MONTHLY TUITION RATES
I have found that using a flat-rate tuition system for lessons keeps things extremely simple, allowing students and families to know exactly what their monthly invoice amount will be, and allowing me to know exactly what my monthly income will be.
For weekly 30-minute lessons, the monthly tuition rate is $120. This rate is the same whether there are 4 or 5 lessons in a month, which means that (based on the previous $30-per-half-hour rate) there's essentially a free bonus week occasionally included!
This method guarantees that, even when a student is unable to attend a lesson, his/her time slot is secure.
INVOICING
Invoices are emailed around the end of each month for that month's tuition. These emails include a PayPal link which allows payment via credit/debit card. If preferred, payment is also accepted in person at a lesson, by either check or cash.
STUDENT CANCELATIONS
Your tuition payment locks in and holds your weekly lesson time for your use. It's rare for me to be able to fill a vacant time slot – even with advance notice. For that reason, lessons canceled by the student will not be refunded or made up.
If a student is too sick to be at school on a lesson day, I do ask that you cancel out of respect for the health of other students and employees at the music store.
Sending a "substitute" student (ie. friend or sibling) in place of the usual student is not permitted.
TEACHER CANCELATIONS
If due to us having a 5-week month, a cancelation by me still allows for our minimum of 4 lessons to be had, the $120 will still apply. When a cancelation(s) by me allows for only three or fewer possible lessons in a given month, that month's lessons will be prorated at $30 per half-hour lesson. The student is never paying for lessons that I have to miss.
HOLIDAYS
Holidays are based on the music store's schedule. On days that they are open and operating as usual, lessons will be taught (and invoiced for) as usual. On days that they are closed, no lessons will be taught or invoiced for.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the event of extreme bad weather, lessons are (like holidays) based on the music store's schedule. On days that they are open and operating as usual, lessons will be taught (and invoiced for) as usual. On days that they are closed, no lessons will be taught or invoiced for.
As I'm traveling from Portland, an exception will be made if weather makes it impossible or unsafe for me to get to Salem for the day. In such cases, I will contact the store and all families, and no lessons will be taught or invoiced for.
SUMMER LESSONS: JULY and AUGUST
First note that during the month of June, regular tuition rates continue as outlined above.
For those students wishing to continue lessons during the summer months of July and August, I certainly understand that summertime vacations, camps and visitors all equate to time away from home for students and tricky scheduling for families. To allow flexibility and still successfully plan my own income, I offer two summer lesson options.
1) Business As Usual: Continue your lessons as normal, with no change in the policies listed above.
2) Summer Four Pack: For the price of $180 (invoiced the beginning of July) you are guaranteed to not lose your regular weekly lesson time and you get four (4) 30-minute lesson slots to use any week(s) you choose to over the course of the summer (provided the student and I are able to work out a mutually-workable schedule in advance). Two of these half-hour slots can also, schedule allowing, be combined into an hour lesson.
Note that the above package deal applies ONLY to the summer months of July and August. Any unused lessons and their equivalent credits will not be refunded, and are lost (not usable) after August of the year they were purchased for.
WITHDRAWING FOR THE SUMMER
Some families prefer to take the summer off entirely. Do be aware that while this is certainly an option, I can't guarantee any particular lesson time slot, nor general roster availability, when returning in the fall. To guarantee your time slot is maintained, consider the Summer Four Pack above.
DISCONTINUING LESSONS
You may discontinue lessons at any time and will not be charged for the full month. Lessons taken during a student's last month will be invoiced at an individual $30-per-lesson rate.