Studio Policies

Scheduling Lessons:

Private Lessons may be scheduled Monday - Thursdays ending by 7:30pm. The time slot you confirm with me is yours for the semester (Spring, Summer or Fall). The studio calendar and schedule availability is provided to current students. Prospective students can email me to see these details.

Payment:

Payments are due the 1st and 3rd month of the semester.  Payments may be made in cash or check in full or in two installments. Payments may be made monthly *in cash only* (effective Spring 2017). Payments act as tuition and hold your time slot for the month.  Multiple late payments will result in your time slot being opened to other students.  For students at whose homes I teach, a travel fee will be added.

Payments cover your one-on-one lesson time, and do not include sheet music, method books, or other tools indicated below under "students are expected to bring/have." You are expected to find and buy the material yourself. I do on occasion pick up sheet music or method books you have been informed about in advance, and will give you the receipt at which time you can reimburse me by cash or check. I understand books can add up in expense and I will only require what I feel is necessary and productive for you. Flute students can expect to spend about $15-30 on method books every nine months to a year depending on progress, in addition to less expensive supplemental material in between. Piano students can expect to spend about $25 every four to six months on method books depending on progress, in addition to a few supplemental materials.

Cancellations, Rescheduling & Tardiness:

PLEASE, if a student has had a fever or severe stomach issues in the last 24 hours, DO contact me and CANCEL your lesson that week. There will not be a penalty, and my other students and I appreciate that you not "spread the love".

Credit will only be extended if the I, the teacher, cancel the lesson (effective Spring 2017), or if you have an emergency, i.e. unforseen hospital/doctor visit or accidents/car trouble the day of your lesson; "emergency" does not include rescheduled extracurricular activites or too much homework. Try to let me know ahead of time of any lessons you will miss in the semester because of travel, extracurricular or school activities. This way, you won’t be forced to pay for unattended lessons or we can reschedule early.

A "no-show" means you do not let me know by midnight (12AM) the night before a lesson that you will not attend. Only one (1) no-show will be waived per school year (September-May). Your 2nd and 3rd no-shows will not be granted a make-up lessons. If you accumulate 3 no-shows in one school year, you will risk dismissal from my studio so that I can give your lesson time to a wait-listed student. The only exception is an emergency. Again, rescheduled extracurriculars, too much homework, or "We forgot..." does not count.

If you’d like to reschedule a lesson, please contact me at least one week before to request an open spot or designated make-up lesson day (see calendar). In-home lessons are not guaranteed for make up lessons (meaning they may have to be in my studio instead). It is your responsibility to request make-up lessons with me. All make-up lessons must be scheduled and completed before the end of the same semester (or otherwise forfeited). If I need to reschedule or cancel a lesson, I will let you know as soon as possible and will do my best to reschedule at your convenience or credit you for that lesson.

Please try to be on time. If you are late to a lesson, your lesson will still end at the scheduled time. If I am late, you will get your full lesson time either that same week or adding on to another lesson.

Practice:

Practicing is a huge part of studying music.  How do people get good at any hobby, sport or future passion? They do it a lot. Imagine back in kinder or 1st grade, learning how to read by only learning with a teacher 30 minutes once a week-- progress would be non-existant or really slow. You are expected to practice 4 to 5 days a week, because you will improve more quickly by being consistent.  It is always my goal to equip students for independant efficient practice. For students pre-k to 5th grade, a good rule of thumb for a minimum length of time to practice is roughly: (your age) X 3 = minutes of practice per day. Middle and High school students should practice at least 30 to 45 minutes daily.

Contact Information & Parent Involvement:

If you ever have any questions or concerns you would like to discuss, please don't hesitate to email me anytime (stephaniegeemusic@gmail.com), text or call me, and of course you can always talk to me in person at your lesson if you don't think it will take too long. Parents are encouraged to inquire about student’s progress, be a part of encouraging them to practice, and help them out by acquiring indicated materials in a prompt manner.  While not necessary, parents are welcome to sit and listen in on lessons.

Policy Amendments:

This policy may be amended occasionally as needed. Studio clients may be notified of such amendments by letter, e-mail, or on the studio web site at least 3 weeks prior to the effective date of the amendments. All these forms of notification shall be considered valid and binding on both parties. These policies are set to clarify to the student and parent the studio goals, rules, and business policies. These policies eliminate ambiguity and can serve as a reference guide.