Studio Policies
Successful music study is a partnership between student, teacher, and—when the student is young—parents. These policies are intended to keep the practical side of lessons simple and predictable, so that our time and energy can stay focused on learning and making music.
Tuition & Your
Reserved Lesson Time
Enrollment reserves a regular place in my weekly teaching schedule. Tuition is therefore based on that reserved lesson time rather than the number of lessons actually attended.
Invoices are sent by email at the beginning of each month and are due by the 15th unless otherwise noted. Payment may be made through the link provided with the invoice, by bill-pay, or by check.
Please contact me promptly if a payment problem arises. Continued enrollment requires that tuition remain current.
Current lesson lengths and tuition rates can be found on the Lessons page.
Cancellations & Make-Up Lessons
Life happens. Illness, school events, family commitments, and unexpected conflicts are part of everyone's schedule.
If you need to miss a lesson, please let me know as soon as possible. When my schedule allows, I am happy to find another lesson time, particularly for illness or an occasional unavoidable conflict. Because I maintain a full teaching schedule, however, I cannot guarantee make-up lessons for student absences, nor can missed lessons be deducted from tuition.
If I need to cancel a lesson, that lesson will always be rescheduled or otherwise credited.
The goal is simple: flexibility whenever possible, while protecting the lesson times reserved for every student.
Practice & Progress
Learning an instrument happens between lessons as well as during them. Consistent work throughout the week is far more valuable than one heroic practice session just before a lesson.
Students are expected to work regularly on their lesson material, but learning how to practice is also part of what I teach. We will work together to develop practice strategies, realistic goals, and habits appropriate to each student's age, level, schedule, and learning style.
I don't expect perfection when a student walks through the door. I do expect us to be partners in making progress.
For Parents:
Supporting
Success
For younger students, parents are an important part of the learning team·- especially in the beginning, while good practice habits are being established.
Parents can help enormously by providing a flute in good working condition, a sturdy, adjustable music stand and necessary materials; helping protect regular practice time; encouraging rather than policing; and taking an interest in what their child is learning.
Occasionally asking your child to play something for you can provide both encouragement and accountability. Showing up for performances matters, too.
And yes, enthusiasm is still appreciated even when you've heard the same piece approximately 12 billion times.
The long-term goal is increasing independence: as students mature, they gradually assume more responsibility for their own practice, preparation, and musical growth.
Scheduling,
Arrival &
Communication
Please arrive on time with your flute, music and other lesson materials. Students who arrive late will receive the remainder of their scheduled lesson so that the next student's time is not affected.
Questions are always welcome. A quick question can often be handled before or after a lesson; if something requires a longer conversation - an instrument purchase, scheduling issue, concern about progress, or anything else- please contact me so we can arrange a time to talk without taking away from your child's lesson.
Good communication prevents most problems before they become problems.
Beginning
or Ending
Lessons
A regular lesson time represents an ongoing commitment on both sides. If circumstances change and you need to discontinue lessons, please provide at least two weeks' notice whenever possible. This gives us an opportunity to bring the student's current work to a good stopping point and allows me time to offer the reserved lesson time to another student.
Sometimes schedules change, interests change, or it simply becomes time to move in another direction. That's okay. I would much rather have an open conversation than have a student continue lessons when music study is no longer a good fit.
Borrowed Music, Materials &
Instruments
Students are welcome to borrow selected meterials from my personal teaching library. Please take good care of anything borrowed and return it when requested. Music that becomes part of a student's continuing study should be purchased so that the student has a legal original copy to keep and use.
In the case of borrowing one of my flutes as a loaner, please take the utmost care with it. I keep my flutes very clean and expect them to be returned in like condition. For a longer-term we will treat the loaner flute as a rental, and you will be charged monthly.
Photos, Audio
& Video
From time to time, photographs or short audio/video recordings may be useful for teaching or for sharing studio activities. Photos or recordings identifying a student will not be used publicly without appropriate permission.
Questions?
Policies can't anticipate every circcumstance. If something unusual comes up, please talk with me. Clear commumication, reasonable flexibility, and mutual respect go a long way toward making the studio work well for everyone.