Studio Policy 2021-2022
Student and Parent Responsibilities and Expectations:
Students must:
Parents must:
Studio Procedures:
Tuition and Fees:
Tuition is charged per term, but can be divided into smaller payments at a slightly higher rate. Tuition will be prorated for those who start after the beginning of the term. The payment option is selected at the time of registration. All payment options and registration reflects a commitment to study for the academic year.
Fall and Spring Term: 16 contacts (14 private, 2 group). Summer term is variable and is detailed separately.
Payment may be made in cash or check. Checks may be made out to Madison McCarney.
Students must:
- have an acoustic piano or digital piano with 88 weighted keys available for daily practice.
- have a metronome or access to a metronome app.
- arrive promptly to lessons with all musical materials and binder.
- practice a minimum of five days a week for an amount of time deemed appropriate by the instructor.
Parents must:
- ensure the student is practicing routinely and assist when needed.
- purchase all necessary materials.
- tend to the upkeep and tuning of the instrument (acoustic pianos need 1-2 tunings per year).
Studio Procedures:
- To enter the studio, please knock loudly and wait for a response. If lessons are in progress, enter quietly and wait for the previous student to exit the studio.
- Arrive on time. Do not arrive more than 5 minutes early unless given instructor approval.
- Remove shoes and wash hands thoroughly before each lesson. Use the disposable paper towels provided.
- Keep fingernails trimmed short to facilitate cleanliness and proper hand position.
- No food or drink is allowed in the studio area.
- Parking is allowed on street and driveway.
- Students should be picked up promptly at the end of the scheduled lesson time.
- Do not attend your lesson if you are ill, have the sniffles, or are coughing. Notify the instructor beforehand to arrange a virtual lesson. Students who arrive ill will be sent home.
- If the student is experiencing allergies that cause repeat sneezing or coughing, please wear a mask.
Tuition and Fees:
Tuition is charged per term, but can be divided into smaller payments at a slightly higher rate. Tuition will be prorated for those who start after the beginning of the term. The payment option is selected at the time of registration. All payment options and registration reflects a commitment to study for the academic year.
Fall and Spring Term: 16 contacts (14 private, 2 group). Summer term is variable and is detailed separately.
Payment may be made in cash or check. Checks may be made out to Madison McCarney.
Registration Fee: A non-refundable registration fee of $10 per student is due at the time of registration for each academic year. This contributes to the cost of student binders, printing, materials and recital reservations.
Materials Deposit: Cost for all materials are incurred by the student/parent. For the ease of the student/parent, the instructor will procure all needed materials. To do so, each student will secure a $50.00 deposit due at the time of registration for the sole purpose of tracking purchased materials, books, sheet music, festival/audition fees, and late payment charges. All are automatically deducted and tracked through individualized Excel files; parents are notified by email when a deposit is depleted, at which time the parent will supply funds to bring the account back to a $50.00 balance. Book deposits are non-refundable; should a student leave the studio before the account is depleted, the student may choose to purchase materials with the remaining balance.
Late Payment Fee: A late fee of $10 is assessed when payment is 5 days past due. An additional $2 will accrue for each additional day, up to a maximum of 15 days, at which time lessons will be suspended until tuition payment is made. A fee will be assessed for any returned checks. Fees are deducted from the Materials Deposit.
Group Lessons: Two one-hour group lessons are scheduled per term. Attendance is mandatory. All students receive a full hour for group classes regardless of their private lesson length. Students may sign up in advance for the time slot of their choosing from the schedule provided. They offer a great environment for students to advance their performance, ensemble, theory, rhythm, and listening skills, as well as build camaraderie with studio mates.
Recitals and Competitions: Studio recitals are held bi-annually. All students are asked to participate and families are invited to attend. Recitals are a great opportunity for students of any level to demonstrate what they have accomplished in a supportive, encouraging environment. Recital repertoire is to be memorized unless otherwise noted. Dress clothes are required. Other performance opportunities are available to students who wish to participate, including WMTA Auditions, State Auditions, and others. Please inform the instructor if the student wishes to participate in these or any other competition or performance at the beginning of the year so that the instructor may help the student to prepare. Note: students that wish to compete in WMTA Auditions must be enrolled in 45 or 60 minute lessons.
A La Carte Lessons: These supplemental lessons are scheduled on an individual basis. Payment is due at time of service.
Attendance:
Punctual and regular attendance to lessons is required, and is an integral part of music study and progress. Each student’s lesson time is reserved for them each week. If a student arrives late to a lesson, the lesson will still end at the scheduled time. Unattended lessons with no notice given may not be rescheduled. Advance notice is appreciated if a lesson is to be missed, so that the lesson time may be used productively. Students are allowed one re-scheduled lesson per term, to be taken by the end of the given term. In order for a lesson to be rescheduled, the instructor must be given advanced notice that a lesson will be missed. The instructor will offer available times for rescheduling during the flex week or earlier. If the lesson cannot be re-scheduled during the instructor’s available times, it is forfeited.
To protect the health of all involved, students who are ill or who have an ill member in their household are asked to stay home from lessons. Do not attend your lesson if you are even mildly ill, have the sniffles, or are coughing. If the student is only mildly ill, a virtual lesson can be held in place of an in-person lesson. Students who arrive ill will be sent home. Notify the instructor beforehand to arrange a virtual lesson. If the student is experiencing allergies that cause repeat sneezing or coughing, please wear a mask.
Tuition is not refunded or credited for missed or canceled lessons.
If the instructor must cancel a lesson, the lesson will be rescheduled at a mutually convenient time during or before the flex week.
Parental Attendance: Parents are welcome to observe their child’s lessons, and are encouraged to do so if the child is under the age of ten in order to understand assignments and be able to offer assistance at home. To keep the lesson free of disruptions, parents who choose to observe are asked to refrain from conversation while the lesson is in progress; the last 5 minutes will be reserved for questions. If siblings must attend the lesson, they are expected to behave respectfully for the duration.
Lesson Termination: Four weeks’ notice is required if the student plans to withdraw from lessons. The instructor reserves the right to terminate lessons based on failure to meet the terms of the studio policy.
Materials Deposit: Cost for all materials are incurred by the student/parent. For the ease of the student/parent, the instructor will procure all needed materials. To do so, each student will secure a $50.00 deposit due at the time of registration for the sole purpose of tracking purchased materials, books, sheet music, festival/audition fees, and late payment charges. All are automatically deducted and tracked through individualized Excel files; parents are notified by email when a deposit is depleted, at which time the parent will supply funds to bring the account back to a $50.00 balance. Book deposits are non-refundable; should a student leave the studio before the account is depleted, the student may choose to purchase materials with the remaining balance.
Late Payment Fee: A late fee of $10 is assessed when payment is 5 days past due. An additional $2 will accrue for each additional day, up to a maximum of 15 days, at which time lessons will be suspended until tuition payment is made. A fee will be assessed for any returned checks. Fees are deducted from the Materials Deposit.
Group Lessons: Two one-hour group lessons are scheduled per term. Attendance is mandatory. All students receive a full hour for group classes regardless of their private lesson length. Students may sign up in advance for the time slot of their choosing from the schedule provided. They offer a great environment for students to advance their performance, ensemble, theory, rhythm, and listening skills, as well as build camaraderie with studio mates.
Recitals and Competitions: Studio recitals are held bi-annually. All students are asked to participate and families are invited to attend. Recitals are a great opportunity for students of any level to demonstrate what they have accomplished in a supportive, encouraging environment. Recital repertoire is to be memorized unless otherwise noted. Dress clothes are required. Other performance opportunities are available to students who wish to participate, including WMTA Auditions, State Auditions, and others. Please inform the instructor if the student wishes to participate in these or any other competition or performance at the beginning of the year so that the instructor may help the student to prepare. Note: students that wish to compete in WMTA Auditions must be enrolled in 45 or 60 minute lessons.
A La Carte Lessons: These supplemental lessons are scheduled on an individual basis. Payment is due at time of service.
Attendance:
Punctual and regular attendance to lessons is required, and is an integral part of music study and progress. Each student’s lesson time is reserved for them each week. If a student arrives late to a lesson, the lesson will still end at the scheduled time. Unattended lessons with no notice given may not be rescheduled. Advance notice is appreciated if a lesson is to be missed, so that the lesson time may be used productively. Students are allowed one re-scheduled lesson per term, to be taken by the end of the given term. In order for a lesson to be rescheduled, the instructor must be given advanced notice that a lesson will be missed. The instructor will offer available times for rescheduling during the flex week or earlier. If the lesson cannot be re-scheduled during the instructor’s available times, it is forfeited.
To protect the health of all involved, students who are ill or who have an ill member in their household are asked to stay home from lessons. Do not attend your lesson if you are even mildly ill, have the sniffles, or are coughing. If the student is only mildly ill, a virtual lesson can be held in place of an in-person lesson. Students who arrive ill will be sent home. Notify the instructor beforehand to arrange a virtual lesson. If the student is experiencing allergies that cause repeat sneezing or coughing, please wear a mask.
Tuition is not refunded or credited for missed or canceled lessons.
If the instructor must cancel a lesson, the lesson will be rescheduled at a mutually convenient time during or before the flex week.
Parental Attendance: Parents are welcome to observe their child’s lessons, and are encouraged to do so if the child is under the age of ten in order to understand assignments and be able to offer assistance at home. To keep the lesson free of disruptions, parents who choose to observe are asked to refrain from conversation while the lesson is in progress; the last 5 minutes will be reserved for questions. If siblings must attend the lesson, they are expected to behave respectfully for the duration.
Lesson Termination: Four weeks’ notice is required if the student plans to withdraw from lessons. The instructor reserves the right to terminate lessons based on failure to meet the terms of the studio policy.