Greetings, 2008-2009 harp
parents!
Another
exciting year of wonderful harp activities ahead! As my teaching studio expands, I plan more workshops,
guest clinicians & performers, masterclasses, performance opportunities, and radio/TV exposure!
Also, I’m proud to announce my
2 new websites (still under construction, but almost finished) – one focuses on the teaching studio & one on my
performing career: GoodrichHarpStudio.com and HarpistBonnieGoodrich.com.
Check
the Home page for your child’s happy face!
The last 2 years will be hard to beat, with Ensemble performances, our radio program, our CD/DVD,
the Milligan & All-State winners, our usual recitals, the first-ever Summer Harp Academy w/ Elizabeth Richter at Ball
State, plus major competitions/honors earned by our 2 college alums, Kate Petak & Ashley Wells!
This spring, Kate completed her Master’s
Degree at Ball State with a jaw-dropping world-class graduate recital, and is prepping for various national orchestra auditions.
Ashley won 1st place at the national Glenn Miller Scholarship Competition and participated in the prestigious
Sewanee Music Festival. (Houston’s Examiner Newspaper Group dubbed her “The Golden Girl”
and me “Houston’s Harp Goddess”!) Cathay Wu attended the Midwest Harp Festival in July,
where she studied with Elizabeth Richter daily and focused on chamber music. Ashley and Cathay loved total
harp immersion this summer! They worked very hard, enjoyed the magic of music camp friendships, & grew
enormously as musicians.
This
year, we plan numerous exciting harp events, including performance series by both the Orpheus and Angelus
Harp Ensembles, workshops & masterclasses, guest performers, our usual recitals, an exciting spring visit by outstanding
harpist Elizabeth Richter, and an unprecedented 3 Spring Senior Recitals!
Both Ensembles will offer excellent performance opportunities! We’re
currently confirming bookings for this year with our repeat customers - the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Museum
of Fine Arts, Book & Author Dinner, & Evensong at St John the Divine.
Included is a copy of my studio’s policies, as a helpful reminder.
Please take the time to read these, and sign & return the last page bottom portion to me.
Thanks for your support and encouragement
of your harp student! Let’s look forward to a wonderful year of exciting harp fun!
Sincerely,
Bonnie Goodrich
Goodrich Harp Studio
GoodrichHarpStudio.com & HarpistBonnieGoodrich.com
bgoodrich43@comcast.net, (713) 526-8856
2008-2009 GOODRICH HARP STUDIO POLICIES
GENERAL
POLICIES
PRIVATE
LESSONS
1.Please pay for the entire month in advance
at the beginning of each month.
There is a $15 late charge
if tuition is not paid by 1st lesson of the month, exc. in emergencies or illness.
One-hour lessons are $50. (Due in Sept - an annual $35 recital fee for hall rental
for both Fall & Spring recitals.)
2. Please DO NOT bring your child for a lesson if sick, has a fever, or “The Sniffles”!!
Credit for a lesson missed due to illness will carry over to the next month!
Note: Last year, several parents sent their child when ill, despite my request
not to do so. Each time, I got sick for several weeks. Please be considerate of your
child, my health, and the health of all other students.
3. Lessons canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice are not refunded.
I’ve reserved your child’s time in my schedule, and it cannot be “re-sold” at short notice.
Emergencies or illness are exceptions. Either a makeup lesson will be scheduled,
or credit will be applied to the following month.
4. DEFINITION OF “EMERGENCIES” – good business practice
requires a clear definition of an EMERGENCY: 1) illness of student or student’s driver; 2) serious/life-threatening
illness, surgery, or death of immediate family member; 3) sudden, serious vehicle malfunction/wreck; 4) Acts of God (incl.
flooding, hurricanes, & evacuation).
It is NOT an emergency if:
1)
your child has been invited to a party at the last minute;
2) you’ve
forgotten to include the lesson in planning the week;
3) your child or
spouse has forgotten to tell you about an activity that conflicts with lesson time;
4)
your work schedule creates a last-minute conflict with lesson time.
Remember: You can cancel a lesson for any reason at any time, but unless
it’s with 48 hours’ notice, I’m entitled to be paid for the time I’ve reserved for your child.
I need a predictable income, just as you do.
5. Same rules apply to me. If I cancel for emergency/illness, I will re-schedule
or credit you for next month.
DAILY PRACTICE
6. Students
are expected to practice every day! For younger students, daily practice should be 30-45 mins,
at least. High school age students should practice 2 or more hours a day – 1 hour is the bare minimum.
7. Parents
need to be involved! I need you to help make regular practice an important part of your child’s daily
routine!. Ask me for ways to encourage your child’s practice – I have countless
creative suggestions for motivation. The simplest is to praise your child’s efforts often!
Another is to commit to the daily routine, by example, by words, whatever works. Kids do best with
a consistent, predictable, structured routine. If you can, play music with your child/children!
They’ll LOVE it, and will always remember those family jam sessions. Tailor the specifics
to your child’s age & personality. A fantastic book is “How to Get Your Child to Practice…
Without Resorting to Violence!!” by Cynthia Richards. (Pender’s Music - 713-529-2676)
RECITALS
I provide 2 recitals each year at the end of each semester. All
students are expected to participate in both recitals. These are usually at 1st Unitarian Church,
5200 Fannin, and usually on a Sunday afternoon.
Due every Sept, there
is a $35 per year recital fee for the use of the church’s sanctuary for both recitals.
ENSEMBLE EXPERIENCE
I provide ensemble experience through membership in the Angelus
Harp Ensemble for the more advanced students, and in the Orpheus Harp Ensemble for younger students. Membership
in these groups is an honor and an achievement. Membership is not mandatory - students are given the option
to join when they’ve reached a level of sufficient proficiency and maturity. I also arrange for duets
& smaller groups on a regular basis.
ANGELUS HARP ENSEMBLE (September through October/early November)
Our regular customers include the Houston Symphony, Opera or Ballet, Museum of Fine Arts,
Book & Author Dinner, etc – these are high-profile venues & offer wonderful experience. Although
it’s lots of fun, membership in a performing group is also a commitment! Each member
is important and has a responsibility to the group: to be prepared for rehearsals (Know your music!), to attend rehearsals
(unless illness/emergency prevents), and to participate in all performances.
Full-group
Rehearsals
4-6
pm on Sundays, mostly in September. Schedule TBA. Usually one “Newbie” Rehearsal, TBA.
Performances
Mostly Oct., usually Sun. afternoons, & usually max 1 hr performing (Plus extra time for arrival, unloading,
set-up, & tuning.) Schedule TBA
Rehearsal
& Performance Fees
Full-group Rehearsal
Fee $100, due at
1st rehearsal (5 rehearsals x $20)
Newbie
Group Rehearsal Fee $20 per rehearsal; due
at each Newbie rehearsal – usually only 1 or 2
Performance
Fee
$65, due at the last rehearsal (5 performances x $13 each)
Costumes
I choose elegant, classic outfits that can usually be worn for
2 years. I try to keep cost below $100. Usually girls wear their own black pants or
skirts & identical sparkly tops. Boys wear black suits, matching ties.
ORPHEUS
HARP ENSEMBLE (September & October)
Loads of fun for younger
players, Orpheus performs at 1 or 2 lower-profile events and are the “opening act” for the Angelus Ensemble at
1 or 2 of the high-profile events. As with Angelus, membership in the Orpheus Ensemble is a
commitment – each member is important and has a responsibility to the group. Be sure
to be prepared for rehearsals, know your music, and participate in all rehearsals and performances (unless emergency prevents).
Full-group
Rehearsals
Midday on Saturdays, mid-Sept to early Oct.
Schedule TBA
Performances
Usually only in October, usually on Sunday afternoons,
& usually max 30 mins performing. (Plus extra time
for
arrival, unloading, set-up, & tuning.) 1 or 2 performances may be in combination with Angelus, with
slightly longer performance times. Schedule TBA
Rehearsal
& Performance Fees
Full-group Rehearsal Fee
$60, due at 1st rehearsal (3 rehearsals x $20 each)
Performance Fee
$40, due at last rehearsal (3+ performances x $13 each)
Costumes
I
choose elegant, classic outfits that match or coordinate with the Angelus outfits. They can usually be
worn for 2 years. I try to keep cost below $100 if possible.
EXTRA
LESSONS
As always, I am happy to schedule extra lessons to prepare
for extra performances, competitions, or auditions.
INSTRUMENTS, MUSIC, AND MATERIALS
Parents
are responsible for purchasing all required music & materials, and maintaining your instruments. I
am happy to lend my copies of music to your child for you to photocopy while you order your own copies. I
am also happy to help you locate a good harp for rental/purchase, and to give my help & advice on any other issues.
CAREER COUNSELING
If an older student is considering a professional career in music, I will discuss
all aspects as often as you like, plus arrange for your child to have conversations with other professional harpists &
musicians as well.
LISTENING
LIBRARY
I have compiled a library of outstanding CD’s, videos,
& DVD’s available for loan to students. They may check out one item per week.
YOU SHOULD HAVE, IN GOOD
CONDITION & LABELED W/ YOUR NAME:
Harp
Cover
Harp dolly (I prefer dollies w/ only
2 wheels, not 6)
Bench or stool of correct height
Music stand (pref. solid, black metal, such as Manhasset or Wenger, or nice wooden –
NOT flimsy, collapsible “wire” stand)
Tuning key (you can leave this unlabeled)
Metronome (electric/battery & with a good, audible click; NOT the small beeping credit card-sized ones
or the
old-fashioned “wigwag” type)
Electronic tuner (pref. Boss or Korg)
Spare
set of strings (nylon only for octaves 1-3, gut for octave 4 & part of 5, rest are wire strings.)
Spare 9 volt battery for tuner
Pencils
& nail clippers
Also necessary for Orpheus or Angelus Ensemble:
Black 3-ring binder for your music for that particular ensemble
Contact mike for tuner (the flat-disc-w/-stickum type, NOT the clip-on type – I recommend
the Schaller Oyster
Pickup) – tuning amid noise
is fast & easy! Melody’s Trad. Music carries the Schaller Oyster.)
HARP CARE & MAINTENANCE
Always wash your hands before playing or tuning your harp! Harp
strings cannot be cleaned, so
once sticky, always
sticky!
Fingernails must be kept short, always! (Pinkie
is an exception) Nails shred strings, produce a nasty sound, and
impair your technique by preventing you from playing on the correct spot on your fingertip.
No fingernail polish, EVER. It flakes & chips microscopically
as soon as you play, and, as a solvent, the
tiny chips
that land on your sound board will eat through the finish and leave pits.
For
pedal harps, pedals should be returned to the flat position (top notch) when you’ve finished
playing. This releases the excess tension from the strings.
CLEANING
Harp strings can never get wet. If at all, dust strings w/
a dry cloth.
The harp itself can never get wet & should also be dusted
only w/ a dry cloth. No furniture polish or cleaners.
To
dust the levers or discs & pins, use a dry, clean paintbrush.
MAINTENANCE
Replace
all strings once a year. This is critical in maintaining a good sound, as strings wear with use.
Have harp regulated once a year. (Every 2 years is acceptable
for new instruments.) This is imperative after the
first several years, to keep harp in good adjustment and condition.
TRANSPORTATION
Always move harp in its cover, on its side on a thick mattress.
Pedals should be in TOP notches and
should
be folded up against the body of the harp. Levers should all be DOWN!
The side of the harp with moving parts (levers or tuning pins & discs) should always be UP!
NEVER cook your harp in the car! Heat is the worst enemy of the harp!
Heat can increase rapidly in a
closed vehicle,
and your beautiful, expensive instrument is toasted. The damage from ten mins. in Texas
heat cannot be undone. Never perform outdoors in direct,
strong sunlight, either, for same reasons.
Weaker
sunlight, shade, cooler weather are all OK for outdoor performing.
Always
move the harp on an appropriate harp dolly, and with pedals in top notches & folded up
against the body. Always use any straps provided, too, until your child is an
adult!
A
reminder of the Goodrich Harp Studio’s policies:
1.Please
pay for the entire month in advance at the beginning of each month.
There is a $15 late charge if tuition is not paid by 1st lesson of the month, exc. in emergencies
or illness.
One-hour lessons are $50. There is also
a $35 per year recital fee covering 2 rentals of performance hall, due at 1st Sept lesson.
2. Please DO NOT bring
your child for a lesson if sick, has a fever, or “The Sniffles”!!
Credit for a lesson missed due to illness will carry over to the next month.
3. Lessons canceled with less
than 48 hours’ notice are not refunded. I’ve reserved your child’s time
in my schedule, and it cannot be “re-sold” at short notice. Emergencies or illness
are exceptions. Either a makeup lesson will be scheduled, or credit will be applied to the following
month.
4.
Definitions of “Emergency” & “non-emergency” are understood.
5. Same rules apply to Ms Goodrich.
If I cancel for emergency/illness, I will re-schedule or credit you for next month.
6. Students
are expected to practice every day!
For younger students, daily practice should be 30-45 mins. High school age students should practice
2 or more hours a day – 1 hour is the bare minimum.
7. Parents are expected to help make regular practice an important
part of your child’s daily routine!
CUT HERE_________________________________________________________________________________
Please sign below, and return this to me. Thanks! Bonnie
I’ve read and understand the Goodrich Harp Studio Policies for 2008-2009.
PLEASE SIGN HERE____________________________________________________________
