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Studio Policy

Welcome to my studio! Find out more about me here.

Tuition

I use My Music Staff for billing. Invoices are sent the first of every month and payment is due by the first lesson of each month. A late fee of $5 will be added to your account if not paid by the 15th.

Venmo, cash, or check are acceptable forms of payment.

New in 2024-2025: 

Your flat rate tuition includes 32 private lessons September through May, four performance classes and two recitals. In addition to the dates listed above, there are 1-2 extra weeks built in so that you can miss a lesson without scheduling a makeup (with a few exceptions). This provides flexibility for illness, or other conflicts. 

Students with Monday lessons, on holidays, may need to reschedule for a different day that week if they do not want a lesson on the holiday. There will be no lessons the day of, and the week after recitals, unless a make-up lesson is scheduled.

You are welcome to add extra lessons at my teaching rate.  

I will keep track of lessons attended through My Music Staff where you can also log in to check your account. You will need to set up an account through the student portal.

Cancellation and Missed Lessons

I am excited to help teach your student to be the most successful pianist possible. Doing so requires practice, discipline, and consistent lessons. I understand that we all have emergencies that come up. Please note;

  1. Cancellations must be made 24 hours or more prior to your lesson time.
  2. Cancellations must be made only for emergencies, illness, death, or other serious situations. Lessons are forfeited if you choose to cancel otherwise or do not show up. (Please do not ask to make up these lessons).
  3. If you are sick or contagious I ask that you do not come to your lesson. Please notify me and we can arrange a virtual lesson if your student is well enough to attend. 
  4. Remember being unprepared is not a reason to cancel. It is much harder for a student to remember what and how to practice during the following week after a lesson is missed. Consistency is the key. Come regardless and we will practice together and get back on track.
  5. All efforts will be made to reschedule a lesson canceled for a valid reason.
  6. Lessons canceled by the teacher will always be rescheduled or credited.

Lesson Attendance Etiquette

  1. Please be on time. One minute early is acceptable, but please don’t come too early. It can be a distraction to the student before you, and I may not be ready for you. If you are late we lose valuable time you have paid for and I will need to end the lesson on time regardless of the time you arrive.
  2. Please do not stay longer than your lesson time unless asked to. (Arrange to be picked up on time). It is inconsiderate to distract the next student or to keep me from attending to my family.
  3. Please park on the street. We have multiple drivers at our house and need access to the driveway and it is easier if we don’t have to interrupt a lesson to have you move your vehicle.
  4. One parent is welcome to attend the lesson of a student, please no more than that, it is distracting for the student and for me.

There are always exceptions to these rules. Please contact me if you need special arrangements. I appreciate your attention to these guidelines. Thank you!

Performance Classes

Performance classes will be held four times a year and are included in tuition. These dates can be found on the studio news tab on my website. There is a strong performance emphasis in my studio. These classes will enhance private lessons and give students confidence in performing, students are expected to attend. Every performer needs a goal to work toward and this is an excellent short term goal.

Practice Expectations

  1. Consistent daily practice is necessary. The mind and hands need daily repetition, just as the body needs food regularly, teeth need to be brushed, and dishes need to be done.
  2. Practicing involves problem solving (thinking and evaluating).
  3. Repetition is crucial, but it needs to be accurate and thoughtful so that correct neural pathways are being formed and not mistakes.
  4. Students don’t have to like everything they are asked to practice, but every effort will be made to help students enjoy the music they perform.
  5. Sometimes students are not practicing. Rather they are actually performing for themselves in their practice sessions. This could be called “Shiny Object Polishers” (someone who works on their favorite spot and only that spot). This habit leaves the other parts of the piece ignored and usually many changes of tempo throughout the piece (for example, a fast part = the student’s favorite, a slow part = “I didn’t work on this section”). 
  6. Practice sessions at the beginning of the week won’t sound as good as the end of the week. That’s okay! Practicing takes many forms: 1) learning new skills or musical sections; 2) maintaining what was learned; 3) memorizing; 4) drilling spots that need help; and 5) putting sections together.

Required Practice

Because playing the piano is a motor skill, it is necessary to practice every day. Students are required to practice six days each week.

Goal-oriented practicing is more important than how many minutes a student practices. But suggested practice times will be given as a guideline and should be encouraged.

As the student’s repertoire and skills grow, the length of time will be adjusted in order for students to reach their goals.

Performing

The emphasis in my studio is performing. All students are required to perform two times a year at studio recitals. Other performances may be competitions, festivals, evaluations, church programs, or in-home recitals. Competitions and evaluation style competitions are not required but will be offered and encouraged.

Recital Etiquette

  1. All students must be in their best dress. No jeans or t-shirt’s.
  2. Be a respectful audience. Do not walk in or out of the hall once the recital has begun. Students should be attentive; you learn by listening to others.
  3. If a student is unable to attend a recital due to illness or emergency please let me know ASAP.
  4. Help “little ones” be attentive and quiet instead of distracting to the performers and audience members.
  5. All performers should remain for the entire recital. The students work very hard to prepare for every performance and they deserve to play for a full audience.