Studio Policy
Studio Admission
If your child is interested in learning music and is at least 4 years old, contact Taylor to set up a consultation. If your child is developmentally ready for lessons and has expressed a desire to learn piano, and if a lesson time is available, we can begin our musical journey together!
Adult students are also welcome to set up a consultation. It is never too late to learn a new skill! Piano can be an incredible stress reliever and creative outlet for students of all ages, and can aid in the prevention of cognitive decline in older adults. Whether your goal is to play Chopin, John Lennon, or jazz improv, we can make lessons work for you.
Location
All private piano lessons occur at Taylor’s studio, located behind her family’s home at 1030 Jimmy Daniel Road in Watkinsville, Georgia. Please park in the gravel area. Walk along the pebble path and through the open gate to the studio.
Lesson Scheduling & Tuition
Students receive 30-minute, 45-minute, or 60-minute private lessons, to occur weekly during the fall and spring. Each semester's weekly lesson schedule is determined in advance based on the availability of each student. Summer lessons are scheduled individually to provide flexibility for busy summer schedules.
Lesson tuition for fall and spring semesters may be paid in full at the beginning of each semester, or in 5 monthly installments due on the first of each month. Summer lesson tuition must be paid by June 1st.
Summer lessons are highly recommended to prevent "summer slide." To accommodate various summer commitments such as summer camps, vacations, etc., 6 summer lessons may be scheduled individually over 8 weeks via an online scheduler.
Summer 2023 Tuition: (includes 6 lessons scheduled over over 8 weeks)
30-minute lessons: $155
45-minute lessons: $231
60-minute lessons: $304
Fall 2023 Tuition: (includes 18 private lessons, 2 group lessons, and 2 performance opportunities)
30-minute lessons: $467 (or 5 installments of $93.40)
45-minute lessons: $693 (or 5 installments of $138.60)
60-minute lessons: $913 (or 5 installments of $182.60)
Spring 2024 Tuition: (includes 18 private lessons, 2 group lessons, and 2 performance opportunities)
30-minute lessons: $467 (or 5 installments of $93.40)
45-minute lessons: $693 (or 5 installments of $138.60)
60-minute lessons: $913 (or 5 installments of $182.60)
Payment due dates are listed on each invoice. Late payments will be subject to a late fee of $25. Tuition may be paid via card, cash, ACH, Venmo, or check. Please contact Taylor with any questions regarding lesson scheduling or tuition payments.
Group Lessons
Twice per spring and fall semester, students will have the opportunity to sign up for a group lesson in addition to their individual weekly lesson. Group lessons will occur outside of usual teaching hours and will be added to the studio calendar within the first three weeks of each semester; students are encouraged to sign up for their desired group lesson slots as soon as possible each semester. Group lessons are an excellent opportunity to hone performance skills, make music with others, and learn new concepts through games and collaborative learning. A small snack is provided at each group lesson.
Punctuality and Attendance
Regular lesson attendance is essential to students' musical progress. Students are expected to arrive and leave their piano lessons at their scheduled times. Please avoid scheduling conflicting appointments during your child's lesson. Refunds will not be given for missed lessons.
Students will be offered up to 3 “make-up lessons” per year if they give at least 24 hours’ notice before missing a scheduled lesson. These may be rescheduled online via the student portal.
Students may choose to opt for a Zoom lesson at their normal lesson time rather than rescheduling, should a virtual lesson suit the student's circumstances.
If a student has had a fever within the past 24 hours, he or she should not attend lessons that day. In the case of unexpected illness, Taylor will do her best to reschedule the day's lesson even if 24 hours' notice is not possible.
Equipment
Students are encouraged to acquire an acoustic piano for at-home practice, but a digital keyboard can suffice for a short time if your child is just starting out with lessons. While digital keyboards have their merits, they simply do not offer the same range of touch or musical possibilities as an acoustic piano.
If your child has a digital keyboard, it should have a full set of weighted, touch-sensitive keys. If your student decides to continue lessons after their first semester of lessons, please consider purchasing an acoustic piano.
To maintain optimal condition, acoustic pianos should be tuned yearly and kept in an environment free from fluctuations in temperature or humidity.
Feel free to contact Taylor with any questions regarding your family’s search for a suitable piano.
Materials
Each student's lesson tuition covers the costs of lesson/theory books, sheet music, a lesson binder, and other printed materials as necessitated by the learning process.
Depending on age and ability level, students will also be provided with a "practice pouch" containing lamintated games, flash cards, and other review tools checked out from the studio learning library. These materials will be periodically switched out based on the concepts each student is learning or reviewing. Practice pouch materials should be kept inside the practice pouch when not in use.
Depending on the student's note-reading ability and lesson goals, an additional purchase of the Note Rush app for smartphone or tablet may be required.
Practice Expectations
Regular practice is absolutely essential to students’ success as piano students. Taylor aims to foster a goal-oriented approach to practicing. Students learn effective practice skills and problem-solving techniques within each lesson, and are expected to practice daily. Weekly lesson notes detail short-term goals and relevant practice strategies for each lesson assignment.
Please aim to incorporate piano practice into your child’s daily routine. Ideally, your piano should be kept in a quiet area free from distractions.
Building a specific time for practicing into your child’s routine helps ensure that regular practice sessions become a habit. Try scheduling piano practice before school, between homework and dinner, or at some other regular time that suits your child's schedule.
Short daily practice sessions are far more effective than sporadic longer sessions, particularly for children. If your child's schedule or attention span is limited, try a few separate "mini practice sessions" per day; perhaps 10 minutes before school, 10 minutes after homework, and 10 minutes before bed would work better for your child than a single 30-minute practice session right after school.
Students are encouraged to contact Taylor during the week with any questions or confusion regarding the week's practice assignments.
Performance Opportunities
The Winter Recital and the Spring Recital are offered each year at the end of their respective semesters. Students are expected to participate in both of these recitals, which give them an opportunity to practice performance skills as well as audience etiquette. Additional performance opportunities also occur throughout the year; students are encouraged but not required to partake in these. Performance is a skill acquired through experience!
Lesson Termination
Students are expected to pay for and attend piano lessons through the end of each semester. Chronic misbehavior or repeatedly missing lessons may result in early termination of lessons by the piano teacher. In such a case or if a student must discontinue lessons before the end of the semester due to serious illness, injury, or family emergency, a refund will be given for the remaining lessons. Early termination of lessons must be communicated to the teacher.