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Studio Policies

Effective 8/29/2022 thru 8/26/2023

Thank you choosing me as your piano teacher! In order to make my studio run smoothly and ensure that students get the most from their lessons, I have established the following policies. Please read carefully. When you have read and understood them, complete the Permissions & Consent form at the bottom of the page. Thank you for your cooperation!

My Responsibilities

For each student, I will aim to do the following to the best of my abilities:

  • Teach to understand music, to play the piano, and to develop general musical skills.
  • Strive in lessons to develop a good working relationship with each student, to facilitate both attentiveness & striving to do well and, generally, to have a good time in the process.
  • As much as possible, to aid in the discovery of the joy of music that I have discovered, the means to attain and expand that joy and the opportunities that are important to success.

Student & Family Responsibilities

Students should aim to arrive at each lesson:

  • On time.
  • Well-prepared, which means having engaged in daily quality practice and having completed all assignments. 

  • With all books or other materials they will need.

Performances and Other Activities

Performing is not the only reason to learn piano & music, but it is mostly through performance that people engage with music, whether the performance is live or pre-recorded and whether as a performer or listener. Consequently, I strongly urge students to perform. Performance opportunities include studio recitals, group classes, Piano Guild auditions and CCMTA & TMTA sponsored festivals, contests and convention performances. 

Non-performance activities available include the TMTA Theory Test,World of Music Test, Composition Contest & Publication Contest. Which activities as student will participate in will be discussed at the beginning of the Fall semester. For more information about events go to the Events page. 

Instrument Requirements

It is strongly encouraged that students have an acoustic piano at home. Some keyboards can work okay, and a good keyboard is better than a bad piano, but students get the most out of studying piano by practicing on an acoustic piano. If a keyboard is chosen instead, the keyboard must be full size and have weighted keys. Very early, students will need the full range of a piano keyboard.For the pros & cons of pianos & keyboards, please go to the Pianos & Keyboards page.

Tuition

For more details about payment of tuition and fees and what they cover, go to Tuition & Fees.

Payments may be made monthly, or by semester. Monthly payments are due on the 1st of each month, while semester payments are due on the 1st of the first month of the semester (that is, September, January & June). In either case, payments made after the 10th of the month are considered late and will incur a $25 late fee. Payments may be made via cash, check, money order, Zelle or Venmo. Checks or money orders should be make payable to Kevin Guess.

Scheduling

During the Fall & Spring semesters, lessons are scheduled Monday through Friday of each week except for scheduled holidays and breaks (see the Calendar page). Each student will be given a specific time on one of those days. Schedule change requests will be considered on a case by case basis. Summer lesson times are more flexible and students will be given a chance to choose Summer lesson times in May.

Cancellations

Regarding cancellations, lessons are subject to the following conditions:

  • Any lesson that I cancel will be made up or a payment credit will be given. 
  • No payment credit will be given for any reason for lessons missed by students. 
  • Lessons missed by students are not guaranteed a make-up, but may be made up at my discretion at a time of my choosing. 
  • Lessons cancelled less than 24 hours in advance will not be considered for a make-up except for unforeseen, unavoidable circumstances (that is, student became sick that day, a death in the family, and so on). 

The tuition paid for each student reserves an exclusive weekly time in my schedule for that student. Unlike a doctor or a hairdresser, I cannot resell that time nor can I create extra teaching time in which to give lessons.

Making Up Lessons

To simplify make-up lessons, the last week of each of the Fall & Spring semesters are pre-scheduled Make-Up Days. The Fall Make-up Days will be Dec. 12-16. The Spring Make-up days will be May 22-26. Priority will be given to lessons that I miss. 

  • If I cancel a student’s lesson in the Fall, that lesson will be automatically rescheduled to the Make-Up Day unless I choose to make other arrangements and we agree on those arrangements. 
  • If the Make-Up Day has not been used for a lesson I cancelled, it may be used for a lesson the student cancelled. 
  • If the Make-Up Day is not used, the student will not have a lesson on the Make-up day. 
  • If the Make-up day is used, that lesson is subject to the Cancellation policies above. If the student cancels the Make-Up lesson, no other make-up will be given. 

Book & Events Fee

Rather than bill you as books are obtained or events entered, I established a Books & Event Fees Account for each student. When first beginning lessons with me, each student will deposit $50. I will maintain a ledger in a spread sheet for each student in which I will show deposits made into the student’s account, deductions for items I purchase or fees I pay on the student’s behalf and the current balance. Twice a year, at the beginning of the Fall & Spring semesters, I will email each student or students’ parents a report showing deposits, expenditures and the current balance (such a report may be requested at any time). If the balance is less than $50, then I will ask you to make a deposit to bring it up to $50. Any unused amount in a given student’s account will be returned should the student discontinue lessons.

Annual Operations Fee

The Annual Operations Fee of $75 covers studio maintenance, recital rental fees, office supplies, and so on. This fee is due in September of each year and is non-refundable. Students beginning lessons with me in the Spring need only pay half of the full amount, while students beginning in the Summer will pay nothing until the beginning of the Fall semester.

Ending Lessons

If for any reason you must stop lessons, one month’s notice is requested. Since the monthly tuition is pro-rated, at the time lesson end, the cost of the lessons given and the amount of tuition paid will not likely be the same. If it is in the Fall, you have over paid and be due a refund, but if it is in the Spring or Summer you will likely have underpaid and owe an additional amount. I will determine the amount of the refund or additional payment and provide you with a spreadsheet showing how I arrived at that amount. 

Regrettably, I sometimes have to dismiss a student. The following are conditions that can lead to dismissal of a student:

  • Repeated failure to pay tuition on time. 
  • Excessive absences.
  • Repeated failure to practice or compete assignments (in this case, the student will be put on probation for a semester before dismissal is considered).

I am reluctant to dismiss a student. Before resorting to dismissal, I will make every attempt to resolve the issue. 

Preferences & Consent Form

If you or your child are having lessons this Fall, please complete and submit the Preferences & consent form below. Thank you!