Cello Studio Policy​

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Mission Statement

My mission is to develop musicians capable of teaching themselves. By providing excellent instruction in technique, theory, and musicality, my goal at every lesson is to nurture the skills needed for freedom of expression and communication and collaboration with others. Through music we gain abilities relevant to all facets of life:  independent and critical thinking, discipline, and most importantly a confident sense of self.

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Scheduling

Lessons are scheduled weekly on Monday through Thursday from 8am until 7pm and Friday from 8am until 4pm. Lessons may be scheduled at my home studio on some Monday holidays so please confirm. No lessons will be scheduled during extended school  holidays like Spring Break, Thanksgiving, and Winter Break. Summer lessons are strongly encouraged and twice-weekly lessons are available. Summer lessons are scheduled Monday through Friday 10am - 7pm.

 

Time slots are scheduled for the entire school year and subject to availability in the teacher’s schedule. Any request to switch time slots mid-year cannot be guaranteed.

 

Tuition and Payment

Tuition is a flat rate yearly fee, billed monthly in equal amounts. Payment is due on the first of the month from September 2025 through May 2026. The tuition reserves a weekly time slot with the teacher and guarantees 32 scheduled private lessons through the academic year with 16 in the fall and 16 in the spring. 

 

If an additional lesson is requested throughout the year, it will be billed separately or credited, with any lessons over 32 being billed in May. Should a student get to the end of the year and the student is owed additional lessons due to holidays or another reason for an excused missed lesson, the final month’s fee will be adjusted or these lessons will be scheduled in the summer.

 

Invoices are sent 10 days prior to the due date via MyMusicStaff. Payment is due by the first of each month from September through May. Secure Auto-pay using a credit card or bank draft can be set up directly through MyMusicStaff (via Stripe). You will only be billed when an invoice is emailed. You may also pay with Zelle, PayPal, or Venmo upon receipt of the invoice, but it will be your responsibility to do so before the due date. If a payment has not been received by the due date, an email reminder will be sent. A $15 late fee will automatically be applied to an unpaid invoice if payment is not received by the third day past the due date. 

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Tardiness Policy

Please call or text safely if you will be late to your lesson.  Your lesson will not be extended beyond the original end time except under extenuating circumstances.

 

Cancellation Policy

Please be early or on time for your scheduled lesson. There is no refund or reschedule offered for same-day cancellations and late arrivals. This includes illness and unforeseen work or school related events. Notice must be received 24 hours prior to the lesson in order for a lesson to be considered for rescheduling. Make-up lessons should take place within seven days and are subject to the instructor's availability.  Make-ups can be scheduled any day of the week if there is space available.  Make-up lessons can take place either online or in person or the teacher can offer feedback if a student submits a video of their lesson assignment. While make-ups are offered, they are not guaranteed, and if it is not possible to reschedule within one week, the lesson time will be forfeited and counted as an unexcused absence. Unexcused absences will not reduce the tuition for the year and count toward the 16 lessons per semester. Generally a student will be able to miss one or two lessons and still receive 16 lessens per semester.

 

In case of inclement weather, students can receive an online lesson. All other conditions of make-up lessons would apply.

 

If I must cancel, I will offer to reschedule the lesson within a week at a mutually acceptable time. If that is not possible, ​the lesson will be rescheduled during either the “Flex Week” at the end of the semester, or given as extra lesson time throughout the semester as the schedule allows.

 

For those attending lessons in RRISD, every effort is made to communicate with the directors about campus-wide testing dates, emergency drills, field trips, and other events. Students and parents should also communicate with me about these events as well. Given enough notice, it should be possible to swap schools in the schedule. If not, students will receive as much time for their lesson as possible, or have a lesson concurrently that week with a classmate. Otherwise, the time will be forfeited.

 

Holidays: Even with the numerous one-day holidays throughout the year, all students will be scheduled to have 16 lessons per semester.

 

Protocol for Health and Safety in Our Community

Masks are optional at this time. This policy may change if necessitated by community spread of disease. If the student becomes ill with Covid, Influenza, or other virus, is experiencing flu-like or cold symptoms, or has been exposed to a serious illness, we can reschedule or switch to having an online lesson until the risk of transmission is over. If you come to a lesson and you are obviously ill you will be sent home with no make-up. It is in your best interest to switch to online even if it is last-minute. I will ask students to reschedule or move online if I have become ill with Covid, the flu or any other cold or respiratory illness or if there is risk of transmission of illness from my household.

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Sheet Music and Resources

Students must be prepared for their lessons and arrive with their cello, bow, a folder of any loose sheet music, music books, assignment book, and glasses if needed.  Some music is provided, but most music will need to be purchased by the student.  A complete music list and resources page is available. At home, each student needs a quiet place to practice with a stool or chair of the correct height, a music stand, tuner/metronome, and pencil. A rock stop may be needed at home and for performances.

 

Teacher Responsibilities

It is the teacher’s responsibility to provide a well-balanced music education in a professional, welcoming and encouraging environment for learning. The teacher will offer customized goals and assignments within a framework of proven educational methods, including both traditional and modern repertoire. The teacher is a member of professional music organizations, performs regularly, attends frequent performances, and continues her education in cello pedagogy throughout the year through research and attendance at clinics and intensive summer workshops. 

 

Student Responsibilities

Students who commit to daily practice and are engaged in the process of learning will have the most success, confidence, and enjoyment in playing.  All school-aged students are encouraged to perform an accompanied solo at one of the annual Spring Studio Recitals and participate in group classes or performance events as they are offered. Community performance opportunities are available for adults as well.

 

Parent Responsibilities

The parent is to offer encouragement and support as the student grows as a musician. While beginners and younger students will need an engaged practice partner at home, older students will also need guidance to maintain their daily practice routine. Parents can also help by setting up a quiet place to practice, allowing for regular listening of the cello repertoire recordings, and providing access to concerts to hear cellists perform.

 

Communication

Students may be contacted by the teacher from either the gmail.com or the mymusicstaff.com account. Add these and my phone number to your contacts and categorize my emails so they go to your main inbox. Students and guardians may text, call, or email me at any time although I will likely not respond after 9pm or before 8am. Regular communication is important to ensure success, so I am glad to answer any questions about the student’s education.

 

Termination of Lessons

If you decide to no longer take lessons or to take a break from lessons please notify me 6 weeks in advance so that I may plan ahead with my schedule and discontinue billing. 

 

Other Teachers

If you are considering switching to another teacher or working concurrently with another teacher let me know.  I am open to communicating about what you need from your learning experience and it may be that we just need to get on the same page about what our goals are for your studies.  Please honor my commitment to my students by communicating with me and helping to make the journey of learning and any transitions to another teacher a positive experience.  

 

I want my students to have the best learning experience possible so if we decide you need a different perspective, then allow me to help you find another highly qualified teacher for either a single lesson or for continued study.  As part of exposing my students to a variety of techniques and interpretations I often encourage students to perform for some of my colleagues.  Let me know when you are consulting with another teacher so that I am aware of any new or different techniques on which you are working.