Frequently Asked Questions
How does Batavia Studios
choose teachers?
Batavia Studios standards for teachers are very high.
The interview process is lengthy and extensive,
consisting of several face to face meetings. The
majority of the teachers have a degree in music with a
vast teaching and/or performance background.
Many have had professional recording careers in addition
to their teaching. Every applicant is
thoroughly screened. All the teachers at
Batavia Studios have a reputation for making music fun
as well as a great learning experience. Batavia
Studios will find the right teacher to fit your or your
childs needs.
At
What age can my child begin music lessons?
Most
children can start music lessons as young as 4 years of
age. This is the average age. But some
can start as early as 3 or should wait till 5. All
of this depends on their attention span, interest, and
developmental readiness. Some instruments, such as
guitar, woodwinds and brass are tailored more towards
beginning at 6-8 yrs of age. This is mostly
becuase of the size of the instrument and physical
development of the student. We teach students of
ALL ages and we teach all Adults! The best
way to find out if your child in particular is ready for
an instrument is to call the studio and set up a trial
lesson free of charge and we will see where they are at.
Can I come in to meet
the teachers and see the studio before I commit?
We love for students and parents to come and see our
studio . We schedule what is called a first
time student "Trial Lesson". This
actually is a 30 min. session where we bascially do
everything we would do on the first lesson.
This gives both the student and the parents a chance to
see how the teacher teaches and see the studio.
Also it gives the student the ability to tell you if
they liked the instrument and the teacher. After
that, you can sign up for your regular lessons.
Once again, there is no contract at Batavia Studios.
There is only a 30 day notice policy that needs to be
given before quitting your lessons.
Is there a contract at Batavia Studios?
No!
We have no formal contract at Batavia Studios.
The only thing we require is for you to sign that you
will give us a 30 day notice before any final
cancellations of music lessons with Batavia Studios.
So if you want to end lessons on April 1st, for example,
you should give us a notice of cancellation by March
1st.
What
instrument/s should my child take or start with?
If you or your child do not have a predisposition
towards a particular instrument, it is recommended that
all students begin with Piano/keyboard in order to
develop a solid foundation of music theory and
technique. It has been proven that if a
student seriously studies piano for five or more years,
they can easily transpose that knowledge towards other
instruments. If you or your child have an interest
in a particular instrument , then by all means,
whichever instrument you would like to learn is the best
one to start with. The main goal of ours is
to keep children motivated in staying with music.
How
long and how frequent are music lessons?
Beginning
children *4-5 yrs* should start with 30 min.
weekly lessons. Beginning children who are 6-8 yrs
of age can start with 30 min. or 45 min. weekly lessons
depending on experience and developmental readiness.
All other students including Adults should start with 45
min or 60 min. lessons weekly. Since the
lessons are designed around each student, your teacher
may recommend longer lessons as the student improves and
becomes more advanced. It is also recommended that
the student practices at home for the time that the
teacher suggests.
What
if my child and the teacher just don't match, am I
obligated to stay with my teacher?
In a word - NO! Batavia Studios has a 97%
success rate at matching students with teachers.
More times than not, the teacher and student develop a
rapport that will continue for years. At
times , a change is necessary - When you feel that you
need a different teacher or when you want to study a
different instrument. You simply need to
call the studio and talk with the owner - Urmi Batavia
to discuss what is going on. Please feel
free to always be open with us and tell us exactly how
you feel. Remember, our main goal for your
children is to provide you with the highest quality of
music education possible. And if you feel
that you are not getting that with the current
situtation, then we want to change that or make it
better.
Do you
have recitals? What other oppertunities will my
child have to play outside of the studio ?
Batavia
Studios has two big recitals per year. Our Spring
recital is held in May/June, and our Winter recital is
held in December. Students of Batavia
Studios (very beginner to advanced) are able to
participate for their friends and family.
These recitals are not a requirement in any way, but
more an experience for your child. Its a
great way to show the work that they have accomplished
throughout the year.
We also participate
in a national music festival up in Grove City College.
We have been participating with our students for the
past 8 years and we have had very successful years with
our students. This Festival is a music
competiton that rates students on how they perform.
This is nationally recognized competition and is a great
thing to put on resumes for college.
Batavia Studios also plays in nursing homes.
It lets our students play for their community and show
their musical talent.
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