FEES
For one student:
$40 – 1 hour lesson (60 minutes)
$30 – 45 minute lesson
$20 – half an hour lesson (30 minutes)
If interested in having 2 or more of your children in lessons the fees will then be:
For 2 students:
$40 for 30 minutes each student equaling 60 minutes.
$55 for 45 minutes each student equaling 90 minutes. (This gives a $5 discount)
$70 for 60 minutes each student equaling 120 minutes. (This gives a $10 discount)
These fees only apply to siblings. The students may be brought both on the same day, or on different days of the week.
Lesson fees with possible discounts for 3 or more children will be discussed and confirmed with me if desired. This applies only to siblings.
Lessons may be held weekly, or twice a week if desired. For a child to progress at a steady rate it is crucial to have lessons on a regular basis, at least once a week.
PAYMENT METHODS
Cash, check, Paypal, Cash App, Venmo or credit card.
Checks are to be made out to “Sarah Suarez”. For credit card transactions I use a Square Reader.
If paying through PayPal, Cash App, or credit card there is an additional fee that I charge to cover the service fees of these companies.
Paypal: An additional 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction Cash App: An additional 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Square Reader (credit card transaction): Charges are an additional 2.75% per swiped transaction.
PAYMENT POLICY
The first 30 minute “try out” lesson is $20. After this first lesson there will be an implemented payment policy. Starting the second lesson, the payment for the rest of the lessons for the month will be due.
The full payment for the following month of lessons is due on the last lesson of every month. All payments are to be made on the last week of the month.
If not turned in by the Friday of the last week of a month, there will be a $10 late fee.
For 30 minute lessons the payments will be $80 for 4 lessons, or $100 if the month happens to have 5 weeks of the same weekday and there will be 5 lessons that month.
For 45 minute lessons the payments will be $120 for 4 lessons, or $150 if the month happens to have 5 weeks of the same weekday and there will be 5 lessons that month.
For 60 minute lessons, the payments will be $160 for 4 lessons, or $200 if the month happens to have 5 weeks of the same weekday and there will be 5 lessons in that month.
Example: Payment for the month of February is due by January 31. If it is given after, lets say on Monday February 1, then the payment is late.
Optional multiple installment payment plan:
If unable to pay the full monthly payment at one time for 45 minute or 60 minute lessons then you may do the following payment plan:
On the last week of the month payment for 2 lessons will be due, then the following 2 lessons payment for 1 lesson each week is due until monthly payment is completed.
For 45-minute lessons: $60 will be due on the last week of the month, then $30 will be due the following lesson which is the first week of the month, and $30 the next lesson in the second week of the month to complete the $120 for the month.
For 60-minute lessons: $80 will be due on the last week of the month, then $40 will be due the following lesson which is the first week of the month, and $40 the next lesson in the second week of the month to complete the $160 for the month.
This allows for me to have the payment of one lesson in advance to secure the student’s lessons for the month.
Note this payment plan is not available for 30 minute lessons.
SCHEDULING
Each student is to be scheduled to a certain day and time. This will be his or her time every week. The student is expected to come at the same scheduled time and day each week.
CANCELLATIONS OR RESCHEDULING
If the student is unable to come at his or her time or day on a certain week, I need to be contacted at least 2 days in advance. This shows consideration for me and for other students as well. The lesson is to be rescheduled if possible for another day of the same week to keep the regularity of the lessons. If unable, then the make up lesson will need to be done at some point during the same month or you will be responsible for the payment of the missed lesson.
If I am contacted less than 24 hours before the lesson you will still be responsible for the student to attend and pay for the lesson.
If the student does not attend the lesson and I have not been contacted, you will be responsible for payment of the missed lesson.
If it is an emergency or important, unexpected event or situation that arises that causes the student to be unable to attend their lesson a make up lesson will be discussed. If the student misses the lesson due to minor reasons or an anticipated situation, this exception will not be applied, and you will be responsible for the payment of the missed lesson.
TARDINESS
If the student is to be tardy for the lesson, please contact me at least one hour before the student’s lesson.
Punctuality is expected. This is in consideration to a student who may follow your lesson time. I will not extend time for the lesson due to tardiness.
If it is an emergency or important, unexpected event or situation that arises that causes the student to be late, a possible make up lesson may be discussed.
MAKE UPS
Are to be discussed and are to be done according to availability in my schedule. If a make up is needed, it is to be done at some point during the same month that the lesson was missed. If not done during the same month, you will be responsible for payment for that lesson. The only exception to this is if it is an emergency or important, unexpected event or situation that arises that causes the student to be unable to attend their lesson on the last week of the month and are unable to reschedule the same week. The make up will need to be done the following week.
ATTENDANCE IN LESSONS
-Parents and family may be present during the lessons if desired. I stress that the presence of parents and or family is to help the student to feel more comfortable, but not to distract the student.
-Please refrain from talking on the phone, or making any other distracting noises during the lesson that may make it difficult for the student to concentrate.
-If having a child present, please have him or her sit quietly throughout the lesson. If the child is unable to do so, it will be distracting to the student and the best option might be to wait outside or in the car, etc.
-Use of books, coloring books, silent cell phone or tablet applications, etc. are allowed during the lesson for those attending.
I recommend for parents or care takers to be observant during the lessons, and that way they may help the student when practicing at home, and possibly also learn about music!
HOLIDAYS
If the lesson is to fall on a holiday, and you wish to cancel it on that date, a make-up lesson will need to be scheduled. This also true for any religious observance dates.
TEACHER SCHEDULE CHANGES
I will do my best to always be available at the scheduled time and date for the student. I know the importance of regularity for my students. If I am to have a schedule change for a certain week, I will let you know with time, so that way we may reschedule the lesson to another time in the same week, or if unable, then a make up will be planned in a timely manner.
VACATIONS
If I am to take a vacation, I will make it aware to you in a timely fashion. The students are not obligated for the lessons they miss due to my vacation days. However, if make up lessons are desired, they can be planned.
If the student is to cancel lessons due to vacation, please contact me with time about the dates. Make-up lessons need to be planned to cover missed lessons due to 1 week vacations. If the vacation is a prolonged vacation, of 2 weeks or more, make up lessons will be discussed and be optional, not required.
SUMMER AND WINTER BREAKS (FOR SCHOOL AGED STUDENTS)
I recommend that lessons are held all year long without breaks, in order to maintain the student’s progression in learning the instrument. Practice is needed to maintain the learned skills, and if the student does not have his or her lessons for an extended time, it may cause him or her to lose learned abilities which then have to be relearned and re-stressed when the lessons are renewed. Retracing steps causes a delay in the student’s advancement.
However, lessons may be suspended during academic breaks if desired.
INSTRUMENTS (PIANO STUDENTS)
I have an acoustic piano in my home, and this instrument will be used during the student’s lesson.
Every student needs an instrument to practice on in order to progress musically.
You do not have to buy a costly instrument for a beginning student.
For a beginning student a keyboard of at least 60 keys is recommended. This instrument may be used for a few months.
Having the right instrument is key for the student’s progression and also for his or her enjoyment and motivation to continue learning.
After a few months of lessons, the student will need to upgrade to a larger or better instrument.
A weighted keyboard with the full 88 keys is a possibility. It has all the keys, allowing the student to play all the notes, and it has a similar feel to an acoustic piano.
However, an acoustic piano is extremely recommended for it provides the student with the real instrument that he or she is learning. The mechanisms on a piano are different to those on a keyboard, and due to this, the weight and feel of playing the instrument is only truly felt through the acoustic piano, not on a keyboard.
For that reason, those who have been studying for over a year, those already experienced in playing previously, and those who plan to study the instrument for an extended amount of time are urged that when possible, purchase an acoustic piano. This is the best that can be done for the student’s edification.
I am happy to provide some assistance when it comes to purchasing an instrument.
Any questions or concerns about instruments, please don’t hesitate to ask!
INSTRUMENTS (VIOLIN OR VIOLA STUDENTS)
Any student that will be learning either two of these stringed instruments needs to either rent, rent-to-own, or purchase an instrument.
Depending on the student’s height, arm length, and age, the size or quality of the instrument that is needed can change. For that reason, I recommend that the student comes to his or her first few lessons without purchasing or renting an instrument and I can offer assistance in what instrument size or brand will be best for the student.
I can also provide with a few locations and businesses that sell these instruments. A beginning student will need a student quality instrument, and with time and depending on the progress of the student and also the growth of the student then an instrument "upgrade" will need to be considered.
Every student needs his or her own instrument in order to practice and progress musically.
I do not have instruments to provide for my students because of the variation in the many sizes needed depending on the age and stature of each student.
If the student already owns an instrument, then feel free to bring it and I can assess if it will be appropriate for lessons and practicing.
EXPECTATIONS
-The student is to prepare for each lesson, completing any assignments given, and practicing the pieces that are assigned. Amount of practice time and practice methods are discussed during the lesson and are different depending on the student’s age, and musical level.
-I am not responsible for lack of preparation of the student, this will affect his or her progression. I will teach despite the preparation status of the student. I will tell parents of their child’s status in lesson.
-During lesson, I expect that there be a learning friendly environment if a parent or guardian chooses to be present while I give the lesson.
-He or she is responsible to keep control of other children, family members, electronics, etc. in order to maintain a quiet environment for me to teach the student while at my home studio.
-If the surroundings are to become too distracting for the student, I will ask to please restore the surroundings. If this is not done, I will have to ask for the distraction to be moved out of my studio. If the student cannot concentrate, I will not add time to the lesson due to the distractions that are caused by family members/guardians that are attending the lesson.
Important tips, please read!:
Practice creates progress, progress in turn creates motivation!
1. Practice is the most important thing any music student needs to do in order to learn to play music and to be motivated to continue!
2. Parents and guardians play a large role in the musical development of their child. Please, encourage them to practice, remind them to practice, do it with them if necessary!
3. Music isn’t always easy, and it is normal for students to become frustrated or unmotivated at times, and that is where friends and family play a big role in helping them see that they are doing something good!
4. The more a student practices, the more they progress, and the more they see that they are learning and that their effort is worth it!
5. Each student is to practice at least 4 days per week, if they are practicing less than that then there isn’t enough repetition for them to learn well!
