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2025-26  Studio Policy

Every studio has a policy, some are unspoken, but many are written. It is important to have a studio policy so every student and family knows what is expected of them while taking piano lessons, and it gives everyone clarity on things that may have otherwise, not been brought up until needed.

Child Playing Piano

Student Expectations

  • Ask questions and always try their best!

  • Practice consistently so they make notable progress in their pieces/assignments.*

  • Be prepared for lessons (with all books and completed theory or other projects).

  • Be respectful of the teacher and studio equipment.

  • Keep fingernails trimmed short (should not extend past the end of the finger).

 

I will suggest a practice time to you based on your child's level.

 

*I am always willing to understand busy weeks, as I have them too, but if a student shows up to their lesson with no progress made or practice done, there is little to work with at the lesson and they will not move forward.

Parent Expectations

  • Set aside a scheduled practice time for your child. It is important to set aside time for practicing and to make it part of their daily routine. 

  • Please supervise home practice sessions, making sure your child completes each assignment; many children are not disciplined enough yet to manage practicing without your support.

  • Communicate with the teacher about concerns or questions you may have.

 

While most students are initially excited to begin piano lessons, please be aware that they will face challenges and sometimes frustrations. Discipline and commitment is required to attain skills; your encouragement and praise will be essential to your child's success!

Studio-Based Lessons

CLEANLINESS & RESTROOM-USE

To help maintain a clean, focused learning environment, students should arrive with clean hands and short fingernails.

 

Students may use the restroom during their lesson only in the case of an emergency. Please have your child use the restroom beforehand whenever possible so lesson time can be used effectively. For liability reasons, family members may not use the restroom.

 

SAFETY

While every effort is made to provide a safe learning environment, the studio is not responsible for injuries that may occur on the premises, including but not limited to accidents such as slipping, falling, or improper use of furniture or equipment.

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WAITING & PICK-UP LOCATION

Parents are welcome to observe lessons but are not required to do so. If you choose to stay in the lesson room, I ask that only parents or guardians be present and remain quiet to minimize distractions. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

 

If you drive somewhere during the lesson, please return promptly at the scheduled end time. Please note that I am unable to supervise students outside of their lesson time and cannot be responsible for students before or after their scheduled lesson.


AFTER THE LESSON

I may not always be available to discuss progress immediately following a lesson, as I may need time to prepare for the next student. I am happy to answer questions and discuss concerns via email. If there is anything important that needs to be addressed, I will reach out to you directly.

Missed Lessons & Cancellations

MAKE-UP LESSONS

A weekly lesson time is reserved for each student whether or not they attend. Tuition covers this reserved time, lesson planning, and studio costs.

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Each student is guaranteed three (3) make-up lessons from August 2025 to May 2026. To qualify for a make-up lesson, cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. This helps ensure your child receives their full number of promised lessons.

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There are no refunds or tuition credits for missed or cancelled lessons, and lessons cannot be rescheduled outside of the designated make-up weeks. Please make your scheduled lesson time a priority for your family.

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LATENESS

Students are encouraged to arrive on time for their scheduled lesson. If a student arrives late, the lesson will still end at the regularly scheduled time. If a student misses more than ten (10) minutes of their lesson, the remaining time will be forfeited.

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SICKNESS

Students who are currently ill, or who have been ill within the past 24 hours, should not attend in-person lessons. For the health and safety of everyone, I may send a student home if they arrive showing signs of illness.

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Instead of fully cancelling, families may choose one of the following Sick Day Lesson Options:

1. Parent/Teacher Conference

  • If the student is not feeling well enough to play, a parent may use the lesson time for a progress check-in, goal setting, practice strategies, or questions. This may be done in person or by phone.​

2. Asynchronous Video Lesson

  • Families may choose an asynchronous video lesson instead of cancelling. The student must:

    • Record their playing (assigned pieces, practice, or technique)

    • Upload the video to Google Drive

    • Share the video with the studio email before their scheduled lesson time

  • During the student’s regular lesson time, I will review the video and provide personalized feedback, demonstrations, and teaching notes. This lesson format counts as a full lesson.

 

INCLEMENT WEATHER

When weather conditions make travel unsafe, lessons will not be held in person. In these cases, the default lesson format will be an asynchronous video lesson (as outlined above). This allows instruction to continue without risking safety.

 

Due to internet reliability, live virtual lessons are not offered for weather-related closures. Inclement weather asynchronous lessons count as full lessons and do not require a make-up.

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TEACHER CANCELLATIONS

The teacher may take up to four (4) flex weeks from August 2025 to May 2026. A flex week means the scheduled lesson for that week will be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances (such as illness or emergency). Families will be notified as early as possible. Tuition has already been adjusted to account for these occasional breaks.

 

If all four flex weeks have been used, any additional teacher cancellations will be made up in one of the following ways (at the teacher’s discretion):

• A rescheduled make-up lesson
• An extended future lesson time
• A virtual lesson (asynchronous)

Tuition

Invoices will be sent by email before each due date. Payments may be made by cash, check, or Venmo. A surcharge of 1.9% plus 10 cents will be added to all Venmo payments to cover their merchant fee. There is a late payment fee of $10.00 added to any payment made after the due date.

 

Tuition is based on enrollment, not attendance, and reserves your student’s exclusive lesson time throughout the year. Please reserve and prioritize this time in your family’s schedule. Enrolling is your financial commitment for the year.

 

ENROLLMENT FEE

Your spot in my studio is ONLY reserved once the enrollment fee is received. If you are paying the enrollment fee by check, it needs to be delivered (in-person or by mail) before enrollment is confirmed.

Trial Package

The trial package is designed to give new students and families the opportunity to experience piano lessons before making a full-year commitment.

  • Duration: The package includes four (4) weekly 30-minute lessons.

  • Make-up Lessons: No make-up lessons are included in the trial package. If a student misses a lesson, it will not be rescheduled or refunded.

  • Teacher Cancellations: If the teacher needs to cancel a lesson during the trial, it will be rescheduled at the earliest possible time, usually the following week.

  • Enrollment Transition: At the end of the trial package, families may choose to officially enroll in the studio and continue lessons under the regular studio policy.

Discontinuing Lessons

The teacher reserves the right to discontinue lessons if a student:

  • Demonstrates an uncooperative or disruptive attitude

  • Persistently misses lessons

  • Does not make reasonable progress due to insufficient practice

  • Fails to pay tuition on time

  • Violates any part of this studio policy

In such cases, lessons may be terminated at the teacher’s discretion. No partial or full refunds will be provided.

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If a student withdraws before the end of the academic year for any reason, the remaining tuition balance for the year is due at the time of withdrawal. This policy is necessary because lesson spots are reserved based on year-long commitments, and the teacher plans scheduling and income accordingly.

The studio reserves the right to update or revise its policies at any time. Continued enrollment constitutes acceptance of any updated policies. Last revised on Monday, January 10, 2026.

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