Studio Policy and Procedures

 General Information

Weekly private lessons are offered in 30-, 45-, or 60-minute sessions, depending on the student’s age or level.

Required Materials

Students are required to have:

• A suitable instrument at home for practice.
• Piano students are encouraged to have an acoustic piano with at least two (2) working pedals and a bench of the correct height. (Digital pianos and electric keyboards do not make an ideal instrument for practicing basic piano skills. An acoustic piano is highly encouraged.) Acoustic pianos generally must be tuned at least once a year. Be sure to ask for a referral to an experienced tuner.
• Violin students must have an acoustic violin in acceptable working order with no broken strings or parts, and a bow of an acceptable quality that is maintained and re-haired as needed.  Be sure to ask for a referral to an experienced violin repairman.
• A metronome for practicing at home, which can be acquired at any local music store or can be ordered online or in the app store.
• A tote bag for carrying music and other supplies.
• Sharpened/Mechanical pencils for marking music and taking notes (Never leave the house without one!)
• Shoulder rest, towel, and rosin for violin students only.
• Flashcards that will be used to review key concepts and notes
• A 3-ring notebook with tab dividers (or pocket folder) that will serve as the record-keeping place for repertoire, weekly assignments, practice suggestions or goals, and communication notes between teacher, student, and parent.
• MUSIC BOOKS! The instructor cannot teach lessons without lesson books and cannot promise that backups will always be available if a student forgets his or her book. ***Please note, that the instructor is willing to obtain these items for the student, but will expect to be reimbursed for the cost of the materials, plus sales tax.

Practice Expectations

Students are responsible for practicing their full assignment and preparing the lesson material that has been assigned to them. Students will record their practice time using the Practice Space app.

Students must remember to bring the following materials to lessons:

• Assignment binder
• All books currently in use (even if no piece is assigned in a book that week).
• All flashcards currently in use (even if no specific card requirement has been assigned for that week).

Students are expected to practice a minimum of 5 days per week. Suggestions for practice times:

• Beginning students should practice 30 minutes daily. (The practice time may be split up into smaller increments. Short sessions of 10 or 15 minutes two or three times a day usually work better than longer practice sessions. Students of a very young age may be assigned shorter practice goals, depending on age level and attention span).
• Intermediate students should practice between 45 and 60 minutes daily.
• Advanced students should practice at least 60 minutes daily. (Higher levels of repertoire or other specific goals may require additional daily practice).

These are guidelines to develop a consistent practice habit. Students can practice above and beyond these suggestions if they so desire.

All students are required to keep track of their practice time using the Practice Space app. We will decide together what a reasonable amount of practice time will be for each child or assignment. Parents must participate in this process to help students develop consistent and efficient practice habits. Parents may choose to establish a rewards system at home for practice goals that are met each week or month. Rewards and incentive programs are also offered within the studio to encourage good practice habits.

Suggestions to facilitate effective practicing:

• Maintain a practice time at a daily minimum approved by the instructor.
• Give practice time the same priority as homework.
• Schedule practice at a regular time every day. Set an alarm if needed!
• When desired or necessary, break practicing into smaller sessions to help maintain concentration and physical health. Playing an instrument is a physical as well as mental and emotional process.  At no time should a student attempt to play through pain, as pain only signifies an incorrect use of muscles. Any pain can turn into a permanent injury if improperly cared for. Please discuss with the instructor any pain experienced while practicing and the instructor will help diagnose and remedy the playing technique to correct the cause of this discomfort.
• When practicing, avoid distractions such as television, pets, visitors, phones, or interruptions for chores.
• Regularly review all items listed in the Tonara app as it serves as a guide to weekly practice and continued learning.

Recitals and Performances

Students are encouraged to participate in at least one recital each year. Students are encouraged to participate in as many performance opportunities as possible. Throughout the year, a variety of performance opportunities may be made available for students.

Calendar

A calendar of studio events, holidays, makeup days, and non-lesson days will be provided, and students will be updated as needed. Please refer to this calendar for important studio dates.

Studio Lending Library

Students wishing to borrow music from the Studio Lending Library may do so by checking out materials, which will later be returned to the instructor. The lending library serves as an excellent tool for sight-reading materials or previewing repertoire. While using the lending library, students must be sure to keep all materials checked out in good condition. If borrowed materials are not returned or are not returned in good condition, students will be responsible for all costs incurred by the studio to replace such materials.  Students must also remember that they need to buy their own music and cannot rely on the teacher to provide them with music permanently at each lesson.

2023-2024 Lesson Schedule

Consistent study and practice are vital for continued progress on any musical instrument. Therefore, students in the studio commit to a total of no fewer than 42 lessons a year. Additional lessons can be purchased as described below.

The studio is open for lessons year-round. During the summer months, students are expected to continue lessons. Not only do we believe in the value of continuing the student’s education throughout the summer months, but the tuition rate has been determined based on a 12-month calendar. If a student does not continue lessons throughout the summer, the student cannot be guaranteed their timeslot in the schedule for the fall semester.

2023-2024 Semester Breakdown

2023–2024 Academic Year: Two 17-week Fall/Spring semesters followed by makeup weeks for any makeup lessons required

• Fall Semester (August 14^th – December 16^th)
• Spring Semester (January 8^th – May 18^th)

2024 Summer Term (June 3rd  – August 3rd): 8-week semester followed by a makeup week for any makeup lessons required

Scheduling of Lessons and Punctuality

Lessons will be scheduled to fit both the student’s, parent’s, and teacher’s schedules as well as possible. Once a time is assigned, the student is expected to be present at that time promptly and regularly. Please arrive on time, but refrain from approaching the studio door until your lesson time. It can be quite distracting if another student shows up too early and the teacher would like to maintain a private and peaceful learning environment for all students. If scheduling must be adjusted, be sure to notify the instructor as soon as possible so that other arrangements can be made.

Private Lesson Tuition and Payment

Payment will be required monthly. Tuition is divided into 12 equal monthly payments, to be paid in full no later than the 10^th of each month. The student is responsible for delivering tuition on or before the 10^th of each month. The instructor will not teach any lessons for which the instructor has not been paid. Late payments may incur a late fee of $1 for each day late. The teacher reserves the right to raise fees annually at the beginning of each academic year to reflect the increased cost of living and inflation rates, as well as increased professional development and general studio improvement costs.

Tuition will vary depending on the length of the lessons taken. Beginners should start with 30-minute lessons. Intermediate students are encouraged to progress to 45-minute lessons. Advanced level students are required to take 60-minute lessons.

The tuition rates are determined based on a calendar of 42 weekly private lessons.

2023-2024 Tuition Rates

30-Minute Lessons (Beginning Students)

12 equal monthly payments- $87.50 due no later than the 10^th of each month

45-Minute Lessons (Intermediate Students)

12 equal monthly payments- $131.25 due no later than the 10^th of each month

60-Minute Lessons (Advanced Students)

12 equal monthly payments- $175 due no later than the 10^th of each month

Additional lessons beyond the 42 lessons included in the calculated monthly tuition may be purchased individually and payment should be brought to the instructor at the beginning of each additional lesson:

• 30 Minute Lessons- $25
• 45 Minute Lessons- $37.50
• 60 Minute Lessons- $50

**Note: Students who choose to pay “by the lesson” or “by the number of lessons in a month” will pay the individual lesson prices as listed above, with a limit of 10 absences per calendar year. Last-minute cancellations of less than 24 hours advance notice and no-shows will still be charged that lesson’s fee.

Acceptable payment options: Tuition may be paid with cash, check, or via bank draft or credit card through the studio’s online payment processor.

Checks are to be made payable to Musical Moments Studio, LLC.

One-time fees: One-time fees include the purchase of music or any other lesson materials ordered for the students. In this case, reimbursement is expected. These fees also include any materials loaned out to a student that are not returned or are returned in poor condition.

Music Lab Lesson Fees

Music lab time can be reserved in addition to the student’s regularly scheduled private lesson time. Lab lessons incorporate lesson concepts that the student is focusing on each week in their private lesson. These activities follow the standards of the “Double Click Curriculum” assignment guidelines, with activities specifically coordinated to go along with each student’s level and particular assignment for each week. Students will also be able to take some of these games and activities with them for at-home practice with their own student accounts. For those who wish for extra time in the “music lab” in addition to their private lesson time, 15-minute time slots can be reserved either before or after the student’s regularly scheduled lesson time for an extra $20 per month.

Makeup Lessons

Due to the teacher’s limited availability, makeup lessons cannot be guaranteed. Students are expected to be at lessons except in the event of illness, death in the family, hazardous driving conditions/extreme weather conditions, family emergencies, family vacations, or school (or work-for adult students) conflicts. Please be sure to schedule lessons around other activities to avoid unnecessary absences or rescheduling. If an absence or scheduling conflict arises, it is the responsibility of the student or parent to coordinate an alternative time for a makeup lesson with the teacher. Please be courteous to the teacher and other students by notifying the teacher at least 24 hours in advance regarding any known upcoming absences. At the end of each semester, there will be makeup weeks for students to schedule any lessons that they were not able to make up earlier in the semester. If a regular in-person makeup lesson time cannot be arranged for some reason, a virtual lesson may be a possible alternative. 

If a student misses a lesson, the teacher is not obligated to refund the payment if the student chooses to forfeit their makeup lesson opportunities. If a parent has a conflict and cannot bring the student, please arrange for other transportation for the student.

If the teacher must cancel a lesson, the teacher will offer to reschedule the student’s lesson when possible, either at a different time that week or during one of the makeup weeks at the end of each semester.

All regular lessons must be made up by the end of the summer term (August 10th, 2024). Lessons not made up by the end of the summer term will be forfeited.

Studio Conduct

Proper Grooming and Dress:

• Keep fingernails short, as long nails impede good hand position.
• Keep hands clean and germ-free out of respect for the other students using the piano; washing hands before the lesson is recommended.

Proper Studio Use:

• Remember to hang your coat up and remove boots/shoes at the door.
• Parents and younger siblings are welcome, but please ensure that the studio environment is kept clean, quiet, and free of distractions.
• No food or drink is permitted inside the studio, excluding water.

Involvement of Parents or Guardians

• The adult’s most important role is to listen to the student with encouragement and enthusiasm.
• It is recommended that parents or guardians sit down with the student at least once a week to see that all assignments are practiced and to offer support.
• Parents or guardians should provide a well-maintained instrument, all necessary books or practice equipment, and a quiet place to practice free from distraction.
• Parents are encouraged to attend lessons with students under the age of ten (10) years old.
• Parents are encouraged to assist the student at home daily and must assume the primary responsibility for supervising practice sessions, except for high school students.
• The parent’s or guardian’s responsibilities include bringing the student to lessons on time and picking them up on time.

Withdrawal or Dismissal

Every student must stop taking lessons at some point. Ideally, this decision is made thoughtfully with plenty of discussion between the teacher, parent, and student, so that lessons can cease with a positive sense of closure. For this reason, the teacher requests one month’s notice before discontinuing lessons. However, the teacher respects the student’s right to discontinue lessons at any time. The student or parent is still financially responsible for the final month of lessons.

The teacher reserves the right to dismiss a student at any time and for any reason, including but not limited to any of the following:

• Inappropriate behavior toward the teacher on the part of the student or parent. This includes violent out lashings, swearing, defamation of character, unacceptable advances, or any other disrespectful behavior.
• Failure to pay monthly tuition in full.
• Failure to pay monthly tuition on time.
• Failure to attend lessons or provide notice of absences.
• Failure to practice an acceptable amount.

Communication

The teacher can be contacted via email, phone call, or text message. Please refrain from texting or calling the instructor between the hours of 8:30 pm and 8:00 am.

Most importantly, please feel free to openly communicate with the instructor about goals, concerns, or any issues concerning music study, repertoire, or practice. The studio seeks to personalize lessons and repertoire choices for each student, but this cannot be done without open communication from students and parents about individual music goals. Music lessons are for the student’s benefit and can only be exceptionally advantageous with open communication!