Studio Policy | PIANO FORTE

1.Lesson Structure

Private Lessons Our private piano lessons focus on techniques, a variety of repertoire, and music theory for students of all ages and skill levels.

Lesson Duration

The duration of private lessons is determined by two main factors: the student's age and playing ability. Teachers will assess and establish the appropriate lesson length for each student at the beginning of each semester

Beginning Students: 30-minute lessons

Intermediate Students: 45-minute lessons

Advanced Students: 60-minute lessons

Parental Involvement

Parents are encouraged to observe lessons and communicate with teachers at pickup. Siblings may attend back-to-back lessons if they do not distract one another.

2.Tuition Policy

Reservation of Time, The tuition paid secures an exclusive weekly time slot for each student.

Registration Fee

To secure a spot in our program, a non-refundable registration fee of $45 per student is required along with the first month's tuition and a signed Studio Policies document.

Tuition Payment

*Tuition is due at the beginning of each month. Can be made via cash, check, Venmo, or Zelle and must be completed by the 7th of each month. A late fee of $30 will be applied to payments received after the 7th. Reminder emails will be sent prior to the payment due date.

*Invoice Notification An invoice will be issued during the last week of each month to notify students of the upcoming month's tuition fees.

*Payment Deadlines and Late Fees

A $30 late fee will apply to payments not received by the 7th. Failure to submit payment by the end of the month will result in termination of enrollment and potential referral to a collection agency. An additional fee of $10 will be added if the balance remains unpaid after two weeks.

*Discounts

A 10% sibling discount is available for additional family members enrolled.

*Consequences of Non-Payment

Students with outstanding balances will not be allowed to attend lessons or participate in recitals until their account is settled.

*Refund Policy

Tuition and fees are non-refundable.

*Transferability Tuition and fees are non-transferable.

Attendance and Cancellation Policy

Regular Attendance
• Consistent attendance is essential for a student’s musical growth and progress.

Cancellations
1. 24-Hour Notice
   Lessons cancelled with at least 24 hours’ notice will not incur a cancellation fee and can be rescheduled based on studio availability.
   However, to ensure consistent progress, we strongly encourage rescheduling instead of cancellations.
2 Same-Day Cancellations
   Cancellations within 24 hours of the scheduled lesson will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
   Same-day cancellations are not eligible for make-up lessons.
3. No-Shows
   Missed lessons without notice will be charged the full lesson fee, and make-up lessons will not be offered.

Emergency Situations
   We understand that emergencies (illness, accidents, family matters) may arise unexpectedly.
   In the event of an emergency, please notify the studio as soon as possible. We will consider rescheduling on a case-by- case basis, and decisions will be made at the studio’s discretion.
   However, same-day cancellations will still incur a 50% cancellation fee, as per our policy. This flexibility will be granted only in genuine emergencies, to ensure fairness for all students.

Make-Up Lessons
• Make-up lessons are offered based on studio availability as a courtesy.
• Missed or cancelled make-up lessons cannot be rescheduled or refunded.
• All make-up lessons must be completed within the same month.

While frequent lessons are not ideal, they are better than completely skipping a lesson. However, please note that makeup lessons are dependent on the studio's availability. We will do our best to arrange another lesson, but we ask for your understanding if we are unable to provide a makeup lesson due to a lack of available time slots. Your cooperation is appreciated as we strive to provide the best possible learning experience for all students.

Tardiness

If a student is tardy, they will only get the lesson for the allotted time period. For example, if they are ten minutes late for a 30-minute lesson, they will only receive a 20-minute lesson. For in-home lessons, I will wait for at most ten minutes for the Student to arrive; if they are over ten minutes late, I reserve the right to leave and cancel the lesson.

8.Discontinuing Lessons

We understand that there may come a time when a student might wish to discontinue lessons. We encourage a thoughtful Discussion among the teacher, parent, and student to ensure a positive closure to this chapter. To facilitate this process, we kindly request that you provide us with one month's notice before discontinuing lessons. Either parents or students decide to discontinue the lesson temporarily or permanently, they need to discuss and share the information.

At the same time, we respect each student's right to make this choice at any time.

Please note that, at the teacher’s discretion, students may be asked to discontinue if there are any outstanding tuition payments, a significant number of absences, or if they appear unprepared for lessons, as well as in cases of a demonstrated lack of interest. We believe it’s important to communicate these criteria clearly to avoid any misunderstandings. Additionally, we kindly ask that all outstanding fees be settled in full on the last lesson day.

9.Information Privacy

Student photos/videos may be used for promotional purposes with consent. A Recording Consent Form is mand

10.Safety & Supervision

Children under 5 not receiving instruction must remain under caregiver supervision at all times.

Pianoforte cannot provide supervision for unattended children; prompt pickup after lessons is required.

Sick children should not attend lessons (fever, nausea, etc.).

Cell phone use is prohibited during lessons.

Pets are not allowed in the studio.

Nail Care: Students are encouraged to keep nails trimmed and clean for optimal playing comfort and hygiene.