Piano Lessons

Dear Parents and Students

Thank you for considering piano lessons with us through Nipawin Bible College. I am looking forward to teaching many students this year. Here are the details for the coming year and what you need to do to officially register. Registration Deadline: September 6. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions.

Myra Schmidt, NBC Music Director

w - (306) 862-5095
myra@nipawin.org

Dates

Registration Deadline: September 6, 2024

September - December

Total of 12 Lessons
Begin the week of September 16, 2024
End the week of December 19, 2024
No lessons the week of October 14
No lessons on Remembrance Day (Nov. 11) - You will only be charged for eleven lessons if your lesson day is on a Monday.

January - April

Total of 11 lessons:
Begin the week of January 6, 2025
End the week of March 31, 2025
No lessons the week of February 17 for Semester Break
No lessons the week of March 17-21 for Music Festival

April-June

If you would like to continue lessons in April-June, please contact me in February to make arrangements.

Meet the Teacher

Myra Schmidt

Myra has been playing piano since she was 6 years old and took exams through Western Board of Music and Conservatory Canada.  She has a Bachelor of Religious Education with a Church Music Major from Peace River Bible Institute (PRBI), in Sexsmith, AB as well as a Bachelor of Music degree focusing on Piano Performance from the University of Lethbridge.

Through both her Conservatory training as well as college and university degrees, she has studied music theory and history and was awarded the highest mark in Alberta for Theory 5  as well as the highest mark in Saskatchewan for History 6 from Conservatory Canada.

She has taught piano to students of all ages and all grades for about 25 years now and has been playing piano for about 37 years.  Other musical pursuits include singing in choirs throughout her secondary and post-secondary college years and she has sung and played piano in her church for most of her musical life.  She has directed several children's and adults choirs.

For the past 12 years she has been working at Nipawin Bible College as the Music Director.  Musical duties include directing the choir and Christmas Cantata each year, working with music teams and teaching piano, theory and music history to both college and private students.

“There’s nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.”

Johann Sebastian Bach

Scheduling

Scheduling

Please register by September 6 so that a schedule can be made.

A schedule will be made as soon as possible based on requests on the registration form.

Please check off ALL dates and times that would work for your family.

Families registering 2 or more students will be scheduled back to back on the same day unless otherwise requested by the parents.

NOTE: Lessons will not be rescheduled due to conflicts with sports games/dance competitions.

Lesson Times

Lesson time is determined by the level of music at which your child is learning. Here are the recommended times:

  • Beginner - Grade 3 piano: 30 minute lesson
  • Grade 4-6 piano: 45 minute lesson
  • Grade 7+ piano: 1 hour lesson

Other arrangements can be made at the parents' request. If you’re not sure what level/grade your student is at, please contact Myra for an assessment meeting prior to the registration deadline.

Practice Requirements

In order to ensure that students learn the best and progress well, practice is very important and necessary.  Students will be expected to practice a minimum of 4 days each week for a set amount of time as discussed with the teacher in their first lessons.  This length of time is determined based on the level of music they are playing at and their age.

  • Parents will need to record their child's lesson times in their notebooks for the teacher to see each week.
  • If students are failing to get the minimum amount of time/days of practice in on a consistent basis within the first month of lessons, the teacher will contact the parent to determine the reason for the lack of practice.
  • If no improvement is made after another month, the teacher reserves the right to refuse to continue lessons in the next term.

Fees & Payment

Payment
Payment is made to Nipawin Bible College:

By cash or cheque at the Nipawin Bible College Bookstore

e-transfer to finances@nipawin.org - please indicate that these are for piano lessons and who you are paying for.

Payment must be made before the first lesson of the season (September, January, April).

Fees are non-refundable.

Fees must be paid by the first lesson and must be paid for the full term.  Please contact Myra if you need to make alternate payment plans.

Missed Lessons

If you know prior to the beginning of a term or month that you will be missing on a lesson day, please let Myra know so that arrangements can be made - either rescheduling (if possible) or adjustment to fees.

If you need to miss a lesson after payment has been made, please inform Myra as soon as possible (at least by 1:00p.m. of lesson day). If notification has been given, lessons will be rescheduled if possible or a credit will be given on the next payment term.

If no notification is given for missed lessons, lessons will not be rescheduled nor credit given for the missed lesson.

If Myra is unable to be at a lesson, you will be notified as soon as possible and a credit will be given on your next payment.

NOTE: Lessons will not be rescheduled due to conflicts with sports games/dance competitions.

Fees

Performance Opportunities

Recitals

Each student will perform at least one piece in the recitals that will take place in December and June (dates TBD). Families and friends are invited to attend.  It is understood that not every student is a confident performer but preparing a piece of music for performance helps develop musical ability.

Music Festival

Students will be strongly encouraged to enter at least 2 pieces in the music festival. More information will be given in November and arrangements for registration will be determined with the parents closer to the registration deadline. Registration takes place mid-January. Music Festival 2025 is March 17-21.

Exams

Taking an official exam at the end of the year is not required although students are encouraged to do so.

Students wishing to take an exam through Royal Conservatory of Music or Conservatory Canada will be prepared to do so at their appropriate grade level. Please inform Myra by October if you would like your student to take an exam.

Why Perform?

Performance offers opportunities for student growth:

*To improve skills and build confidence
*To gain confidence and good technique
*To build preparation techniques
*By watching and learning from other performers
(For more specific ways: https://www.thepiano.sg/piano/read/top-20-reasons-why-performing-recitals-important)

Music exams offer

*Motivation and inspiration, working from a carefully structured syllabus towards a definite goal
*A measure of personal progress and attainment against internationally recognized benchmarks
*An objective guide to improve your musical skills
*Assessment by a respected and independent musician who's highly trained and is monitored
*Performance opportunities and a real sense of achievement
(need more reasons?: https://us.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/why-do-an-exam/)