Lessons and Classes

Lessons and Classes

Syllabus

Mission: Our mission is to provide high-quality non-credit lessons and classes to the Starkville community. We seek to provide excellence for lifelong arts learning and to impact the community through music learning.

Location: Lessons/classes take place at MSU Music Building, and it is prohibited to receive instructions at your home and/or instructor’s home.

Tuition: Students/guardians/parents must select the number of lessons per semester, 6 or 12 weeks, and length, 30-, 45-, or 60-minute lessons. Tuition must be paid in full at the beginning of each semester. Not receiving the application and payment implies the student is not returning, which does not guarantee lessons for the semester. Reimbursement is not possible once the student takes the first lesson/class.

The first lesson serves as an assessment of students’ skills, ability to follow instructions, classroom behavior, musical taste, and goals. Books and scores are required for the semester, and copies are restricted due to copyright laws. Daily practice is expected and required to develop the necessary skills for performance.

Materials: Books and scores are selected at the beginning of the semester, and instructors will be happy to help find them for purchase. Using a notebook or binder, write the following to serve as documentation that a lesson was taught, as well as guidelines during practice:

  1. Lesson date
  2. List of work(s) covered with detailed directions on how to practice
  3. List of expectations for the next meeting
  4. A practicing log, when needed

Curriculum: We suggest instructors follow the MMTA (Mississippi Music Teachers Association) curriculum. Students are encouraged to participate in all or any of the following annual activities: MMTA District Evaluations, Federation of Music Clubs, Bach Festival, MSU Solo and Ensemble, MMTA Concerto Competition, and the Fall and Spring recitals.

Practice: It is the student’s responsibility to maintain daily practice, to attend lessons on time, and to prepare what is expected for each lesson. It is important to practice for improvement, especially for younger musicians. Please ask your instructor for guidance, but the minimum expected practicing time for beginner students would be 30 minutes per day, while for intermediate to advanced students, it would be at least one hour per day.

Absence/make-up lessons: Lessons missed by the instructor will be rescheduled. If students provide at least 24 hours of notice, the instructor will attempt to reschedule a make-up lesson for the missed lesson. Only two make-up lessons are allowed per semester, and should the make-up lesson be canceled, the lesson will be considered as given. Students who do not notify the instructor of an absence or notify with less than 24 hours in advance will not be allowed to request a make-up lesson. It is a customary practice that instructors wait for the first 15 minutes of the lesson, and beyond that, a lesson is considered canceled. Tardiness cannot be made up; please arrive at least 5 minutes before your scheduled lesson.

Weather: In case of severe weather, lessons will be canceled and rescheduled when possible. Instructors reserve the right to cancel or adjust a lesson in such a situation.