ORGAN LESSONS

Diocese of Lincoln Safe Environment Standards 

The Instructor is bound to the Safe Environment Training and Policies of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln. Therefore, it is required that for all students under the age of 18, a parent or legal adult must be present during the entire lesson. The Instructor reserves the right to suspend the lesson if at any point the parent leaves. 

LINCOLN DIOCESE SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICIES

Lesson Duration 

Lessons are a minimum of 30 minutes for beginners and intermediate students, and 45 minutes. 60-minute lessons may be utilized for advance and adult students.

Lesson Structure 

Opening Prayer, Music Theory, Technique, Repertoire, Closing Prayer.  

Practice Time 

Regular, frequent practice is necessary for any craft. Therefore, each student must keep a practice log of their practice time and present it to the instructor at the beginning of each lesson. Nota bene: Progress will be measured on the performance of repertoire, and growth since the last lesson rather than time practicing.

​Performance 

A recital is performed each Winter at Sacred Heart Catholic Church as part of the annual Lessons and Carols Service. Each student will perform two repertoire pieces.

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Absence & Cancellation 

All lessons are taught in-person. To receive credit for a cancelled lesson, notification must be given by the student to the teacher no later than 24 hours before the cancellation, and the cause must be something other than lack of practice. Lessons cancelled by the teacher are automatically credited.  

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Consecutive Absence 

Even if the cause is illness or other circumstances unfortunately outside of the student’s control, the student may not take more than three (3) consecutive absences. Students that undergo two absences will receive a warning, and following the third consecutive absence will be dismissed.

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Make-up lessons 

Lessons offered within the body of the normal semester to make up for a cancelled lesson are very difficult to schedule and are not guaranteed. ​Cancellations or Reschedules due to other commitments, practices, games, etc. will not be eligible for a reschedule and will simply be cancelled that week. Make-up lessons will ultimately be up to the discretion of the instructor.

Weekly objective 

Each week, the teacher will assign an objective with all necessary information in writing via the student’s practice notebook.  The entire lesson and all cumulative progress are measured by the degree to which the weekly objective is being met, not how many minutes were spent practicing. 

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Confusion about weekly objective 

Students must contact the teacher before the next lesson to resolve confusion, not wait until the next lesson. In the case of confusion about the weekly objective, students who fail to meet weekly objectives due to lack of inquiry/seeking of clarification between lessons will not be retained and will be subject to dismissal. ​