Attendance and Missed Lessons

  • Regular, weekly lesson attendance is expected. If less than 24 hours notice is given for missing a lesson, the lesson is forfeited (with no make-up offered) with the exception of when the student is sick.

  • If your child is sick on his or her lesson day, you must inform me BEFORE the lesson begins to avoid forfeiting the lesson (Please do not come if you are sick—this applies for in-person lessons, not online lessons).  In many cases, we will be able to do a Zoom lesson instead.

  • Up to two non-forfeited absences per school year can be made up during the summer term (June 20-July 31). My schedule is very full this year and I will not be able to reschedule or offer make-ups other than the two I’m offering during the summer. They will be your responsibility to schedule. (Exceptions may be made for adult students as my schedule allows).

  • I will offer a swap list at the beginning of the school year as an optional solution to rescheduling needs. Parents can opt in to this list. The swap list rules are listed on the spreadsheet.

  • There are no refunds for lessons, class lessons, recitals, or events.

  • Adult students have the option of choosing the number of lessons they would like during a term. Non-weekly lessons will not guarantee a certain time slot but we will schedule lessons based on availability. All other policies apply.

  • For Group classes: There are no make-ups for classes that your child misses during a session.

Tuition

  • Tuition is paid by the semester via bank transfer (Zelle—preferred) Refer to the Events page for due dates in August 15, January 2, and March 22 and June 1. You can find me by my email: r@renej.us, or phone number: 703-362-4699. Payment can also be made on my website with a credit card.

  • Tuition includes lessons, class lessons and recitals. It also covers piano maintenance, continuing education, and the time required from me for participation in NVMTA events (usually three hours/event).

  • Festivals and competitions are billed separately based on participation. All students (except Primer level) are expected to participate in NVMTA’s Theory Mastery Day.

  • Late payments will be charged an additional $20.  A returned check fee is $35.  

  • Music books are not included in tuition and are to be purchased by parents at my recommendaton/request.

  • Payment of tuition indicates acceptance of these policy terms. 

Studio Policies

Etiquette

  • Parking: Park on Oakland Street (not in front of my house).

  • Please do not go into my neighbor’s yards. I would like to always maintain the good relationships I’ve had with my neighbors.

  • Please wait outside until the start of your lesson and the previous student has been excused.

  • Parents are welcome to attend lessons for young children if they wish unless it is a distraction or interferes with my teaching or relationship with the child.

Practicing

  • Students are expected to come fully prepared to lessons.  Students should refer to their lesson assignment book daily and complete all assignments.  

  • A daily practicing record is expected.  If a student repeatedly comes unprepared for piano lessons, he or she will be asked to give the lesson time to another student on the waiting list.

  • As a guideline, students should practice at least the same length of their lesson five to six days per week. For younger students, it is often helpful to divide the practice time into 2-3 segments each day. Regular, daily scheduled practice time is an essential key to success in piano study.

Students need the following:

  • A well-maintained piano to practice on. If you have a keyboard, the keys should be weighted. If it is an acoustic piano, please have it tuned regularly 1-2 times a year.

  • Short fingernails and clean hands.

  • A Metronome.

Summer Lessons

I recommend that students take at least 4-6 lessons during the summer. It gives them a nice head start on their Fall Festival pieces and helps them retain skills they have developed during the school year. I’m usually gone for part of the summer and students also travel. I will send a signupgenius link in late spring for coordinating lesson times when we are both in town.

Lesson Termination

It is understood that students are committed to study for the full term. This commitment includes financial responsibility for the full term’s tuition. If it becomes necessary to terminate lessons, this occurs at the end of a term. Please give 30 days notice if you plan to discontinue lessons. In the case of moving, FaceTime lessons can take the place of in-person lessons until the end of the term.