Registration and Attendance. Students who register for lessons will be secured a weekly time slot at a time mutually agreed upon by students and their families and by the teacher. Regular and prompt attendance is required to make appropriate progress. Your lesson time is reserved exclusively for you each week. If you do not come to your lesson, I end up with unproductive down-time. Due to a busy lesson schedule, I may not always be able to make up a missed lesson, although all attempts to accommodate students’ needs will be made. All attempts will be made to make up lessons missed due to family emergencies or illness. Lessons missed due to teacher absence will be made up.
Please note that play dates, athletic activities, family outings or vacations and non-emergency doctor appointments are not considered family emergencies.
Inclement Weather. Please do not assume because school is cancelled due to weather conditions that lessons are cancelled. Because lessons are usually later in the day, there are many days when I still teach, even if school was cancelled. Please call to check the day of the lesson. If lessons do have to be cancelled because of bad weather, I will try very hard to figure out a make-up schedule.
Tuition. Tuition is assessed each semester based on 17 weeks of instruction (from August through December and from January through May). Tuition payments may be made in one lump sum at the time of the first lesson or in monthly installments according to the following schedule:
2023-2024:
30 minute lessons $500/semester or $100/month 45 minute lessons $750/semester or $150/month 60 minute lessons $1000/semester or $200/month
For students whose regular lesson time is on a Saturday, the tuition is based on 16 lessons per semester ($470.00/semester or $94.00/month; $705/semester or $141.00/month and $940.00/semester or $188.00/month respectively for 30, 45 or 60 minute lessons).
In addition to tuition, a yearly, non-refundable assessment for recital costs and Piano Maestro membership will be due every August (or the first month of lessons when a student starts piano lessons in a different month). This assessment will be used to cover costs of recital hall rental plus costs of enrolling the studio in the Piano Maestro sight-reading app. For the 2023-2024 year, this annual cost is $25 per family for families with school-aged students. For students without the use of IPads at home for the Piano Maestro app, the studio will have an IPad set up and connected to one of the digital pianos for students to use before or after their lesson times.
If families opt for the monthly payment option, tuition payments are due by the first regularly scheduled lesson in August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May. The first month’s tuition will be prorated (based on number of lessons remaining) for students who begin lessons after the beginning of the semester.
Your payment will be considered late if it is not received in person or via mail by the first lesson of the month. Prompt payment is essential to make the studio run smoothly and keep the primary focus on teaching music, rather than tracking down payments. A $10 per student, per week late fee will be charged for all payments not received by the first lesson of each month. A $25 fee will be charged for returned checks.
Fees for books, materials, competitions, clinics and other events are not covered by tuition and will be billed separately.
Summer lessons will be billed on an individual basis according to the number of lessons scheduled over the summer.
Termination of Lessons. If a student wishes to terminate lessons at any given time during the year, the studio requires a two week notice. The student is financially responsible for all lessons until the termination date, whether the student chooses to attend or be absent.
Recitals. Recitals will be held at the end of each semester (December, May and sometimes in August). All students are strongly encouraged to participate and invite friends and family to these events. In addition, informal performances will be held throughout the year (students only).
Equipment and Materials. All students must have an in-home acoustic piano or an 88 weighted key, touch-sensitive digital piano with a damper pedal. Acoustic pianos should be well tuned (usually at least once a year), with even tone and consistent key responsiveness. Students are required to purchase their own books to be used during lessons. I can usually purchase them for students who will then reimburse me the cost. In addition, students must maintain their own folders or 3 ring binders for weekly assignment sheets. Other helpful items include a metronome, music dictionary and recording device
Practicing. Lessons are designed to achieve goals each week through regular practice. Remember - you get out of it what you put into it. To build muscle strength and coordination, piano students “train” by practicing every day. Unprepared lessons cost the same as prepared ones, but their value is substantially compromised. It is often helpful to make a written practice schedule to ensure daily practice and then post it in a conspicuous location. Students should focus on goals during practice and not just minutes. During practice time, keep the room quiet. Do not allow phone calls, friends, siblings, TV or other distractions. Remember, the television is distracting even if it is on in another room of the house.
Miscellaneous. Throughout the year I will send information to parents via e-mail about piano competitions, clinics, ensemble events and local performances. Many of these are free and many are well worth their cost. They are not required events but are strongly recommended.
Lesson etiquette – No food or drinks (except water) is allowed in the studio. Cell phones should be turned off. I have noticed that even on “vibrate” they are a distraction. Students should wash their hands before lessons. This optimizes maintenance of my instrument and helps to prevent the transmission of cold, flu and other communicable diseases. Long fingernails preclude the development of good piano technique. Be sure nails do not extend beyond the fingertip. Students are required to bring all necessary piano books and theory materials to the lesson.
When you arrive for your lesson, please come right in and sit quietly. No need to ring the doorbell or knock on the door.
The parents of students of any age—and especially those of young students—are welcome to be present and participate in the educational process. However, lesson time must remain as focused as possible. Therefore, family members or visitors are welcome to attend provided they remain quiet.
I do not answer my phone while I am teaching. The best time to reach me is between 10 am and 2 pm on weekdays and after 1:00 pm on weekends. There is very limited time to talk before and after lessons because the next student will be waiting for their lesson. Please feel free to call or text me at (317) 370-4255 or email me [email protected], with any questions or concerns you might have.
I acknowledge that I have reviewed and agree to the studio policies as provided above and that any questions have been answered to my satisfaction. I also understand that a copy of the studio policies is available on the studio website (https://www.pianolessonsfishers.com/studio-policies.html ) for my continued review and download. I understand that I will be provided notice of any changes to the studio policy (including but not limited to tuition rate increases).
_______________________________________ __________________________ Signature of student Date (parent if student is a minor)
_______________________________________ __________________________ Printed Student name