Studio Policies

My goal for my students is for them to make consistent improvement. I believe that the feeling of success they get from consistent improvement is what keeps them interested and continuing lessons. Thus, I ask that my students record their lessons and make a weekly practice checklist to ensure that their practice is purposeful rather than boring.

You can download a printable copy of the practice checklist here.

Practice Expectations

Daily practice for at least five days of the week is expected. It is the parent’s responsibility to schedule and enforce daily practice. The weekly assignments should be viewed as “homework.” Completion of homework and thorough preparation of assignments for each lesson is expected. The discipline of daily practice leads to progress which fuels motivation to continue to practice and progress. Parents are expected to be actively involved in practicing with beginners and young children until they reach an age where they can be more self-directed in their practicing.

Length of practice will vary based on the student’s level of advancement.
As a general guideline, students in their first semester of study should practice a minimum of 20 minutes per day.
Beyond the first semester of study, students should work up to the following minimum lengths:
Students in 1st-4th grade should practice a minimum of 30 minutes per day.
Students in 5th-8th grade should practice a minimum of 45 minutes per day.
Students in 9th-12th grade should practice a minimum of 1 hour per day.
Adult students should practice an amount per day at least equal to their lesson length.

Having trouble getting your kids to practice? Read this!

Performance Opportunities

I also provide regular performance opportunities so that my students can experience the feeling of accomplishment that comes from being able to perform in front of an audience. During each Fall and Spring semester, there will be 1 studio class (at my home), 1 performance class (at the recital location), and 1 recital. These are included in tuition. I will keep students informed of additional, optional performance opportunities that arise throughout the year.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition is paid by the semester and is due by the first lesson of the semester. Payments received after the first lesson of the semester will incur a $10/week late fee. Included in the tuition is a maintenance and materials fee that ensures that I can keep my piano in top shape and provides for such materials as books and any necessary flash cards for students.

Fall and Spring semesters consist of 15-16 lessons while Summer semester consists of 8 lessons. I offer 30 minute, 45 minute, and 1 hour lessons.

Information for the current semester can be found here.

Cancellation policy

Tuition is a reservation for a specific weekly lesson time; there are no refunds for lessons missed by the student or for portions of lessons missed when the student is late or leaves early. I know that conflicts arise throughout the year. I will always reschedule any lessons with which I have conflicts for a mutually convenient time. If I have received at least 24 hours notice of a cancellation or conflict from a student, I will reschedule for a mutually convenient time.  Of course, sometimes it’s not possible to give advanced notice. 

In the event of severe weather or not very serious illness, I will offer a synchronous online lesson (via FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype).  If the illness is such that we can’t do a synchronous online lesson, it depends on the situation as to whether I can offer an in person makeup (this is usually not possible except to defer the lesson to the end of the semester) or an asynchronous makeup (you upload unlisted videos to Youtube and send me the links, I watch them and send you my response videos).  I do not make up lessons for no shows.