Programs & Policies (65k Acrobat PDF)

Enrollment Contract (47k Acrobat PDF)

Based on the Study Plan you choose. The tuition will be the same each month whether there are 3, 4 or 5 lessons in that month. Lessons are totalled up for the entire year and divided into 11 equal payments August through June.

Payment is due in advance and by the 5th of the month. A late fee of $25.00 will be assessed if payment is postmarked after the 5th. The materials fee is paid in July. Checks are payable to:

Regular attendance at lessons is necessary and expected. Group lessons cannot be made up. Private lessons missed because of illness will be made up at the teacher's convenience. The teacher may assign lab time as makeup (in lieu of the private lesson). Please be courteous enough to give us 24 hours notice if possible if your child is sick. If you have a conflict due to a school activity, we will assist you in rearranging your lesson time if you give us 7 days notice. Please do not ask us to make up missed lessons for any reason other than illness. If the teacher misses the lesson, a makeup lesson will be offered to you as soon as possible and within the semester in which it was missed.

Please let us know immediately of any problems you are experiencing. Our goal is to create accomplished, confident pianists and all around musicians. This takes several years of discipline and hard work on the parts of both the teacher and the student. The teacher must be fully aware of the difficulties the student is experiencing at home. It is your responsibility to keep us informed. Open and direct communication is of utmost importance. If you have questions or concerns regarding studio policies, or basic teaching philosophies and styles, please call the Director, Susan Allen, immediately. We feel we can better serve you if we know your concerns.

Parents wishing to speak with a teacher may do so by phone before teaching hours. Teachers are expected to stay on an exact schedule and will not delay the next lesson in order to visit with the parent. Teaching hours generally begin as early as noon and extend until as late as 8:00pm. If you wish to speak directly to the teacher, call them at home before noon, or call the school during teaching hours and leave a message. The teacher will return your call as soon as possible. Phone numbers and email addresses are listed in every monthly newsletter and on all assignment sheets.

No lessons will be scheduled during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break or Easter holidays. Please see our Calendar for more details.

Occurring in mid January, this is a week set aside to test students for their appropriate theory and musicianship levels. This testing will take the place of the regular private and supplemental lessons. All students are expected to attend and take the tests. Tuition stays the same for the month. The time value of the testing will be equal to or longer than that of the private lesson and the tab.

Given two to three weeks before each recital and instead of the private and supplemental lessons. All students are expected to attend and to perform unless the teacher excuses a student from performance. Tuition is the same for the months of Masterclasses. The time value of the Masterclasses will be equal to or longer than that of the private lesson. You are paying only the private lesson fee for the weeks of Masterclasses. There are no fees for the supplemental lessons.

There are at least two recitals given during the school year, occurring in the late fall and at the end of the school year. We do not expect every student to play in every recital. We offer 2 recitals so that each student will have the opportunity to play in at least one each year. Teachers will encourage students who they feel are ready to play. Recitals are usually on Saturday and/or Sunday afternoon and students are expected to wear appropriate recital attire. The Master Classes help to prepare all students for performance.

We believe we will be more successful in providing quality music education by requiring participation in our summer program. It is important that your child continue the forward momentum we have created through the year. We have designed a Summer Studies Program that offers a combination of private lessons, one and two-day workshops, and camps. These workshops and camps will be offered on a weekly basis throughout the summer. Tuition for Summer Studies will be assessed in June and July. A complete schedule will be provided to you by April. You may choose one of the following:

• Eight private lessons or more (or the equivalent.)
• Six private lessons (or the equivalent.)
• Four private lessons and one workshop or camp

Preschoolers and ingoing Kindergartners are only required to take a minimum of four private lessons.

The student's progress is in direct proportion to the amount of time spent in proper practice. The teacher will discuss with the student and parent the amount of daily practice time appropriate for the age and level of advancement of that student. Students will be required to record daily practice time.