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Parents Guidebook 2009 - 2010 Edward Kreitman, Director GENERAL INFORMATION Whether you are new to the Western Springs School of Talent Education (WSSTE) or the Naperville Suzuki School (NSS) or have been one of our long time families, I wish to welcome you to our school. Founded in 1980, the school has grown to become one of the country's leading Suzuki based music institutions. We attribute our standard of excellence to the quality of our faculty. We have assembled one of the finest groups of instructors in the country. Each one of our teachers is highly skilled and experienced in teaching and performing his or her particular instrument. Each of the teachers in our school has agreed to a system of priority teaching that is addressed in the book Teaching from the Balance Point A Guide for Suzuki Parents, Teachers and Students. Each family in our program should own a copy of this essential guidebook for Suzuki Parents. If you do not yet own this useful book, please ask your private teacher how to obtain a copy. Over the past few years, we have worked very hard to make our school environments inviting and comfortable places to spend time. While we enjoy weekly janitorial services, we appreciate you taking the time to pick up after your child whenever you are at the school. Please remember that there is no running at any time in the buildings. Parents with younger children may not realize that many of the older students are performing on instruments that are valued in the tens of thousands of dollars. The ramifications of a collision in the hallway could be disastrous. Siblings are welcome at the music school, as long as they have some constructive, quiet activity to keep them occupied. Ideally, they should remain with the parent in the lesson studio. Children are not allowed to wander the halls freely. This kind of activity is very disturbing to the lessons that are going on in other classrooms. The next time you are at the music school, please take a moment to remind yourself of how fortunate we are to have these wonderful facilities to work in. What can you do to help keep this space attractive and clean for everyone who uses it? This year we are trying to communicate electronically via our web site (wsste.com) and e-mail. We are starting a new quarterly newsletter that will be emailed to each family in a pdf file format. Please check the web site for information first, but if you have questions regarding the calendar or any other aspect of the school please don't hesitate to call or send an e-mail. The best time to reach us is from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Barb Digler is available at the Naperville location Monday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. You may speak with Doris Rockholm in Western Springs Monday - Friday from 1:00 - 3:00. At any other time, you may leave a message on our voice mail and we will return your call as soon as possible. Western Springs phone: 708-246-9309 SCHOOL CALENDAR Enclosed with this guidebook is the 2009-2010 Calendar for the Western Springs School of Talent Education and the Naperville Suzuki School. The calendar lists all of the important dates of performance opportunities for your child as well as the dates of tuition payments, and vacation schedules. I would like to describe the various different activities that you will see on the calendar for your better understanding. Special Events We have invited cellist Dane Johansen to give a master class and solo recital on October 17, 2009. Dane is a product of the Suzuki method who is currently finishing his Artist Diploma at the Juilliard School. Sally and I heard Dane give a guest artist recital this summer at the Ithaca Suzuki Institute and knew instantly that we wanted to invite this dynamic young performer to come to Western Springs to give a concert. Don't miss this opportunity to inspire your young performer. This year we have planned both a cello and a violin workshop.† We are currently working on putting together a fantastic faculty of master teachers from around the country. We'll share more info about the workshops when a date has been selected. Workshop weekends are recommended for all students who are playing beyond the Twinkles. The workshop is an opportunity for our students to learn from some of the country's most prestigious faculty. Classes are scheduled throughout the weekend on repertoire, technique and musicianship in both semi private and group format. Fall Concert The All School Winter Holiday Concert will take place on Sunday afternoon, December 13, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in Hammerschmidt Chapel on the campus of Elmhurst College. This concert will feature both of the school's orchestras as well as all violin and cello group classes. This concert is free and open to the public. Preparation for this recital takes place during the regular group class times. On Tuesday, December 8th, the Naperville Monday night orchestra and group class will join the Western Springs students at the Western Springs location. There will be no group on Monday, December 7th. On Thursday evening, December 10th, the Naperville violin group classes will join with the Western Springs students for a dress rehearsal at 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. There will be no violin group classes on Wednesday, December 9th. Twinkle class students at both locations will not have group class that evening. On Saturday, December 12th, all cello students will meet in Western Springs for a dress rehearsal at 10:00 a.m. Viola students should check with their group class teachers, but typically, concert preparations will take place during regular group class times. On Sunday, the combined orchestra will meet at the hall at 12:30 for a warm up rehearsal before the concert. Spring Concert This year we are planning an informal "Ravinia in Naperville" spring concert at the Naperville Community Music Center in Central Park in Downtown Naperville. Each family can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the food, park, and music in one of Naperville's most beautiful parks. We are still negotiating the date for this concert with the city of Naperville, and the Park District. As soon as we have been assigned out date, we will update the calendar. Next year, Spring of 2011 will mark the 30th Anniversary of the Western Springs School of Talent Education and the Naperville Suzuki School. To mark this occassion we are planning a Gala Concert and Celebration at the Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center...home of the Chicago Symphony. This will be an exciting opportunity for every child in our program to perform in this amazing venue. Solo Recitals The school also offers Solo performance opportunities to all students at the school. This year, we will present solo recitals at both school locations. Please consult the calendar for the dates and times of these concerts. There are a few rules which apply to these and any other programs that your child may be involved in at the school.
Studio Classes Advanced Performance Classes are offered throughout the year, one each month, on Friday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary of First Congregational Church. These are intended for participation by the advanced students from the school who are preparing to take an audition or perform in a competition or recital. Participation is limited and should be arranged by consultation with Mr. Wermuth. The performance classes are open and we encourage all students at the school to observe. ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE The annual registration fee of $125.00 per family is due at the time of Fall registration. The registration fee is used for our piano maintenance and tuning, hall rentals for recitals and accompanist fees. The fee also helps to cover our secretarial and custodial staff as well as transportation costs for school bus when students perform outside of the local area. TUITION The school year is divided into three terms primarily for the purpose of dividing up the tuition payments. Each term will contain 12 weeks beginning Tuesday, September 7, 2009 through Saturday, June 6, 2009. Tuition should be paid in full and in advance of the term. After a grace period of four weeks into the term, a late fee of $25.00 will be added to any unpaid balance.The tuition includes a weekly private lesson, as well as all group classes scheduled by your teacher. Tuition Checks should be made payable to W.S.S.T.E. Tuition is nonrefundable. The summer term, while not considered optional, is a ?exible term. Students are expected to register for 9 of the 12 weeks offered in the summer term. During the summer term families are allowed to indicate on their registration form the weeks that they will be in town and taking lessons. Please read carefully *****NEW MISSED LESSON POLICY***** Please read carefully Due to the heavy teaching loads of all of our teachers, it is not possible to schedule make-up lessons when a student misses a lesson for any reason including illness or prearranged vacation. Please do not ask for a make-up. This year we are changing the school policy regarding lessons that are missed by the instructor. When you pay tuition at the school each semester, the tuition amount is divided into three categories. A portion of the tuition goes toward the private lesson, a portion goes toward the group class and the remainder goes to the school to pay for rent, support staff, utilities, etc. Beginning with the fall term of 2008, If the teacher misses a lesson, the lesson will either be rescheduled at a time that is convenient for the student, or the school will credit your account for 75% of the tuition paid for that week. The remainder of the tuition will remain with the school to pay for the group class and school expenses. This new policy is designed to encourage teachers to offer a makeup lesson when they miss and for students to take the makeup lesson rather than a tuition credit. Illness Policy In order to protect faculty and other students from contagious diseases, we request that students who have a fever, or who have had a fever within 24 hours, do not attend private lessons or group classes. The same guidelines are suggested for students with nausea. Teachers reserve the right to not teach lessons for students who are ill, or appear to be suffering symptoms of the flu, colds, etc. Piano Coaching Melissa Zindel returns to the school as our staff accompanist and music coach. Melissa is available for coachings four days a week. Tues. - Thurs. from 3:00 - 9:00 she will be at the Western Springs location. On Fridays from 3:00 - 9:00 she will be in Naperville. Parents can sign up for coachings on the bulletin boards in both locations. Children may benefit from a coaching session with Melissa from mid book one and onward. It is extremely helpful for children to work through their pieces using the support of the piano accompaniment. All student who are book 4 and beyond and are preparing for solo recitals should have a coaching with Melissa prior to their rehearsal time. Coaching are offered at the rate of $25 per half hour. Checks are made payable to WSSTE and should be paid directly to Melissa at the time of the coaching. OFFICE HOURS If it is necessary for you to contact your teacher for any reason, you may send them an e-mail from the "Faculty" page of our web site www.wsste.com or you can call either school office Western Springs (708) 246-9309, Naperville (630)420-9309 and leave a message in mailbox Number 1. Between the hours of 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday you can speak with the book keeper, Doris Rockholm, at the Western Springs number. Barb Digler is available at the Naperville location Monday through Thursday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. At any other time, you may leave a message in the voice mail, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. The fax number for the school: (708) 246-9394. INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLIES It is important to keep your instrument and equipment in good playing condition. At least once a year, you should consider rehairing your bow and changing your strings. Those who practice every day will need to do these more often. Every student should have an extra set of fresh strings in their instrument case at all times! For service you may call: DIRECTIONS TO THE NAPERVILLE SUZUKI SCHOOL The Naperville Suzuki School is located in the Foxcroft shopping center at 32 Foxcroft Suites 104 & 114. The Foxcroft shopping center is located one mile south of 75th street on the west side of Washington Street. There is a White Hen Pantry at Washington and Foxcroft. We are located right behind the White Hen. (630)420-9309 DIRECTIONS TO WESTERN SPRINGS SCHOOL OF TALENT EDUCATION W.S.S.T.E. is located in the First Congregational Church of Western Springs
1106 Chestnut at the corner of Woodland and Chestnut in Western Springs. (708) 246-9309 From Highway 83 or I 294 take Ogden Avenue East to Woodland and turn right. Three blocks ahead on the right. |