syllabus

Vocal Study

Deb Sorensen

   studyvoicewithdeb@gmail.com

          Hello!  Welcome to studying your voice!  I am excited to get to know you and for you to get to know me. Your voice is a special part of you that, when you practice, will improve. I have listed a few expectations and requirements for lessons to best serve both of us (the student and the teacher). Please keep in mind that everything I mention here are guidelines of how I would like lessons to run. If there are any changes you would like to make, let me know upfront and I’m sure we can work something out.

Attendance

I base my instruction on semesters: September-December, January-April, and May-August (May to Aug is odd---talk to me about changes). Each semester is four months long with 13 lessons per semester. When you sign up to take lessons from me, I allow a grace period of one month from your start date to decide if we are a good ‘fit’. After that one month of grace, I expect that you will finish out the semester with me. I do this for a few reasons: 1) you cannot change your voice in a few lessons. It takes months and even years of training to adjust your instrument even minimally. Coming in with expectations to change your voice in a month is damaging to you (mentally and emotionally). 2) I have to pay the bills and if you decide we aren’t a good fit, I won’t keep planning on your monthly money.

I will make up any lesson cancel because of my conflicts (I go out of town, my kids gets sick, etc), but if you are canceling, I will not make up the lesson. *

There are 2 masterclasses every semester. I will always let you know of the location/time/date beforehand. These are held to help students learn from others, give additional chances to perform, work with a real accompanist, and to work in groups. This is in addition to your voice lessons.

Practice/Instruction

          Students are expected to practice 10 minutes a day, five days a week, on vocalization (ie warm ups and breathing techniques). Any other practice must be done in addition to this 10 minute warm up. It should usually take 30 minutes a day to practice. It helps to set up a time to practice every day and keep that part of your routine. I reserve the right to cancel lessons if you fail to practice. This sounds strict, but you are wasting your money not to practice. I encourage you to record your lessons to enhance your ability to learn exercises and music accurately.

          We are always working towards performing because this tests what you have learned. I will have a recital/performance at the end of the Nov-Dec and Apr-May. You must have two pieces performance ready per semester

Accompanist

          You are required to furnish your own accompanist. If you need names and numbers, I have those to refer you to. Please make sure you practice thrice (3 times) with your accompanist before you perform. I would prefer one of those to be held at a lesson and it would also be nice to bring them to 1 masterclass (it’s indicated on the masterclass list).

Tuition

You can pay $18 per lesson ($270 overall), $65.00 a month for 4 months ($260), or you can pay a flat fee of $250 up front.

The weekly payment option is due weekly, the monthly payment option is due by the first lesson of each month, and the semester payment option is due by the first lesson of the semester.
Consequently, late payments will be charged an addition $5 for each week late. I wish I didn't have to enforce this, but I too have bills and they charge me when I'm late.

 No make ups, no time changes. If you can't come, it is still a time I set aside for you when I could have had a number of other students. This sounds harsh, but after six years of teaching, this is one of the most frequent ways people have shorted me.

Reading this straight through makes me sound cranky! I’m really not. Please feel free to contact me with questions and concerns. I’m always willing to work with you no matter what. Be warned…I am honest. But I always look on the brighter side as well.

Lesson Dates, Times and Places:

My Home:

189 North 300 West Logan, UT 84321

My office at USU: UR7

Holidays & days there will be no Voice Lessons:

If your lesson interferes with a holiday, we will reschedule to accommodate those instances (Thanksgiving week, no lessons). I will always let you know of a day there will be no lessons.

If you give me your email address, I will be sure to also send this kind of information to you. Please check it at least once a week!

It is so nice to meet you,

Deb Sorensen

By signing, you are taking responsibility for the information listed above:

Student’s signature

Guardian’s signature