ABOUT NATALIE POCKETT
"Tell me a bit about yourself, Natalie!"
Happy to!
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I am originally from a blip-on-the-map town called Cisco, GA. As I got older, I somehow found myself inching closer and closer to Atlanta: Chatsworth, Dalton, Adairsville, Kennesaw, Alpharetta...until I met Cole, my Canadian husband. Now I am happily making the transition to British Columbia to start our lives together!
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Besides piano, I am also extremely interested in digital art and coding. And - fun fact - I've studied both of these in college as well as music! (Maybe I was a bit overambitious, huh?)
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My husband and I are both proudly cat people, and together we raise 3 totally non-hell-raising delights.
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As for my personality, I'm a bit of a mixing bowl. At times, I can be pretty shy and anxious. Other times, I'm a social butterfly and open book!
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"What makes you a not-so-average teacher?"
When I meet a student, I think what's most important is that they leave their first lesson knowing three things:
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1. Piano is not as technical and rigorous as most instructors would have you believe.
2. Your piano journey is not, nor will it ever be, you vs. me.
3. I will never tell you to practice at home.
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"Hold up, you don't make your students practice?!"
Nope. Now, that's not to say I don't strongly recommend it, but my students are responsible for their own schedules. I simply show them how long their goals will take to achieve with varying levels of practice. It's up to them to decide which timeline works best for them. I've adopted this approach for many reasons:
1. It enforces a sense of responsibility and improves time management skills.
2. It ensures that students play outside of lessons because they want to.
3. It is more forgiving for students with hectic schedules or learning disabilities.
4. It reassures students that I am a source of guidance, not pressure or judgement.
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"Yea, you're a little unorthodox. How do I know you're still qualified?"
That's a fair question! My biggest achievement, in my mind, is simply that I've played for over 20 years. But, here's a few more tidbits to ease your mind:
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1. Took private lessons growing up.
2. Earned lead pianist in high school jazz band.
3. Taught piano freelance since before I even graduated high school.
4. Taught piano in a studio setting for a year.
5. Taught introductory piano classes at various metro-Atlanta elementary schools.
6. Studied music at Kennesaw State University.
7. Proud alumni of the KSU Marching Band (I'm a hornist, too!)
8. I've had the passion for as long as I've been alive!
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"Where can I get more details about your curriculum?"
I would be happy to give you a preview of some of the resources I use frequently via email. However, if what you're looking for is a "syllabus", I'm afraid I can't help you. Part of what you gain from my lessons is the customizable nature of my methods - which means, there IS no syllabus!
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ABOUT LESSONS
"Tell me how an average lesson goes."
Certainly! I do offer FREE trials for first-timers, so if you'd rather see it than hear about it, click here to fill out a contact form and we'll get one booked!
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Lessons can vary based on a few factors, like what exactly a student's goals are, or their current playing level. But, in a typical structure, lessons are broken down into sections: warm-up, review, new material, and questions/homework. In the case that we are working on a long-term project together, I may veer off this structure to maximize the work we can get done.
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"Are piano and digital music the only subjects you teach?"
Piano and digital music are my specialties, but I pride myself in the ability to tailor my lessons to your goals. Here are some special requests I have received in the past, for example:
- songwriting/performance
- ear training
- genre-specific learning (rock, pop, jazz, etc.)
- musical notation/MuseScore
- District/All-State prep
If you have any further questions about the extent of my services, please fill out a contact form here or contact me directly at pockettkeys@gmail.com.
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I am also looking to offer drawing lessons, but have not yet taught this subject in a professional capacity. So, I am currently organizing a "beta class" for FREE to test my teaching skills. If you are interested in joining this class, please read the terms and then fill out a contact form.
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"What do lessons cost?"
Trial lessons (new students only): FREE!
30-min lesson: $20
60-min lesson: $35
30-min recurring: $70-80/mo*
60-min recurring: $120-140/mo*
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Additionally, I offer a multi-student discount for recurring members! (See below)
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*For months where 4 lessons would occur, the rate is the lower number. For months where 5 lessons would occur, the rate is the higher number.
"What are the recurring member benefits?"
1. Discounted lessons! Those who are recurring members save up to $35 per month on lessons. That's like getting a free 60-min lesson!
2. Reserve a date and time permanently! Students who purchase lessons individually run the risk of losing a time slot they prefer to a member who signs up for recurring lessons in that slot.
3. Support calls! Are you trying to practice at home, but you're totally stumped? No need to wait for your next lesson! Each recurring student gains one 15-min support call per month. Just ask to cash it in, schedule a time and day outside regular lessons, and help will be on the way.
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"How long can I pause my recurring lessons?"
Recurring lessons can be paused for up to 3 months. I will send a reminder via email to resume lessons a week prior to that deadline, if you have not done so already. If payment is not received within 5 days of that email, no further lessons will be scheduled, and your time slot will become available to others again. You can still restart a new recurring plan for this slot after the deadline, if it is still available.
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"I have more than one student to sign up. Do you offer discounts for that?"
YES! For recurring members, I offer the multi-student discount. Every student after the first gets 20% off.
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"What is your teaching schedule?"
I teach Monday-Friday from 11:30am-5:30pm (Pacific Time). For make-up lessons only, I also offer weekend availability. If you have a make-up lesson to schedule, please send requests for these dates ASAP, as slots are limited and in high demand.
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"Are 60-minute lessons better than 30-minute lessons?"
Not necessarily. While you may learn much faster, it's also a lot more challenging!
Here's who I think benefits most from a 30-minute structure:
- all beginners
- all students new to me, regardless of previous experience
- most students ages 8-11
- students who are perfectionists
- students with ADHD or other learning disabilities
And here's who I think benefits most from a 60-minute structure:
- most veteran students
- students age 12+
- students who prefer a challenge
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"What ages do you teach?"
I've taught as young as 4 to as old as 60 - however, I do not recommend private lessons for children under 8, unless the child shows exceptional progress or interest. If you believe this might be your child, I am happy to schedule a free trial lesson for them! This lesson will be an evaluation, and I will offer my feedback at the end of the lesson.
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"I would like to stay in the room with my child during their lesson."
This is a common request that I can accommodate, especially for young children and families with limited space. However, please understand that learning is a vulnerable activity - we make mistakes, we get frustrated, we might even cry at times...and most people prefer less witnesses to these moments, including children. So, if you are comfortable giving them privacy during their lesson, it might make these moments easier. But if not, that's okay - just let them know you aren't there to judge them for their mistakes!
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OTHER FAQs
"What is your cancellation policy?"
FOR NON-RECURRING: I require 24 hours notice to cancel any lesson. If this deadline is met, you may choose to reschedule the lesson(s) at no cost, or you may have the lesson(s) refunded. If this deadline is not met, the lesson is forfeit and will not be refunded (if the lesson was a trial lesson, the student receives one "grace" reschedule for free. If the rescheduled trial is also cancelled past the 24-hour deadline, or if the student is a no-show, any future reschedules will cost the full 30-minute lesson price of $20). Additionally, all lessons must be paid for in full no later than 24 hours prior to the scheduled lesson time. If payment has not been received by the 48-hour mark, I will send a courtesy email reminder. If payment has still not been received by the 24-hour mark, the lesson will be cancelled.
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FOR RECURRING: Invoices are sent out on the 28th of each month via PayPal and are due by the 1st. If you would like to pause or cancel your subscription, please let me know prior to the invoice date otherwise one will be sent. If payment is not received by the end of the 1st, your recurring membership will be cancelled (it may be restarted at any time, but please be aware that my schedule changes frequently, and your previously reserved slot may have been filled).
Students who repeatedly fail to pay or give proper cancellation notice could be barred from any future bookings.
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"Are there any exceptions to this policy?"
Sickness and emergencies are unforeseeable, so, of course! Please inform me of these circumstances as soon as you are able and I would be happy to reschedule these lessons (I do not offer refunds on any cancellations past the 24-hr mark). If you require a refund and there is a circumstance which prevented you from adhering to the cancellation deadline properly, please email me at pockettkeys@gmail.com to discuss your refund request.
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"What are make-up lessons/do you offer them?"
"Make-up" lessons refer to lessons that have been cancelled in accordance with the cancellation policy, but that you may choose not to have refunded so that you can instead reschedule them for a later date. This is a favorable option for those who want to stay on top of their progress, but might occasionally run into a scheduling conflict.
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I do offer the option of make-up lessons! These lessons will last for 90 days in your file before they are forfeit, and they can be rescheduled for any available slot within that 90-day period. These lessons can be unscheduled and/or rescheduled at no extra cost (with the proper notice), but doing so will not reset their original expiration date.
"Any other policies I should know about?"
After scheduling your first paid lesson, you will be sent an email with my full policy, which must be signed no later than the end of the day of your first paid lesson. It details the following:
- agreement to pay in adherence to payment deadlines
- agreement to the cancellation and make-up policies
- behavioral expectations of students
- student rights to original content
- instructor rights to record lessons (if you choose this option)
- instructor rights to share student creations and achievements, with proper credit to student, for marketing purposes.
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"Can you be contacted by phone?"
Once you have paid for (and attended) a lesson, I will provide my phone number to you. Prior to that point, all contact must be done via email.
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BETA CLASS
"I am interested in joining the drawing beta class!"
I appreciate your help! Here's what you need to know:
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1. This is group class. If selected, you and 9 other students will take part in this 2-month experimental course. There will be one class per week during this course, and each class will run for one hour.
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2. Selection is based on age and availability.
--- All participants must be at least 14 years old.
--- The schedule is determined by the availability of the prospects and the instructor. As such, the more open your availability is, the more likely you are to be selected. Your contact info will NOT be shared with other prospects. All coordination will be handled through me. If you wish to contact other prospects directly, I must receive permission from all involved parties via email before I will relinquish any contact info.
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3. Attendance is mandatory! If you have any reason to believe you are unable to participate in all 8 sessions, please do not ask to join the beta class. An exception applies to illness and emergencies for 1 session. Any additional absences constitute a removal from the beta class. An absence for any non-emergency/illness constitutes immediate removal from the beta.
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4. Once the beta has begun, if 3 or more participants drop out, the beta will close.
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5. The most important part of this beta class is the completion of surveys, which will be sent out at the end of each session. These surveys will be short, and will mostly ask about your feelings towards that day's session. At the end of the course, you will be sent a more in-depth survey about the course as a whole. This survey will include questions regarding your overall feelings about the course, my teaching methods, and any changes/improvements you would make. These surveys are also a requirement for the beta to succeed. Skipping a survey may constitute removal from the beta class.
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6. The quality of your feedback is also key to the success of the beta class.
DO:
- outline pros and cons of each session
- offer suggestions on how to improve the experience
- describe your experience in detail and refer to specific moments
- express your honest opinion respectfully
DO NOT:
- describe any session, or the entire course, as "good" or "bad"
- express like or dislike for any part of the course without explanation
- make comments about other participants or their work
- describe your experience as more positive or negative than you really felt
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7. All participants agree to allow any feedback they provide to be used for future marketing purposes.
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8. In the even that the beta class fails - whether due to excessive drop outs or by receiving a majority of negative or unfixable reviews - there will be a second beta course at a future date TBD. When the modified course is ready for trial, participants of the first beta (not including drop outs, if applicable) will receive private invitations to the second beta via email. They will have 2 weeks to respond with interest and updated availability information. After 2 weeks, beta registration will open to the public, and anyone who has not responded to the email invitation will need to re-submit a contact form to be considered.
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9. In the event that the beta succeeds - meaning it received a majority of good reviews, and all negative marks are fixable - all participants will be notified of the official launch for drawing lessons. These select few will receive a lifetime discount of 50% when they register for recurring lessons within 6 months of the launch date. Additionally, if participants are interested in other subjects, they will receive a lifetime discount of 20% when they register for recurring lessons within 6 months of the beta's end date. ***Please note: these discounts are applicable to recurring lessons only. They do not apply to single lessons or lesson bundles.
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10. If these terms are agreeable, please fill out a contact form and be sure to select the "I am interested in the beta class" option!
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