DROP OFF/PICK UP
Children under the age of 12 must have a parent or guardian at the facility at all times.
TUITION
Tuition is due on the first of each month. This price reflects 4 lessons per month, excluding holidays and breaks. Please see make up lesson policy below regarding absences. If I need to miss a lesson, families will have the option to receive a make up credit or refund.
Charter students will need to request purchase orders through their HST/IST with their charter school. Lessons will be deducted as 4 lessons per month, excluding holidays and breaks. Please see make up lesson policy below.
Tuition Prices are as follows:
$45 per 30 minute lesson ($180 monthly).
$65 per 45 minute lesson ($260 monthly).
$85 per 60 minute lesson ($340 monthly).
ABSENCES/MAKE UP LESSONS
I understand that illness and unexpected circumstances arise, so I allow make up lessons if at least one hour’s notice is given for the lesson cancellation (if you wake up sick, and cannot give an hour's notice, I will still allow a make up/credit). Make up lessons can either be scheduled on a different day than our usual lesson time or during school breaks (subject to availability). Families will have access to an online portal and calendar to be able to book make up lessons. Although I allow an unlimited number of make up lessons, I only allow 2 active make up lessons/credits on an account at any giving time. If students have 2 unused make up lessons on their account, and miss additional lessons, those missed lessons will not be able to be made up. Once a previous lesson credit is used up, new make ups can be accrued again.
If I need to miss our lesson time, I will notify you as soon as possible and give you the choice of a different day for our lesson, a refund (for non-charter fund students) or a make up credit (make up credits due to my absence do not count towards the 2 credit max policy).
NO SHOWS
I’m happy to offer make up lessons so long as the student has informed me of the need to cancel within an hour’s notice of the lesson time (illness can be less than one hour's notice for morning lessons). No shows or cancellations less than an hour’s notice will not be permitted a make up lesson. I send a reminder text and email the day before each lesson unless I'm requested not to.
TARDINESS
If a student is late to his or her lesson, I completely understand but will still need to end our lesson at the originally planned scheduled time, due to my needing to get to subsequent lessons. If I’m late to a student’s lesson I will go over the time to make up for the time missed, to ensure the student gets their fully allotted time. If the student is unable to go over their scheduled time slot, I will find another time to make up the missing time.
LESSON CALENDAR 2025-2026
I take off time from regularly scheduled lessons on weekends, holidays, and school breaks, and therefore do not offer lessons or only offer limited availability during the following dates:
Labor Day: Monday September 1st
Fall Break: Friday October 3rd-Tuesday October 7th
Veterens Day: Tuesday November 11th
Thanksgiving Break: Friday November 21st-Friday November 28th
Winter Break: Monday December 22nd-Friday January 9th
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday January 19th
Lincoln's Birthday: Friday February 13th
President's Day: Monday February 16th
Spring Break: Thursday April 2nd-Friday April 10th
Memorial Day: Monday May 25th
Summer Break: Monday June 15th-Mid-August (TBD).
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METHODS OF TEACHING
There are a variety of ways to play an instrument, sing, or act. For example, you can play the guitar by reading sheet music, chord charts, or tabs, or also by playing by ear! I tend to like to like to show my students multiple ways to learn, as this gives them more tools, but I am also happy to focus on a specific style if preferred.
For music, I like to combine methods taught in popular books, while also supplementing with songs the student is interested in learning and skills that I’ve personally found helpful for myself. I know so many adults who say they took lessons as a kid but didn’t stick with their instrument. I think this is common for two reasons:
1.) In order to master a skill, repetitive and sometimes monotonous practice can be required. If this is emphasized too much, playing an instrument can feel like all work and little enjoyment.
2.) Popular teaching method books tend to use songs that students aren’t familiar with or aren’t interested in.
I like to try to balance a mixture of skill development with fun in learning songs my students are interested in, because I believe when you love your instrument you are more willing to put in the effort with the harder and less enjoyable aspects.
For acting, I love to work with students on auditioning, cold reads, diction, commercials, scenes, monologues, improvisation, and acting techniques.
For singing, I like showing students how to sing on pitch, support their breath, find resonance, understand the difference between chest voice, head voice, and mixed voice, and play with being able to sing different styles of music, if interested.
PRACTICE
Rather than requiring a specific amount of time for students to practice each week, I like to set “goals” for my students. Each student is given his or her own notebook where I write down the date and goals for each week. Whenever a goal is accomplished, students get a “point” for meeting that goal. Once ten points are achieved, the student gets to pick a prize from my prize box. Some students may need very little practice to achieve a goal, while others may need more. Like anything, the more time you devote the better you will get, but I love using this method of goals because it clearly shows how the student is growing, which can be very encouraging! If a goal is not met the week it was assigned, no sweat! We will work on the goal during our lesson time or move it to the following week. Families will also be given a link to create a sign in for my online portal where I will upload goals, music, and notes for each week.
SUPPLIES
I include the cost for supplies in my lesson rates, so you don’t need to worry about buying anything other than the instrument itself. Any books or materials used, will be provided by me.
PERFORMANCES/RECITALS
I offer 1 non-mandatory performance opportunity each year, as a holiday performance at a local senior assisted living home. I love when students realize that their talents are not only a blessing for themselves, but also can help others! I help each student find the perfect performance piece and allow for plenty of time for students to feel confident in what they will perform.
Thank you so much for entrusting me with the rewarding experience of helping you or your child learn a new skill or progress in an already existing one!