We waste our lives when we do not pray and think and dream and plan and work toward magnifying God in all spheres of life.”
~John Piper
Natalie’s Piano Studio is committed to providing a high quality, leading-edge music education for every student. There are many expenses involved in running a studio, and I make every effort to provide maximum value for families in an affordable, fair, and efficient manner. The following policies are designed to minimize the time and energy spent on bookkeeping and scheduling so that it can be devoted instead to working with students.
Studio Enrollment and Fees
- All students must turn in completed enrollment forms by August 1, along with their non-refundable $50 enrollment fee, to reserve their spot in the studio for the following year. This fee will cover the customized Assignment Books and will be used to offset the cost of supplies and services offered throughout the year.
- Lesson slots not reserved by August 1 will be made available to new students.
- Lesson tuition is $1530 for the 9-month school year (September-May) and may be paid in one of three ways:
- Nine monthly payments of $170/each
- Two semester payments of $740/each (a $50 savings)
- One full tuition payment in September of $1400 (a $130 savings)
- Tuition includes weekly 45-minute private lessons and participation in any of the group classes and studio events offered throughout the year.
- The schedule for each semester, including weeks that there will be no lessons, is posted on the website and distributed at the September Surprise! kickoff event, and email reminders are sent throughout the year.
- The schedule is structured to allow for one additional week of no lessons each semester. This may be scheduled at Natalie’s discretion. In the event that such a week is not scheduled, the student will benefit from an extra lesson that semester.
- Invoices will be sent by e-mail on the 1st day of each month. Payment may be made by check, cash, credit card, PayPal, or Venmo.
- Following the initial interview, families who enroll in piano lessons will receive a welcome e-mail with additional studio info.
Obtaining Books and Other Necessary Supplies
- Piano Books – Your child will need a core lesson curriculum (approx. $50/year) and 2-3 supplemental books throughout the year (approx. $10-$12/ea.), depending on his progress. Generally, I will purchase the books and bill you so that the cost is added to your invoice for the following month. You may pay for the total invoiced amount together or separately – whichever you prefer.
- Metronome – If you do not already own one, you will need to purchase a metronome (approximately $40) or download a metronome app (I recommend Metronome+ as a great free app!) within the first month of lessons. The student will need to have regular access to a smart phone or tablet in order for the app to be an effective tool.
- Customized Assignment Book – Each September students will receive an Assignment Book that corresponds with our practice incentive theme for the year. The cost of this book is included in the studio enrollment fee.
Missed Lessons
- If your child becomes sick or is otherwise not able to attend their lesson, please contact me as soon as possible because I schedule each day based on the assumption that every student will attend.
- Every student will receive information to setup an account with our online music lesson portal, Muzie.Live. This may be used in place of in-studio lessons if you or I are traveling out of town, in the case of inclement weather, or if an illness precludes meeting in person, but the student is still up for a virtual lesson.
- If I am ever unable to give your child a lesson due to an unforeseen circumstance or sickness, I will notify you as soon as possible.
- There are no refunds for missed lessons.
- In the case of extended absences (for vacations, moves, quarantines, etc.), we can make arrangements for long-distance lessons via Muzie, Skype, Zoom, or Facetime, e-mail assignment updates, or even a lesson by phone or instant messaging (yes, we’ve done it all!).
