TUITION SCHEDULE
September 2017 - September 2018
* One hour lessons, weekly: $205.00 per month *
* 45 – minute lessons, weekly: $154.00 per month *
* Half hour lessons, weekly: $103.00 per month *
* Individual lessons (by arrangement only)* $51.00
WHAT DOES TUITION COVER? --- So much more than just a weekly lesson!
- Weekly lessons and preparation time for lessons.
- Time spent with students at group lessons, at recitals, at Master Lessons, and at any EMTA functions they attend, preparation time, and refreshments for all of the above.
- Recitals: Preparation time, venue rental, food, gifts.
- Lesson planning, bookkeeping, lesson scheduling (and re-scheduling).
- Music books that I purchase for lending to students to keep costs down.
- Equipment purchase and maintenance, including photocopier, office supplies and PIANO.
- My training (so many years of lessons and schooling!) and continued professional development.
- Membership to the EMTA, Washington State Music Teachers Association and National Music Teachers Association.
- State and federal taxes (including 100% of FICA), insurance, and housekeeping.
- Extra lessons as required to prepare individual students for projects.
- Piano Explorer subscription. Piano Explorer is a monthly Music History, Theory and Pedagogy magazine.
I follow the Edmonds School District schedule. Lessons are held on most single day holidays (refer to my annual calendar for specific plans this year) but I do not hold lessons during the Thanksgiving weekend, the December winter break or the spring break. I hold lessons on Halloween, but have found that for younger students it may be advisable for them not to come to lessons that night. I have seen tears!
Tuition payments are due at the first lesson of the month. September and June payments are 50% of the full amount; October through May full payment (plus any money due for books or fees) is due.
MAKE UP LESSONS
There are many options for making up missed lesson times.
- If at all possible, I we can schedule a lesson at an alternative time. Please be aware, however, that this can be very difficult. My schedule between 3 and 8 is simply … full, and most of my students are very heavily programmed, sometimes making it almost impossible to find alternate times.
- YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS. If you are not going to come to a lesson, please contact me as early as possible to tell me. It is likely that another student is waiting for a make-up time, and I can only take advantage of your missed lesson time if I know about it early enough.
- Sometimes, we can extend the length of a lesson and accumulate the extra lesson time in chunks. (For example, instead of 3-45 minutes lesson, you can take 3-1 hour lessons.)
- Remember non-student school days and holidays! These are excellent opportunities for earlier-in-the-day make-up lessons. I also am open to changing a late afternoon lesson to earlier in the day if that works for you.
- There are no refunds or tuition reductions for missed lessons, unless the lesson is missed due to my request. Perhaps you can consider group lessons and/or recitals, for which I do not charge extra, as a make-up lesson. Also, if you are patient enough, it is always possible to schedule a make-up lesson eventually.
- If a lesson is missed at my request, and we are unable to schedule a make-up, there will be a full refund for that lesson.
Summer lessons are available every year – this is a great time to get caught up and do some more relaxed atmosphere. Due to shifting schedules, the monthly tuition schedule is waived, and lessons are paid on a per lessons basis.
BROKEN BONES
I have such talented students! Not only do they play the piano, but they also ski, play soccer, go skateboarding …. And sometimes, unfortunately this results in broken bones.
It is my policy to continue lessons irrespective of broken bones. There are many things that can be accomplished without actually playing the piano. Music reading and ear training skills can be strengthened, music theory concepts can be emphasized, and Musicianship Festival Projects can be prepared.
Imagine instead that music lessons are simply stopped for six weeks or so …. It means starting many things from scratch and much that had been gained is lost!
