I pledge to offer the highest quality instruction possible. In turn, I expect parents and students to abide by these studio policies.

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Tuition

 

Tuition for lessons is $200 per month, which reserves one weekly lesson for your child. Lesson fees are to be paid at the first lesson of the month. This is an annualized fee, which means you are paying for each year of piano lessons in monthly installments. This includes the understanding that the number of lessons you have will vary depending on the calendar, holidays, etc. I will teach every day except observed national holidays and public school’s Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring breaks and a one-week vacation during the summer. Throughout the year, you will average four lessons per month. If for any reason, you decide to discontinue having lessons, please give me a 30-day notice or you will be charged an additional month.

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Lesson Duration

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Lessons typically range 30-40 minutes, depending on your child’s ability to stay focused and engaged. I am well-known for stretching out lessons to accelerate the learning process. Parents, please don’t be shy about cutting a lesson short when needed!

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Missed Lessons

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Please understand that missed lessons will not be refunded and that I am usually not able to offer make-up lessons for missed lessons because of my busy teaching schedule. However, if you wish to notify me in advance of an upcoming absence, there is a chance I will be able to reposition your lesson for that particular week if I have available space in my schedule.
 

Lesson Prerequisites

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All students must have either a well-maintained acoustic piano or a high-quality, weighted-key digital piano at home.

 

Voice students must be at least twelve years of age to enter my studio. In addition, voice students must be studying piano with me or another qualified teacher. This is crucial in developing a vocalist's ear and musicianship. Moreover, this will allow singers to play their vocal exercises and learn their vocal music. For kids under the age of twelve, I offer a hybrid piano and voice lesson that emphasizes the fundamentals of music, playing basic piano and "pitch matching" vocal drills that greatly enhance their ability to sing in tune with confidence.

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Practice

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My studio maintains very high standards and is results-driven. As such, I leave no stone unturned in my teaching and I expect my students to practice at least 4 days per week and follow the instructions that I have written in their notebooks. Because repetition is the mother of developing any new skill, this is vitally important. I will usually have beginners practice each piece 3 times daily, and as students progress, I will give time minimums such as 20, 30 or 45 minutes a day. This will vary depending on the difficulty of the music. Please make sure you have appropriate practice conditions at home, including a specific time each day for concentrated, uninterrupted practice. Over the years, I have found that the most important step in getting students to practice is to make it part of their daily routine. Once this habit is created, you will see amazing results!

Summer Break

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I do not hold lesson times for students who take a summer break, as teaching is my full-time job. Students who take fewer than 8 weeks of lessons during the summer are essentially moved to my waiting list for the fall. However, if a student chooses to take a break for the summer, they may elect to continue to pay tuition to hold their spot. Others take the chance that their lesson time will be filled during the summer
 

Recitals

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I host two student recitals per year. All students ages 14 and under are required to participate. Recitals give students a tangible goal to work towards that will both motivate them to practice and teach them how to manage their practice time efficiently. Moreover, recitals give students the confidence to share their music with friends, family, and the world at large. Finally, performing gives your child the recognition they deserve for all their hard work! Bravo!

Parental Support

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I deeply appreciate you choosing me as your child’s teacher. I take this responsibility very seriously and will do whatever is necessary to promote your child’s musical development. In turn, I ask that parents take an active role in their child’s learning endeavors. Whether this occurs by offering encouragement, sitting in on practice sessions, or even “dragging” them to the piano!  The truth is that I can’t do it without your help- and neither can your child! And believe me, one day they will thank you!