Studio Policies

Studio Policies

Lessons

I offer weekly 30-minute private lessons. Lessons may be in-person or virtual, depending on the student's location and preference. In-person lessons are held in my home studio, and virtual lessons are held via Zoom.

Tuition

Tuition is charged at a monthly rate, due the first lesson of each month. Tuition reserves the student's time slot with me and is not based on attendance.  All payments can be made via Venmo, MyMusicStaff (PayPal), or Zelle.

Tuition charges are not calculated as an hourly fee because teaching is more than the time I spend with students. Tuition covers student lesson time, preparation time, lesson materials, teacher training and experience, recital costs and preparations, professional organization memberships, studio expenses, taxes, certifications, and professional development costs.

Late Fee

A $10 late fee may be charged for tuition paid after the 15th of the month.

Attendance

Attendance at weekly lessons is crucial for a student’s progress, motivation, and continued enrollment in my studio. During the school year, tuition is not adjusted for student-canceled lessons. Make-up lessons may be offered in limited circumstances but are not guaranteed. If a student’s attendance falls below 80%, their spot may be released to another student who is able to fully participate.

During the summer, some adjustments to tuition may be made based on student attendance. Students must attend at least 7 lessons during the summer to hold their place for the following school year.

Students who are sick should not attend their lessons in person. If a student is mildly sick but still able to participate, we can make arrangements to do a virtual lesson.

There will be a few break weeks throughout the year, usually around school breaks and for summer vacations. I will communicate these dates at least one  month prior. Regular tuition is expected for these months, though tuition adjustments may be made for teacher-canceled lessons for unusual circumstances.

Practice

All students are expected to practice 5 days a week. We will set the daily practice time together, based on the individual student's age, circumstances, and goals. Students ages 7 to 10 usually practice 15-20 minutes each day; students age 11+ usually practice 30 minutes each day. 

Equipment and Materials

Students must have an acoustic piano or electric keyboard in their home. The quality of the instrument greatly impacts the student's progress and satisfaction. Acoustic pianos should be in decent shape, with working keys and pedals, and should be tuned regularly (about once a year). Keyboards should have a full 88-key keyboard with weighted keys and a sustain pedal. I am happy to consult about instruments or tuning resources.

While I supply much of the supplemental music and materials that we will use in class, the following materials must be provided by the student:

  • method books and some supplemental music. Students may purchase their music or reimburse me.
  • notebook, folder or binder, and pencil. Students should bring these to their lesson each week.
  • metronome or metronome app on a phone or tablet. Students must be able to easily access this during each practice session.

Parent Participation

You are a major factor in your child's music-learning experience. I welcome (and encourage!) you to attend your child's lessons periodically. Please help your child set and follow a regular practice schedule. I encourage you to review your child's weekly assignments and help answer (or contact me to answer) any questions that arise during the week. I am happy to discuss your child’s progress and to answer any questions you might have. Please feel free to email, call, or text me. I love hearing from you! 

I also encourage parents to research and learn about your role in helping your child with piano--especially for creative ideas to help with practicing at home during the week. These articles may be good starting points:

Recitals and Performances

Recitals and other performances are an important part of studying the piano. Performances give students a motivating goal to work toward, opportunities to feel supported by family and friends, the chance to hear peers perform music at different levels and abilities, and many other benefits. There may be additional fees for performances. Performance opportunities for my studio include:

  • participation in 1 or 2 private studio recitals
  • participation in Federation Festival, a non-competition event that provides students the opportunity to perform and be evaluated, administered by the Utah State Federation of Music Clubs (requires registration fee)
  • participation in the Utah Valley Monster Concert, a fun ensemble performance for the community, hosted by the Utah Music Teachers Association (UMTA) (requires registration fee)
  • participation in the Achievement in Music (AIM) program, a rigorous series of non-competitive evaluations for technique, sight reading, keyboard skills, theory, ear training, performance, and music listening, hosted by the UMTA.

Virtual Lessons

Virtual music lessons offer many benefits, despite some limitations, and may be used occasionally for special circumstances, or may be the primary format for lessons. Please be aware of the following requirements for virtual lessons:

  • good internet, either with wifi or ethernet cable
  • a device that supports Zoom software, and the software should be updated regularly
  • a web cam that can be positioned to show the student and their hands on the keyboard
  • a quiet environment with adequate lighting
  • ability to send images of written assignments (email or text)
  • ability to print assignments and sheet music

Discontinuing Lessons

Some circumstances, including missing lessons, failing to pay tuition, lack of progress due to insufficient practice, or changes in schedules may result in terminating lessons for a student. If a student wishes to discontinue lessons, please give as much notice as possible. If a student discontinues lessons, all lessons within that month must still be paid in full.