Piano lessons available for P3-P7 pupils

14 September 2020

Please find below a letter from our piano teacher Miss Blackford:

14th September 2020

Dear Parent

Piano lessons in Portstewart Primary School

I hope you have had a pleasant and enjoyable summer break after what has been a challenging and unusual year for so many. I am very pleased to let you know that I am now in a position to commence piano lessons in school this year.

Piano lessons will take place as before on Monday afternoons and all day Tuesday and will begin next week (Monday 21st September). However there will be a few changes this year as laid out below:

Safety and Hygiene

Lesson times will be of the same duration as before but with longer breaks in between. This will allow for adequate cleaning to take place without affecting lesson times. Children will be accompanied to and from their lessons by me to ensure the bubble system within school remains intact. Children will be asked to wash their hands thoroughly before and after their lesson and the piano will be disinfected after every use. Children are not required to wear a mask but they are welcome to wear one if they do so chose. I intend to wear a clear visor during piano lessons when social distancing is difficult to maintain. Hand sanitiser will be available at all times.

I would also kindly request that all piano books and notebooks are kept at home. I have copies of all resources in school for the children to use and will inform you directly with a quick note as to which piano activities to practise for the following week.

Prices and refunds

Lesson prices for this year will remain unchanged and are listed below:

Type of lesson

 

Cost per lesson per child

Paired lesson (only offered if children are in the same bubble in school)

£5.00

Individual lesson – 15 minutes

£5.00

Individual lesson – 20 minutes

£8.00

Existing lessons will continue as last year unless I hear from you otherwise. Please contact me directly if you wish to cancel your child’s lesson or change its duration or format. Existing paired lessons can continue as previously because each pair is currently within the same bubble. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would prefer to change this.

I will send home an individual bill in a sealed envelope to you in the first lesson of the term. It will be given to the eldest child where siblings participate in lessons. Many of you paid for two lessons which were not received due to the unexpected closure of school in March of this year. These lessons will be given this term without charge, and additional lessons will be given free of charge if an older sibling who received piano lessons has now left school. I will provide you with my account details along with your individual bill if you would prefer to pay electronically. Payment will also be welcomed by cash or cheque. If this is the case, please place it in a sealed envelope with your child’s full name on the front.

New piano pupils

I would like to take this opportunity to offer piano lessons to children in Year 3, as well as to any other pupils from Year 4 – Year 7. Lesson prices are as above and are paid termly. Children usually follow John Thompson’s Beginner Piano Series which I can provide for you at an additional cost of £5 per book if you do not have access to it or any other beginner piano series at home. If you would like your child to begin lessons, please contact me directly with the information provided below. As places are limited they will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

Contact Information

Please contact me directly with any issue regarding new or existing piano lessons on the following information:

Telephone: 07834602628

Email: [email protected]

I look forward to hearing from you and welcoming everyone back next week.

Yours Faithfully

Cerian Blackford