Studio Policies / Procedures / Lesson Policies / Students Read Please

Lesson Policies

"The singers go before, the musicians follow after" - Psalm 68, verse 24

To see my Philosophy, Click Here.

There are two possible ways to get into contact with me:
Cell Phone: (202) 297-3047
Email: lessons@dudleyvocalstudio.com
or, click on this link

I require AT LEAST 24 hours notice for a cancellation. You must call my cell and send me an email. If you fail to give notice of cancellation, you will be charged for the full hour lesson. ADDITIONALLY - If you are
LATE, you'll be given the remaining time left from the time you arrive of your lesson. I won't be able to give you the full hour lesson. See makeup policies below for allowances.

CLICK HERE for Full Details about Fees and All Discounts.
Have a look at the fee page for more information.

Payment accepted in Cash or Personal Check.

$25 Semester Fee per Student every four months.
$25 Recital Accompanist Fee per student for each RECITAL & SEMINAR
(There are two SEMINARS per year, in December and April, and one RECITAL in June).
(This is to be paid before the recital/seminar, and can be added to your regular fees).
For those taking ABRSM Exams, there will be an additional charge for finding an accompanist for the exam. The fee includes:

You will be charged $35 for a Returned Check Fee.

Adolescents are welcome, but their voices must be settled from puberty (it can take a year or so after puberty for the voice to settle into its new natural voice). Generally, I'll start the younger voice at age 15/16 for men,
and 14 for girls, but these children must be dedicated and be willing to practice. Adults of any age and experience are welcome. I also teach choristers, or children who use their singing voices regularly.

The student is expected to turn up to lessons ON TIME, prepared and ready to work. Although unforeseen circumstances (like traffic) may make a student late, the lesson will still have to finish within the alloted time,
although there may some flexibility about this. If you are given music and technical exercises to do away from the lesson, you are expected to come to the next lesson prepared so that we can move forward.

If you respect me, I will respect you. What does that mean? Well, the first sign of respect is that you will turn up to our class ready to sing, prepared, having learnt your set work for the week. You try the different
exercises in the lesson, without complaints. You'll work hard with your voice.
In return, I will treat you with the same respect. I will teach you to the best of my ability, and the lesson with smoothly sail by.

Bring a tape recorder or Digital Sound device to record your lessons.
Bring the booklet you have been provided for notes and vocalises.
Water - you don't want to dry up.
Sugar Free Ricola Drops - soothes the sore throat. I don't recommend Menthol or any sugar drops.

Each lesson, you will be expected to be prepared to sing. This means that you will have all your materials ready, your music, a pencil, water and anything else you need. You will arrive on time for your lesson
What you can expect of me: I will come prepared to your lesson, be early, and teach you for your full alloted time.
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LESSONS is found on the website under your own link/name!

Please Practice. You'll not only benefit your own progress, but it will be a pleasure to teach you! I can tell when you're not practicing. I've also heard every excuse in the book because I also used to have a teacher,
and I used all the same ones. WE KNOW! If I assign you work to do for the week, you will be expected to warm up your voice with the selected vocalises and come prepared to the next lesson with the piece of music
and assigned passage(s) learned and ready to present. If you don't practice, you're wasting not only my time, but yours too. Singing well involves practice too. We can't all be blessed with prefect voices - most of us
have to work at that, and practicing our voices is the start!

Everyone gets sick, and that's OK. As singers, getting sick is the last thing we want to have happen. You can take care of yourself though. Don't put yourself in situations where you are perceptible to colds. Be sure
that you nurse your illnesses with rest. Be sure to take all your vitamins.
IF YOU ARE SICK - do not come to your lesson. Please cancel - we will reschedule. I'd rather you heal before trying to practice your voice again. For more health related info, click here.

Every summer, generally in June or July, the studio gets together to have a Student Recital. This is a great opportunity to show off what you have learnt in your lessons to an understanding, yet appreciative audience
of friends and family. Although I do not force you perform in the concert, I strongly encourage you to do so. If part of your goals is to gain self-confidence, one of the best ways is to perform in front of a
warm-welcoming, receptive audience. Not only do you gain a great sense of accomplishment out of performing, but it will also allow us to continuously move on to better things, more repertoire and new goals.
$25 Recital Accompanist Fee per student for each RECITAL & SEMINAR - - - There are two SEMINARS per year, in December and April, and one RECITAL in June. - - - This is to be paid before the recital/seminar,
and can be added to your regular fees

For concerts, dress smart casual. No Jeans! You are not only representing yourself, but the entire studio as well.

If I miss one of your lessons, I will make it up as soon as our schedules work. If you miss a lesson, I will allow only FOUR make-ups per singing semester (September-December / January-April / May-August), and
only ONE for month-to-month paying students. Thereafter, if you miss a lesson or need to cancel, you will be charged. I am not trying to be mean, but each time I have to reschedule you, it puts me out for my own
schedule, and often I do no have the time to fit you in. Moral of the story - try to not cancel. If you wish to reschedule, you must contact me 24 HOURS PRIOR to your lesson. I will try to fit you in. Cancellations with
less than 24 hours notice result in NO SHOW fee charge for the entire hour lesson.

Please click HERE to see a clip of a lesson example, sound recording, our Studio Photos and other worthwhile links.

Lessons are 1-hour in length. 45 minutes are spent on technique with 15 minutes on your chosen repertoire. If you require some form of remedial learning in other subjects such as score reading, theory of music or
general music history, then I will dedicate a few minutes of each lesson to instruct you in the specific areas where you need the work. THEREFORE, if you are assigned remedial work, you are expected to do it as
well as your singing practising.

There are three semesters as follows:

September-December
January-April
May-August

So, each semester lasts four (4) months. I will, after each semester, give a report on your progress, and we will re-evaluate our goals.

REMEMBER! *fees* paid in advance of the month get a $$$ Savings (only open to weekly lessons).
DVD/material *fees* are $25 due every semester/every four months.

Cancellations

Fees

Additional Fees

Age Range

Expectations

Respect

Materials

Preparation

Practice

Sickness/Vocal Health

Recitals/Concerts/Seminars

MAKE UP LESSONS