Consultation Lesson
All new students start with a no-commitment consultation lesson. This lesson will be about 45 minutes long and will give everyone a chance to work together and see if we are a good fit. I will spend about 30-35 minutes working with the student and then families will have 10-15 minutes to be able to ask any questions you may have about my teaching or how to move forward.
Consultation lessons cost $45 and are payable by check or cash at the lesson.
If you decide that you would like to continue lessons, then we can schedule more, but there is no obligation to if you do not want to. Choosing a teacher is very personal and I want everyone to find a teacher they want to learn from, even if it is not me.
School Year Lessons
Starting in September, families may purchase lesson packages to use during the school year. I fully believe that advancement on an instrument requires time and consistency of instruction. Because of this, lessons are sold in 8 or 16 lesson quantities. Lessons must be paid for in advance.
Lesson rates are based on $37 for 30 minutes:
| Half Semester (8 lessons) | Full Semester (16 lessons) | |
| 30 minutes | $296 | $592* |
| 45 minutes | $440 | $880* |
| 60 minutes | $592 | $1,184* |
Recitals and festivals will be offered to any interested student for an additional fee throughout the school year.
Snow Day Policy
Most schools close because of inclement weather in the overnight or morning hours, which impacts buses. Since lessons are held in the afternoon hours, these conditions are often resolved and the roads are treated before lessons begin. Lessons are not automatically canceled when schools close and will be held as scheduled unless otherwise informed by Mrs. Rabinowitz. In the event of a snow day, please reach out to me about cancelling or rescheduling lessons. I may also contact families about moving lessons to Zoom if road conditions appear dangerous.
Summer Lessons
Summer lessons run from mid-June to the end of August. Summer lessons may be scheduled and billed month-to-month or for the entire summer depending on family preference.
All students are encouraged to continue lessons in the summer to maintain their technique and continue progress. Taking a summer off causes regression on the instrument and will lead to frustration in the fall when lessons resume.
Lesson rates remain the same in the summer.
Withdrawal
If you decide to withdraw from the studio, it is best to do it at the end of a
lesson block. That way, lessons can be wrapped up at a good stopping point and everyone can have a sense of completion and accomplishment. If you withdraw mid-block, you will be charged for two lessons beyond your last lesson. The remaining amount, if any, will be refunded.
Make-Up Policy
Any lesson caused by my absence will not be charged. Make-up lesson options will be provided if possible. All student absences must have a 24-hour notice, however more notice is encouraged to allow for more make up options. I understand kids get sick in school and will do my best to accommodate this when those situations arise.
Missed lessons without notice – make-up or regularly scheduled – will be charged fully, with no make-up option given.
Practice
I expect all of my students to practice. It is a waste of your time and money if
there is no practicing done at home. Any student who is consistently unprepared for their lesson may be asked to discontinue.
Creating a consistent practice routine is essential to improvement and progression. Some students prefer to practice at the same time every day so that it becomes a part of their day-to-day activities. Others base their practice around an event that always happens even if the time varies, for example, “I will always practice after dinner.” I strongly recommend finding a practice routine that you can stick to week after week for best results.
My expectation of practice is at least four “lesson-length” sessions per week. You will be amazed at the speed of your child’s progress!
Iluvatar Music, LLC 