Kell Band Boosters Association

Private Music Lesson Conservatory

Payment and Attendance Guidelines

Lessons are PRE-PAID. All students will pay at the first lesson of the month for the entire month of lessons. NO EXCEPTIONS!! KBBA can not carry account balances for lessons!

Please make checks payable to KBBA. Memo/Subject Line: Student name & month of lessons. Payment should be given to the individual Conservatory instructors. (Please note that this is a change to past procedures.)

Students and Instructors are expected to attend a minimum of 3 lessons per month. (One cancellation each). Most months will have 4 lessons.

If an instructor needs to cancel, they must contact each student as well as the KBBA rep at least 24 hours in advance. (Exceptions for extreme emergencies)

If a student needs to cancel, they must contact their lesson teacher (NOT the Band Directors). Exceptions for extreme emergencies. If the teacher is not contacted 24 hours in advance, it will be considered a NO-SHOW and the lesson will be charged by the instructor.

If an instructor or student cancels, they are expected to make up the lessons within the same month, unless the cancellation occurs during the last week, in which case it can be made up during the following month.

You can “make-up” lessons by either adding a lesson to the month or extending 1 or 2 lessons.

Some lessons may be held on Cobb County Teacher work days. These will be reviewed on a monthly basis with Mr. McGrath and the KBBA Rep will notify parents/students through email.

Lessons will be held on Early Release days.

In the case that a student or instructor has several Cancellations or No-shows, they will be contacted by the KBBA rep via email, phone, or letter to help solve the conflicts. If after initial contacts by KBBA they may be asked to re-evaluate their commitment to the musical learning process, or be asked to leave the conservatory.

Students studying privately are expected to attend each lesson with all necessary musical equipment, including any necessary sheet music, instrument and pencil.

Students are expected to practice assignments during the week between lessons and be prepared to perform assigned material during their lesson.

Students are expected to come to their lesson early enough to warm-up properly before their lesson.

KBBA

Private Lesson Music Conservatory Registration

The cost of lessons will be as follows or may vary slightly by instructor:

Richard G. Dietrich

Richard G. Dietrich was born in Pontiac, Michigan and lived there until 1992. In 1999 and in 2001, Dietrich earned degrees from the Western Michigan University School of Music located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Under the private instruction of Judy Moonert, he received a Bachelor of Music Degree and a Master of Music Degree in Percussion Performance. An active performer and educator, Rick Dietrich co-directed and performed with the award winning W.M.U. Percussion Ensemble during their showcase performance at the 1998 Percussive Arts Society International Convention. He also worked for two years as percussion caption head and arranger for the W.M.U. Bronco Marching Band. Also as an active performer, Dietrich has performed with many professional ensembles including the Kalamazoo, Columbus, Macon and Savannah Symphony Orchestras. In 2001, Mr. Dietrich was the recipient of the Gilmore Foundations Emerging Artist Grant. This grant provided the opportunity to study with such artists as Leigh Stevens, Gordon Stout and She-e-Woo.

As a businessman, Mr. Dietrich, along with his wife Sarah, created the company SoundArt Percussion. This company works as a resource and communication tool that provides pedagogical and logistical information to percussionists from grades 6-12.

As an educator, Mr. Dietrich received his teaching certificate from Georgia State University. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS). Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Georgia Music Educators Association, and Pi kappa Lambda National Music Honors Society. He is currently Associate Director of Bands at Palmer Middle School where he co-directs a program of over 350 band students. Dietrich is in his eighth year as Director of Percussion Studies at Carlton J. Kell High School.

Sarah Dietrich

Percussionists/Timpanist Sarah Dietrich earned her Bachelors of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from the Western Michigan University School of Music. During her studies in Michigan, she studied privately with percussionist Judy Moonert and Timpanist Mark Guthrie. Dietrich served as principle timpanist of the W.M.U. Smphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble for two years. She also performed with the award winning W.M.U. Percussion Ensemble at the 1998 Percussion Arts Society International Convention. Upon receiving her degree, Dietrich moved to Atlanta Georgia where she studied extensively with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Timpanist, Mark Yancich.

As a performer, Sarah is an active freelance percussionist and timpanist in the Atlanta metropolitan area. She has performed with several professional ensembles such as the Cobb, Columbus, Macon and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras. She also was a founding member of the professional percussion ensemble ‘Chix with Stix’ and performed with the ensemble at the P.A.S. Georgia Day of Percussion.

As an educator, Sarah received her Bachelors in Music Education in 2007 from Kennesaw State University. Sarah has worked with multiple programs throughout Cobb county where she has founded both the McCleskey and Palmer middle school percussion Ensemble programs. She is now Director of Percussion Studies at Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia. Mrs. Dietrich is also Co-Director of Percussion Studies at Kell High School with her husband, Rick.