Studio Policies

Laurece West Studios

Singing Lessons for Active & Aspiring Professionals

Voice Coaching for Confident, Effective & Creative Speaking

Studio Policies 2012

Getting Started

Fill out the registration form (on the Singing Lessons or Voice Coaching page) and call Laurece to arrange an informational interview. Meeting together will give you a chance to get any questions you have answered, to see the studio, to gain an understanding of the methods Laurece uses to train singers technically and artistically to be great singers and performers, to learn about terms of study, and to get a sense her energy. If it feels like a match, together you will compare schedules and reserve, with a payment, your first two weeks of lessons.

The initial lessons are 75 minutes each, as extra time is needed in the beginning. These lessons consist of 15 minutes of preparation time (see below) and 60 minutes of instruction.

Terms of Study

After two weeks of lessons, continuing students commit to 6, 9, or 12 months of study. Lessons are weekly at any of the following lesson lengths:

75 minutes: 15 minutes of preparation time,
60 minutes of instruction.
60 minutes: 15 prep, 45 min. instruction.

40 minutes: 10 prep, 30 min. instruction.

Vocalists may start at any time of the year.

Preparation Time
Athletes warm up and actors prepare their instrument (their body!) Vocalists and musicians must do the same. Your prep time is alone time in the studio to stretch, breathe, move and balance yourself. Laurece will get you started and continue to provide tips during your lessons on how to prepare.

Lesson Fees
75 minutes: $75
60 minutes: $60
40 minutes: $40

Payments

Fees are paid monthly or by the term. For students studying in Durham there are 10, 12.5 & 15% discounts when paying for 6, 9, or 12 month terms. Students in Chapel Hill pay monthly.

75 min 60 min 40 min
1 Year $3060 $2448 $1632

Nine months $2363 $1890 $1260

Six Months $1620 $1296 $864
Monthly $300 $240 $160

Beginning students pay at least 48 hours in advance of each lesson to hold the appointment. Continuing students pay for the next month at lessons 4, 8, 12, etc.

Please make your check payable to "Laurece West Studios," and mail to Laurece West, 2104 Havenhill Place, Durham, NC 27712.

Laurece accepts credit cards at the studio and PayPal payments on-line. There are fees associated with each - the fees are lower at the studio.

www.PayPal.com to the account: laureceweststudios@gmail.com.

Please add $9.50 for $300, $7.50 for $240, $5.25 for $160 and $2.75 for $75. Speak to Laurece about exact fees for larger payments.

All lesson fees are non-refundable. Cancelled workshop and initial lesson fees are good for make-up within six months if the cancellation policy is followed. Continuing student's lessons are to be taken within the term.

Lesson Agreements
To enable mutual understanding of these studio policies and to have a smooth working relationship Laurece has written agreements for studying. The agreement includes:
1. The dates and times of your lessons.
2. A reminder to follow the cancellation policy to retain a credit.
3. Due dates for monthly payments.
4. Signatures of agreement.
Laurece has found that with clear policies a smooth working relationship is maintained; students understand their responsibilities so they may give themselves the gift of studying; Laurece is clear when she is working and what appointments are available; and she can stay centered in the midst of a studio of students with a variety of life changes. This enables her to be present and to teach in the best way for each student. Additionally, this allows each artist's energy to be positively focused.

Developing Your Talent
Aspiring professionals, developing your talent will take several years. When you want to "be there now!" this is a sobering fact. Any professional will tell you about the years they studied and practiced - ask them. Your love of singing will give you the motivation & energy, as well as seeing and hearing results. If you practice daily and attend weekly lessons you will improve every week and some weeks you'll have a breakthrough and get dramatically better. Your confidence will improve and you'll get positive feedback from others about your voice just at the right time.

Active Professionals, take your voice to a new level. Receive feedback from Laurece about when you are vocalizing inefficiently and learn how to sing or speak remarkably better. Increase your range with ease. Withstand the rigors of your career in strong shape, maintaining vocal health. Develop tonal flexibility, emotional colors, endurance, originality and uniqueness to have a defining voice!

Vacations & Attendance

There is time off each term for vacation or personal time:

1 year- 48 lessons in 52 weeks.

9 months- 36 lessons in 39 weeks.

6 months- 24 lessons in 26 weeks.

Students may take additional weeks off if the lessons are made up by taking two lessons in one week or by adding time onto 2 lessons.

As weekly lessons are essential to integrate and check the application of each new skill, continuous attendance is required. Video Cam & Phone Lessons allow vocalists to remain consistent while traveling.

Each quarter client's clarify their goals and acknowledge their challenges as well as achievements. Laurece will also give a progress report so growth and accomplishments are celebrated.

Cancellations and Illness

If you are getting sick, are sick or have not had three healthy days after and illness and you show up at the studio you will be asked to go home. Bringing an active illness into the studio endangers all the vocalists livelihood, and their ability to perform and record. If you get sick the day of a lesson or are going to be very late, if you are studying in Durham you can have a phone lesson, even if you call right at lesson time. (Unfortunately this is not an option for the Chapel Hill Studio.)

Only phone cancellations are accepted: 919-383-4876.

If you need to reschedule a lesson please give

plenty of notice since that time is reserved

specially for you.

If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice, the lesson fee is forfeited - so take care of yourself by planning ahead. Both you and Laurece would rather you have a lesson credit! To maintain the value of your lesson and your vocal consistency – reschedule or take a Video Cam or a phone lesson.

Video Cam and Phone Lessons

Laurece regularly works with long distance, touring, and traveling clients by Skype Videocam and by phone. This is an effective way to maintain progress. Lessons are recorded and students may receive their tape at the next lesson or by mail. Mailings are $7.00; this includes cassette, package & postage.

Studio Locations
Durham- 2104 Havenhill Place. Take Guess Road north to Umpstead. Go left onto Umpstead. Continue to Lansdowne. Go right and 2104 is at the end, where Landsdowne ends in a T with Havenhill. Laurece's place is a green colonial home. More thorough directions are found on the Workshops page.

Chapel Hill- Southwing Music, 630 Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill, 27514. Located in the same shopping center at Bagels on the Hill and The Pig, go to the right side parking lot and Southwing Music is the last door on the left. It is a music rehearsal studio that has microphones and a PA system, so students learn microphone technique and become comfortable singing with a mike.