The Curious Pianist

STUDIO POLICIES 

 

These simple guidelines help keep The Curious Pianist Studio running smoothly and effectively, and ensure that all students receive the equal attention they deserve.

 

LESSONS

​

Prospective students and families may set up a no obligation interview/lesson in order to determine student readiness and expectations for piano instruction.  Private piano instruction requires a special working partnership between teacher, student, and parent.  

​

TUITION

​

Standard tuition is based on approximately 32 lessons taught over nine months September-May, once per week divided into two semesters Sep - Jan and Feb - May. The customary federal holidays and vacation days are generally observed, including the days and weeks during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays, and following the local school district schedules, with Winter and Spring holiday weeks.  

 

Tuition is divided into equal monthly payments, regardless of the number of lessons in each month.  Tuition will be prorated for those starting mid-semester.

​

Tuition Fees cover the cost of tuition, special teaching materials and resources, group classes, performance classes, piano parties, and hosting of any in studio and online recitals.

​

LESSON FORMATS AND RATES FOR 2024-2025​

​

30 minute private lessons ($180/month)

​

45 minute private lessons ($215/month) - teacher approval only 

​

 

PAYMENT POLICIES: 

​​​​​​

• All tuition will be invoiced on the 1st of month. Receipts are emailed upon payment, and a late fee will be assessed past the 15th of the month.  A secure auto-deduct option for monthly tuition is also available.  

​

REGISTRATION & MATERIALS FEES:

• There is a one-time annual registration fee per year/per family, payable upon enrollment ($110).  This fee goes toward the cost of all sourced and purchased music books and materials supplied by the teacher including sheet music, student binders, licensed games and teaching resources, office supplies, online music enrichment environment access and hosted by the studio, and any other studio activities and parties, group lessons, or other student events throughout the teaching year.

• There is a recital fee for our annual Grand Recital in May/June to cover venue costs.​

​

REGULAR TERM SCHEDULING

• Lessons are scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time when the student begins lessons and at the commencement of each academic year thereafter.  Your lesson time is reserved for the entire teaching year.

• It may not be possible to change

• a lesson schedule once a semester starts, so please confer with your teacher regarding any scheduling conflicts before setting a lesson time for the semester. 

• If a student needs to change the lesson time mid-year, this must be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.  Alternate lesson times are  subject to availability and are not guaranteed.   

​

MISSED LESSONS

​

Tuition is based on reservation of the teacher's scheduled time for the number of lessons in the term, NOT the student's attendance. 

​

There are no makeup lessons for missed lessons.

​

If the teacher needs to miss a scheduled lesson, they will give adequate notice and reschedule or credit the lesson in a timely manner.  

​

COMMUNICATIONS

​

Communication regarding scheduling and billing is primarily via email. You are responsible for enabling and checking your email filters to receive important information from the studio and billing email service as well as from your teacher's personal mail. If you have questions regarding billing, scheduling, or other issues, please contact your instructor directly.  

​

RECITALS & PERFORMANCES

​

We will hold a small Winter Recital and a formal Spring/Summer Recital, as well as several student showcases or student piano parties.

​

TERMINATION OF LESSONS

​

If there are extenuating circumstances and a student needs to halt lessons before the month is up, 30 days written notice (email or letter) is required, and tuition will be charged for the lessons within that 30 day period, whether they are taken or not. Tuition is non-transferable.

​

PUNCTUALITY AND ETIQUETTE

​

• If a student is late, this simply takes time out of the lesson. The lesson will start when the student arrives and will still finish at their usual time.  Students arriving later than 15 minutes will forfeit the lesson as the lesson structure is organized around the full lesson time.  Students arriving early should wait until their appointed time.

• Parents or caregivers should arrive promptly to pick the student up from their lesson.

• If a student will be missing or late for lesson for any reason, please contact the teacher as a courtesy.

• When students arrive, they will wash their hands in the bathroom before lessons to reduce the spread of sickness. 

• Students should not attend in person lessons if they are sick, too sick to attend school, or clearly coming down with an illness as a courtesy to the studio, teacher, and other students.  Students who are ill will be sent home.

• No food, drink, water bottles or gum in the studio.

• Parents or grandparents are welcome to observe during a lesson.  Arrangements should be made to accommodate siblings outside of the studio during the lesson. 

• Piano students should keep their fingernails clean and trimmed short.

 

 

SUMMER LESSONS

​

Summer study is highly encouraged to continue progress momentum, and to preserve skills and knowledge learned during the term. There is additional flexibility during the summer months to allow for day or time changes to accommodate vacations, summer camps, etc ...  Information about summer scheduling and events will be distributed in the Spring. Summer lessons in the months of June, July, and August will be scheduled flexibly based on the student-selected weeks of availability and are billed on a per lesson rate paid in advance.  All scheduled lessons must be used within the summer session period.

​

RIGHT TO MEDICAL PRIVACY

​

This studio respects the rights of all parents and adult students to make their own informed health decisions.  Reasonable precautions and policies are observed to provide a safe and healthful environment in the studio.