Entry Forms

Parents of new students will receive an email confirmation for their lesson times with an intake form. This needs to be completed before their first lesson.

Music supplies

Piano students need to have a piano or adequate keyboard at home. Mrs. Zavoral will provide method books, sheet music, music bag and all other supplies needed for your lessons. She will also provide a spiral notebook where she records what students learn each week. Students that lose these materials must replace them on their own.

Come Prepared

When you come to lessons, bring your water bottle and everything that belongs in your music bag. If you forget these supplies, we can still have a productive lesson. However, keep in mind that it slows down student progress and takes extra time for Mrs. Zavoral to provide alternative activities when you do not have your music books and lesson notes.

Getting to the studio

The studio is located in the rear of the Zavoral home at 2077 Pentuckett Ave, San Diego, CA 92104.

Families can use street parking. Students walk the “piano pathway” to the brown side gate, entering with a provided key code. Follow the path to the back patio for private entry into the music room. Parents may drop off or wait on the back patio during lessons..

late arrival

Please arrive a few minutes early so that we can begin on time. Students that arrive late will still be charged for the full lesson period. Please be mindful that lessons are scheduled back to back, so we cannot exceed your ending time to make up for being tardy.

2024 Schedule

This year, we will run on a trimester schedule (Fall, Winter and Spring) where each term will run for about 12 weeks. Payment will be collected at the end of each trimester.

Typically we will not host classes when school is closed for SDUSD, with the exception of Spring term, where lessons will run through the end of June. Families are encouraged to view the Studio Calendar to see specific start and end dates for each trimester, as well as studio closures and fun events.

Absences

If Mrs. Zavoral needs to cancel a lesson, families will be notified as soon as possible and will not be charged for the lesson.

We understand that illness, travel, and other events may cause absences. To accommodate this, we offer 1 Grace Day per trimester, allowing students to miss a lesson without charge. After the Grace Day is used, missed lessons during the remainder of the trimester will be charged as if attended.

Cancellations

There is no fee if a student needs to discontinue lessons before the trimester is over. However, they will lose their lesson spot for future seasons. If they wish to return at a later season, they will be added to the waitlist.

Practicing

Practice is very important, but it’s also important for it to be age-appropriate and child-directed. Mrs. Zavoral works closely with each student to help them create an individualized practice plan that meets their skill level, learning style, and interests. These practice plans are recorded in the student’s music notebook from week to week.

Throughout the season, parents are given tips on how to support the practice plan that their child creates, and adjustments are made as needed. When a student fulfills their practice goals, we celebrate with small prizes and other rewards.

Performances

Students get multiple opportunities to perform in the studio and throughout the community, at no additional cost. Refer to the Studio Calendar for dates of these events.

Mini-recitals are a low-key way for students to share their music in small groups at the studio.

Our bigger recitals involve audiences of 50+ guests, and they are not like most stressful and stuffy recitals. The atmosphere is very family friendly and we keep things fast-paced. Students are given a variety of options to share their music within their comfort levels. And Mrs. Zavoral always bring games from her studio for students to teach the audience. Everyone attending gets involved throughout the event with singing, moving and playing instruments together!

Payment

Payment for private and group lessons are due at the end of each trimester, after lessons are received. Mrs. Zavoral sends an invoice to each family and payment can be made with cash, check or Venmo @ZavoralMusicStudios. Families are welcome to send smaller payments throughout the trimester if desired.