Studio Policy

Teacher Responsibilities :

My teacher’s pledge: to teach the language, discipline, and joy of making music at the piano. I will provide a safe, supportive, positive learning environment.

The curriculum will be tailored to support each student’s individual learning and

musical needs.
In order to provide the most effective teaching possible, the following policies have been established below...

Tuition & Fees :

Tuition covers the time spent with you/your child, as well as time spent preparing for lessons.

Students may enroll in weekly 30, 45 or 60-minute private lessons, depending on age/level.

Tuition is charged by the month and is non-refundable. Each tuition payment is due on or before the 1st day of the month. Late payments will be assessed a $30 fee each.

An enrollment fee per student is due with the first tuition.

This fee covers studio business expenses.

Please email me via the contact form for current tuition rates and enrollment fee.

Student books and materials are not included in the tuition. Students will periodically be asked to purchase music and supplies. I will provide specific information on items needed and how and where to easily purchase them.

Practice Expectations :

Daily practic is expected and required for progress. Parents should help their child include piano practice in their daily routine, and will receive guidance on how to support their

child’s practice at home.

Students must have an instrument at home to practice on. An acoustic piano is necessary for proper technical and musical development.

Parents and students are strongly encouraged to communicate via text/email regarding questions

over assignments or practice.

Termination of Lessons :

If for any reason the parent/student decides to terminate lessons, one (1) month’s advance notice of lesson termination is requested. Tuition is not refundable for lessons forfeited.

Regrettably, I will have to dismiss a student if any of the circumstances occur: unpaid tuition,

an excessive number of absences, uncooperative attitude, or if the student demonstrates the inability to practice consistently and/or continually shows up to lessons unprepared.

Missed lesson and attendance policy :

All lessons will be paid for, regardless of attendance. No make-up lessons, refunds, or discounts are provided for missed lessons/time. The tuition paid reserves an exclusive weekly time for the student. Unlike certain other professions, I cannot resell that time nor can the teacher create extra teaching time in which to give lessons. You are therefore requested to choose a lesson day/time which works consistently with you/your child’s schedule.

Any lesson that the teacher has to cancel will be made up. Make-up lessons will be held in-person or online.

Students who are ill should not come to lessons. The teacher reserves the right to send a student home if they arrive ill and/or are contagious to others.

If the student is ill/not feeling well for any reason, that student should not attend the lesson in person—the lesson will take place online that day.

If the student (or a family member) has tested positive for COVID-19, or has been in direct contact with someone who tested positive, the student should have their lesson(s) online until it is safe to resume in-person lessons.

Missed lesson time may be made up in other ways beneficial to the student:

FaceTime or Zoom lesson: if a student is ill/contagious but feels well enough to play, or if inclement weather prevents students from traveling, this is a viable alternative to a missed lesson. .
Lesson Swap: in the occasion of an anticipated missed lesson, students may choose to swap lesson times with another student. The teacher must be informed via email/text PRIOR TO and AFTER arranging a swap. Should 2 people arrive at once, the student whose lesson is normally at that time receives the lesson. No make-up lessons are given if any confusion arises from a swap.

Parent/Teacher conference: a parent may use the lesson time to call and discuss their child’s progress.

Studio Rules :

To maintain a clean teaching and learning environment for all, students are requested to remove their shoes upon entering the house. Students should arrive with clean hands and short fingernails.

For IN-PERSON lessons, please honor the following studio rules:

Students should remove their shoes once they enter, and leave shoes in front hallway.

Students must wash hands thoroughly (soap and water) upon arrival.

For legal and safety reasons, parents must drop off and pick up their child(ren) within 5 minutes of the lesson start and end times.

ONLINE lessons, if they occur, will take place via FaceTime or Zoom. Students should have their camera/device set up prior to the start of their scheduled lesson time.

Two annual performance opportunities are available to all students at the studio student recitals, one before summer break, and one before winter break.

Summer Sessions :

Students are expected to take lessons during the summer, in person and/or online. Summer schedules are more flexible and can be adjusted to the student's and teacher's travel dates. Students are guaranteed a spot in the studio for next Fall if they enroll for a certain number of summer lessons. For more information please contact me.