Studio Policies and Info

Studio Information

I am excited to start working with you! In 2007, I graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a Bachelor’s of Music in Voice Performance, and in 2011 I graduated from Penn State University with a Masters in Voice Performance and Pedagogy. I teach classical and musical theater singing with an overall goal of healthy, grounded singing. I also teach beginning and intermediate piano. I am committed to helping students discover the joy of music, whether they are beginning singers or seasoned professionals. As a teacher my focus is on body alignment, breathing technique, and vibrancy. Your job as a student is to come prepared and curious, ready to explore, ask questions, and make discoveries about your voice.

What will we do?

Throughout the course of your lessons we will work on warm-ups, repertoire (songs), and basic theory (time signatures, note values, chord progressions, etc.). Usually warm-ups and exercises take about 15-20 minutes and the rest of the hour is spent on repertoire. This will vary depending on the student. If you have a recording device I highly recommend that you record your lessons so you can listen to them over the course of the week.

Can a parent or friend observe my lesson?

Parents and friends/prospective students are welcome to observe lessons from time to time, but I ask that it not happen regularly. It is often difficult for students to focus on the task at hand if they are being observed by others. Parents are also welcome to drop their child off for the lesson. I will do my best to finish on time.

Payment:

Voice and piano lessons are $45/hour, and payment for each lesson is due at the beginning of the lesson. If you choose to pay for a four-week block, you will receive a $20 discount. This means that instead of paying $180 for four hours of lessons, you would pay $160, which saves you $5.00 a lesson. Payments can be made with cash or check. Checks should be made payable to “Kate Scally.”

Attendance Guidelines:

24 Hour Cancellation Policy: If you need to reschedule a lesson for any reason that is not sickness or emergency, you MUST let me know at least 24 hours in advance. If you do not show up for your lesson and do not notify me 24 hours in advance, you will be charged for that lesson time.

If the lesson prior to yours goes over, I will be sure to give you the appropriate amount of time or tack it on to a future lesson, depending on my schedule and yours. If a student is late to a lesson, their lesson will end at the originally scheduled time.

If you are sick, please try to let me know as soon as possible that you will not be able to come to your lesson. You will not be charged for a lesson missed due to sickness.

What to Bring to Your Lesson:

Students should always bring a pencil, a notebook, and whatever music we are working on to their lesson. I recommend that students hole punch copies of their music and keep it in a 3-ring binder. If students can read music, bringing a staff paper notebook is encouraged. I will write warm-ups in this you can take notes in it. A bottle of water is always a good idea as well.

*Please plan to purchase at least 1-2 repertoire books or sheet music if you do not already own some. Books range from $10-$30. You can usually find used or less expensive books on amazon.com.

Practice Guidelines:

Students should practice at least five days a week. Practice time and time spent on your own will reinforce what you learned in the lesson and help you form singing habits that will stay with you. Practice time can vary from 15 minutes to 1 hour per day.
Practicing more frequently for less time is always better than cramming a lot of practice in once or twice during the week. More progress will be made in lessons if students are consistent in their practice time.
We will discuss how to practice in lessons. If you ever have a question as to how practice outside of your lessons, let me know and we can work that out together.

If you have any questions, feel free to call or email me!