Kotrba Piano Studio Policies

Eagan Minnesota 55122
651.335.8560 (cell to text for lesson cancellation or late arrival)  
sskotrba@comcast.net  
www.kotrbapianostudio.com

Curriculum and Information 2024-2025   

My desire is to cultivate in each student a love of music and to develop artistry through the study of piano. I do this by offering quality instruction paired with activities geared to give students a sense of joy and pride in their musical accomplishments. The program is geared toward families with a strong commitment to music study. This is a piano priority studio. I give the dates for our required studio activities for the school year in early September. Please mark your calendars. Attendance is required at individual lessons, group lessons and winter and spring recitals.

Individual Lessons ~ All students will receive fifteen weekly lessons each spring and fall semester. Each lesson includes: technical, study, review of repertoire, music theory, new literature, sight-reading, and ear training.

Attendance ~ This is the single most important commitment to your lessons.  Unless we have discussed it, a parent is required to attend each lesson. As students become teens, they can take increased responsibility for their note taking and gain independence. At this point, parent’s presence at the lesson is optional. Because of scheduling limitations there will be no make-up lessons for illness or last-minute absences. If you need to temporarily switch with someone in the studio, you may contact them, but they are not obligated to accommodate you. There are no weather-related make-ups. If I must cancel a lesson, I will offer a makeup or credit your account for a summer lesson. This fall I will no longer be offering zoom lessons as an option for attendence.

Arrival/Lesson Length ~ When you arrive for you lesson, wash hands and encourage your children to use the restroom before coming up to the studio. If there is a lesson in progress, please enter quietly and observe until the lesson closes. After your lesson, please tidy any materials and exit quietly. I encourage observations, but the family in the lesson is my priority and if they are distracted you will be asked to leave. I want you to have your full lesson time, please arrive on time. Please remember that your tuition also includes my prep time and volunteer hours.

Practice Guidelines ~ Practice is the most crucial element for progress and a positive experience. Families will be provided a practice notebook to track weekly practice and listening. Students are expected to practice between 5 and 7 days a week.  Please use the following age-appropriate minimum:

                   3 to 5 years old……………………….10 to 30 minutes a day

                  1st through 5th grade…………………30 to 60 minutes a day

                  Middle School……………………………….45 to 60 minutes a day

                  High School………………...…………60 to 90 minutes a day                                                                            

Group Lessons ~ Students are required to attend group lessons. Each lesson will be age appropriate and may include performance opportunities, theory study, ensemble playing, composition, and ear training. Please give me notice if you will not be able to attend a group lesson.

Schubertiades ~ Schubertiades are all studio performance classes. Students can sign up to perform. Also, students preparing a graduation may choose to perform their graduation program for the Schubertiade. Treats will be served; the graduating students can bring something to share.

Tuition ~ While I calculate tuition by the length of lesson, your tuition includes 15 private lessons, group lessons, Schubertiades, recitals, graduation recitals, and my participation in the S.A.M. recitals, master classes and chamber music. Your tuition also includes countless hours of my prep and volunteer time. You will receive an invoice each time tuition is due. Tuition is due at the first lesson of each semester when the invoice is given. You may pay in full or in two installments, the second of which is due at the eighth lesson. I accept checks, Venmo and PayPal payments. Regular tuition is as follows:

                                    Book 1                                         30 minute lessons                   $625 per semester                 

                                    Books 2 & 3                               45 minute lessons                   $950 per semester                  

                                    Book 4 and above                60 minute lessons             $1250 per semester               

Masterclasses with Guest Clinicians ~ From time to time I will invite a guest clinician to work with advanced students.    

Recitals ~ We have two required formal recitals each year. The first one is in December. A holiday reception will follow. The second recital takes place in the spring at Sundin Hall on Hamlin University. Guests are invited, a reception will follow. There is no recital fee, the recital is my gift to the studio.

Parent Appreciation Dessert Party ~ Parents only, are invited for dessert at an afternoon party in my home. Come share ideas. See the calendar for times.

Chamber Music Festival and Red Pines ~ Again this year, I am pleased to announce that Conor and Adrianna O’Brien will be leading our chamber music festival in February. There will be a fee for this event and students will have the opportunity to rehearse and perform their selections. Red Pines chamber music camp is in June and all are encouraged to register.

Individual Graduation Recitals ~ When a student completes a book level to the satisfaction of the teacher, the student has the option to perform a book graduation recital.  Parent, student, and teacher will plan the recital.  The student will receive a trophy from me for graduating. (also see S.A.M.)  We will schedule the recital when all the repertoire is memorized and polished. Please do not rush this important process. Recitals will be scheduled during a Schubertiade, or on the designated graduation dates on the calendar.

Suzuki Association of Minnesota (S.A.M.) ~ My membership in this organization gives the students opportunities during the year. All students are encouraged to play on one of the March S.A.M. recitals. In order to graduate, students must submit a video via YouTube of the required piece from the book level they wish to graduate from. At the graduation concert they receive a trophy from the S.A.M. There is an additional fee for this event. S.A.M. also provides performance opportunities for advanced students. Students graduating from Books 6 and 7 can audition to perform in an honors recital with the other instrument graduates.  There is a $25 fee to perform and a $40 fee to graduate. The deadline for registration is January 15 and I register you. Twin Cities Suzuki Piano Teacher’s Guild ~ This is our local Suzuki Piano Organization. We host a recital for students in Book Four and above. This is a great opportunity to see advanced Suzuki students from around the area. There is a $25 fee for this event. We also hold duet recitals and workshops.

Institutes & Workshops ~ Families are encouraged to attend Suzuki institutes and workshops.  Examples of these are the MacPhail Institute but there are many others.

Royal Conservatory of Music of Music Curriculum ~ I use this curriculum for theory, technique, history and supplemental repertoire.

Other Important Guidelines ~ Parents, students, and visitors will only have access to the entry foyer, the restroom, and the studio. Please respect the space of my family. Students should observe sibling lessons from the studio and remain in the studio during their sibling’s lessons. Students and siblings must be under parental supervision at all times. Arrive in time for everyone to wash hands and use the restroom before the lesson if necessary. CHILDREN UNDER SIX SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED TO THE RESTROOM. THIS KEEPS ME FROM BEING DISCTRACTED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY. YOU MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR YOUNG CHILDREN TO THE BATHROOM-NO EXCEPTIONS. There is no food or drink allowed in the studio or waiting area. Siblings may not use ELECTRONICS with headphones IN THE STUDIO. You must have your fingernails trimmed to enter the studio.

Parking ~ Parents can park anywhere in our driveway. Do not block other cars. You may also park anywhere on the north side of the shared driveway. For group lessons or recitals, it may be necessary to park along the driveway or on Skater Circle, the street one house south of ours. There is also parking on Blackhawk Road.

Information About the Teacher ~ Sara Stephens Kotrba earned her Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a certified Suzuki Piano Teacher Trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She has studied with Doris Harrel, Betty Mallard, David Renner, Amanda Vick Lethco, Kiyoshi Tamagawa, Sophia Gilmson and Kathie Faricy. She is invited to teach at workshops around the country and her students consistently receive honors in the national Suzuki community. She has a great love of both music and young people, and over 35 years of experience teaching Suzuki Piano.  She is the president of the Twin Cities’ Suzuki Piano Teachers’ Guild and a past president of the Suzuki Association of Minnesota.