Policy Update: 8/8/2023

Joyful Piano Studio Policies

Mission and Philosophy

  • Nurture the artistic spirit in young piano students, specializing in ages 5 - 15

  • Encourage a lifelong love for music and learning

  • Creatively use music theory games, music apps, and other teaching aids to reinforce concepts taught during the lesson

  • Individualize lessons to match each student’s learning style(s) and developmental level

  • Develop a positive team approach (teacher/student/mother) for greater success and progress

Piano Lessons

At the Joyful Piano Studio, beginner through intermediate students ages 5 - 15 may take 30, 45, or 60-minute piano lessons. Teenage students past the age of 15 are accepted on a case by case basis. Lessons will focus on the fundamentals of note reading, music theory, and ear training.

Fun music theory games, music apps, and other teaching aids are incorporated to reinforce theory concepts and enhance learning. Composition and improvisation are also encouraged to nurture the creative side of the developing musician.

Instructor/Student/Mother Team Approach

Studies have shown that when young students are accompanied by their mother to lessons, students pay more attention to the instructor and are better behaved. Additionally, mothers will know what their child should practice and can assess progress during the week. Students with this type of involvement from the mother will progress at a much faster rate, which ends up saving money in the long term. *Alternatives to the mother can be a grandmother, aunt, or female nanny.

Specific Requirements Based Upon the Students Age

Students Age 7 and Younger: Due to the many benefits of mothers being present during lessons, the student’s mother is required to be present for the duration of each lesson. (Exception: After two years of piano study with Joyful Piano Studio, and if the instructor and mother are in agreement, the mother is no longer required to attend lessons. However, if the instructor or mother feels progress is slowing due to the mother’s absence, the mother will be asked to begin attending lessons again.)

Students Age 8 and Older: If the instructor and mother are in agreement, the mother is no longer required to attend lessons. However, if the instructor or mother feels progress is slowing due to the mother’s absence, the mother will be asked to begin attending lessons again.

If a new or transfer student age 8 and older enrolls with the studio, the mother is required to be present for the duration of each lesson for up to two quarters of piano study. (Exact length will be determined once the instructor has had time to assess how lessons are progressing.)

Siblings are also welcome if the mother is present. The sibling(s) must be able to play quietly and/or work on their homework without causing a distraction during the lesson.

Please Note: The student’s father may attend lessons if the mother is present as well.

During the lesson, the mother is asked to follow these guidelines:

  • Please respect the student/instructor relationship and avoid interrupting or causing a distraction during the lesson.

  • Please do not answer for your child or make excuses for them during the lesson.

  • The key to being able to successfully help your child progress in piano lessons is to be a silent observer during the lesson. Then you are armed with the knowledge needed to assist your child with their practicing, which is very helpful for you and them!

Tuition and Payment

An initial session is offered, free of charge, for the instructor to assess the child’s level, introduce materials, and answer questions. This session also gives both parties the opportunity to ensure a good fit. If both parties would like to move forward, the first lesson is also provided for free.

Tuition and lessons are based on a quarterly system (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer). In the spring quarter, the studio follows the spring break schedule of the Bellevue School District. (See studio calendar for dates.)

Lessons during the summer quarter benefit student progress by reinforcing and building on concepts learned during the school year. Registration for summer quarter is required for all students in order to guarantee a fall quarter lesson time. Although weekly lessons are recommended, Joyful Piano Studio understands this is more difficult in the summer. A minimum of six lessons is required for summer quarter. The instructor will work with families before the quarter to schedule lessons around family vacations.

Tuition Rates

Please contact the studio for current tuition rates.

*There is a built-in $2 discount (instead of charging 1.5 x 30-minute rate) for the 45-minute lesson and a built-in $6 discount (instead of charging 2 x 30-minute rate) for the 60-minute lesson to encourage these options. The longer times allow for a more comprehensive lesson, which also encourages a faster rate of musical progression.

Families should expect a yearly increase in tuition.

Annual Registration Fee

A non-refundable annual registration fee ($50 per student) will be charged yearly on the fall quarter invoice for the new academic year. When a new family signs up for lessons, they will be charged the registration fee for the current academic year (prorated if the academic year has already begun). This fee reserves a lesson time in the studio and helps cover the incentive/reward program and student licenses for online theory games.

Tuition Payments

Joyful Piano Studio offers quarterly or monthly payment options.

Quarterly Payment Option: Quarterly payments are due at the end of the prior quarter. (For example, spring quarter payment is due at the end of winter quarter.)

Monthly Payment Option: Please ask the instructor for details regarding the monthly payment option. The monthly payment option requires post-dated checks which are due at the end of the prior quarter. (For example, spring quarter payment is due at the end of winter quarter.)

A prorated invoice will be provided if a student joins the studio after the quarter has already begun. The tuition will reflect the number of lessons remaining for the quarter.

Tuition payments received late are subject to a $35 late payment fee. If payment is postmarked by the due date, it will be considered on time. If postmarked after the due date, it will be considered late.

Accepted Form of Payment

The accepted form of payment is by check. The returned check fee is $25. Please make checks payable to: Joyful Piano Studio. Tuition is non-refundable. (Up to one lesson can be made-up per quarter, see the attendance section for more details.)

If discontinuing lessons, a two lesson advance notice is required. A refund will be issued for unused paid lessons past the required two lesson notice period.

What Tuition Covers

Tuition covers not only the weekly individual time spent with the student, but also the following:

  • Lesson preparation/creating an individualized plan for the student’s course of study

  • Researching/developing the best materials to optimize learning

  • Instructor's training and experience

  • Administrative tasks and bookkeeping

  • Organizing recitals and other performance opportunities

  • Continuing education

  • Incentive program management

  • Studio expenses

Payment for piano lessons is due in full whether the student attends each scheduled lesson or not. (See the attendance policy below.) Each student is scheduled for a specific weekly time slot. Your payment reserves that time slot. Joyful Piano Studio reserves the right to discontinue lessons if it is no longer a good fit.

Attendance

For all lessons, please be prompt for the start of the scheduled lesson time with all books and supplies.

If the student is running late, a five-minute grace period is allowed before the lesson timer is started. The lesson will consist of the remaining time left from the student’s reserved lesson slot. If the instructor is running behind, the lesson will start as soon as the instructor is available. The grace period should only be used on rare occasions for both parties.

Make-up Lessons

One missed lesson per quarter can be made up. The lesson must be held within the same quarter or the make-up lesson will be forfeited.

If the student will miss a lesson, please provide as much notice as possible. The one make-up lesson is available as long as the instructor has been given at least two hours’ notice.

Instructor: Like the student policy, one lesson per quarter cancelled by the instructor will be made up that same quarter.

Scheduling Make-up Lessons: Parents are responsible for keeping track of any make-up lessons needed (whether the student missed, instructor cancelled, or both) and scheduling the make-up lesson(s) by the end of the quarter.

Steps for Scheduling a Make-up Lesson (step #1 is required before moving on to step #2):

  1. Families must first attempt to utilize open time slots in the regular teaching schedule for make-up lessons.

  2. If every attempt to utilize an open time slot in the regular teaching schedule has been made but parents are unable to find a time that works with the student’s weekday schedule, two weekend dates toward the end of the quarter are set aside for make-up lessons. (See studio calendar for dates.)

A scheduling email will be sent to the entire studio with advance notice and parents are responsible for providing schedule availability by the provided deadline. As a courtesy, the studio will forward the original email requesting availability once more before the deadline as a reminder to the entire studio.

If no make-up lesson(s) (whether the student missed, instructor cancelled, or both) is scheduled by the end of the quarter, the lesson(s) is/are forfeited. No missed/cancelled lessons will be carried-over into the next quarter.

Missed Lessons without the Minimum Required Two Hours’ Notice: Lesson times are reserved exclusively for each student. Missed lessons without notice are not made up, nor are fees adjusted. The lesson time is only a portion of what is covered by the tuition fee. Exceptions to this policy are made on a case-by-case basis in the event of an emergency.

Student Health

Healthy habits are important for all student learners. Here are some friendly reminders on how to keep children at their optimum health for their lessons:

  • Minimize sugar consumption (please do not give your children sugar four hours before the lesson)

  • Wash hands with soap and warm water

  • Try to train your children to keep their fingers out of their mouth, nose, and eyes, and cover coughs and sneezes with their elbow

Books/Materials/Home Instrument/Housekeeping Items

Appropriate books/materials are chosen by the instructor and the family will be responsible for purchasing them in a timely manner.

Home Instrument

The best home practice instrument is a properly working acoustic piano or high-end digital piano. However, the instructor understands each family’s situation is different, and they may not be able or want to go this route when beginning lessons. If the student does not have an acoustic piano or high-end digital piano for practice at home, a digital piano (with a minimum of 61 keys) is a suitable alternative.

If using a digital piano that does not have 88 fully weighted or graded hammer keys, the family will have six lessons to upgrade to either an acoustic piano or a beginner fully weighted or graded hammer 88 key digital piano. The instructor will provide recommendations on purchasing the most cost effective, quality digital piano that meets studio requirements.

This policy has been put in place to ensure the student's technique and progress will not be hindered, and they will have an adequate practice instrument at home.

Correspondence

Please use email for all correspondence that is not urgent. If a message is time-sensitive (for example, will miss a lesson and it is less than 24 hours’ before the scheduled lesson time, etc.), please send a text message.

Referral Bonus

Personal referrals are the best compliment a student and/or parent can give an instructor. The studio appreciates your referrals, and will credit your account $20 for each family who registers based upon your referral.

Privacy Statement

Out of respect for the privacy of all parties, no Joyful Piano Studio lesson content (videotaping, voice recording, photos, etc.) shall be posted publicly on the internet (e.g. Facebook, YouTube, etc.). The instructor allows videotaping, voice recording and photos for the sole purpose of practice support for the parent and student during the week.