FAQ's piano training

…that you can double click the events posted on the Peery Piano Academy calendar to find out more information? Information such as websites, phone numbers, etc are entered in the description box. Additionally, if you are interested in knowing who is teaching for a posted vacancy, you can find out by double clicking =). Try it out!

To assist you with your planning the schedule for fall enrollment is listed below.

Fall Registration is open to:

Summer quarter students – first week of august
Returning students – 2nd week of august
New students – 3rd week of august

Because there are no showcase and share classes during summer quarter we handle pass offs in a slightly different way.

Summer quarter students = 3 free pass offs

Summer pass off pre-payment plan:  Pass-offs during the summer can be purchased at the prices listed below.  These can be purchased by summer quarter students and 9 month term students.

ADDITIONAL PASS OFFS for Summer quarter students AND pricing for 9 MONTH TERM STUDENTS

1 pass off = $30
3 pass off package = $60
5 pass off package = $75

- Pass offs are non-transferrable but can be shared within one family
- Pass offs segments are 15 minutes in length. If you have material that covers more than 15 minutes you can schedule two or more pass offs back to back or schedule additional pass offs as needed.
- There are no refunds for unused pass offs and pass off packages expire on August 31, 2009
- Scheduled time with Mrs Skousen at the 3 and 5 pass off rate are for PASS OFFS ONLY.  Consultations or teaching sessions can be scheduled at Mrs Skousen’s regular private rate of $120/hour.
- For students enrolled in the summer, pass off readiness must be approved by weekly teacher before a pass off is scheduled or the student will be billed at Mrs Skousen’s private rate.
- For students who are not taking summer classes, students must must come with a practice chart to show that they have done their regular weekly practice on the pass off item and additionally show they have watched the corresponding video (if applicable) 2x per day (1x to watch and 1x to play with the video) for the past 5 days.

How to schedule time with Mrs Skousen

We occasionally receive inquiries from parent’s wondering if their child is too young to begin the Peery Habits program.  Peery Piano Academy accepts enrollment for children beginning at the age of 5 years old.  Maturity levels vary between children so here are a few things for you to consider when determining if you child is ready to start the program. 

- Younger children require more practice partner participation. A 5 year old will require constant presence.  The biggest factor to consider is whether or not the practice partner (usually a parent) is willing to commit the time to sit and practice with your child every day. 

- Another thing to consider is whether your child has the necessary attention span.  If your child can sit on the bench for 15 minutes without wiggling around and losing interest then they are probably ready to start the program.

It is important to remember that younger children will progress through the program more slowly than older children.  It will take the average 5 year old about 2 years to complete all three levels of the Habits program. The advantages of starting younger is that the child’s muscles learn habits more solidly because they are formed at a younger age.  This is a huge advantage to playing and hearing more musically.

HOW TO HANDLE AN ABSENCE

1)  Email Missi at info@peerymusic.com to let her know what date and time you will be absent (The earlier we receive notification the more efficient the system works)

2)  If you inform Missi 24 hours before your absence you have 30 days to choose an open spot from the Peery calendar for a class swap.

3)  When you find a spot that works for you email Missi and let her know what open spot you are taking.

Open spots are marked either:

  - with a student’s name labeled out that DOES NOT have a corresponding student’s name labeled in – these spots can be scheduled at anytime.

  - as OPEN (these spots are available during summer quarter only) – can be scheduled up to 48 hours in advance.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK FOR THE SPOTS AND FIND ONE THAT WORKS FOR YOU.  ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS ONLINE!

PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL MISSI ASKING WHAT TIMES ARE AVAILABLE – SHE WILL ONLY REDIRECT YOU TO THE CALENDAR.

Thanks for your cooperation in this.

You all know your teachers, but there is also a team of people working behind the scenes waiting to help make sure your experience at PPA is a great one.  Let’s get to know them and how they are able to help you.

Thomas Skousen – Director

You can contact Thomas with questions regarding any of the Peery programs, how our Academy runs, practice tips, consultations (how to get the most out of your Peery experience), and comments about teachers and our programs (what you like, dislike or suggestions you have that can make it better).  It is Thomas’s goal to make sure your experience here is a good one.  He loves talking to parents and students alike.  

You can contact Thomas via email – tskousen@peerymusic.com, or phone – 650-919-3599

Hours:  Feel free to contact Thomas at any time

Missi Bryant – Admin

Missi keeps all of the gears running and in place here at PPA.  She handles all questions about scheduling, class availability, lesson swaps (when you are absent), billing, calendaring, blog posts and Peery Certification tracking.  Feel free to ask Missi if you have questions or need info about any of these items.

You can contact Missi via email – info@peerymusic.com, or phone – 650-292-0573

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Amanda Mendes – Classroom Manager

Amanda is onsite during most of the Habits classes during the week.  She is there to help keep the classroom in order.  If you have questions during class that don’t have to do directly with the lesson, feel free to ask Amanda.  If she doesn’t know the answer she will pass your question along to the right person and get you an answer quickly.  Amanda is also there to meet new students and make all students feel welcome and comfortable.  She is charge of the weekly newsletter and student spotlights.  If you have something you would like included in the newsletter, please email Amanda.  She would love to include any information that would benefit the PPA community and that highlight our students within or outside of the field of music.

You can contact Amanda onsite – Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 4:30-6:30

Christie Skousen – Master Teacher

Christie is in charge of the curriculum and teachers at PPA.  She teaches the Plans B and C of Habits, Players Levels 7 and higher and the Mastery program.  She is available to all PPA students for private sessions, video responses and email consultations.  Contact Missi at info@peerymusic.com for scheduling and rate information.

Some of you have expressed that it would be helpful to have a schedule of the Showcase/TM weekly classes.  I have added this information to the calendar.  If you click on the bar that says “Showcase/TM week” on the calendar, it will open up to a new window.  In the description section you will see a schedule of all of the classes and what time they start/end.

If you can’t remember which one you are signed up for, email Missi at info@peerymusic.com . 

* From the front page of the Peery website click on video lessons

* Click on the video gallery you need to use and it will ask for a password. If you don’t have the password, email Missi at info@peerymusic.com and she will send you the passwords appropriate for your level.

* Enter the password

* You will see some videos with arrows in the center of the picture – click on the one you want to watch

* You will see another picture with an arrow – click on the arrow and the video will play

If you have any questions or need additional assistance, email Missi. 

Occasionally, we receive inquiries about what students are supposed to play for their Showcase and Share assignment because the sheet has been mis-placed or because the student was absent and didn’t get a sheet.  Well, your in luck! 

A week before the Showcase and Share week, we post the new assignment sheet on the front page of our website at www.peerymusic.com.  It is currently placed as the third bullet under the heading ‘Current Students’. 

You just need to print and complete the form with all of the information for the pieces that your child has learned but hasn’t passed in his/her musical assignment selection. 

If you have any questions, email Missi at info@peerymusic.com . 

In order to maintain quality instruction, our policy statement says that the Peery Piano Academy does not provide make-up lessons for student cancellations. When you enroll, you are reserving a specific spot at a specific time and you have the expectation that there will only be 4 students in that class period. When all of the classes are full, there is no way that Peery Piano Academy can schedule a make-up for a student and still maintain 4 students to a class. 

That being said, we want the students to attend as many classes as they can and realize that progress is usually tied to steady attendance.  The standard procedure has been that if you need to miss, you find another student to swap with you.  It can be difficult for parents to make those phone calls, which is why we developed the calendar system to assist you with the swap process.  In order for the system to work, it is important for everyone to give as much advance notice of cancellations as possible.  The system does not work if a parent holds on to a spot and waits to see if another spot opens up or cancels a spot at the last minute.  When that happens a “swap” can’t occur.

Sometimes last minute cancellations can’t be helped.  Make-up classes are not guaranteed, but everyone benefits when students attend classes so we will help you schedule a swap if at all possible. Priority will always be given to students who report a cancellation well in advance.  If you are unable to give advance notice we will still try and accommodate a swap, but your swap class time will not be confirmed until 24 hours prior to the class.

Absences and make-up possibilities are posted on our calendar online.  Spots available are marked ‘(Student Name) Out’.  Any ‘Out’ spots that do not have a corresponding ‘(Student Name) In’ are available for swap.  Please email Missi at info@peerymusic.com to let her know if and when you will be absent and what available spot you would like to take as a swap.  Remember that the system works best for everyone when notifications are received as early as possible.

You are also welcome to contact other parents to see if they will swap with you.  If you find someone to swap with you, email Missi so she can update the calendar.