FAQs | PattersonPerformArts

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do lessons take place?

All music lessons and classes take place in our studio, which is located on the third floor of Webster Groves Presbyterian Church. The address is 45 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119. Parents are expected to drop students off at the main Hale Entrance (covered walkway) and return at the end of the lesson. As part of our Covid-19 safety protocols, parents and family members are currently not allowed to sit in the third-floor waiting area.
Our studio is not affiliated with Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, but we are grateful for the beautiful, spacious studio space they provide to us! Thank you for being respectful of the church and studio facilities.

Where do I park?

You may park in the adjacent church lot on Lockwood Ave. If you're coming from the Elm and Lockwood intersection, turn right into the parking lot before the church and just after Regions Bank. If there are no available spots in the lot, there is street parking on Lockwood or you can park in the Bank of America lot behind the church on Moody Avenue (park there during non-business hours only).
If you are just dropping off or picking up, you may pull up to the covered walkway from the parking lot. Please wait to drop off until 5 minutes before student's lesson/lab time begins. The Instructor or a Teaching Assistant will meet students at the glass doors to let them in.

Where should I enter the church?

Students should meet their instructor and enter the church through the main Hale Entrance, which is through the covered walkway from the Lockwood parking lot.

What should I do when I arrive?

Arrive no more than five minutes before your scheduled slot.
If the first set of doors are locked when you arrive, and it is within five minutes of your lesson time, ring the doorbell to the left of the front doors. Church or Studio staff will let you in, but it may take a few moments for them to appear. If there is a delay, please text the studio: 314-529-0082.
If the doors are unlocked, please wait inside on one of the benches. Your Instructor or Teaching Assistant will come down to greet you at your lesson time. Unless church staff waves you up the stairs, please wait downstairs for your Instructor.
There are stairs leading to the third floor, but an elevator is also available nearby, if required.

What should I bring?

All students should bring the following to every lesson:
- Sheet music organized in a binder or Piano books
- Pencil(s)
- No-leak water bottle with lid
Singers should also bring:
- A device that can be used to record portions of the lesson (this can be a cell phone or any other device which can record - be sure it is charged and has enough memory space!)
- Any assigned sight-reading curriculum

How do I register for lessons -- what is this Student Portal you mentioned, and how do I get to it?

If you are new to the studio, the first step is to contact us. We'll get to know you a bit, help you decide what type of lesson is right for you, find an available lesson or lab time that works, and answer any questions you may have.
Next, you may register for music lessons. There is an annual registration fee of $50.
Once you have registered, you will receive a welcome email with login information to our Student Portal, which gives you the ability to view the schedule for lessons and upcoming events, and the flexibility of canceling/re-scheduling lessons when there is a conflict, without having to contact the studio first.

What should I do if I must cancel a lesson?

To cancel a lesson in advance (at least 24 hours prior), visit the calendar in the Student Portal. Submit attendance as absent, and a make-up credit will be issued, at which point you may sign up for any other open slots. (Lab students may only sign up for vacant Lab slots; 1:1 students may only sign up for vacant 1:1 slots).
Emergencies happen to all of us. If you have a sudden emergency, please notify the studio as soon as possible, and always by telephone, (314-529-0082) not by email.
No make-up credit is issued for a cancellation with less than 24 hours' notice.
Students may use up to 3* make-up credits per session (Fall/Winter, Spring; *2 in Summer). Credits expire at the end of each session and may not be rolled over.
If you need to switch your lesson slot permanently or semi-permanently to another slot, please contact the studio to make these arrangements.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If bad weather prevents us from keeping the studio open, we will notify students and hold the lessons via zoom instead. You will receive zoom login credentials if that happens.

What opportunities are there to perform?

Twice annually, a public Studio Recital gives singers the opportunity to perform for family and friends (free of charge; no tickets required). Our Spring Showcase in May often incorporates the inclusion of a small band (piano, bass & drums) and ensemble numbers for students to perform together.
Performing is a crucial element of our studio's well-rounded approach to instruction. It is expected that all voice students participate in these recitals and corresponding dress rehearsals. Special care is taken to prepare students with performance anxiety well in advance for these events.
Piano students have the option to perform at these public Studio Recitals and/or Virtual Recitals, as appropriate.
Other informal opportunities to perform exist organically within both the Accelerated Voice & Piano Labs.
Community outreach performances occur sporadically and include free performances at local retirement homes as well as ticketed events at local performance venues.

How can I make sure I don't miss any exciting and helpful studio information?

Make sure your contact information is updated in the Student Portal.
If you haven't done so already, like and follow the Patterson Performing Arts Facebook and Instagram pages. This is where student achievements are celebrated, and other fun tidbits will be posted.
Active students and parents are also welcome to join the closed Patterson Performing Arts Facebook Group to receive audition notices, announcements, reminders, and exclusive access to Studio special events (like headshot sessions!).