Studio Policy

The following includes parent, teacher and student responsibilities and detailed  information about studio expectations and policies. These have been established to ensure a warm, friendly, and professional relationship between us.  Updated August 18, 2024! 
  

Laura’s Thoughts:  How I feel about music lessons!
Did I already mention I LOVE teaching piano and cello!! Whether a student becomes a professional musician or just plays for their own enjoyment, the discipline of practice and commitment in learning an instrument will bring many future returns. It truly is an investment into a lifetime of enjoying music!
 
I commit to give my best in helping each student achieve his/her full musical potential by

• Being sensitive to individual personalities, abilities, and learning styles.
• Developing a well rounded musician by offering a variety of performance opportunities, balanced repertoire, technique, ear training, sighreading, theory, and a love of music
• Providing a patient, encouraging, and enthusiastic atmosphere for learning.
• Giving all my students the opportunity to explore different types of music such as pop, hymns, jazz, folk, duets and classical music while being attentive to what is their favorite.
• Challenging,  motivating, and inspiring a love of music
• Helping each student discover his creative spark at the piano/cello
• Build confident, creative, and skilled musicians for life.

 Parents: A key to success! 
Please know how much I appreciate the opportunity to teach your child and pass on the gift of music! I am hopeful that you will take your child's musical education seriously. Your active involvement and interest gives your child a great amount of motivation and encouragement. It is essential to achieve a successful musical experience! 

Please help your child develop self-discipline and good practice habits by:

•  setting aside a consistent daily practice time! This is the best way to ensure it is completed and progress is made. No progress=No motivation to practice=No progress!  
• checking your child’s piano/cello notebook weekly! This is where lesson assignments and goals are written and explained in detail of what to practice at home between lessons.  Younger children(5-8) especially need help with practicing and theory books. They cannot be expected to practice or make progress on their own without parental involvement and support!
• The student needs an instrument at home! Keyboards have functional limitations so please communicate to me if this is what you have at home. Please keep your piano in the best possible condition and have it tuned yearly! A cello should be tuned before every practice and strings and bow maintained in playable condition. 
• A student also needs a chair or bench at correct height, metronome, and proper lighting in a place allowing quiet (as much as possible!) and uninterrupted practice.
•  Only students taking lessons can wait in the studio unattended by a parent.  Other siblings( not taking lessons) cannot be left in the studio.
•  Always feel free to communicate any encouragements, concerns, and ideas regarding your child’s music studies. Send me an email as I would love to hear from you!  
   

Students:  The teacher’s expectations!   

A student is expected to arrive at each lesson with all music, notebook, and a ready to listen and work hard attitude. I do require diligent practice five days each week but more importantly, that lessons assignments/goals are achieved on a consistent basis. This promotes progress which brings success and then motivation to keep practicing! Most of all, each student is encouraged to smile, have fun, and hopefully laugh at least once during the lesson!!
 
 
Tuition: What does it cover?

Tuition is all inclusive and includes much more than just the time spent in a weekly lesson!

• Performance/Theory classes, performance parties, summer camps,
• Teacher’s professional education and extensive teaching experience.
• Piano tuning and repairs on the grand, upright piano, digital keyboard and studio maintenance
• Music library and supplementary music
• Individualized lesson planning 
• Computer, tablet, online lesson equipment. 
• Supplies for individual& group lessons,piano parties, and performance classes.
• Recital venue rentals, programs and rewards
• Lesson goals and practice incentive programs
• Teacher's professional growth/ training
• Online music learning games and subscriptions 
• Piano/ Cello Sheet music and game club resources

Appassionata Studio is a year around studio!

• Tuition for the studio year is payable in 12 equal monthly payments. Tuition remains the same each month and is based on enrollment, not attendance of lessons per month.  
• Tuition reserves your child's specific lesson time throughout the studio year, whether he/she attends the scheduled lesson.
• Tuition Monthly Rates: Contact Laura for current lesson rates
• Tuition is to be paid by the 6th of each month. A  late fee of $20 will be assessed after that time. Families consistently late will be required to set up automatic payments. 
• Tuition can be invoiced monthly, quarterly, or for the entire year. 
• Payments can be made by cash, check, Zelle, bank bill pay, PayPal, or Venmo business. Paypal and Venmo have online processings fees that will be added to the monthly invoice if a family chooses to use this form of payment. 
• Yearly increases and/ or cost of living may be applied to tuition at the beginning of each studio year. There will be no tuition changes midyear. 
• Annual enrollment /scheduling fee (non-refundable)of $20per student due each August or anytime during the School year Session when a student joins the studio. This fee is not prorated.

Summer Session(June-August)

Summer is great time to explore music through camps and workshops! Learning with friends is fun! Longer individual lessons can bring amazing progress too! The studio offers different options to help your child continue musical growth in the summer months while giving flexibility for other summer activities and family vacations.

♫ Summer Session may include a combination of individual lessons, performance classes, music camps/workshops and Ice cream Performance Party in August. Options and details for summer session will be sent out in the Spring( April/May) 

♫ Students wanting to take extra weeks of individual lessons during the Summer session will be by teacher approval and monthly tuition will be adjusted to reflect the additional lessons.

♫Without summer participation, there becomes no guarantee of a spot available the next studio year and the student will be moved the studio waiting list.  The Early Termination Fee($100) of the 12 month Studio Agreement Contract will also be applied to the current invoice.

♫Due to the number of weeks the studio provides for family vacations and activities, there will be NO lesson reschedules or credits.

 Lesson Attendance: Be consistent! 
The student’s lesson time is expected take priority in your weekly schedule. This communicates to your child how important you feel piano lessons are.  It is a waste of my time and your money if lessons are missed on a consistent basis. Some important considerations include:

• Each student taking individual weekly lessons is required to participate in performance/Theory class. These are held 6-8 times throughout the studio year.  
• Students are grouped together based on many variables including age, playing level, and where the teacher feels the student will be most productive and successful. These 50 minute classes primarily focus on theory games, ear training, performing for one another, music history, and having musical fun with friends.
• Students are expected to arrive punctually with lesson binder, and ALL books.  Lesson time will not be extended to accommodate tardiness.
• In becoming part of my studio, you are committing to a full 12 month Studio Year . Those students beginning later in the year are expected to commit through the remaining months of the studio year.

• A 30 day advanced notification is required in the event lessons need to be discontinued short term, long term, or permanently, regardless of the reason. Without a 30 day notice, one month tuition will still be due.  
• Early termination fee ($100) will be assessed for breaking the studio policy/lesson commitment agreement. This fee may be waived for lost employment or extended illness. In the event that lessons are terminated before the end of the contracted studio year (August-August), you will receive an invoice for the amount still owed for lessons received.
• Students “taking a break“ from weekly lessons for more than one month, but are planning to return at some point within the current studio year, can keep their active student status and keep their lesson spot if monthly tuition continues to be paid. Those students taking a break without payment to reserve their spot, will be moved to the waiting list with no guarantee of a lesson spot when they want to return. Reserved lessons spots are only for students who pay monthly tuition. 
• If you arrive early before your lesson time, outside waiting will be required. Please do not knock on the door or walk in, as this may interrupt the current in person or online lesson in progress. The door will be opened for the student when it is their lesson time.  A sign will be posted on the front door to note this! 
• Please be punctual to drop off or  pick up your child from a lesson! Sometimes I have activities right before or directly after a lesson and cannot be available to supervise your child. If you drop off your child early or pick up late, your child might be left unsupervised.

 Need to Miss a Lesson: Simple Steps to follow!  
 Please login and cancel the lesson attendance on the studio calendar!  48 -hour advance notice is required  when a lesson will be missed, regardless of circumstances. Lessons missed without notice cannot be rescheduled, or credited to your account.
Because specific times are set aside for specific students, a student who does not attend a lesson will simply miss the benefit of that lesson. There are no make up lessons when a student cancels. Please be assured that your tuition pays for far more than the time spent with your student (see "What Does My Tuition Cover?").

 However, I understand that some conflicts are unavoidable, and offer several options/ opportunities for when a lesson must be missed. Please remember these are opportunities for missed lessons and not guarantees. Arrangement for any of these options is the responsibility of the student. 

•  Skype lessons during the student’s regular lesson time are an option for those that are mildly sick, for inclement weather, or for extended vacations. This format is not to be used for convenience reasons. 
• Reschedule a lesson WITHIN the same week of the missed lesson if one is available. There is no guarantee that reschedules will be available and these cannot be carried over into the next week,month, or Summer Session. This option involves the opportunity to  use other students canceled lessons. These will be available first come,first serve on the calendar and must be registered by the student  and then approved by the teacher. 
• Video lesson recording: I can email practice suggestions and new lesson assignment notes  for the week if students send me a recording of them playing through their lesson assignments within 24 hours in advance  of the missed lesson.  
• Composer activity packets and Boom cards( digital theory and eartraining games) can be done in place of a lesson for students who do not have access to a keyboard for an online lesson or video lesson. Please text or email me if you would like to receive access to the links and online resources I have purchased for student use. 
• The teacher reserves the right to send an ill student home from lesson. If a child is too ill to attend school, then he/she is too ill to have a lesson. Leave those germs at home!  A child must be fever free for at least 24 hours before attending an in studio lesson. If your child comes home ill from school on a lesson day, please text me asap. If a child is mildly ill but wants to still have a lesson, online is a great option!
•  Performance classes, performance parties, music classes,  group piano or cello  lessons, and duo lessons cannot be rescheduled or credited to your account. 
• Any lessons canceled by the teacher will be rescheduled or credited to your account.

 Lesson Evaluation: A valuable tool! 
A written evaluation or in person/online parent-student-teacher conference  (either teacher prompted or parent requested) may be given annually to assess your child’s progress in many different areas: promptness, technique, theory, lesson preparation, practice and attitude.  It is my hope these can be a valuable and insightful tool to help your child achieve greater success at the piano/cello. 

 Lessons may be suspended or terminated by the teacher in the event of an unsatisfactory evaluation, repeated failure to reach practice agreement and/or fulfill set goals for the quarter/year, lack of parental involvement/ communication, or financial delinquency in tuition payment.  However, every effort will be made to discuss these issues and find solutions with both the parent(s) and student. 

 Music Library/ Digital and Hardcopy Resources/Apps:  A BIG Savings for you! 
This is available for supplementary music and supplies that do not need purchasing by the student (excluding  the student’s main lessons books, metronome and flashcards).  Most students borrow 3-5 music books each year and receive multiple collections of fun and motivating music.  Please use these materials with care as younger siblings and pets can do them great damage!  Music and supplies that are ruined or lost will be replaced at cost by the student. This music library includes:

• Piano Book Club 
• SuperSonics, 
• Wunderkeys
•  Piano Adventures supplement books( Disney,Classics,Pop)
• Piano Pronto
• Digital Music Games

 Performance Opportunities: A time for sharing the gift of music! 
I encourage students to perform and play for family, friends, community/educational/church activities as much as possible throughout the year. Sharing the gift of music is a wonderful opportunity to bless and inspire others!

• There are two required student recitals each year – Fall and Spring. Details TBA through email and event placed on studio calendar for registration. 
• Recitals are planned and scheduled months in advance which students spend several weeks to months practicing in preparation. Because participation is required, please and avoid planning other trips or activities over these recitals. 
• If for any reason a student is unable to participate in a recital, they will be required to submit performance videos of their recital pieces, give their own family recital, or play their pieces at a public space such as a library, Senior Community Center,etc. 
• Recitals are important to your child's musical growth and help build community within the studio.
• If for some reason your child has extreme performance anxiety(being nervous is normal and not considered anxiety), please speak to me in advance.  We will find some way to have your child participate and feel a part of the recital even if not performing.
• Some students will memorize their pieces, others will not. The teacher will decide the appropriate performance expectation for each student.
• Competitions,piano festivals, Federation, and student achievement exams(AIM) are available for student participation based on teacher's assessment of student readiness and also parent support. Fees associated with these events are the student's responsibility.

 Contact me: I'd love to hear from you! 
If you have any questions about this information, or need to leave a message concerning lessons, your child’s progress, etc., I can be reached via my contact page or by phone (call or text) 801-455-5539. Please leave a voice mail if you want me to respond by phone call and I will get back to you as soon as possible.