Maple Grove Piano Studio Policies
updated July 2023; see Tuition & Billing Below for Current Tuition

Media Policy

The teacher reserves the right to use video recording or photographs of students for on the studio website, or other advertising materials, lesson demonstration, youtube and/or vimeo. Photos taken by the teacher or that are shared with the teacher by other parents or students become the property of the studio and can be used at the discretion of the teacher in regards to the studio. The studio follows online safety rules in this matter. 

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​Music and Materials  

• I am happy to generously lend the music from my library to all students.

• The cost for borrowing music is covered by the registration fee.  Some music may be kept by the student.

Absences and Illness 

• Tuition is based on enrollment, not attendance, and lessons you choose to miss or cancel will not be made up.

• The studio is a full time career and no makeup lessons are provided.

• When mutually convenient, occasional exchanges of lesson times may be arranged with enough notice using the EXCHANGE LIST available to every parent.  I will assume a student is coming unless I hear otherwise.  

• If your child is sick enough to stay home from school he/she will not benefit from a lesson in a constructive way.  Please do not send him/her for a piano lesson.

• If your student is sick, you may take a video of the student playing the current assignment, I will send back my comments with a new assignment sheet, so the student does not miss a lesson.

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Discontinuing Lessons 

• Every student stops taking lessons at some point.  Please make this decision thoughtfully with plenty of discussion between the teacher, parent, and student so that lessons can cease with a positive sense of closure. 

• For this reason, one month's (paid tutition) notice is required in writing prior to discontinuing lessons. 

• Note: At the discretion of the teacher, students may be asked to discontinue lessons at any time if they have unpaid tuition, an excess amount of absences/unprepared lessons, or if they show a lack of interest or refusal to cooperate during lessons.

• Your commitment when enrolled is for an entire year, September 2022 through July 2023. Students are expected to take ALL of the lessons for the year in which they are enrolled, and payment for all 11 months of the studio year is required.

• Parents are welcome to sit in on any lesson if they choose. The function of the parent in the lesson is to observe and take notes of the teacher’s practice suggestions to the student.

Your Home Piano 

• A well maintained acoustic piano at home is essential for success. 

• Electronic pianos and keyboards are fun and have their place, but they do not do not respond the same way to the musical and technical demands of my studio and will hamper the student’s progress. I am happy to work with families in purchasing a good piano at a price they can afford. 

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Practice Guidelines

• Students are expected to be prepared for each week’s lesson. All assignments are to be practiced each week.

• A regular time should be set aside each day for practice in order to establish a routine that will become a daily habit. 

• Six undisturbed practice sessions per week are recommended. Daily length of practice should be the same length as your weekly lesson times. Early beginners practice 10 minutes a day at first, then increase time as they learn mor.

• It is imperative for students to practice for results as well as minutes. Lessons are designed to achieve goals each week through regular practice.

• Remember This: Unprepared lessons cost the same as prepared ones, ​but their value is substantially compromised.​

• Important note: Sometime during the course of taking piano lessons, your child may say something like, “I don’t want to practice,” or “I’m too tired to go to piano lessons,” or “I don’t want to go- I want to play with my friends,” “I want to quit,” etc… Just be aware that your child’s interest will probably not be consistent; but to be successful, you will need to be consistent in your encouragement and commitment to music instruction. In most cases, simply acknowledge your child’s comments, but then go on with your normal routine just as you would if you heard the comment, “I don’t want to brush my teeth,” “I don’t want to stop playing with my toys,” or “I don’t want to go to bed.”

Questions 

• I am always happy to talk to my students and their parents. Please feel free to contact me about anything regarding piano lessons.

• You are welcome to leave a message at 763-355-7306 or E-mail me at Q88keys@gmail.com.  I will get back to you as soon as possible.​