Studio POLICIES AND Information
1. ATTENDANCE - Arrive on time and prepared for lessons with all materials needed.
A. CANCELLATIONS - Lessons can be canceled by the student through their MyMusicStaff account, or by emailing the teacher (texting is fine on the day-of).
Payments will not be lowered or refunded for canceled lessons but the student is able to make up the lesson if we can find a time that works for us both.
If the teacher cancels the lesson, the lesson fee will be credited to the student's account for the following month.
B. STUDIO CLOSURE - The studio is closed for some holidays and other days during the year. No payment is due for closed dates.
C. MAKEUP LESSONS - A makeup lesson credit is added to a student's account any time they cancel a lesson. The student may then schedule their makeup lesson through their MyMusicStaff account. Any unused makeup lesson credits expire on the date of the last scheduled weekly lesson.
2. PAYMENTS & FEES - All lesson payments for the month are collected by the 1st of the month. This reserves the student's weekly time for lessons. A 5% late fee is added if payment is not received by the 5th of the month.
Materials are billed separately as necessary and will be included on the invoice for the following month.
Options for payments are: Venmo, checks made payable to “Sarah Collins."
3. MATERIALS
A. Piano students: acoustic piano or keyboard with 88 weighted keys plus pedal extender for folks who can’t reach the pedals
B. Guitar students: Classical or Acoustic guitar with six strings plus foot stand
C. Well-lit, quiet and distraction-free space
D. Books (recommended by me based on age and skill level)
E. Notebook for ideas, questions, assignment notes
F. Binder for sheet music
G. Pencil (musicians are very serious about our pencils lol)
H. Device for FaceTime/Google Meets plus adjustable stand
I. Water bottle
J. Plan for receiving assignments: printing or writing them into a notebook works well for kids; viewing digitally works well for adults
K. Plan for receiving sheet music: print or view digitally (same notes as above)
L. Apps: Faber and Faber Piano Adventures App and MuseScore for Piano Students, Ultimate Guitar for Guitar Students
M. Metronome (analog or App)
N. Composition students also need: manuscript paper, laptop or desktop computer, subscription to Sibelius
O. Voice students also need: sheet music stand and a mirror
4. PRACTICE - Practicing is a skill in itself and developing a consistent practice routine requires dedication and patience. It takes around 6 weeks to develop a new habit! Aim to play at the same time each day and start small. Consistency is more important than absolute time spent. Music - particularly the physical conditioning side of things - cannot be “crammed.”
Assignments are sent to the student after each lesson, so there are guidelines about which exercises and songs should be played each week. Early assignments can be completed in approximately 5 minutes per day, 4 days per week (though daily can be easier for habit building). As the student advances, the assignments will lengthen, as will the capacity to improvise, compose and play repertoire pieces - so time spent practicing naturally increases as well.
Students ages 4-7 will likely need and benefit from a parent practicing with them each day. Helping them read the assignments, reminding them of technique goals, and offering words of encouragement makes a big difference over time! There’s no need to try to “teach piano” during these practice sessions.
People of all ages can benefit from visual reminders and rewards for practice. Whether it’s a scheduled phone reminder or an activity chart; a night out to celebrate three months of lessons or a new Squishmallow to celebrate 6 weeks of regular practice - find ways to show yourself that your music studies are meaningful and worthwhile.
5. COMMUNICATION - I check email each weekday and can be reached by phone during non-teaching weekday hours. I can also be reached via text for time-sensitive issues.
6. TERMINATION POLICY - Please give 30 days notice when you’re ready to discontinue lessons. Payment is due during this 30-day period whether or not lessons are taken.
7. REFERRALS - Students receive a $25 credit when they refer a student who takes lessons for one month or more.
A. CANCELLATIONS - Lessons can be canceled by the student through their MyMusicStaff account, or by emailing the teacher (texting is fine on the day-of).
Payments will not be lowered or refunded for canceled lessons but the student is able to make up the lesson if we can find a time that works for us both.
If the teacher cancels the lesson, the lesson fee will be credited to the student's account for the following month.
B. STUDIO CLOSURE - The studio is closed for some holidays and other days during the year. No payment is due for closed dates.
C. MAKEUP LESSONS - A makeup lesson credit is added to a student's account any time they cancel a lesson. The student may then schedule their makeup lesson through their MyMusicStaff account. Any unused makeup lesson credits expire on the date of the last scheduled weekly lesson.
2. PAYMENTS & FEES - All lesson payments for the month are collected by the 1st of the month. This reserves the student's weekly time for lessons. A 5% late fee is added if payment is not received by the 5th of the month.
Materials are billed separately as necessary and will be included on the invoice for the following month.
Options for payments are: Venmo, checks made payable to “Sarah Collins."
3. MATERIALS
A. Piano students: acoustic piano or keyboard with 88 weighted keys plus pedal extender for folks who can’t reach the pedals
B. Guitar students: Classical or Acoustic guitar with six strings plus foot stand
C. Well-lit, quiet and distraction-free space
D. Books (recommended by me based on age and skill level)
E. Notebook for ideas, questions, assignment notes
F. Binder for sheet music
G. Pencil (musicians are very serious about our pencils lol)
H. Device for FaceTime/Google Meets plus adjustable stand
I. Water bottle
J. Plan for receiving assignments: printing or writing them into a notebook works well for kids; viewing digitally works well for adults
K. Plan for receiving sheet music: print or view digitally (same notes as above)
L. Apps: Faber and Faber Piano Adventures App and MuseScore for Piano Students, Ultimate Guitar for Guitar Students
M. Metronome (analog or App)
N. Composition students also need: manuscript paper, laptop or desktop computer, subscription to Sibelius
O. Voice students also need: sheet music stand and a mirror
4. PRACTICE - Practicing is a skill in itself and developing a consistent practice routine requires dedication and patience. It takes around 6 weeks to develop a new habit! Aim to play at the same time each day and start small. Consistency is more important than absolute time spent. Music - particularly the physical conditioning side of things - cannot be “crammed.”
Assignments are sent to the student after each lesson, so there are guidelines about which exercises and songs should be played each week. Early assignments can be completed in approximately 5 minutes per day, 4 days per week (though daily can be easier for habit building). As the student advances, the assignments will lengthen, as will the capacity to improvise, compose and play repertoire pieces - so time spent practicing naturally increases as well.
Students ages 4-7 will likely need and benefit from a parent practicing with them each day. Helping them read the assignments, reminding them of technique goals, and offering words of encouragement makes a big difference over time! There’s no need to try to “teach piano” during these practice sessions.
People of all ages can benefit from visual reminders and rewards for practice. Whether it’s a scheduled phone reminder or an activity chart; a night out to celebrate three months of lessons or a new Squishmallow to celebrate 6 weeks of regular practice - find ways to show yourself that your music studies are meaningful and worthwhile.
5. COMMUNICATION - I check email each weekday and can be reached by phone during non-teaching weekday hours. I can also be reached via text for time-sensitive issues.
6. TERMINATION POLICY - Please give 30 days notice when you’re ready to discontinue lessons. Payment is due during this 30-day period whether or not lessons are taken.
7. REFERRALS - Students receive a $25 credit when they refer a student who takes lessons for one month or more.