Billing & Payment Policy
Payment for lessons is due a month in advance. A bill will be e mailed to you for the following month. Payment is due on or before the first of each month. There will be a $5.00 late fee added to the month if payment is not received by the due date. There are no refunds once payment has been made for the month.
Music Purchases
I will obtain all music to be used and studied from. You will be billed for the amount of the music with tax. There will a $1.00 convenience fee added to the total for 1-2 books and $2.00 added for 3-4 books.
Policy on missed or cancelled lessons
There is no adjustment of tuition due to missed or cancelled lessons. Missed lessons are either made up or lost. Valid reasons for missing a lesson qualify for a make up lesson.
I realize that illness, inclement weather and conflicts do come up. I'll try my best to work with you to make up missed time as my schedule allows. Forgotten lessons do not merit a make up.
If you need to cancel, please call me or leave a message preferably 24 hours before the scheduled lesson. Parents must schedule make up lessons with me or the lesson time is lost. Any scheduled make up lesson that is cancelled is forfeited.Any lesson cancelled by myself will be made up or credited.
Expectations
In order for a student to make progress, daily practice and consistent attendance at lessons is essential. Encourage and support your child's music study. Emphasis should be placed on what is accomplished in practice instead of the amount of time spent practicing. Depending on the level of the student, 15-30 minutes, six days a week is necessary. It is more effective to practice in two shorter time segments at different times than one long segment at one time. It is expected that the student's practice time increase as more experience and progressing difficulty of music is studied. Practice is much more than playing through a piece.
Summer Lessons
All students are strongly encouraged to continue their music study during the summer months. In order to reserve a spot the following fall, a minimum of 5 lessons must be met.
Fees & Materials
There will be a fee for participation in AIM exams and National Guild Auditions. AIM examination fees are $15.00 and Guild fees range from $25.00 to $40.00 depending on the level entered. All students will be charged a recital fee of $15.00. This covers cost of renting a venue for the Spring Recital. Other fees may apply as necessary. Also, I recommend that the student purchase a metronome after two years of study.
Pianos and Electronic Keyboards
Technological advances have made for excellent electronic keyboards with weighted keys. A student with a good keyboard can learn just as well as those who learn on a piano. Ideally, a piano is preferable to practice on. No electronic keyboard can compare to the piano in the production of resonance and sensitivity of key strokes for expression. A piano should be tuned at least once a year to aid in the development of the student’s ear and listening skills. Please contact for information about piano tuners.
Other
I ask that students please wash their hands before the lesson begins either at home or here. Parking in the driveway on the right side is fine or on the street in front of the house. Please refrain from using my neighbors’ driveway to turn around or blocking other driveways and mailboxes. Also, students should avoid walking on the lawn or through the landscaping and remove their shoes upon entering.
