Instrument: Students must have a piano at home. An acoustic (non-electric) piano is the best choice. If you have an electric or digital piano, it must have 88 full-sized, touch sensitive keys and at least one pedal. Keyboards that do not meet the requirements are not acceptable. Students who begin lessons on an electric piano should seriously consider upgrading to an acoustic piano as soon as possible since an acoustic piano will allow them to achieve tone colors, phrasings, articulations, and pedal subtleties not possible on an electric instrument.
Practice: In order to progress, students should practice at least 6 days per week. Suggested practice times are as follows: *Elementary: minimum of 30 minutes daily *Intermediate: minimum of 45 minutes daily *Advanced: minimum of 60 minutes daily Younger students or students with limited attention span may wish to break their practice into 10 or 15 minute sessions.
Performances: School-aged students are required to perform in our annual studio recital and The National Piano Guild Auditions. These are optional for adult students. There will be other performance opportunities that are optional, but strongly encouraged. These may include a December Holiday Recital, playing at a nursing home, a duet party, and local festivals and competitions.
All public performances not arranged through the studio must be cleared by me at least two weeks prior to the event. This includes school talent shows and church services.
Competitions: Students of the intermediate and advanced levels may have the opportunity to participate in competitions. I only allow students who prepare meticulously and demonstrate musical maturity to take part in these events. There are several solo and concerto competition opportunities in our local area and around the state. Students must realize that not everyone can be a "winner" in a competition. Please feel free to discuss this with me if you are interested.
Tuition: Tuition is a flat rate per month as follows: $110 for 30-minute lessons, $165 for 45-minute lessons, and $220 for 60-minute lessons. Tuition credits will not be issued for missed lessons. For example, if you must miss a lesson, I will not deduct the amount from the current month or next month’s tuition. Instead, I will offer a make-up lesson time so you will be able to have all the lessons for which you pay. Make-up lessons will be available for students regardless of the reason for cancelling as long as proper absence notification is given and a student is up-to-date with monthly tuition payments. You may make up a missed lesson at any available time during the year. There will be no adjustments to this tuition amount for holidays, as these have already been figured in to this tuition plan.
Tuition is due for the entire month at the first lesson of each month. Please pay by check or exact amount cash. A $5.00 late fee will be charged for accounts that are eight days past due. Since the monthly rate is always the same, I will not give tuition reminder notices.
Benefits of Flat Rate Tuition: By paying a flat rate, you will see the following benefits: 1. Your tuition payment will be predictable, regardless of the number of weeks in a month. 2. You are paying for 48 lessons per year with the opportunity to attend up to 50 lessons per year. 3. You will always have the opportunity to make up missed lessons as long as proper absence notification is given. There will be ample opportunities for make-up lessons. These lessons may be taken any time during the year.
Proper Absence Notification: If you must miss a lesson, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance. I prefer that you call me as soon as possible on my business phone at 919-605-7508. You will most likely get my voicemail. Please leave a message. You may also cancel via email; however, email cancellations will only be accepted more than 48 hours in advance of the cancelled lesson. I will strictly adhere to the cancellation policy down to the minute. Last moment cancellations, “no-shows,” and tardiness do not qualify a student for a make-up lesson. I understand that sometimes same-day illness or emergencies occur. If this happens, please call me as soon as possible. I cannot accept same day cancellations via email.
Teacher Absence: Two calendar weeks of teacher vacation are built in to this calendar. I will take one week of vacation sometime during the summer and one week at Christmas time. Make-up times will not be offered for these two weeks. If I must miss additional lessons, either planned in advance or a same-day emergency, you will be able to sign up for a make-up lesson or receive a credit to your next month's tuition. Since I am required to be present for the National Piano Guild Auditions, I might miss some lessons. These lessons will be made up, not credited.
Snow Days: If I close the business due to inclement weather, I will call you the same day as your lesson. Feel free to call me first if you need to know sooner. I don’t usually make this decision the night before since we can’t always predict the weather and road conditions. If I am teaching, but you feel the weather is too bad for driving, you qualify for a make-up lesson if you call me as soon as you realize the weather seems dangerous to you. (This is considered an emergency cancellation.)
National Holidays: The studio does not follow the public school calendar. The only holidays that we will not have lessons are Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. I will be happy to give make-ups for any of these missed lesson days, with the exception of Christmas, since as previously mentioned, that falls in to one of my vacation weeks.
Summer Lessons: It is important to continue lessons through the summer. Students who take off during this time return in the fall with rusty fingers and regression in note reading and rhythm. I understand that many students will miss lessons due to vacations. Please let me know about vacation dates at least two weeks in advance. I will not hold time slots for those who take off for the summer unless they pre-pay the full August tuition amount before leaving for the summer.
Make-Up Lesson Sign-Up: A make-up lesson sign-up sheet will be posted outside of my studio door. I will have several times available, but they might vary from week to week. It will be your responsibility to keep track of make-ups and sign up for them. Please do not call or email me to request a make-up time. I will look at the sheet to see who is coming, but will not call or send email confirmations. If you must cancel a make-up lesson, the same “Proper Absence Notification” policy applies. **Coming soon: online sign-up for make-up lessons!
Materials: Expect to purchase piano lesson books at the first lesson and periodically afterwards when a level is completed. I will often recommend extra pieces in the form of sheet music or in books for recitals, National Piano Guild Auditions, and around the holidays. You may purchase the necessary music from me at cover cost, plus tax. If there is a particular piece of music you are looking for, let me know. I can recommend the proper level or edition and order it for you.
All students need to have a notebook for assignments and a pocket folder. I also recommend a small tote bag in which to carry all materials.
Other Fees: There will be a $25-$35 fee for The Guild National Piano Playing Auditions in the spring. The amount will depend on the level and number of pieces a student plays.
Other optional events, such as competitions, festivals, workshops, and classes may have a fee.
Photocopies: If a student loses a photocopied sheet, such as a scale sheet, there will be a $.10 replacement fee. The replacement fee for a technical skills chart is $.50.
Termination of Lessons: Please notify me at least two weeks in advance if you wish to stop taking lessons. No refunds will be given for students who quit after they have paid tuition.
I reserve the right to dismiss a student for not following studio policies, lack of practice, or any negative behavior.
Miscellaneous: *Food, gum, and drinks are not allowed in the studio. *Cell phones, watch alarms, and other noise-making devices must be turned off during lesson time. *Fingernails must be short. *Dangling bracelets and loose rings should be left at home. *Please wear shoes that are conducive to pedaling ("Flip-Flops" are not good pedaling shoes.) *Please enter the studio with clean hands. *Try to go to the bathroom before coming to your lesson.
