Parents,
First, I cannot thank you enough for your continued support through the years, and your belief in music education for your children. It is because of you that I am at where I am today, and why I am ready to bring our music school to the next step of our journey. It is because of my commitment to you that I will continue to teach your children whether I travel to your home or you decide to join me in the studio, whenever we find a suitable location and open.
As we grow, there are a few administrative changes that you need to be made aware of as we transition to a school that features both in-home and studio lessons.
There will be a change in tuition for the 2017-2018 school year. It actually will not even affect some students.
All students will be at a flat rate of $25 per lesson. For traveling lessons, there will no longer be any kind of discount given for siblings/multiple lessons/friends and family. Once the studio opens, there will be a discount for multiple lessons per family. In the 2018-2019 school year, there will be a small increase in tuition for studio lessons and a slightly larger increase for traveling lessons. I’ve never increased prices and have also never charged a distance fee, which is common practice for every studio and teacher I’ve ever spoken with (they’re often shocked to hear that I haven’t done these things). But as the studio grows and changes the services we offer, changing the pricing schedule is something that comes along with the territory.
There will also be a change in how I take payment. For the fall and onward, I will be able to take payment through My Music Staff online. You will be able to pay as you go or set up an automatic payment. I encourage you, my current families, to try out online payment, as I think this will be an easier system for all (the system is not yet in place for the last few weeks of this school year). Cash payments are still accepted and many of you like to pay at each lesson, which is fine. Beginning in January of 2017, however, I would like to move everyone to a once a month schedule. Payment for each month will be due the third week of the month. If payment is not made by the 1st day of the following month, there will be a $10 late fee assessed. If you switch to an automatic payment, you will never be late!
Tuition for group classes will be $25 per student as well, also due by the 3rd week of the month. It is also my hope that, in a larger space, I will be able to run ensembles open to all students – a guitar ensemble and a choir. Included in the price of all classes and ensembles will be the price of any supplies needed except for a choir folder (those can be $20 to $30 a piece and will be an additional cost for choir members. Don’t worry – if treated well a choir folder can last years).
For scheduling – in a few weeks I will have a form available for you to fill out, either in person with me during your lesson or on our website. Ideally, there will be no change to the schedule as it stands right now, so if your current time works, you can keep it in the upcoming school year. When the studio opens, I will start scheduling lessons on days that I do not normally teach a lot of my MAMS students – either Tuesday or Thursday, and the schedule will be open to anyone who wants to switch. I will also be hopefully switching guitar classes to one of these weeknights as well (guitar class parents – I will confer with you all on the scheduling to ensure that you can keep coming!). As the holes start popping up in the rest of my schedule, I will take it from there – shifting around students who can move, or possibly opening more times up at the studio.
For new students – I know that many of you refer me to your friends – which I absolutely love and am thankful for. I currently have a waiting list of students who would like to start in the fall, and I will be working through that list on a first come, first serve basis after I confirm all of your lesson and class times. I will only be booking referrals first, so if a parent fills out the online New Student Form it is important that they put down your name in the “How did you hear about us?” box. Otherwise, their name will stay at the bottom of the list.
All of these changes can be found in my Studio Policies page, so please head there to see the full rundown of the rules and policies I abide by.
I thank you for your continued support, and look forward to embarking on this new step of the journey with you all.