Studio Policy

Studio Policies and Guidelines

Health and Safety Policy:

Students will be asked to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer upon arrival and after the lesson. Please do not come to the lesson if you or your child is sick. Students showing flu-like symptoms or having a fever will be turned away. If the student is well enough to play but cannot attend in person due to illness, an online lesson can be arranged. Please notify the teacher in advance to switch the lesson format. Face mask will be required for all individual during pandemic times regardless of vaccination status.

Lesson Schedule

Private lessons are tailored to meet the specific needs of each student, focusing on developing playing technique, repertoire, musicianship, and improvisation skills. Individual lessons are conducted weekly for 30, 45, or 60 minutes. Each student is assigned a specific, ongoing weekly day and time for lessons, which has been reserved exclusively for them. This scheduling generally prevents the studio from accepting other teaching or performing opportunities during that time.

Practice

Regular home practice is essential for student success. Ideally, students should aim to practice at least six days a week. Short, daily practice sessions are more effective than one or two long sessions per week. The most important time for students to practice is right after their weekly lesson, to reinforce what they have just learned. Parental involvement in home practice is crucial. Please help your children establish and stick to a practice routine, and ensure that practice time is free of distractions. If you are the parent of an elementary-age student, please plan to sit with your child for at least a portion of their daily practice time.

Recitals/Workshops/Group Lessons

The studio may periodically offer workshops, master classes, or group lessons to advance students' knowledge and skills in musicianship, ensemble, theory, technique, or preparation for musical examinations, evaluations, competitions, and performances. Separate registration forms will be provided for these activities, which are charged separately from the tuition for private lessons.

Tuition

Monthly tuition is calculated based on the number of weeks in the month. Tuition may be paid in quarterly or monthly installments. For monthly payments, tuition is due on the first lesson of each month. A $25 late fee will be applied if payments are not made on time.

Payment Methods:
Acceptable methods of payment are Zelle, and ACH.

Punctuality

If the student is late to the lesson, the lesson will still end at the scheduled time. If the teacher is late, a makeup time will be provided.

Cancellation and Makeup Lessons Policy

  • All lesson cancellations must be made through your My Music Staff (MMS) account.

  • Makeup Credits:

    • Makeup credits are issued for canceled lessons, but no refunds or deductions will be provided.

    • To qualify for a makeup credit, cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the scheduled lesson time.

    • Cancellations made after the 24-hour deadline will be marked as "absent" and will not receive a makeup credit.

  • Scheduling Makeup Lessons:

    • Makeup credits are automatically added to your account for eligible cancellations.

    • Use the credit to register for any available time slot listed on the calendar in MMS.

    • Makeup lessons can be conducted in-person or online, depending on the teacher’s availability.

  • Expiration of Makeup Credits:

    • Makeup credits must be used within 30 days of being issued. After 30 days, unused credits will expire.

  • Maximum Number of Makeups:

    • A maximum of four makeup lessons are allowed per semester.

    • After four makeups, any additional cancellations will be marked as "absent" and will not qualify for a makeup credit, regardless of when the cancellation is made.

  • Teacher-Initiated Cancellations:

    • If a lesson is canceled by the teacher, a makeup credit will be issued.

Studio Closures

Lessons are provided throughout the entire calendar year, except during studio closures for Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Summer Session Policy

During the summer session, students can cancel lessons up to four times at no cost and retain their lesson slot. However, absence dates must be informed in advance. Summer session dates vary slightly each year.

Termination of Lessons

If unforeseen circumstances require a student to terminate lessons mid-year, one-month notice is required. The teacher reserves the right to terminate lesson enrollment if necessary (e.g., students cancel lessons too often or show little commitment to practice). The remaining tuition will be refunded. If students withdraw from enrollment in the middle of a month, the remaining tuition will not be refunded.

Waiver of Liability/Indemnification

Parents and students hereby waive, release, discharge, and covenant not to sue the studio, its owners, employees, agents, or representatives from any and all liability, COVID-19 related or otherwise, claims, demands, losses, or damages arising out of or related to students' participation in studio on-site or off-site lessons, events, or activities, whether based in contract or otherwise.

Media Consent

Parents and/or students hereby consent to and authorize the studio to capture and use video-audio recordings and photographic images of students and their musical performances, as well as quoted statements, in print, electronic, or online media for educational and studio promotional purposes.