| Anna Gerrish Fisher |
Welcome to the Fisher Studio of Flute and Piano! You will find information on studio policies, recitals and monthly fees below. Feel free to contact me with the information listed at the bottom of this page to inquire about availability. AGE REQUIREMENTS I do not accept students before they enter first grade. The most beneficial preparation for younger students is participation in quality, educationally sound early childhood music classes. I highly recommend classes at the Levine School of Music and a schedule can be found at www.levineschool.org. LOCATIONS Weekly private lessons in your home are offered in Falls Church/Merrifield, Fairfax, Bethesda, Potomac, McLean, Arlington and NWDC. (If you are seeking lessons in Sterling, Herndon or Reston, I highly recommend Shauna Leavitt, a colleague and friend.) INSTRUMENTS I prefer you have an acoustic piano in your home, but a full-size keyboard (88 keys) with weighted keys, such as a Yamaha Clavinova, can also do the job if necessary. Your piano should be tuned every 6 months and I recommend piano tuners who are listed at www.ptg.org/findATechnician.php. RECITALS I hold two recitals each year, each with a weekend master-class preceding them: 1. Spring Recital: This is a formal recital featuring memorized solo music in late May. Participation is required of all students who have studied with me for more than one year (with the exception of adult students who are always encouraged to perform but not required.) 2. Winter Recital: Each December, we perform a casual recital of ensemble music at a local retirement center in Falls Church. This is an excellent opportunity to work on our collaborative skills and it also brings great joy to our enthusiastic audience. COST An annual registration/recital fee of $40.00 per family is due at your first fall lesson. The flat monthly fee is due at the first lesson of each month and may be paid with the registration fee. Tuition remains the same whether there are three, four or five lessons in the month. Vacation days are balanced out by months with five lessons, provided you attend all scheduled lessons (the master-class and recital combined count as one lesson at the end of each semester). The monthly rates for lessons in your home are as follows: 45-minute Lessons $240.00/month 1-hour Lessons $320.00/month 1 1/2 hour lessons (2 kids) $480.00/month Beginning fall 2009, I will be adding a monthly travel fee of $20 per family to compensate for the periodic surges in gas prices and increased congestion in traffic. SEMESTER CONTRACTS I require a semester-long commitment from all students (or a 2 month commitment over the summer). A 30-day notice must be provided if you wish to terminate lessons. If sufficient notice is not given, the tuition for the ensuing 30 days is charged in full to give me an opportunity to schedule a replacement. Exemption from this policy is granted in cases of debilitating upper body injuries or family relocations. MAKE-UP LESSONS In case of illness or family emergency, I do my best to offer a make-up lesson though it is not guaranteed. I do not offer make-up lessons for other reasons such as conflicts with sporting events, birthday parties etc. Since I travel to your area and have students scheduled on either side of your lesson time, my schedule and availability are very limited. VACATIONS A calendar is provided outlining which holidays are observed each year. I follow a typical school calendar to accomodate family travel and holiday plans. SUMMER LESSONS All students are encouraged to continue lessons during the summer on our modified schedule (2-3 months of lessons spread across the 3 summer months to allow for vacations etc. This is arranged individually according to your needs). First priority in the fall is given to those who have studied for a minimum of 8 weeks in the summer. MATERIALS I will give you the necessary materials and have you reimburse me, or ask you to obtain them yourself. I highly recommend that you purchase a metronome and pocket-sized music dictionary and ask each child to have a designated piano notebook for their weekly assignments. Helpful websites for ordering music and materials are www.jwpepper.com and www.amazon.com. PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS A consistent, concentrated, daily practice regime is a MUST. Our time together is very important, but your progress will depend primarily on you and the amount of regular, quality practice time you invest. All assigned material should be covered thoroughly each day and we decide at your first lesson how much time that should include (it is often 30 minutes/5 days a week for beginning students). You will be amazed at how rewarding and satisfying your musical experience will be as you give it your best effort. Your musical training is an important investment and a privilege! As of fall 2009, I am implementing an awards system for students. Points will be accumulated throughout the semester and winners will be able to choose from a selection of prizes at our pre-recital masterclass. Weekly points may be earned through the following activities: -Practicing 5,6 or 7 days before each lesson -Weekly lesson grade -Attending concerts (see http://www.levineschool.org/site/PageServer?pagename=classes_ecem_calendar for ideas each month on kid-friendly concerts in our area) -Researching musical topics, composers, history of your pieces etc. -And any other ideas the kids come up with! To inquire about availability, send the following information to music@annajfisher.com: 1. Name and age of prospective student(s) 2. Details on musical background/experience (if any) 3. Address where lessons are desired 4. Availability (days and specific windows of time), in order of preference (Be sure to mention if your child has "early release" any day of the week as it increases the possibility of finding a workable lesson time.) |
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Fisher Studio of Flute and Piano |
Comments from current studio parents: “"We are very grateful to have found a teacher that combines excellent instruction with cheerful kindness. Our children’s musical skills have improved dramatically after just one year of lessons.” M.B. (Arlington, VA) "Our daughter's piano playing has improved tremendously in the past year. Ms. Anna has helped her grow musically and has introduced her to a diverse collection of music." W.C. (Fairfax, VA) "I have been impressed by Ms. Anna from day one! She has the unique ability to bring out the best in her students while encouraging their music appreciation. She is a wonderfully warm, yet firm, teacher and we are ever grateful to have found her." J.D. (McLean, VA) "In her two years teaching my daughter beginning piano, Miss Anna has been a sensitive, yet very disciplined, instructor. My daughter has made rapid progress in learning to play. Adding to a basic beginner curriculum, Miss Anna has taken the time to help my daughter with her own "compositions" and allowed her to play jazz and classical melodies, experiences which have greatly contributed to my daughter's enthusiasm. Above all, Miss Anna is a delightful role model for any young person aspiring to play. I also spent several months taking lessons from her and appreciated the many practice techniques and the musical history she shared with me as she got me playing again after a twenty year hiatus." S.W. (Bethesda, MD) |
