Teaching Policy Guidelines

Enrollment

Enrollment will be considered after a personal audition of the student and conference with the parents (or yourself if an adult student). During the audition students will be appraised for lesson readiness and a skills evaluation. Enrollment is for the studio calendar of 34 weeks per academic calendar year, September through June. See below for information on summer lessons. 

Registration

Parents are asked to fill out a Student Enrollment Form and complete the schedule of available lesson times. Enrollment is complete when the form is submitted and the yearly Materials fee of $30 per individual or $40 for family.

The Materials fee covers various incentive programs and recital expenses, including church rental fees, so that you can continue to invite your family and friends to the performance. It also covers my lending library.

Tuition and Billing

Tuition is billed per studio year (34 lessons total) and divided equally into 10 monthly tuition installments.

In addition to tuition fees, students may be billed for the cost of fees for festivals, adjudications, or other sponsored events which are not covered in the Registration or Tuition fees.

Payment is due at the first scheduled lesson of each month, unless special arrangements have previously been made. Payments received after the 15th will incur a $10 late fee.

Missed Lessons

Tuition is based on enrollment, not attendance, and a lesson you choose to miss or cancel may not be made up. As a busy professional it is usually very difficult for me to make up missed lessons. I ask that you first try to switch lessons for reasons other than illness. If a student missed a lesson, they will simply miss the benefit of that lesson. Remember that your tuition pays for far more than just lesson time with your child.

I ask that you provide at least 24 hours advance notice and only for illness or a family emergency. Cancellation due to lack of preparation, forgetfulness, school, or social conflicts will result in a charge for the lesson.

If school is cancelled, lessons may be scheduled for earlier in the day when possible.

Summer Study

Typically students are offered a summer term of between 7-8 weeks. Students need to maintain some sort of music schedule during the summer or much of the gain that we have made throughout the school year is lost. I request that all students take a minimum of five lessons during the summer months.

You may schedule the lessons however is most convenient for you.  Lessons don’t need to occur in consecutive weeks to allow for vacations, camps, etc. and the schedule is very flexible to meet your needs.  Students that do not take the minimum lessons will be placed at the bottom of the list and may not be guaranteed a lesson time for fall.

Media Policy

During student and group gatherings, recitals and other performances the teacher reserves the right to use video recording or to take photographs for students for use in the studio, advertising materials, lesson demonstration, YouTube, or studio owned websites. Photos taken by the teacher OR that are shared with the teacher by other parents or student of gatherings or performance become the property of the studio and can be used at the discretion of the teacher.  The studio follows online safety rules in this matter.

Music Purchase

I believe in teaching a wide range of musical repertoire. Most method books and some supplementary material can be purchased locally. However, some repertoire may have to be ordered from other musical sources. I will usually give you ideas of the best sources for ordering music. I ask that you place the order for music promptly so that consistent musical progress can be maintained. Other times I may let a student “borrow” a piece of music or book. I trust that students will treat my music carefully so that other student can benefit from use of my resources.

I am happy to talk to my students or their parents.  Please feel free to contact me about anything regarding piano lessons. Please leave me a message or e-mail me at kathy@kathys88keys.com.  I will get back to you as soon as possible.