Policies & Procedures

SCHEDULING

We are a YEAR-ROUND school: 2 semesters + summer

• SUMMER: Educationally, it is best to take breaks throughout the year instead of taking the summer off, so students continue classes and lessons throughout the summer. During summer classes, students progress through new material, making summer an integral part of our program. Summer scheduling is flexible to best accommodate busy family schedules. Teachers arrange for each student to have the total number of hours required. 
• FALL: The office will take care of the fall scheduling and will often revert back to the spring schedule.  Your schedule may differ from your spring schedule because of siblings’ schedules and if your teacher is a classroom teacher. 
• To request a schedule change, please contact the office.

ABSENCES

Call Teacher Line ONLY: (314) 469-0077.

Please don’t call the office if you’re late. Teachers check their voicemail when a student doesn’t arrive on time.

Private Lessons:

• Notify teacher at least 24 hours in advance to be placed on make-up list
• Teachers make-up lessons during a time that another student is absent
• Make-up lessons cannot be guaranteed
• Religious holidays are always made-up
• Hand Injury: Students with a hand injury should still attend lessons.  Lesson time can be spent working on theory, ear training or one-handed playing

Classes:

• If there is another class on the same level, students can make up if space permits.
• Beginning classes have more options. Advanced students have fewer or no options available, because each class becomes more individualized and will not be in the same place.
• We email or mail assignments the day after the student misses a class.

SNOW POLICY

Every effort will be made to avoid canceling classes due to inclement weather.

• Check your teacher’s line 2 hours before class to find out if class is canceled.  Each teacher makes his/her own decision whether or not to teach. Please do not call the office! 
• Due to busy schedules, we’ve allotted two snow days which will not be made-up. 

TUITION

We ask that all families pay tuition online, using credit card or PayPal.

• Class spaces are reserved as deposits/payments are received. If a class or your requested times for private lessons are filled, you will be notified and your payment returned.
• Your initial deposit reserves your space and is applied toward books and materials.
• Tuition is not refundable or transferable.
• Full tuition payments for year-round (annual) classes are discounted 3%.
• Quarterly payments are accepted with autopay.
• Please inform the office before the next payment date if you choose to discontinue automatic payments.

Class Tuition includes:

• Spring Festival at Steinway Piano Gallery
• Summer camp
• Parent Orientation & Education during the first class of each year.  (No students)

Private Lesson Tuition includes:

• Fall Performance: Educational workshop with your own teacher.  Family and friends welcome.
• Progressive Evaluations: Yearly evaluations with outside adjudicators.  Students receive ribbons, trophies and written evaluations.  No audience.  Voice evaluations are similar to a masterclass with several students and an adjudicator. 
• Private Spring Festival: All teachers and instruments (piano, voice and guitar) are combined for our most “formal” event.  Family and friends welcome.

CLASS STRUCTURE

Classes first, then private lessons

Students in singing and keyboard classes receive a well-rounded, holistic music education. They are exposed to the foundation and language of music before beginning private lessons.  This keeps the student motivated and is a wonderful preparation for private lessons in any instrument. When the class teacher recommends that the student is ready for private lessons, a new teacher (not the class teacher) will be selected based on the class teacher's input.

Parent/Partners:

• An adult partner accompanies each student during the Beginning Piano Class so that they can practice with them at home.
• Children learn best when our classes are followed by a variety of music in the home.
• Even though they are our future students, siblings can cause a distraction.  For this reason, siblings are only allowed in Family Music classes.

New Students:

New students might take several weeks to adjust to the classes.

Special Needs: 

We teach students of all abilities.

Discipline Issues:

Any continued disruption by one affects all in our classroom setting. We reserve the right to ask parents to withdraw their child from the program if conditions warrant.

ACOUSTIC/DIGITAL PIANO VS. ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD

Beginners may use a keyboard (5 octaves, 60 full size keys) which can be purchased at stores such as Sam’s Club or Best Buy. One to two years is the maximum to play on a keyboard.