Practice
Students will be shown new techniques, movements, and music in lesson. Students must then go home and practice at home until all can be done with ease. Consistent, effective practice is a must for students in our studio. Parents must help students set up a practice schedule and hold them accountable. If parents and students cannot commit to consistent practice, please consider waiting another year to enroll.
Tuition, Payment Schedule & Additional Costs
Tuition is factored, then paid in equal payments throughout the year. Tuition includes lesson time, teacher preparation, studio classes, materials used in the studio, and various other overhead costs (insurance, professional association fees, continuing education, piano maintenance, etc.).
Tuition is due the first week of the month. If payment is not received after the second week of the month, a $15/student late fee will be added. Also, if a check is returned, a $30 fee will be charged.
If you use bank pay, you are still responsible for the payment arriving on time, so please schedule the check early enough so it arrives by the second week. My suggestion is to schedule it for the last week of the previous month (Ex: For March’s tuition, schedule it for the last week of February).
Payment Schedule
There will be eight tuition payments: September-April.
Each tuition payment is $114.00. (Fall/Spring tuition total = $914)
Additional costs not covered by tuition
BOOKS: Students will periodically need new books or materials. I can either purchase them and will ask to be reimbursed later, or can send you the link and you can purchase them from online.
CONTESTS AND MASTERCLASSES: Contests, masterclasses, or other extra events outside the piano studio are not covered by tuition. These are never required events, and the costs will be presented at that time. Typically, Masterclasses by the local music teacher’s group cost $5-$10. Music Progressions is around $25.
Missed Lesson Policy
Missed Lessons: If you are able to give me 24 hours or more notice that you will be unable to attend lesson, we will deduct the amount of $33 per lesson from next month’s tuition.
Emergencies will be handled on a case-by-case basis. (Ex: death in the family, sudden and severe illness requiring hospitalization, etc)
Make-Up Week: Make-up week is an added week at the end of the semester, where if your child has missed a lesson (possibly because of less than 24 hour notice) they can make up one lesson during this week at their regularly scheduled time.
Studio Class: (Studio classes will be decided closer to time in relation to risk from Covid). There will be one studio class where students can get together and practice performing (and listening!) before their big event. In the past we have also been able to play some group games, and do some folk dancing. It’s one of my favorite studio activities of the year!
Sick Policy
Please do not bring your child to their lesson if they have:
- Had fever in the past 24 hours
- Had diarrhea or vomiting in the past 24 hours
- Missed school that day because they were sick
- Coughing and sneezing a lot (it is hard to make sure those keys get completely sanitized!)
- Exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19 (CDC website)
- Quarantining due to Covid-19 exposure
If my children are sick then we will have a Zoom lesson, make it up on a different day throughout the week, or a week following Make-Up Week.
Zoom or Skype option
Zoom or Skype is always an option for lessons if a child is well enough but exhibiting symptoms of illness.
Emergencies will be handled on a case-by-case basis. (Ex: death in the family, sudden and severe illness requiring hospitalization, etc)
Instrument at home
A quality piano or keyboard is imperative to student progress. I highly suggest getting acoustic pianos tuned yearly. If an electronic instrument is wanted, it must have the following: (1) Full keyboard of 88 keys, (2) weighted keys, (3) a stand and bench, (4) sostenuto pedal, (5) touch-sensitive keys. Please feel free to ask me for keyboard model suggestions before you purchase anything to see if it meets the requirements.