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policies & pAYMENT

SEMESTERS

All students must commit to a minimum of one semester of lessons.

Lessons are held in 2 - five month semesters and 1 summer session:

SEMESTER ONE:  August 28--December 31, 2023

SEMESTER TWO:  January 2 -May 31, 2024

SUMMER: June-August

Semesters one and two have 15 lessons taken over 5 months.  Summer has 6 lessons which are self-scheduled at any time/day that is convenient for the family.

TUITION

Tuition reserves the student's weekly time slot in the teacher's schedule throughout the semester and is required regardless of attendance. This provides financial ease and clarity for for everyone. It should be clearly understood that although the tuition is paid monthly, it is not prorated if a lesson is missed. 

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40 minute lessons

15 lessons taken over 5 months

$120 / month

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60 minute lessons

15 lessons taken over 5 months

$180 / month

COMMITTMENT

Private lessons within my studio are a substantial commitment of time, effort and cost.  The actual lesson is but a small part of the process and students and parents should understand, respect and make time for the daily commitment to practice and lesson preparation.  Private lessons are not a time to practice but a time to build on what has already been practiced.  To learn new ideas, concepts and technical skills.  

lesson format beginning in 2022-23

All studio and online lessons will be 40 minutes in length and must be scheduled by the student/parent via this website. Lesson time slots will be on a first come-first served basis and is yours for the semester.  Case by case adjustments to the schedule will be considered.  Students/parents should carefully consider how their chosen lesson time fits into their life and schedule.   Please only choose a lesson time that you can actually make a priority.  The teacher's schedule should not be source of time adjustment if there is a conflict with other activities.

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The change out of 30/45/60 minutes lessons will allow the following:

  • self-scheduling on this website

  • additional time to work on theory, orchestra music, sight reading or to discuss college options

  • younger students will have more time for games and to learn how to tune their own instruments

  • 5 minute built in buffer in between lessons

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Students requiring a 60 minute lesson must be approved and will not be able to schedule online.

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IN HOME LESSONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

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PAYMENT

Tuition reserves the student's weekly time slot in the teacher's schedule throughout the semester and is required regardless of attendance. This provides financial ease and clarity for everyone. It should be clearly understood that although the tuition is paid monthly, it is not pro-rated if a lesson is missed. No refunds on unused portions.

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Invoices sent 1st of every month.  Payments due by 15th of the month via credit card paid directly from invoice or Venmo @DeniseCarterStrings.  A late fee of $25 will be assessed to payments received after the 15th of the month.  Please, no personal checks or cash.  Please refrain from using lesson time to handle payments. 

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ATTENDANCE POLICY

This policy is in place to protect the student, the parent, and the teacher, and serves to ensure that lessons run smoothly and without conflict. Remember that, while taken seriously, music lessons are meant to be enjoyable as well as educational.  Your lesson time is your weekly reservation. My schedule is extremely demanding, and expenses are incurred to maintain the schedules I have set. I depend on families to be honest regarding reasons for not attending.

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The following reasons for absence WILL NOT count towards your balance.  Lessons will resume at our usual time the next week unless a specific opening is available and offered:

  • Illness ( please stay home!). Absent from school /work = absence from lesson.

  • Seldom occurring event (wedding, funeral, graduation, audition, try-out, adjudicated event)

  • Student's mandatory school concert

  • Inclement weather

  • Injury that inhibits your playing ability

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The following absences WILL count toward your balance and will not be made up at any time:

  • forgotten lesson appointment

  • 15 minutes late to lesson - the remaining time will be forfeited

  • failure to obtain transportation

  • non-urgent doctor appointment scheduled within the semester

  • parties 

  • organized sports or performance groups for which a schedule has been posted

  • forgotten instrument

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Teacher absence

In the event that I require absence, I will contact you via text and email as soon as possible.  Lessons will resume as soon as possible and the semester will be extended or additional times scheduled to complete all 15 lessons in the semester.

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Please notify me of the need to cancel 24 hours in advance whenever possible.

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