Policies

Welcome

Piano Passionato is a year-round piano studio committed to providing comprehensive musical instruction in a supportive, encouraging, and goal-oriented environment. The following policies are designed to ensure consistency, fairness, and the best possible educational experience for all students.

Tuition

Tuition is paid monthly and is due by the first of each month. The annual registration fee is $60 per new family or $40 per returning family.

Tuition reserves each student’s place in Piano Passionato and reflects enrollment in the studio’s year-round comprehensive piano education program rather than payment for individual lessons. Tuition is paid in twelve equal monthly installments for the convenience of studio families and remains consistent throughout the year, as holidays, studio breaks, and the annual instructional calendar have already been incorporated into the tuition structure. In addition to weekly private lessons, tuition supports individualized curriculum planning, performance opportunities, educational resources, and ongoing communication, all of which contribute to each student’s musical growth.

Payment through Zelle is strongly preferred (many banks offer this service), though checks payable to Piano Passionato are also accepted. A $25 fee will be charged for any returned check.

After-School and Evening lesson Scheduling

Enrollment in after-school and evening lesson times includes additional scheduling flexibility requirements. Families with students scheduled during these hours should review the supplemental scheduling policy document here: Additional Policies for Prime-Time Lessons

Illness Considerations

Students should not attend in-person lessons if they:

Have a fever, cough, sore throat, or other symptoms of illness.
Are experiencing symptoms of a stomach virus.
Have a contagious condition (including, but not limited to, pink eye or lice).
Have been on antibiotics for less than 24 hours.
Stayed home from school due to illness on the day of their lesson.

Students who are unable to attend in person due to illness may participate virtually at their regularly scheduled lesson time or submit videos for feedback as outlined in the Make-up and Rescheduled Lessons policy.

Make-up and Rescheduled Lessons

Lessons missed by students will not be refunded or credited.

Students who are unable to attend a lesson due to illness, weather, or other circumstances may choose one of the following options:

Attend their lesson virtually during their regularly scheduled lesson time.
Submit video recordings of their weekly assignments for feedback prior to the next lesson.

For known conflicts such as vacations or school events, families may request a lesson swap with another student by providing at least two weeks’ notice. While I will gladly attempt to arrange a swap, availability cannot be guaranteed.

Lessons cancelled by the teacher will be rescheduled or credited.

Practice

All students should practice regularly at home. Practice is not simply time spent at the piano. Effective practice involves focused repetition with specific goals and should continue until those goals are achieved. If a goal feels overwhelming, then it should be broken into smaller, manageable steps. Mindless repetition (including just “playing through pieces”) or unfocused playing is not considered effective practice.

Practice time guidelines will vary according to each student’s age and level. Students should practice a minimum of five days per week (unless they are ill or on vacation). Fulfilling practice assignments and meeting weekly goals is more important than simply accumulating minutes.

A stopwatch is preferred over a countdown timer, as practice should be guided by accomplishing goals rather than merely completing a set amount of time. I encourage parents to help students establish a consistent daily practice routine.

Theory & Functional Skills

Theory is an integral part of music education and will be incorporated into lessons on a regular basis. A solid understanding of theory enhances each student’s musical experience and supports the study of repertoire. Students will have weekly theory assignments in their theory books.

School-age students will also work through level-differentiated functional skills charts to develop essential musicianship skills, including scales, chords, arpeggios, improvisation, and other foundational concepts. Functional skills should serve as a student’s daily musical warm-up and should be practiced regularly alongside repertoire study.

Summer Lessons

Piano Passionato is a year-round piano studio. Monthly tuition is based on calculations that include all twelve months of the year.

As much as possible, I strive to accommodate family vacation schedules during the summer months. Summer instruction often includes a combination of group classes (organized by age and level) and traditional private lessons, with group instruction comprising the majority of summer instructional time for most school-age students. Adult students will continue with private lessons.

In years when group classes are not offered, flexibility remains available through alternative scheduling options. Students may schedule multiple lessons in a single week and/or longer lesson lengths in order to fulfill their required summer instructional time while accommodating vacations, summer camps, and other family commitments.

Participation in the summer session is required to maintain enrollment in Piano Passionato.

Performance Requirements

Participation in the studio’s Fall and Spring recitals is required for all school-age students.

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in additional performance opportunities throughout the year, including festivals, competitions, school talent shows, church, community events, or informal performances for family and friends.

Students are expected to participate in at least one judged event each year, whether competitive or non-competitive. Public performance in general develops confidence, musicianship, and stage presence, while adjudicated events specifically provide valuable feedback from experienced musicians and educators.

Studio Honor Roll

Piano Passionato recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their musical development through the Studio Honor Roll program.

Honor Roll recognition is based on a combination of factors, including consistent preparation, practice habits, lesson participation, focus and attitude in lessons, musical growth, performance participation, and overall commitment to the study of music. While specific criteria may vary from year to year, students should understand that Honor Roll recognition reflects sustained excellence and engagement rather than achievement in any single area.

Participation in official adjudicated events (festivals/competitions) is an important component of musical growth and may be considered as part of Honor Roll eligibility.

Students who earn Honor Roll recognition over multiple years may also qualify for special longevity awards recognizing continued dedication and achievement.

Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance is expected.

Students who arrive late will receive the remaining portion of their scheduled lesson time only. Students who miss a lesson without notice will not receive a refund, lesson swap, virtual lesson, or video feedback option. Repeated no-show absences may result in discontinuation of lessons.

To preserve instructional time and studio flow, students should arrive promptly at their scheduled lesson time and be picked up promptly at the conclusion of their lesson.

Materials for Lessons

Students are responsible for purchasing all required books and materials.

An assignment book is required. The Faber “Practice and Progress” assignment book is recommended, though a dedicated notebook used exclusively for piano lessons is also acceptable.

Instrument

All students must have access to a piano at home.

Keyboards and digital pianos are acceptable provided they have:

All 88 keys
Fully weighted keys
A sustain pedal
A proper piano bench

These requirements are essential for developing proper technique and ensuring consistent musical progress.

Communication

Email is the primary method of communication for scheduling, questions, studio announcements, and other studio matters. Please ensure that the studio always has a current email address on file that is checked regularly.

For urgent same-day matters such as illness or family emergencies, please send a text message.

Cancellation of Lessons

Enrollment in Piano Passionato is intended as a year-round commitment to a student’s musical growth through the studio’s comprehensive piano education program. While tuition is paid in twelve equal monthly installments, enrollment is made on a year-round basis, with families expected to remain enrolled through the end of the Fall or Spring semester at a minimum. Because enrollment is planned well in advance and studio capacity is intentionally limited, early withdrawals can disrupt both the continuity of a student’s instruction and overall studio scheduling.

Should unforeseen circumstances require a student to discontinue lessons before the end of a semester, notification must be provided in writing as early as possible. At minimum, one month’s notice and tuition payment are required to allow adequate time for scheduling adjustments. Refunds will not be given for unused tuition.

Additionally, I reserve the right to discontinue lessons should a student not be maintaining studio policies regarding tuition, attendance, practice, or other studio expectations.