Studio Info > Policies & Procedures
Policies & Procedures
Upon signing up for lessons, the student/parent will be asked to read the studio Policies & Procedures and sign/date the document. By signing, you agree to respect and abide by the studio’s current policies as long as the student is taking lessons with the instructor. If a new version of the policies is issued, the instructor will provide a copy with the changes highlighted.
At The Studio: Students are expected to arrive for lessons on time with all their materials and music. Parents and siblings may quietly peruse the waiting area, wait in their vehicle in the driveway, or run errands so long as they return to pick up their student in a timely fashion. To discuss student progress, parents are welcome to talk with the teacher before or after class begins, in order to respect each student’s instruction time – or anytime via text, email, or phone call.
Practice and Instrument: Private students are expected to practice daily on a well-maintained acoustic piano or full-sized (88 keys) digital piano. Acoustic pianos should be tuned twice a year.
Practice and Assignments: Students are expected to track their daily home practice time using an app called Tonara (iOS and Android). Weekly practice assignments are sent via Tonara, and students are welcome to send questions or recordings for teacher feedback via the messaging feature within Tonara. If the student does not have regular access to a device in order to use Tonara, the student will be given a written assignment notebook instead.
Materials: Students are recommended to use a canvas tote bag to carry books to and from lessons. The teacher will obtain all needed sheet music, the cost of which is covered within the tuition payments.
Performances: Students are encouraged to participate in the annual Studio Recital (held in April) as well other informal or formal opportunities such as the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exams (additional fee required). To help students prepare for these events, informal gatherings called Piano Workshop are held occasionally on Saturdays or Sundays throughout the year.
Yearly Calendar: The tuition rates are determined based on a calendar of 42 weekly private lessons. The teacher does not teach during the week of Thanksgiving, the week of Christmas, the week after Christmas, and three weeks during the summer. The other unpaid four (4) weeks of the year are reserved for the teacher to take off from lessons as needed (due to extreme illness, teacher conference attendance, family emergency, etc). If the teacher chooses not to use all four “flex weeks,” the student benefits by receiving those lessons free.
Missed Lessons: Due to the teacher's limited availability, rescheduling lessons cannot be guaranteed. However, if an absence arises due to unforeseen situations such as an accident, family emergency, or unsafe road conditions and if the student indicates a desire for a makeup lesson, the teacher will make an effort to reschedule the lesson. An alternative option is for the student to send recordings of each of their in-progress assignments that week via the Tonara app, for teacher feedback. Please be courteous to the teacher and fellow students by notifying the teacher at least 24 hours in advance regarding any known upcoming absences.
Tuition and Payment: Tuition is divided into equal monthly installments, due on or before the 1st of each month. Automatic monthly payments are accepted via a platform called Coinhop (Coinhop.com or iOS/Android app) or bank transfer. Late payments will incur a late fee of $1 for each day late. The teacher reserves the right to raise fees at the beginning of each academic year.
Summer Months: During the summer months (June 4 through August 10), private students are expected to continue taking lessons; however, they will be provided a couple of package options. For example:
Discontinuing Lessons: Every student stops taking lesson at some point. Ideally, this decision is made thoughtfully with plenty of discussion between the teacher, parent, and student so that lessons can cease with a positive sense of closure. For this reason, the teacher asks for one month’s notice prior to discontinuing lessons. However, the teacher respects the student’s right to end lessons at any time. Note: At the discretion of the teacher, students may be dismissed at any time if they have unpaid tuition, an excess amount of absences/unprepared lessons, or if they show a lack of interest.
Parent Participation: Parents are encouraged to be supportive and active participants in practice at home. Parents are also encouraged to attend and quietly observe lessons once a month or more.
Communication:
Practice and Instrument: Private students are expected to practice daily on a well-maintained acoustic piano or full-sized (88 keys) digital piano. Acoustic pianos should be tuned twice a year.
Practice and Assignments: Students are expected to track their daily home practice time using an app called Tonara (iOS and Android). Weekly practice assignments are sent via Tonara, and students are welcome to send questions or recordings for teacher feedback via the messaging feature within Tonara. If the student does not have regular access to a device in order to use Tonara, the student will be given a written assignment notebook instead.
Materials: Students are recommended to use a canvas tote bag to carry books to and from lessons. The teacher will obtain all needed sheet music, the cost of which is covered within the tuition payments.
Performances: Students are encouraged to participate in the annual Studio Recital (held in April) as well other informal or formal opportunities such as the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exams (additional fee required). To help students prepare for these events, informal gatherings called Piano Workshop are held occasionally on Saturdays or Sundays throughout the year.
Yearly Calendar: The tuition rates are determined based on a calendar of 42 weekly private lessons. The teacher does not teach during the week of Thanksgiving, the week of Christmas, the week after Christmas, and three weeks during the summer. The other unpaid four (4) weeks of the year are reserved for the teacher to take off from lessons as needed (due to extreme illness, teacher conference attendance, family emergency, etc). If the teacher chooses not to use all four “flex weeks,” the student benefits by receiving those lessons free.
Missed Lessons: Due to the teacher's limited availability, rescheduling lessons cannot be guaranteed. However, if an absence arises due to unforeseen situations such as an accident, family emergency, or unsafe road conditions and if the student indicates a desire for a makeup lesson, the teacher will make an effort to reschedule the lesson. An alternative option is for the student to send recordings of each of their in-progress assignments that week via the Tonara app, for teacher feedback. Please be courteous to the teacher and fellow students by notifying the teacher at least 24 hours in advance regarding any known upcoming absences.
Tuition and Payment: Tuition is divided into equal monthly installments, due on or before the 1st of each month. Automatic monthly payments are accepted via a platform called Coinhop (Coinhop.com or iOS/Android app) or bank transfer. Late payments will incur a late fee of $1 for each day late. The teacher reserves the right to raise fees at the beginning of each academic year.
Summer Months: During the summer months (June 4 through August 10), private students are expected to continue taking lessons; however, they will be provided a couple of package options. For example:
- A package of lessons plus summer camp days. Summer camp themes vary each year. Examples: So, You Want To Be A Composer?, Music History Blast From The Past, Ukulele Camp.
- Or, students may continue weekly lessons as normal. Students who choose this option may also participate in summer camp for a nominal fee.
Discontinuing Lessons: Every student stops taking lesson at some point. Ideally, this decision is made thoughtfully with plenty of discussion between the teacher, parent, and student so that lessons can cease with a positive sense of closure. For this reason, the teacher asks for one month’s notice prior to discontinuing lessons. However, the teacher respects the student’s right to end lessons at any time. Note: At the discretion of the teacher, students may be dismissed at any time if they have unpaid tuition, an excess amount of absences/unprepared lessons, or if they show a lack of interest.
Parent Participation: Parents are encouraged to be supportive and active participants in practice at home. Parents are also encouraged to attend and quietly observe lessons once a month or more.
Communication:
- Studio Newsletters: Students will receive email newsletters once or twice a month.
- Studio Website: Visit pianostudio.joymorin.com to find these studio policies and more.
- Social Media: Follow the studio’s Facebook page (facebook.com/PianoStudioJoyMorin) and Instagram (instagram.com/joymorinpiano/) to see occasional announcements, highlights of students success (shared with permission), and more.
- Tonara: The Tonara app allows students to regularly stay in touch with the teacher regarding their learning and practicing.
