Studio Policies and Tuition
TUITION AND STUDIO POLICIES 2012 – 2013
FOR KIDS
Fall Term September 11 through December 15 (13 weeks) No lessons November 20 thru 24 (Thanksgiving week)
$429 for weekly 30 minute lessons
$643.50 for weekly 45 minute lessons
$858 for weekly 60 minute lessons
Winter Term January 1 through March 23 (12 weeks) (Jan. 1 may be re-scheduled.)
$396 for weekly 30 minute lessons
$594 for weekly 45 minute lessons
$792 for weekly 60 minute lessons
Spring Term April 2 through June 15 (11 weeks)
$363 for weekly 30 minute lessons
$544.50 for weekly 45 minute lessons
$726 for weekly 60 minute lessons
Summer $66.00/hour, June 25 through August 24
Tuition is due in full the first week of each term, whether you have a lesson that week or not. If you wish to split the term’s payment in half, I will accept a post-dated check for the second half of the term, along with the first half due at the beginning of the term. Post-dated checks should be dated November 10, February 10 and May 10, depending on the term.
FOR ADULTS
Follow the above rates for weekly lessons.
For twice monthly 1-hour lessons, count the number of sessions in each term and multiply by $66.
For irregular schedules, the rate is $70/hour, payable at the time of scheduling.
Twice-monthly lessons are not offered by many teachers because of the scheduling complications and pedagogical deficiencies. Some teachers only offer them at a greatly increased rate. I am able to continue offering twice-monthly lessons at the same rate as weekly lessons ONLY if students can commit to attendance twice a month or more.
Twice-monthly 30-minute or 45-minute lessons are unproductive and not available.
FURTHER DETAILS
Missed Lessons
No makeups, credits or refunds for missed lessons although rescheduling can sometimes be achieved with enough advance notice.When your lessons are on the calendar and paid for, that time is yours. If you do not to use it, no replacements are guaranteed. If bad weather forces wholesale cancellations, those lessons will be made up with an extra performance/game party that term, for kids, or by mutual consent with adults.
Lessons cancelled by me due to illness will either be made up as soon as possible, credited or refunded.
My intent is not to profit from others’ misery, nor to cause any misery with draconian policies. But it is not possible for my time and budget to absorb the weekly conflicts of 50 different households. For true catastrophes involving flood, blood, fire or death, lessons can be rescheduled within 3 weeks.
Summer Lessons
Of course I teach in the summer, starting June 25. Students make wonderful progress in the summer, even if lessons are sporadic. Fees are based on $66.00 /hour in the summer and due when your lessons go on the calendar.
Summer make-up policy
When your lessons go on the calendar and are paid for, that time is yours. It is subject to the same makeup policy as in the other 3 terms. However, because summer often allows more flexibility in times, I can usually reschedule a lesson if given ample notice (3 days or more).
Read “Make-up Lessons From an Economist’s Point of View“ here:
http://ottawasuzukistrings.ca/makeuplessons
Music
The cost of music is in addition to the cost of the lessons. Payment is due when the music leaves the studio.
Practice
The point of lessons is to remove obstacles to progress and mastery, not to upbraid students for lack of preparation. If you come to lessons consistently and practice some at home you will make excellent progress.
Consistency is usually more important than absolute time spent in home practice. However, more time spent at the piano will mean more progress. There is very little that one can do at the piano that is a waste of time.
I practice an hour a day at a minimum or else I never get anything done. It takes me about 12 hours a week to really get somewhere. Beginning students do fine on 30 minutes a day.
I prefer that the impulse to practice come from within the student and I do my best to help that impulse along. However, making a consistent date with your piano is the only way to get music to happen often enough for real progress. Learning to play the piano takes time and learning what practice is, and how to do it, is part of the process.
Practice can include new and on-going lesson materials, songs that students know and love, as well as songs they improvise. Each student has to figure out their own approach to practicing, and with the help of their families and teacher, they usually do.
The important thing is for students to find what they enjoy, because it is enjoyment that brings us back to the piano day after day. A little discipline helps a lot, too. There are always ups and downs in practicing.
It is perfectly normal for kids to need reminding to practice, but if it is a family battle I need to know about it. There are often ways to dial down practicing problems. Adult students also can need reminding or simply putting it on the calendar.
Piano practice is as important as homework but for vastly different reasons.
My blog post on practicing is here:
http://meganhughesmusic.com/2012/02/09/
