Policies

Each student will attend a free, 30-minute consultation prior to beginning lessons. The purpose is establish expectations and goals of the student and the teacher.  Choosing a piano teacher is a big investment that has an immense impact on you!  I want to ensure both you and I establish clear expectations and goals that will help you become the pianist you want to become.

Contact me at 801-503-5265 or udallstudios@gmail.com. Text or email preferred so as to not disturb in-progress lessons.

You are expected to arrive on time to your lesson each week with all required materials and ready to learn.  In order to be prepared for each lesson, I expect diligent practice 6 days a week. I do not expect everyone to become concert pianists! I do, however, expect students to become well-rounded musicians.  We will focus on diverse keyboard skills such as technique, sight reading, improvisation, theory, ear training, musicality, and musicianship.

Consistent, daily practice ensures that progress and improvement happens which helps students see real results. If students show up under-prepared three weeks in a row without adequate explanation, I reserve the right to suspend or terminate their lessons.  It is a waste of my time and your money if you do not practice or skip multiple lessons.

PIANO: Students need a piano!  Keyboards have some critical limitations so please communicate to me if that is all you have. Students need an instrument in good working order which requires your piano tuned at least yearly. I can recommend a piano tuner if needed.

BOOKS: I use a mix of method books and other materials for lessons which are not included in the cost of tuition. I will try to work with music you already own, but good editions are important so books may need to be purchased. Some books are kept in stock and can be purchased directly from me.  Otherwise, students are responsible for obtaining the book in a timely manner.

NAIL CLIPPERS: In order to play with correct hand position, nails must be kept short and clipped at least once a week.

MISC: Each student will also need a spiral notebook for practice outlines, a folder for loose papers, and a metronome.  Metronome apps are perfectly acceptable if you have a device available for practicing. There are a number of free ones online.

Your tuition reserves you a weekly time slot and membership within the studio. The studio year has three semesters: September – December; January – April; May – August.  When you join the studio, you commit to a full semester. Those students beginning later in the semester are expected to commit through the remaining months of the semester.  

To qualify for membership during fall semester, students are expected to take lessons during summer semester.  I cannot guarantee your spot if you take summers off.  Summer is a wonderful time for students to accelerate their learning while they are on break from school!

Tuition is divided into 12 equal payments. Tuition is the same every month regardless of the number of weeks or lessons in that month.  A 30-day advance notice must be given in the event that lessons need to be discontinued. There will be an early termination fee of $100 for students for not fulfilling their semester contract.

Lesson times will incorporate music teaching apps as supplementary tools to learn rhythm, theory, sight reading, and improvisation. Your monthly tuition grants access to these tools and other supplementary technology that change traditional piano lessons into creative, interactive learning experiences for each student.

Tuition also includes:

– Benefit of ongoing teacher professional development/education

– Supplies for individual and group lessons

– Music library and supplementary materials

– Recital venue rentals, programs, awards

– Practice incentive programs

– Memberships to piano organizations and music clubs

Since I have reserved a specific time slot each week just for you, if a lesson is missed, you will lose out on the benefit of a lesson.  There are no make-up lessons for cancellations made by students. However, I understand that conflicts sometimes arise so if I am contacted 24 hours in advance, we can see if there is another cancellation that week that may work with your schedule.  This is on a first-come, first-served basis and only if there is another cancellation that week. I know that emergencies unexpectedly happen, in which case I still appreciate a text or email notifying me you will not be there that day.

In the case of illness, please do not come share your germs with the whole studio! If you are too sick to go to school or work, you are too sick to come to piano lessons.  I reserve the right to send a child home from a lesson if they are too sick to be there. Skype or Facetime lessons can be arranged in the event of mild illness.

If I cancel a lesson beyond the pre-scheduled vacation weeks, I will make up the lesson in one of the following ways:

~Extra private or group lesson time

~Rehearsals in preparation for a recital or performance

~Make-up lesson

~Credit to your account