Music lessons

Music

• CAJ arranges music lessons through the Music Department and hires adjunct teachers to teach these lessons.
• CAJ does not allow lessons on campus from adults who have not been hired either as adjunct music teachers or salaried staff members, or who have not been approved as an intentional exception by the leadership team.
• CAJ's salaried music staff also teach lessons, some as part of their contractual agreement and some in addition to CAJ responsibilities.
• Because music lessons involve student learning, CAJ does not discourage staff members with musical talents from using CAJ facilities to hold music lessons.
• However, such lessons must meet the following criteria:
  • The lessons must be approved by the music coordinator, who acts on behalf of the Leadership Team (see Leadership Team Portolios.)
  • Event requests must be filled out so that:
    • There are no room conflicts.
    • The school is aware of students and teachers being in rooms outside of school hours in the event of an emergency.
  • Attempts can be made to protect staff members against allegations of inappropriate conduct.
  • Rates charged for lessons must be consistent with CAJ rates (see chart below).
  • Only CAJ-approved adjunct music teachers and salaried staff are authorized to use CAJ facilities for private lessons.
  • The staff member must demonstrate a reasonable level of competence (as determined by the Music Department chair) in the instrument.
  • The methods taught must be acceptable to CAJ's general methodology of teaching music.
  • Lessons given by staff members who are not adjunct music teachers or salaried music staff cannot conflict with CAJ's use of its facilities.
• CAJ occasionally allows students to teach other students. In such cases, the student teacher:
  • Must be a student of unusual ability.
  • Must be recommended by the music coordinator and approved by the leadership team.
  • Must charge rates as determined by CAJ (see chart below).
  • In addition, an adult supervisor will check in to:
    • Ensure the lesson begins on time.
    • Review the progress made during the lesson at the end of the lesson.
• Private voice lessons are only offered to students in grades 9-12 with preference given to older students first because the vocal instrument is a growing and changing instrument with significant physical and emotional changes going on while students are in grades 5-10. It is healthier to work with an older voice in the vocal studio due to the overall maturation process of the student. The CAJ Music Department (K-12) teaches choral music with a solid emphasis on technique that allows for a student to grow and mature; students can be quite successful without private lessons until later in their high school years.
• The CAJ Band Department has a limited number of instruments available for rent. Parents are encouraged to buy the common band instruments (flute, clarinet, trumpet, etc.) for their child for the student's second year of lessons.

Music Lesson Rates

Rates & Other Details

• The standard rate for private music lessons at CAJ is ¥2,900 per half hour.
• Lessons charges are pro-rated for longer or shorter lessons.
• Lesson charges are charged to families through the CAJ business office.
• If the student fails to advise the teacher 24 hours ahead of time that they will be absent, they are still charged for the lesson.

List of Music Teachers

• Don Ekstrand (band instruments)
• Ayumi Tsuruta (strings)
• Denise Owen (flute)
• Yumiko Sato (piano)
• Tomoko Kaga (piano)
• Hitomi Langlais (piano)
• Kei Matsumaru (saxophone)
• Sujin Shin (percussion)
• Pei-Lum Tsai (clarinet)

Athletics

• CAJ does not arrange private sport lessons.
• However, because private sport lessons involve student learning, CAJ does not discourage staff members with specific sport talents/expertise from using CAJ facilities to hold sport lessons.
• However, such lessons must meet the following criteria:
  • The lessons must be approved by the athletic coordinator, who acts on behalf of the Leadership Team.
  • Facility requests must be filled out so that:
    • There are no facility conflicts.
    • The school is aware of students and staff members being in school facilities outside of school hours in the event of an emergency.
    • Attempts can be made to protect staff members against allegations of inappropriate conduct.
  • Rates charged for lessons must be consistent with CAJ rates.
  • The sport taught cannot undermine CAJ's existing program. For example:
    • The staff member must demonstrate a reasonable level of competence (as determined by the athletic coordinator) in the sport.
    • The methods taught must be acceptable to the CAJ's general methodology of teaching sport.
    • Lessons given cannot conflict with CAJ's use of its facilities.
• CAJ does not allow lessons from non-staff adults who do not have an approved application on file with the personnel coordinator (for example, a volunteer application).

• See also Sport Camps, Summer