Studio Policy

Studio Calendar and Tuition

The studio follows a September-August calendar with 48 weeks of instruction. Tuition is due by the 10th of each month and reserves the student’s place in the schedule. It covers approximately four weekly lessons (45 or 60 minutes) and is non-refundable, regardless of attendance. 

Expectations and Practice

Students are expected to practice 5-7 days a week, arrive on time (lessons end at the scheduled time), and participate in studio recitals, festivals and competitions are encouraged but optional. Parent involvement is essential for student success. Please help your child maintain a consistent, distraction-free practice routine. Younger students (especially under age 8) require guidance and encouragement. Parents of elementary-age students should sit with their child for part of their practice, while preschool students need full assistance during practice. 

Materials

Students must have access to an acoustic or digital piano with 88 weighted keys, a metronome, an assignment notebook, a tote bag, and all required books and materials. All materials must be brought to each lesson. 

If you have an acoustic piano, it should be in good working condition (no broken or unusable keys) and tuned at least once a year. Having a proper instrument is essential, as playing on out-of-tune, broken piano can be discouraging and hinder progress. All pianos must have a bench at the appropriate height, as poor posture can lead to physical strain or injury over time. 

Late Payments

A $25 late fee will apply to payments made after the 10th of each month. A $50 fee will apply to any returned checks. Accepted payment methods include: Cash, Zelle or Check (payable to Allyzza Santos). 

Make-Up Lesson Policy

Please provide at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel a lesson and qualify for a make-up. Lessons canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or no-shows, are not eligible for a make-up, credit, or refund. 

- Make-up lessons are not guaranteed and are subject to teacher availability.

- Missed make-up lessons will not be rescheduled.

- All make-up lessons must be used within the same calendar year and may not carry over.

- If the teacher cancels a lesson, it will be rescheduled based on availability. 

Make-Up Lesson Options (Non In-Person)

1. Virtual Lessons: In the case of illness, emergencies, or inclement weather, virtual lessons may be offered as a substitute for in-person lessons. Virtual lessons will take place during your regular scheduled lesson time. Requests to convert an in-person lesson to virtual should be made as early as possible, ideally with 24 hours’ notice. Virtual lessons are conducted via FaceTime or Facebook Messenger. Students must be ready at the scheduled time with their instrument and all required materials. Virtual lessons are held to the same expectations as in-person lessons regarding punctuality, preparation, and attendance. 

2. Asynchronous Lesson/Recorded Practice: Students may opt for an asynchronous lesson by submitting videos of their practiced pieces. The teacher will review the videos during the student’s scheduled lesson time and respond with written feedback and/or a new assignment for the upcoming week. Videos should be submitted on the day of the scheduled lesson. Late submissions are allowed up to 24 hours after the lesson day, but timely submissions are encouraged. Videos can be sent via Google Drive, iMessage, or YouTube (private/unlisted links).

Summer Vacations: Please notify me at least three weeks in advance of any extended summer abscences. Students who are absent for more than three consecutive weeks may forfeit their reserved lesson time. Lesson times cannot be held or reserved for return after extended abscences, and availability upon return is not guaranteed.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up: Parents and students are expected to arrive on time for both drop-off and pick-up to avoid disrupting the flow of lessons. For privacy and safety reasons, parents, guardians, and siblings are not permitted to wait inside the teacher’s home studio during the lesson. However, an exception is made when two or more siblings have back-to-back lessons—one sibling may wait quietly inside while the other is having their lesson. Please ensure that your child is picked up promptly at the end of their scheduled lesson time. 

Ending Lessons: A one-month notice is required to discontinue lessons. If a student decided to discontinue piano lessons, the decision should be discussed between the parent, student, and teacher to ensure a positive conclusion. The final month’s tuition remains due regardless of attendance and failure to provide notice will result in billing for the next month. No make-ups or refunds will be given during the final month. 

A student may be dismissed from the studio at my discretion for reasons including, but not limited to: repeated late payments, lack of effort or progress, excessive absences or tardiness, failure to follow studio policies, not bringing required materials, ignoring weekly assignments, ongoing misbehavior, or disrespectful conduct toward the teacher or studio. 

Please feel free to reach out with any questions about your student’s practice or progress. I appreciate your support and the opportunity to help your student develop a lasting love and understanding of music.