Policies
SUMMER POLICY:
June is still in flat-rate month. However if the student will be on vacation in the month of June, the prorated tuition will start in June.
In order to reserve the time slots for lessons, a student is allowed up to 4 missed lessons (no tuition charge on those 4 lessons or less). And the notice has to be given at least 24 hours in advance.
If a student will be on vacation for longer than 4 weeks, make-up lessons are required. You may take the make-up lessons prior to the vacation, OR pay for the make-up lessons in advance and take them after the vacation (pre-payment is necessary to guarantee the time slots).
LESSONS- PICK UP:
Please pick up your child promptly at the end of his/her lesson each time.
REQUIREMENT FOR COMPETITION STUDENTS:
If the student is not practicing their assigned technique (Hanon, scales, arpeggios) to my passing standard for the week, the upcoming lesson will focus only on technique, and not on competition pieces. Please understand technique is the most important component of a successful performance, in that it (1) brings out articulations, (2) melodic lines, (3) voicing of layered harmonic textures, (4) note fluency, (5) speed, (6) tone quality controls and changes, (7) balance between hands, (8) musicality, and more. Without technique, the music is dull and falls apart, especially in high-level environments such as competitions.
EXPECTATIONS:
New students are required to have an acoustic piano at 6 months of lessons. Each student is required to have an acoustic piano (not a digital piano, and not an electronic keyboard either) to practice at home.
Each student should have a metronome and an acoustic piano with maintenance and tuning at least once a year.
In order to maintain the proper fingers' postures for piano playing, the nails need to be trimmed prior to the lessons.
MUSIC EVENTS:
Participation at festivals, theory of music test, and contests/competitions are recommended but NOT required.
REQUIREMENTS:
There is a requirement for the students who plan to participate the exams in piano performance, contests and all kinds of festivals, music tests. Those students are required to be in either 45-minute or 60-minute lessons. Advanced students need to be in 60-minute lessons. A minimum of 45 minutes daily practicing is recommended.
PERSONAL HYGIENE:
As the courtesy to me and the next students, I am asking the students (4th grade and up) to start using the deodorant if he/she has not started to do so yet. Personal hygiene is very important, especially to pre-teens and teenagers. It promotes good health and avoids the social embarrassments at schools.
PAYMENT & MAKEUP LESSON POLICIES:
Payment for lessons will be made on a monthly basis. PAYMENT FOR EACH MONTH IS DUE THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE NEW MONTH (e.g., June payment is due the last week of May).
A $35 fee will be charged on each returned check.
Each student is entitled to 3 excused makeup lessons during the school year.
To be eligible for excused makeup lessons, students must notify the instructor of a cancellation at least 24 hours prior to the lesson. If a 24-hour notice is given, a makeup lesson will be scheduled at the earliest possible date. If a less than 24-hour notice is given, the student will be charged for the scheduled lesson and no makeup lesson will be provided. For cancellations due to illness, a notice of at least 3 hours in advance is required. NO MAKEUP LESSON WILL BE GIVEN FOR ANY MISSED LESSON.
Students are responsible for their lateness. All lessons end on scheduled time. If the instructor is running late for the lesson, the length of the delayed time will be made up for the student during future lessons.
REFUNDS & CREDITS WILL NOT BE GIVEN IN PLACE OF MAKEUP LESSONS.
RESERVING THE LESSON TIME:
There is no charge for a student's leave of absence during the school year (e.g., a prolonged illness) OR summer (e.g., on vacation). However, the lesson schedule (time and day) cannot be withheld or guaranteed for the student who has more than one leave within the same school year OR is absent for more than 4 weeks in the summer.
TERMINATION OF THE LESSONS:
A student is required to give at least one month notice before terminating the lessons. The following month's tuition needs to be paid after the notice is given. e.g. If the notice is given in mid April, student still needs to pay for the full month of May. No refund will be given to lessons not taken.
THE TEACHER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISMISS THE STUDENT FOR ANY REASON.
UPON DISMISSAL OF A STUDENT AND TERMINATION OF PIANO LESSONS, THE TEACHER IS RELINQUISHED OF ANY OBLIGATION TO PERFORM ADDITIONAL TASKS FOR THE STUDENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: PREPARATION FOR FESTIVAL EVENTS, PERFORMANCES, COMPETITIONS, RECORDINGS, AND APPLICATIONS FOR AWARDS.