Anemone Piano Studio
Policy for Piano Lessons
In effect from September 1, 2023 until August 31, 2024
Tuition and Fees
Enrollment during the school year is based on 35 weeks of lessons. These lessons take place from September 1st (the beginning of the fall semester) until May 24th (the end of the Spring Semester). Additionally, students are encouraged to enroll in summer lessons, which take place in June, July, and August.
Payment for Fall and Spring semesters can be made in one of two ways; semesterly or monthly. Payments can be made either by PayPal, Venmo, Check or Cash. Payments made on PayPal or Venmo are subject to an additional 3% transaction fee when sent with Purchase Protection. Invoices are sent to families on the fifteenth of the previous month, and payments are due by the first of the month.
Regardless of the student selecting Semester or Monthly rates, all 15 Fall Semester lessons must be taken by December 29th and all 20 Spring Semester lessons must be taken by May 31st. Any lessons not taken by the end of the semester will be forfeited. There are no rollover credits between semesters.
30 minute lessons are only offered for students at a level of “Russian School of Piano Playing, Book 1, Part 1” or equivalent. After that point, the student must increase to a minimum of 45 minute lessons. 45 minute lessons are only offered for students at or below a level of “Russian School of Piano Playing, Book 1, Part 2” or equivalent. After that point, the student must increase to a minimum of 60 minute lessons. Although a 60 minute lesson is standard, it becomes a very short amount of time when reaching the late intermediate/advanced level.
Advanced and more serious students are encouraged to take longer lesson times. If a student is taking multiple lessons per week, their tuition is determined based on the total combined lesson time per week. Lesson times beyond 60 minutes per week are encouraged for more serious students! By request, custom quotes will be offered for lessons beyond 60 minutes.
Extra lessons beyond the ones provided in the semester and monthly rate are available by request.
A $20.00 fee will be charged to your account for any late payments. By fault of the teacher, if invoices are sent to students late, the due date for payment is extended by an identical amount of time. I.e. If invoices are sent on December 16th, the due date for payment is extended to January 2nd.
Semester Rate - 15(Fall)/20(Spring) (5% off of the Monthly Rate)
Please ask Mr. James Anemone for current tuition rates.
Monthly Rate - 9 Equal Payments of the 35 School Year Lessons
The monthly rate is offered for students who wish to pay monthly, instead of for an entire semester. Prorated billing will be offered to students who enter the studio in the middle of a semester.
Please ask Mr. James Anemone for current tuition rates.
Summer Lessons
Summer Lessons - June 1, 2024 - August 31, 2024
Summer lessons can be paid monthly. Invoices are sent to families on the fifteenth of the previous month, and payments are due by the first of the month. Students are encouraged to take as many lessons as they are available for throughout the summer. Only students who are taking a sufficient number of lessons are guaranteed a lesson time. Students taking summer lessons have priority scheduling for the following school year.
Please ask Mr. James Anemone for current tuition rates.
Lesson Enrollment and Scheduling
Typically, the studio is entirely full or close to full on any given semester. A waiting list is provided to students who are interested in studying but cannot currently fit into the schedule. To ensure you can secure a lesson time, it is recommended that you take regular lessons throughout the year, as well as during the summer. By not taking summer lessons, you decrease your probability to secure a time in the fall.
If the student decides to discontinue lessons for an extended period of time (more than three consecutive weeks) or permanently, any outstanding balances must be paid immediately. Discontinuing lessons for an extended period of time (more than three consecutive weeks) will also result in losing your reserved lesson time. Refunds are not offered to students who discontinue lessons in the middle of a month or semester.
Only students who commit to taking weekly lessons will be granted a guaranteed lesson time. If a student cancels very frequently or is not taking weekly lessons, the teacher has the right to remove you from your lesson time.
Makeup and Cancellation Policy
Tuition reserves an exclusive time for each student. When a student cancels, I cannot resell the lesson time, nor do I have the availability to create extra teaching time within my personal availability. Please carefully select a time that works consistently with your schedule.
Two makeup lessons per semester are offered to students in instances when they provide at least 6 hours notice for a cancellation. Due to limited availability, makeups will be offered in one of three ways; leftover availability in the teacher’s schedule, designated makeup week at the end of the semester, or a substitute lesson with Ms. Rachel. After the two makeup lessons, any additional missed lessons will be forfeited and charged without the option of a makeup. Any lessons canceled with less than 6 hours notice will automatically be forfeited and charged without the option of a makeup. Online lessons can be substituted for In Person lessons when a student is mildly ill. Online lessons do not count as a designated makeup time as long as they take place at the regularly scheduled lesson time.
All makeup lessons must be taken within the same semester. If an absence takes place at the end of a semester and there is no possibility for a makeup lesson within that semester, the teacher has the discretion to offer the student a makeup lesson in the next semester, as long as it is in the first week of the following month. This lesson may not serve as a replacement to a regularly scheduled lesson. Any missed lessons from a previous semester are forfeited and non-refundable.
If the teacher has to cancel a lesson, students will be granted make-up options, at the discretion of the teacher’s availability. If the teacher’s entire day is canceled, only online zoom or substitute teacher makeup lesson options will be available to students, unless otherwise noted.
Termination of Lessons
It is expected that students commit to lessons for the entire school year. If the parent or student decides to terminate lessons for any reason, tuition is not refundable for any lessons forfeited.
The teacher reserves the right to refuse to teach a student or remove a student from his schedule for any reason. Examples include unpaid tuition, excessive and frequent absences, behavior issues, or lack of preparation.
Studio Environment
Any student under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the lesson, unless under special circumstances that are previously arranged. Parents/Guardians who decide not to sit in on lessons must pick-up and drop-off their child. Students are not permitted to leave the studio without a present guardian, unless under circumstances previously arranged.
Please remember that although this is a piano studio, it is also our home! Please knock/ring the doorbell and wait for someone to allow you to enter. Please respect the privacy of our home by only entering rooms designated for lessons. Please ask permission before using the restroom, since it is in a private part of our home. Students/Guardians are fully responsible for any damages that they cause to equipment, furniture, or other property inside or outside the studio.
Please be mindful of others having to park in our driveway. It is possible that there will be 1-3 cars parked at any given time. Please do not allow your child to run on the property. There are many stairs leading up to our front entrance.
Parents/Guardians are highly encouraged to watch the lessons (especially in order to assist their child with practicing at home). However, parents/guardians are not welcome to interrupt or actively take part in the lesson.
All lessons are video recorded. If this is something that discomforts either the parent or student, the video camera may be turned off for that particular lesson. However, regardless of the age of that student, the parent must then be present for every lesson in its entirety. When studying piano, for educational and demonstrational purposes, there will be physical contact between the teacher and student during lessons. Unless otherwise noted, the teacher holds this right as long as it is in the interest of learning purposes.
Academic Calendar
Fall Semester - September 1, 2023 - December 22, 2023 (Makeup Week - 12/26- 12/29)
Fall Semester begins on September 1, 2023.
APS is open on Columbus Day (10/9 and Halloween (10/31), Election Day (11/7), Veterans Day (11/10), and Diwali (11/12).
APS is closed on Thanksgiving. (11/23 & 11/24)
Last day of Fall Semester is December 22, 2023.
Makeup Week is December 26th - December 29th.
Holiday Break from 12/30- 1/1.
Spring Semester - January 2, 2024 - May 24, 2024 (Makeup Week - 5/28-5/31)
Spring Semester begins on January 2, 2024.
APS is open on Martin Luther King Jr. (1/15), Lunar New Year (2/10), Ash Wed/Valentines Day (2/14), and Beginning of Ramadan (3/11).
APS is closed on Easter 3/31.
APS is open on Passover (4/22) and Mother’s Day (5/12).
Last day of Spring Semester is May 24, 2024.
APS is closed on Memorial Day (5/27).
Makeup Week is May 28th - May 31st.
Summer Lessons - June 2, 2024 - August 31, 2024
Summer Lessons begin on June 2, 2024.
APS is closed on July 4th and July 5th.
Vacation Days TBA