is legible and understandable to themselves at a

later date or time.

3. Hydration Equipment (L+H)

The bottom line: you have to remain properly hydrated in both the summer and winter. It’s like driving a car without oil. Nothing will work,

whether you are an instrumentalist or a vocalist. I would LOVE to see you all bring a reusable water bottle to our lesson!

Fall 2011 Syllabus – Lessons with Steve Montes – pg. 5

4. Metronome and Tuner (H)

These are essential items for any musician. Free online versions of

these tools, along with interactive music lessons are everywhere! (type “online metronome” or “online tuner” into Google and be amazed at the

THOUSANDS of FREE equipment available at your disposal)

5. A Working Instrument (L+H)

Instrumentalists are required to bring a fully functional instrument to

each lesson. Pianists and Percussionists may not always have to bring their instrument, but fully functional and tuned instruments are essential. Vocalists are required to come ready to sing! Conserve your

voices. Talk less. Drink more water. Be nice to animals.

AT EACH LESSON

Any tuition transactions will occur during the first lesson of the month. If any, the student’s progress report will be delivered from the previous month.

Each lesson will begin with a warm-up of some kind. For those students

who are able to warm their instruments or their voices up ahead of time,

the extensiveness of the warm-up may be more or less time accordingly.

We will then review, if any, homework that was assigned.

I will then listen and make comments on the assigned material that was to

be practiced.

New assignments will be addressed, and we will conclude our lesson.

Recordings

In an effort to go paperless and enhance lessons, each lesson will be

recorded digitally at no expense to the student. Mr. Montes will then log that recording along with any notes taken in a word processor. At the end of each month, along with an invoice, the students and their parents will receive a

progress report with a recording of each lesson, the notes I’ve taken, and my suggestions for improvement (usually delivered at the start of the first lesson of the next month).

With the countless benefits of a live recording, hopefully the student and family will be able to track progress and know how to adjust their home studies to improve or remain on track for success.

Fall 2011 Syllabus – Lessons with Steve Montes – pg. 6

FAQ’s

Why do we use Genbook?

1. In the past, as many of you know, “phone tag” was often a game we

often struggled with. Now, my schedule is completely visible, and times can be picked and reviewed with your calendars in hand!

2. Overall, I aim to be as fair as possible. By using this online scheduling tool, anyone has the right to schedule an appointment whenever possible in a “first-come, first-serve” fashion. Please note that I cannot

“save” spots in my schedule nor can I consider your appointment confirmed if it is not confirmed online.

Why is Genbook not allowing me to schedule/cancel an appointment?

Genbook will only allow you to schedule appointments and cancel

arrangements 24 hours prior to the service. I also uphold this policy. Any conflicts or emergencies can be handled over the phone by contacting Mr. Steve Montes. Please note that rescheduling or refund of tuition will not always be available. I

appreciate your understanding for all circumstances in these cases and in your trust in my discretion in terms of conflicts and scheduling

I didn’t confirm my lesson online. Is it still arranged?

Based on individual circumstances, I may not always be available to

handle walk-in clients. You can try and arrange something over the phone, but nothing is considered “set-in stone” unless it is confirmed online.

Why are your business hours during school hours?

Many of my students do not attend traditional public school, therefore

have availability in the mornings and early afternoons. I also teach many adults who love their mornings to start with the beauty of music or end their nights with the wonders of our craft.

Why do you no longer offer lessons out of your student’s homes?

1. Mainly, the life of a traveling music teacher was beginning wear on me. I needed to be able to offer the best experience for my students, and moving from one location to the next was not allowing me to do so

2. The benefits of my students coming to me are endless. I can have all my materials in one place, provide a safe and quiet, distractionless environment, maintain a level of professionalism from my students (i.e.

going to lessons like going to school, as opposed to doing lessons like doing chores) and advance the level playing field for all my students.

Fall 2011 Syllabus – Lessons with Steve Montes – pg. 7

3. My paperless ambitions require me to travel with a large supply of electronics. The set-up and tear-down of these products (such as

recording devices and internet capabilities) would take up the majority of a ½ hour lesson.

4. I am now able to schedule more students as a result of less travel time.

With more students, we see greater chances for investment in our studio, which yields tremendous benefits for our musical family

Why is tuition due for an entire month?

In an effort to keep scheduling and accountability issues to a minimum, I

am now requiring tuition for the upcoming month to be paid by time of the first lesson. For any further questions, please speak to me personally.

What if an emergency arises and I cannot change my appointment within 24 hours of its occurrence?

I will handle each occurrence on a case-by-case basis. Again, I fully understand that emergencies arise, and your tuition will not be penalized for such instances. I strongly urge my students to eat healthy and drink plenty of good old-

fashioned water, as much as possible. If the student is ill, please stay home and get plenty of rest.

How much practice time should I expect? I expect great things from my students, and therefore, expect quality

practice time from them. I also believe in working smarter, not harder. Often times, working a half hour each day is better than working 3.5 hours right before a lesson. I prefer a frequent steady “workout” rather than a seldom “cram

session”. Each student should work at getting better. For newer students, that could take a ½ hour each night more. For advanced students, an assignment could

take them several sessions of hard work to master an objective. Bottom line, each student needs to progress. If a student practices, but comes to a lesson at the same level in which they left the previous lesson, no progress was made.

Each student should expect to “put in” exactly what he or she wants to “get out” of practicing and becoming a great musician. The more time invested, the more that investment flourishes.

Fall 2011 Syllabus – Lessons with Steve Montes – pg. 8

Where do you recommend I rent or purchase equipment?

I highly recommend using a vital tool in our town. White’s Music Center is one of the only music stores within an hour of Visalia that provides quality service to any musical needs. As a bonus for each of my students, they receive a

discount on all services and purchases by saying they are a student of mine. Other trusted service providers:

Online music downloads - www.musicnotes.com Music ordering - www.jwpepper.com Music theory practice - www.musictheory.net

Online metronome - www.metronomeonline.com Online tuner - www.seventhstring.com/tuner/tuner.html Music activities - www.makingmusicfun.net/

Online equipment sales - www.musiciansfriend.com/ Note of interest:

Please drink as much water as possible. Limit sodas before a lesson

(especially wind players, as that sugar saturates the inside of your instrument and corrodes it). Be mindful of what you eat before a lesson and that you at lease have

snack before one. Try to make it as healthy and “brain friendly” as possible. Full bellies promote successful lessons. Wind players should wash their food down with water to ensure food particles do not get blown down their instruments, grow

bacteria, and destroy their instrument. Absolutely no gum please. Thank you!

Fall 2011 Syllabus – Lessons with Steve Montes – pg. 9

General Information Sheet

Student(s) Name:__________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Name (If applicable):__________________________________

Parent/Guardian Primary Number:_____________________________________ Is texting available?___________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Secondary Number:___________________________________ Is texting available?___________________________________________

Address:_________________________________________________________

Primary e-mail:____________________________________________________ Preferred method of contact: phone – text – e-mail – written letter (circle one)

Second Parent/Guardian Name (If applicable):___________________________

Second Parent/Guardian Primary Number:______________________________ Is texting available?___________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Secondary Number:___________________________________ Is texting available?___________________________________________

Address: (leave blank if same as above) ________________________________________________________________

Primary e-mail:____________________________________________________ Preferred method of contact: phone – text – e-mail – written letter (circle one)

Student(s) date of birth:_____________________________________________

Known allergies: __________________________________________________

Please e-mail the following information to me in any format (simply copy and paste or edit the word document and attach to your e-mail response). I will take an e-mail response as acknowledgement of the previous stipulations and

expectations. Again, I am greatly looking forward to working with you and your students to create wonderful musicians, excellent models of citizenship and completely prepared for whatever adventures await them around the corner!