2022-2023 STUDIO POLICY

Our goal and mission is to offer personalized lessons and instructive services and push every student to become their best self in all areas. IPS offers in person lessons to students located in Upstate South Carolina and virtually to students from coast to coast.  We are highly committed to helping others discover and reach their full potential. We offer a well rounded curriculum which includes note reading, ear training, music appreciation, and much more. We focus on developing your own unique style and becoming an "Innovative Musician". IPS is about having fun, discovering the music within, and learning tools to create and interpret the beautiful and powerful language of music!

A registration, books, and material fee is due at the time of enrollment for new students and at the start of the new IPS year for returning students, which begins in August of each year.  For your convenience you can register at www.innovativepiano.cc/registration.   

Innovative Piano Studio is a year round school. The registration, books, and materials fee & one month’s tuition is required before the first lesson for all new students. Lessons that begin after the month has started will be prorated.   

Monthly invoices are emailed around the 20th of each month and tuition is due by the last day of each month prior (for example September tuition is due by August 30) There will be a $35.00 late fee billed to your account if paid after this date. Tuition reserves your lesson day and time for the following month. The Recital fee of $50.00 is due prior to each recital that you/your child are participating in. You will be notified of any additional cost for special projects (i.e.concerts, recitals, materials , etc). If your lesson book/music binder is lost or stolen the student’s parent will be invoiced for the second set of books and/or material. 

 

We accept cash (if paid in the exact amount), debit or credit cards (5% processing fee if processed through square), Zelle (pay@innovativepiano.cc or 864-757-4916) and Venmo (@innovativepiano, $3 processing fee added to total amount due) as methods of payment for tuition. Refunds will not be given for early withdrawal. All tuition and fees are non-refundable. 

 

There is a minimum of 3 weeks of classes a month that must be attended and/or paid for in order to retain your designated lesson day and time unless there is a period of time that IPS is closed, a holiday that falls on your lesson day, or if there has been a prior conversation & agreement with your instructor regarding a circumstance that prevents you from completing 3 weeks of classes for that particular month. This requirement does not apply to biweekly students. 

 

Registration, Books, & Materials Fee

Enrollment between August 1st 2022 - December 31,2022 - $89.00

Enrollment between January 1st, 2023 - May 31, 2023 - $59.00

2023 Summer Enrollment (NEW STUDENTS ONLY) - $29.00

                                            

 

                                            Private Lesson Fee 

  30 Minute Private Weekly Lesson - $35.00 a lesson ($140-$175 a month)

 45 Minute Private Weekly Lesson - $45.00 a lesson ($180-$225 a month)

 60 Minute Private Weekly Lesson - $60.00 a lesson ($240- $300 a month)

 

 

 Advanced notice is required if you're unable to fulfill your financial commitment. IPS has the right to suspend lessons if payment isn't received by the end of the month and your slot will be forfeited. 

What to expect from your instructor:

 -Quality lessons given by a trained and experienced teacher who's also a professional working musician.

 -Weekly private lessons that focus on fundamentals and technique as well as fostering a love for playing the instrument.

 -Organized and detailed practice assignments after each lesson.

 -Direct and open communication

 

What is expected of parents and students:

 -Parents are expected to encourage their child along this journey. Encouragement through positive words helps to fuel a child’s drive to succeed.

 -Students are expected to listen to music daily, even if only in the background.

  -Parents and students are expected to establish a realistic practice routine during the week. This includes reading and completing the assignments given by Ms. Alicia. (You'd be surprised at what you can accomplish with 3-5 days of practice per week!)

 - Students must display a desire to learn 

 -Students must be able to respectfully interact with others.

 

Recitals and different events IPS holds aren't mandatory, however strongly encouraged. We will assess each student and determine what they may be prepared for. Participation in these events helps the student in so many ways, even beyond musical growth. The key in all of these events is: Practice!

Parents/Guardians are required to be available during lessons (on site or via cell phone). In the event of an emergency if a parent cannot be reached, you agree that IPS will be permitted to exercise our discretion in providing care and treatment for your child. In the case of serious injury, EMS will be called. Innovative Piano Studio will not be liable for any injuries or damages sustained by the student during a lesson. The Student agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Studio, its owners, employees, and agents from any claims or damages arising out of the Student's participation in the lessons

Regular and prompt attendance is required to make appropriate progress. If a student arrives late, the lesson will be shorter. If IPS is running behind you will be notified via text or call, and you will receive your full lesson. If you are unable to make a lesson, please call or text IPS at (864)-757-4916. If a lesson is cancelled due to an emergency (sickness, death in the family, etc), please notify us as soon as possible so that adjustments can be made. If a lesson needs to be canceled due to a non-emergency, please notify us at least 24 hours prior to your lesson.

Virtual Lessons are taught through zoom. Your code for your the lesson will be sent via text at the top of the day. If you are not logged in within 10 minutes of your lesson start time, your lesson will be canceled.   

Makeup lessons are scheduled according to the studio’s availability. It is our goal to set aside time for make up lessons. IPS students can be no more than 2 lessons in the hole for makeup lessons.  Once those 2 makeup lessons are scheduled, confirmed, and completed you are then allowed to schedule more makeup days going forward. This prevents a large amount of lessons being missed and and a long list of makeup days that need to be scheduled.  Once you're 2 lessons in the hole then all lessons until those 2 lessons are made up will either be credited if IPS has to cancel or they will be considered lessons lost if the Innovative family has to cancel. Please be mindful makeup lessons aren’t guaranteed. A lesson has been reserved for you each week. Notification of inability to attend a lesson is courtesy to IPS, but does not excuse tuition payment. Should Innovative have to cancel a lesson you will be contacted by email, phone, or text. We will credit your account and your tuition will be adjusted accordingly. Refunds for lessons that have already been marked as a makeup lesson will not be given.

 

If you have the following symptoms or have been exposed to someone experiencing these symptoms within a 48-hour time frame, please DO NOT COME TO THE STUDIO.

 • Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Fever

• Uncontrollable coughing/sneezing 

 

If you come to your lessons with any of these symptons your lesson will be forfeited for that day.

 

IPS will not be offering lessons on the following holidays: 

Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day,  New Year, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day 

 All other breaks will be notated on the calendar that's posted in the BAND APP and on our website. 

Pictures and videos of students may be posted periodically on the Studio’s Website, BAND app messenger, Facebook and Instagram page. Only the student’s first name will be used. If you prefer not to have your child’s picture and/or name on any form of media, please notify us.

Each student will be given a binder to help keep their music and assingment sheets organized. Students are required to bring their binder and lesson book to every lesson.

 It is both the student and parent’s responsibility to make sure that effective practicing is consistent. PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS!  For beginners, 15-20 minute practice sessions are great.  As your child progresses, longer sessions are recommended. Students should make it a goal to practice at least 3-5 times a week. As your child’s instructor, IPS will give advice on effective and smart practicing habits. Audio and video examples will be sent as needed to assist with any assignments given.

Students who wish to withdraw from Innovative Piano Studio must provide  notice directly to Ms Alicia.  All payments received are final.  Refunds are not given for early withdrawal! Once you unenroll, there is no guarantee that you will be able return back to your previous day and time.  

IPS has the right to terminate lessons if payment isn't received by the start of the new month, if policies and procedures are consistently disregarded, or if there's behavioral issues from the student.