Tuition & Policy

Lesson Policy

Attune Creations, LLC

My Responsibilities

My goal is to teach piano in a relaxed and encouraging environment for learning life-long music enjoyment.  Along with a formal lesson plan, I will also incorporate music enjoyed by the individual students taste.  I will explain each lesson the student will be practicing for the week and we will go over sections to be worked on extra.  If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to me about it.

Proper respect will be given to my students and I expect the same from both my students and parents. I take my responsibility of being with my students seriously and enjoy watching students grow and overcome obstacles of learning new material in an environment of mutual respect.

Student & Family Responsibilities

Students agree to arrive at each lesson on time and well prepared with all of their assignment books and music.  To make good progress, daily practice is necessary.  Please ask questions at your lesson if you do not understand what you are to work on during the week. Music to be practiced will be written in notebook given for checking your assignment and keeping track of practice time.

If there is something major happening at home or school that is affecting your child, please let me know so I can be more sensitive to their needs. Sometimes I can be more creative with teaching if I know a little more of what is going on. Sometimes just having them know that I know they are going through a tough time is all they need to get back to concentrating on their lesson.

All students are encouraged to play at two recitals each year:  The Holiday/Christmas recital and the Spring Recital. These are not mandatory, but strongly recommended. Students will prepare a recital piece regardless of whether they can attend a recital.

Students must have either an acoustic piano or keyboard at home.  Keyboards must be touch sensitive with full size keys.  An 88 key keyboard is best. Having a pedal is a must.  To be put on a waiting list, you must have an instrument. Contact Heid Music to find an instrument to meet your needs and budget. You will find in meeting with them that they are very helpful!

Tuition

Payment is due 4 times per year or monthly installments.  Payment can be brought to lessons, or you may use your banking online bill payment (written to Attune Creations, LLC). Credit cards are accepted through My Music Staff Invoicing system (your invoice will come via email and you have an option to pay online).

Tuition effective September 1, 2023 will be $25 per half hour lesson. Registration Fee (explained below) is due with September payment.

Registration Fee

Each family pays one $50 Registration Fee per year (regardless of how many students in the family) which will cover each students lesson books and any music library books they will use from my library along with Music Money prizes which they earn for practice time and showing up at recitals. It also covers any recital expenses incurred.

Incentive Programs

Music Money is given out at lessons in the form of fake money that looks like Monopoly money.  Students can earn money by keeping track of how many minutes they practice.  They also can get a good chunk of change for playing at a recital.  The money can be spent on prizes in my 'music money store'.  The kids know how it works.

No-Shows 

  • Any lesson that I have to cancel will be made up or a credit will be given.

  • No payment credit or makeup lessons will be provided for students who miss lessons for any reason.

Regular attendance is expected. Please choose a lesson time that works well for you.  The tuition you pay reserves this time in my schedule for your child. If you don't show up, no one does. 

Although makeup lessons are not a given, a couple times a year there are make up dates available by appointment. This is something I offer, but many instructors do not and is not a given. The dates I give are usually days when their is no school.

Illness

If a student is ill or possibly coming down with something, please do not come for your lesson. You may have your lesson online at last minute any time you are not feeling quite well, but still able to do a lesson. A text to your instructor is all you need to switch to an online lesson.

We will be keeping the piano keys and door knobs clean and be more vigilant at times when numbers of illnesses are on the rise. We will continue to have hand sanitizer on hand for before and after your lesson. Please do not send your student to lessons with a fever!

Inclement Weather

In case of bad weather (snow, ice, etc.), we will have online lessons. If school is canceled because of bad weather, we will switch to online lessons during that time. If you are uncomfortable with weather turning bad, please feel free to switch to an online lesson.

On-line Lessons

Online lessons are offered as a permanent alternative as long as there is good connection. You may choose this as an option for all or some of your lessons and as stated above for inclement weather.

For successful online lessons, there are a few things that will work better if prepared in advance.

  1. Have all books ready along with assignment notebook

  2. Have a PENCIL available nearby

  3. Online lessons work best when you are near your router and if no one else is streaming during your half hour. It takes a lot of band-width for Zoom.

  4. Practice setting up with a view of your whole piano and student sitting on bench. Once you get the angle right, it will be easier for future online lessons.

These are just a few basic things. Most of you have done something in your life online in the last couple years. I use 2 cameras to help out in online lessons with the 2nd one for showing the keys of the piano to demonstrate.

Coda (ending)

Last of all, my goal with my students is to Enjoy Music!