Investment
With any type of extra curricular activity, it is important to understand what kind of investment you must make to be successful in your endeavors. When taking private piano lessons, finding time to consistently practice is an essential to ensure success. I ask my students to make time to practice each given assignment at least five times a day in between lessons. In the time between lessons, the student is often given written music theory along with songs that utilize the concepts we have recently learned. As a parent, putting your child in piano lessons you are also committing your time into ensuring they practice what has been assigned to them and to make sure they make it to lessons regularly and on time. My time is important and I schedule my lessons back to back, so late arrival to lessons will only allow your student the remaining duration of their scheduled lesson time.
With today's economy, times are tough for many, which is why I try to make lessons as affordable for you as possible. I offer 30-minute private lessons in my home for $70.00 per month. I strongly encourage students to take weekly lessons to ensure proper practicing habits and continue a steady and consist learning process. Please contact me personally if your child will have difficulty making weekly lessons due to family custody situations, etc. I do take students as young as 4 years of age but require an evaluation to be done first to establish whether they are ready to begin lessons or not. For a younger age, I recommend shorter lessons (15-minutes) and offer those at $45.00 a month. Contact me further for more information or to schedule a time to set up an evaluation. Lessons are taught based on the Vigo County School Corporation school calendar. Fall semester is September through December, & Spring semester begins in January & ends in May. There is an annual $35.00 non-refundable registration fee for private lesson students that must be paid at the beginning of each new school year & is to cover all cost of music for the year. Should a student excel quickly or want to work on a special musical piece, parents will be asked to cover any additional costs that may exceed the $35.00 they have already paid.
Summer term is a fun option, though not required, it is strongly encouraged. Time & time again, I have seen students take the Summer off and begin again in the Fall not remembering much of what they have previously learned. It typically takes 1-2 months to refresh & review those concepts previously learned before the student begins to pick them up again. It is such a waste, so summer is offered to allow them to still learn & refresh their memories while giving them a break here and there to enjoy the summer month.
It is your financial responsibility to stay paid up to date. I keep very detailed records of my finances but it is your responsibility to either inquire or calculate the cost of the next months lessons. I ask that the money for lessons is paid in full at the beginning of each month, for the entire month of lessons. Each day the payment is late, a $1.00 charge will be added on. If money is not received by the second week's lessons, lessons will be postponed until payment is received. I currently am only accepting cash or certified checks due to a great number of returned checks. Sorry for this inconvenience.