814-410-6144

Studio Policies

 

LESSON EXPECTATIONS

  • Please arrive on time with all materials needed for your lesson. Let yourself in the front door quietly, hang your coat in the closet, and have a seat in the front entryway.
  • Parents of young children (through 4th grade) are expected to observe lessons each week and actively participate by taking notes, answering questions, recording short video clips when asked, and so on. Phones should only be taken out to take a picture or record a video when requested. 
  • Siblings are welcome in the studio or front entryway IF they can be quiet and not interrupt lessons. Please do not go to other areas of the house without permission.
  • If you are using the pedals on a regular basis you may keep your shoes on if they are clean and dry, but during the winter, please bring a pair of “indoor shoes.”  (No bare feet, please!)
  • Fingernails should be well-trimmed, and hands clean. Gum chewing is not permitted, and no food or drinks may be brought into the studio.
  • I hold recitals twice yearly (November and May) so students can share their accomplishments with family and friends in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. Students in grades K-12 are expected to attend and perform at both events. Parents are expected to show their support by scheduling other activities around these dates.
  • Adult students are welcome to attend and perform at the studio recitals.

 

FLEX WEEKS 

  • Each semester there is one extra “Flex Week” in the calendar. (For example, the 14 paid lessons in the Fall are scheduled over a 15-week period).
  • Flex weeks provide a cushion for instructor and student: if either of us need to cancel a lesson for any reason, that week can count as your Flex Week and the lesson does not need to be made up.
  • Students who do not cancel any lessons in a semester end up receiving a free lesson.

 

SUMMER LESSONS

  • Traditional students are expected to take a minimum of 6 hours of summer lessons  to maintain their spot in my schedule for the following fall. (You may register for more than 6 hours if you wish.)
  • Students who do not enroll for summer lessons are not guaranteed a weekly lesson time in the Fall Semester.
  • Summer lessons are scheduled flexibly to accommodate vacations and other activities.
  • Group and/or partner lessons may be used to fulfill some of the summer lesson requirement.

 

CANCELLATIONS AND RESCHEDULING

  • Lessons cancelled by the instructor will be rescheduled or refunded.
  • Lessons cancelled by students, regardless of the reason, will be rescheduled ONLY if there is an opening in the schedule AND the student has already used his/her Flex Week (see above).
  • For unavoidable conflicts with work, health or school commitments, you may swap lessons with another student provided you handle the arrangements and notify me in advance.
  • When schools close or are delayed because of bad weather, lessons are NOT automatically cancelled. Please call me at home to 814-410-6144 to discuss your situation. (If you prefer to leave a text message, call 814-418-0057.)
  • If driving conditions are unsafe, please stay home and plan for an ONLINE LESSON via Face Time or Zoom instead.
  • If you have a fever or a contagious illness please stay home! If you feel well enough for a lesson, we can meet on Zoom or FaceTime  at your regularly scheduled time.
  • On days that the studio is open but schools are closed or dismissing early, lessons will be taught at the regular time.  If you anticipate a conflict on these days, please plan it as your flex week, or arrange a lesson swap.
  • Group classes and partner lessons cannot be made up. Students unable to attend will be sent activity sheets and/or handouts via email.
  • When canceling on short notice, a courtesy call, email or text message is ALWAYS expected. Repeated “no-shows” will result in lessons being terminated.

 

TERMINATING LESSONS

Traditional students agree to pay for and attend lessons during the academic year from September-May. Lessons may be terminated before the school year ends under the following circumstances:

 

  • In the case of a major illness or mid-year relocation, any remaining post-dated checks will be returned. If the semester was paid for in advance, a refund will be offered for the number of lessons remaining, calculated from the beginning of the month after notification was received.
  • Lessons may be terminated at any time because of inappropriate behavior, chronic lack of practice, poor attitude, etc. In these cases, any remaining post-dated checks will be returned; if the semester was paid for in advance, a refund will be offered for the number of lessons remaining, calculated from the beginning of the month after lessons were terminated.
  • Registration fees are not refundable.