Policies & Procedures

Updated June 2021

Important Information Regarding COVID-19:

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, you are legally required to isolate for at least 10 days. A 14-day isolation is required if someone was in close contact with a person who contracted COVID-19, or if someone has traveled internationally and returned within the last 14 days. Keep informed of the legal requirements here.

Drop-off & Entering for In-Person Lessons

  • Students and teachers are to wear socks 

  • If the parent/guardian and/or student arrive at a scheduled lesson not well/is showing symptoms of illness, they will be directed to return home. The lesson is considered canceled (see missed lesson policy below). 

  • The piano, area of instruction, used items such as pencils, highlighters, dice, game boards, and cards will be sanitized and cleaned after each student's lesson.

Canceling Lessons + Rescheduling Missed Lessons

Your teacher is available to teach your student at your normally scheduled lesson day and time only. 

One make-up lesson credit will be allowed per student per month and will expire after 30 days. 24+ hours’ notice is required for make-up credit to be issued. Make-up credits may only be issued when lessons are canceled through the student portal (you may access that in your student login here). Parents are responsible for scheduling the make-up lesson by either contacting their teacher directly or scheduling a lesson directly within the student portal by accessing the teacher’s calendar.

If a student misses or cancels a regularly scheduled lesson for any reason without at least 24+ hours’ notice, they will simply miss the benefit of that lesson.

If a student must leave early from a lesson for any reason, that lesson will be counted as a whole lesson and a partial make-up credit will not be given.

Materials and Equipment

Your tuition does not cover the costs of music books, sheet music, and necessary recital materials. Extra performance opportunities such as festivals and competitions will be added to your lesson packages as necessary.

Performance Opportunities

The Piano Studio offers numerous performing opportunities for students each year. Participation in any of these events is not required, and teachers reserve the right to limit participation in each event as necessary.

Illness

Students who are ill or exhibit symptoms of potential illness should not come to in-person lessons. Teachers reserve the right to send a student home if they arrive sick to their lesson.

A teacher may offer the convenience of an online lesson in place of an in-person lesson, but this is at the teacher’s discretion and may not be available for all students.

Communication

We love hearing from you and talking about your student’s progress. Please note that communication occurring during lesson times will be deducted from the student’s lesson time. Feel free to email your teacher at any time about what is happening with your student or to ask questions. Phone calls and text messages should be limited to the teacher’s office hours.

Student Commitment

Regular practice is imperative to learn how to play an instrument proficiently. Recommended practice guidelines:

  • Kindergarten - 1st grade: minimum of 50 minutes a week (5 days at 10 minutes)

  • 2nd - 3rd grade: minimum of 60 minutes a week (5 days at 12 minutes)

  • 4th - 5th grade: minimum of 75 minutes a week (5 days at 15 minutes)

  • 6th - 7th grade: minimum of 90 minutes a week (5 days at 18 minutes)

  • 8th - 9th grade: minimum of 120 minutes a week (5 days at 24 minutes)

  • 10th grade - adult: minimum of 150 minutes a week (5 days at 30 minutes)

Dismissals and Termination

Unfortunately, some students have to quit lessons mid-year and sadly, we sometimes have to dismiss students due to lack of progress or other difficult conditions. It is important to articulate under what circumstances students might be asked to leave and how tuition will be handled should a student need or be required to leave mid-year.

If for any reason you must stop lessons, you must fill out the Notice to Withdrawal Form at least one month before your final lesson.

Students who do not give 30+ days’ notice of withdrawal from lessons will be required to pay that month’s tuition, even if they are unable to attend lessons for that month.

Regrettably, The Piano Studio or your teacher will have to dismiss a student if any of these circumstances occur:

  • Failure to pay tuition on time and/or persistent unexcused absences

  • Uncooperative attitude from either student or parent/legal guardian

  • Failure to follow practice as instructed + lack of progress + unfulfilled requirements

Any other reason as deemed necessary by the teacher.

Portage Piano Studio, LLC, reserves the right to adjust our policies and procedures at any time and without prior notice.