Studio Policies and Tuition Rates
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Tuition
For new students, the following rates apply, along with a yearly fee (see below):
$95 per month for a 30 minute lesson once per week**
$130 per month for a 45 minute lesson once per week**
$160 per month for a 60 minute lesson once per week**
**Some months will have less than four weeks of lessons, and some will have more. Tuition is per month, rather than per lesson, so it will not fluctuate based on how many weeks of lessons there are.
Please note: P.E.A.R.L. rates are different and can be found at the bottom of this page.
Yearly Registration fees and policies (P.E.A.R.L. policy is slightly different)
For new students, the first month's tuition is due upon registration. If you are starting mid-month, you'll be paying the first month's pro-rated tuition plus a month tuition for the next month. I only pro-rate the starting month, as lessons are per-month rather than per-lesson. With your reservation, you'll pay the annual fee of $40 due in September (pro-rated the first year for new students) which will cover access to the practice website and will also help with other costs incurred throughout the year. The practice website provides great insight for student, parent, and teacher, and offers digital sticker incentives, and peer encouragement, as well as a forum for in-between lesson interaction for student and teacher.
Materials reimbursement is expected at the first or second lesson (or I will let you know when the cost is determined) and then reimbursements are expected as new materials are assigned throughout the year.
For returning students taking summer off, but returning in September, Sept tuition is due on July 25th. This reserves your fall slot(s), or if you are not continuing, this gives me time to fill the slot for summer semester.
For returning students continuing through summer, September tuition is due as normal (Aug 25th)
(P.E.A.R.L. students must pay the registration fee with the first semester of tuition, but do not need to pre-pay September lessons if taking the summer off)
Drop in Tuition
Drop in lessons are available in summer at my home and scheduled 24 hours in advance with rates as follows:
$40 for a 30 minute lesson $45 for a 45 min lesson $50 for a 60 min lesson
Lesson Pauses (Summer pause is handled differently - see above)
These can be scheduled with 30 days notice (I may make an exception if it works out) and the slot can be held for up to three months, with the full amount due on the 1st of the month pausing begins. Rates are as follows:
$30 for a one month pause $60 for a two month pause $90 for a three month pause
After three months, the student is placed on the waiting list again for a new slot.
Curriculum Costs
All assigned student materials are reimbursed at my cost, not purchased from me, and are therefore not invoiced. If student purchases their own materials, no reimbursement is necessary. I occasionally provide opportunities for students to earn books by learning two songs. No reimbursement is necessary for these books. As soon as you receive notice of a reimbursement, please pay at your earliest convenience.
(P.E.A.R.L. students do not reimburse, as their rate includes all curriculum assigned each semester)
Payment Policies
For tuition payments I accept Cash app, Venmo, Check, Money Order, or Cash
There is no yearly contract to sign, but lessons run year round. Students may stop for summer (see fall conditions below), but students stopping between September and the end of June must give 30 days notice. Tuition is due for that month of notice, and pre-paid tuition/fees are non-refundable. (See pausing policy above)
Lessons are pre-paid, are month-to-month, and tuition is assessed monthly (not per lesson) and is due on the 25th of the preceding month.
There is a 3 day grace period, with a late fee of $15. Tuition due must be resolved before lessons resume. If a family habitually pays after the 28th, the grace period will be removed until they have paid on time for three months.
NSF checks: Having a check withdrawn after deposit into my account can have a snowball effect for me (and for you), so I want to strongly discourage that for us both. NSF checks will require a $75 fee that will need to be resolved before lessons can resume.
Scholarship options:
If the struggle to pay tuition is need-based, rather than just forgetting, please let me know. Due to my church support, I have the ability to scholarship at least one student each month, and would gladly do so for your family if paying for piano lessons means you have to choose between basic needs and studying piano. I do require that you demonstrate need and that you commit to facilitating and logging consistent practice time 4-6 days a week during the time your child(ren) are receiving scholarship funds.
Cancellations
If a student is unable to use their lesson slot, due to illness, vacation, or other scheduling conflict, I may at my discretion choose to give their time to a sibling student, or add time to an upcoming lesson, or reschedule for an in-person or online lesson, but I am not required to do so. Your time is reserved, and I cannot recoup that time with another student. If I must cancel a lesson, I will either reschedule, add time to an upcoming lesson, or you may opt for a one lesson credit the next month. Please know that I cannot always resolve missed lessons.
Sickness
Piano lessons are given with both of us in close proximity to each other. We share the keyboard, mutually touch materials, and exchange air for a minimum of 30 minutes. In the first day or two of suspected illness, we are the most contagious. Exposing me means you will also likely expose others families, so please be considerate.I will give you the same consideration I am asking of you. As someone with respiratory issues, simple illnesses like cold and flu can be complicated for me. Let's try to keep each other and other families safe from unnecessary illness. If you believe your child is sick, if you have kept them home from school or activities for the day or tried to isolate them from other people, please do not plan to have their lesson in person that day. We may both opt for a virtual lesson on Zoom. This is usually manageable with a little bit of reorganizing.
Recitals and Preparation weeks
I will endeavor to hold at least 1 recital each year, at retirement or nursing homes or involving them in some way. After each recital period, I will take a paid break to compensate me for the time and energy required to organize and facilitate the event. I believe these group events are valuable, and hope you will find them worthwhile. Participation in studio events is not required for continued enrollment, but it is my hope that you will find them both valuable and enjoyable. Whenever possible, I try to coordinate recitals with upcoming breaks or holidays so time off is consecutive rather than staggered. When appropriate and convenient, lessons near a recital date may be experienced as more of a long group lesson for several students in a family or living in the same neighborhood. This is because it is important for students to develop the ability to critique each others' performances, giving encouragement as well as constructive feedback. Lessons are sometimes shorter during this preparation week.
Weather related cancellations
When weather conditions prohibit driving to your home, I do not refund tuition. I will make every effort to be there, but if it is snowing or freezing rain, high winds, or below freezing temperatures I know you would not want me to travel when I am uncomfortable with the driving conditions. If you are comfortable with the driving conditions, and are willing to drive to my home, I would be thrilled to teach your children in my home at a mutually feasible day/time. Otherwise, we will have Zoom lessons when weather prohibits driving, provided we have power and internet access.
Holidays and other paid time off:
Spring break, a two week summer vacation the end of June, two transition weeks between summer and fall (to organize lesson schedules, clean and upgrade office space, prepare to implement new materials for the year, and plan events for the academic year ahead), winter or Christmas break, and most bank holidays.
Summer Yes! I teach all year :) Lesson rates in summer are the same, though there are fewer weeks. We play games, and lesson times are extended whenever that is mutually feasible. My schedule is more flexible in summer, and I can often reschedule or add time to lessons in order to facilitate games and other activities. Drop in lessons at my Tumwater home are also available in summer upon request instead of paying the monthly tuition when your summer schedule is unpredictable.
Please note **Some months will have less than four weeks of lessons, and some will have more. As previously stated, tuition is per month, rather than per lesson, so it will not fluctuate based on how many weeks of lessons there are.
P.E.A.R.L.
FOR PEARL - The rate is slightly higher as regular curriculum materials are calculated into the fee, though parents may purchase additional supplemental items if they wish. There is a $40 per student registration fee each year for the practice website. This is assessed with 1st semester tuition.
Please be sure you have funds in your PEARL account before reserving a slot. I have had to scramble more than once to mitigate unpaid invoices.
Please understand this greatly affects me, as piano teaching in my primary income source.
As of September 7th, 2024, my PEARL policy includes the following stipulation:
Once a semester slot or slots have been reserved for a PEARL student, the family has entered into an agreement, and the invoice must be paid either by QSD or directly by the family.
PEARL rates:
$100 per month for a 30 minute lesson once per week*
$135 per month for a 45 minute lesson once per week*
$165 per month for a 60 minute lesson once per week*
*Some months will have less than four weeks of lessons, and some will have more. Tuition is per month, rather than per lesson, so it will not fluctuate based on how many weeks of lessons there are.