BECCA'S MUSIC STUDIO POLICIES
TUITION
The piano studio year mimics the traditional academic year and runs from August - May of each year. An optional "Flex Term" is offered during the summer. Please refer to the current year's piano calendar (available through your student portal) for holidays and other scheduled non-teaching days. Each year's holiday calendar may vary. The most commonly included breaks are usually Fall Break, Thanksgiving and the Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Break and Spring Break, although these and other holidays may be included or not included from year to year. June and July are "Flex Term" months and an abbreviated teaching schedule is offered, on a "first come, first served" basis. Please see your instructor for specific information if you are interested in enrolling for the next "Flex Term."
PLEASE REFER TO THE CURRENT PIANO CALENDAR FOR SPECIFIC DATES
The tuition is billed on a per lesson basis, which means that monthly fees can vary, depending on the number of lesson days each month. Lessons are available in 30-, 45-, or 60-minute lesson lengths.
Current Lesson Fee Schedule
30 minutes - $25.00 per lesson
45 minutes - $35.00 per lesson
60 minutes - $45.00 per lesson
The tuition payments are due in advance and are expected by the 1st of the month. Tuition payments received later than the 1st may be subject to a late fee of $3.00, which will be automatically added to the student's account on the 2nd of the month. A monthly payment reminder will be sent via email, showing your total for the month's scheduled lessons plus any charges for music and materials that have been purchased for the student, so please check the total before making payment.
A 30-day notice is requested in the event that lessons are terminated by the student.
Piano Registration Information is sent out by email in June. I must receive your preferences for day and time of your lesson by the deadline set each year. Returning students will be charged a $50 reservation fee to hold lesson slot for the following academic year.
Flex Term Lessons change from year to year. I will post that information on the student portal and communicate that schedule availability as it is determined. Flex Term lesson times are available on a "first come, first served" basis and may be requested through the end of May.
POLICY FOR MISSED LESSONS
If a student must cancel or miss a lesson, please be courteous and notify me by phone call or text message.
LESSONS MISSED BY THE STUDENT. Student lessons are billed in advance each month and each lesson time is reserved for a specific student. I work very hard to accommodate all schedule requests from each student, so that the assigned time works with minimal student conflicts. If a student must cancel or miss a lesson for any reason, no make up lesson will be scheduled and no make up credit will be issued.
The regular commitment to meeting the assigned lesson time should be prioritized, as with any educational or extra-curricular activity. However, I recognize that sometimes regularly scheduled days/times may need to be adjusted in order to continue to minimize conflicts. If a student finds that they need to make a permanent change to their regular lesson schedule, I will work with the student to try to identify another lesson schedule from the time slots available at that time.
A 30-day notice is appreciated if a student must terminate lessons.
LESSONS CANCELLED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. Any lessons that are cancelled by me will receive a credit for the cancelled lesson that will be applied on the next monthly invoice. If possible, and requested by the student, I will work with a student to re-schedule the cancelled lesson and the invoice credit will be applied to the re-scheduled lesson.
LOCATION
All individual, private lessons scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays will be taught at my studio Wednesday afternoons are currently taught at Huntsville Strings Studio. Families with 4 or more students may request to schedule lessons in a single time block at their home address. I will try to accommodate requests for both off-site teaching locations whenever possible, based on my current teaching schedule and available lesson times. This location schedule is subject to change at any time.
I work to keep the teacher/student time together as professional as possible. In order to maintain this environment and to limit the number of distractions for the student, I prefer that no parents, siblings, friends or pets be allowed in the lesson area. Parents are welcome to wait for younger students _________________________________.
PARKING AT MY STUDIO & STUDENT PICK UP. Please park on the street in front of my home/studio. Parents are expected to either wait on their students or to pick them up promptly at the end of the assigned lesson time. Students who need to wait before or after lessons are expected to do so _______________________________.
MUSIC AND REQUIRED MATERIALS
I will take responsibility for purchasing music and required materials for the student and the cost of those items will be added to the next monthly statement. On occasion, I may choose to loan music to students. It is expected that students will take proper care of those materials and return them in the same condition as in which they were loaned.
_________________________________ (are there any other specific assignment-related items, 3-ring binders, assignment books, etc.?)
I also require that students use a metronome. A physical metronome is preferred, but digital metronomes may be acceptable, with my approval.
PRACTICE TIME & OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Successful piano study is dependent upon consistent weekly practice. ALL STUDENTS are required to keep a practice log and I ask that parents of students under the age of _____ initial the practice log each week . I believe in the utilization of positive reinforcement and rewards to achieve student goals. The practice log is a crucial element in that process.
The amount of required practice time varies per student and I will assign the amount of time required of each student at the beginning of each year in August. Students are expected to keep track of practice minutes on the practice log that I will provide to them.
In order to achieve progress and see success in the student's music education, assignments and practice times are expected to have priority similar to school homework, and at least equal to all other extra-curricular activities. A student's lesson time is not “piano practice”, it is a time to show what the student has accomplished in the at-home practice and a time for learning new concepts and pieces.
Parents are asked to provide the student with access to a well-maintained piano (preferably acoustic) with a working damper pedal; adequate lighting; a practice environment free from distraction; and encouragement and support of practice habits and progress.
I require all students to own a metronome. Each student is expected to be on time for lessons, with all music, and a notebook. Students are expected to arrive with clean hands and SHORT FINGERNAILS. No food, drink or gum is allowed during the lesson.
RECITALS AND OTHER PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
One of the best things a parent can give to a child is the opportunity to work hard toward a goal and to encouragement them as they pursue that goal, because that results in that feeling of accomplishment from a job well done. The hard work that a student puts into their music education each year culminates into their performance at the Spring Piano and Voice Recital. It is a REQUIREMENT that all students in my studio perform in this event. Each student performs 2 memorized pieces. I will work with the student to select pieces that will demonstrate the student's accomplishments during the year and that are within the student's ability to successfully learn, memorize and perform.
An optional PIANO PARTY will be held in the fall/winter. Students will play one non-memorized piece at this optional activity. The party is held at my home and due to space is a student-only event.
POLICY CHANGES
I try to maintain consistent policies and a consistent learning environment. However, these policies are subject to change at any time and I will provide as much advance notice as possible in the event that a policy change is made.
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