Studio Policy Statement

2023-2024

Thank you for choosing me as your piano teacher! To ensure that every student receives the most effective and creative teaching I can offer, I have established the following policies:

My Responsibilities

I will create a positive environment in my studio and encourage students to work diligently, explore creativity, make mistakes, and have fun in the pursuit of excellence. I will meet students where they are and strive to balance celebrating accomplishments with pushing for continued growth. I will set clear expectations and communicate effectively with students and parents. I will focus on the joy of music, the impact of sharing music with others, and the growth of the whole person through music study!

Parent and Family Responsibilities

Parents will ensure daily piano practice and help students develop this habit, especially on the days they don’t feel like it! Family members contribute to students’ progress by taking an interest in the music they are working on, encouraging them to persevere when it’s challenging, and praising their success. Families are responsible for providing a piano in an area of the home with minimal distractions and good lighting and making sure this piano is tuned at least once per year. Students who divide their time between two homes must have access to a piano 5-6 days out of every week lessons are in session; for some, this may require a piano in both locations. Parents will also bring students to lessons on time and make tuition payments on time.

Student Responsibilities

Students will arrive at every lesson well-prepared and on time, and with all music and their assignment binder. 5-6 days of practice (20-60 minutes per day, depending on level) are required weekly and are necessary for progress in music study. Playing the piano is fun, but it also requires focused hard work! Students are responsible for completing the goals outlined in their assignment binder each week and keeping a log of daily practice time if asked.

Tuition and Billing

Please refer to the document Tuition and Fees (shared with families enrolled in the studio or to prospective student families upon request). I encourage you to set up automatic payments through your financial institution’s online bill-pay system. Tuition can be paid yearly (5% discount), by semester (3% discount), or by month. Payments not received by the 10th of the month will incur a $10 late fee.

Instruments

I highly recommend an acoustic piano for home practice. Electric keyboards are acceptable, but they must be full size, with 88 weighted keys and a proper bench. Students who practice on acoustic pianos at home have a distinct advantage in learning to control tone quality and dynamics, a skill that is nearly impossible to achieve on most electric keyboards. Please have your piano tuned at least once per year. If a student begins to complain of sticky keys, mechanical problems, or severely out-of-tune notes, that is a sign to schedule a tuning immediately. Contact me for a list of local piano technicians if you need it!

Missed Lessons

Tuition is based on enrollment, not attendance. You are contracting with me for a set lesson time throughout the school year, and because this time is set aside for you alone, I cannot fill it with something else when a student is absent for a sports game, illness, or vacation. Therefore, I do not give make-up lessons. If you need to miss a lesson, please notify me by text, email, or phone as soon as possible. I will offer lesson swaps with other students or Zoom lessons, and if these options don’t work, I’ll spend the student’s lesson time that week in specific preparation for them. Remember that your tuition covers much more than just 30 minutes of weekly lesson time! 

Recitals

Recitals help students at all levels learn stage presence and how to perform confidently in front of others. Hearing music played by peers can be inspiring! Playing the piano often feels like a solitary pursuit, and recitals acquaint students with the joys of collaborating and sharing with other musicians. As you make decisions regarding potential conflicts with these events, please remember that piano recitals happen only twice per year and are an essential component of each student’s musical education. 

Cancellation and Dismissal

If for any reason you must cancel lessons, I require at least one month’s notice. The final month’s tuition must be paid in full, even if you decide not to attend all the lessons in that month. If due to extreme circumstances such as illness, financial hardship, or a sudden move the advance notice and/or payment are not possible, you must work with me to determine a mutually acceptable conclusion to our contract and our teacher/student relationship. Regrettably, I will have to dismiss a student if any of the following circumstances occur: repeated failure to pay tuition on time, persistent absences, uncooperative attitude, or lack of progress due to insufficient practice or unfulfilled requirements.

Photo/Video Release

I maintain a studio website and Facebook page. I will use photos and videos from recitals, piano camps, and other student activities on these platforms, only identifying students by first name or initials. If you do not want photos or videos of your child used, you must indicate this in your online registration form. 

By enrolling in piano lessons, you are contracting with Emily Valine under all terms of the policy listed above. Enrollment is understood as a commitment for the entire year (September-August).

Thank you for your commitment to piano lessons! The opportunity to study and create music is a beautiful gift that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.