237 Dawson Road, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459
POLICY LETTER
POLICY LETTER: In effect from August 1, 2024 until July 31, 2025
Scheduling/Reserving a lesson time: Call the studio at 850.231.3199 to talk directly to a person. If no answer, leave a voice message. Emails and texts to do not secure nor reserve your lesson time.
TUITION
Rates are by the semester. Depending on the day of the week your lesson is on (and when you begin lessons), the number of lessons you receive (therefore total price) will vary during our Fall/Winter Semester August 5th - December 19, 2024 and Spring semester from January 8th through May 30, 2025. Summer session is June thru July (Studio is closed for the 4th of July week).
Parents and students should commit to a full semester's attendance. Payments paid in advance by either: full payment, partial payment, or monthly payment
PAYMENT is made in advance of lessons: We encourage checks, cash, credit card, or paypal. For paypal, go to our website "rates and paypal" tab and use the PayPal portal at bottom of page. WE DO NOT ACCEPT NOR RECEIVE VENMO PAYMENTS. DO NOT SEND PAYMENT VIA VENMO.
ALL TUITION IS NON-REFUNDABLE for any reason.
1. ADDITIONAL FEES · Registration Fee: $50 semester
STUDENTS WHO DO NOT OWN or HAVE AN INSTRUMENT TO PRACTICE ON:
Should consider their lesson as monitored practice with less instruction. I-Pads, toys, flat table top roll up keyboards, keyboards with half size keys, paper charts, do not qualify as an instrument. Payment at our normal rates is still due.
Makeup/Rescheduled Lesson: None for any reason. no refunds.
IF THE TEACHER CANCELS YOUR LESSON: The studio will re-schedule a make-up within 21 days of the cancelled lesson.
EXTENDED PLANNED ABSENCE: All absences, greater than one week, should be submitted in writing no later than 48 hours prior to your lesson day. Place written notes in mailbox in waiting room or mail to 237 Dawson Rd, Santa Rosa Beach, FL.or email to studio237music@gmail.com
HOLIDAYS: The Studio follows the Walston County Public School System holiday calendar.
Books: Students usually need several new books per year. The cost of books is from $10 to $35. Books should be reimbursed no later than the next lesson or next monthly billing cycle.
PRACTICE:
To those students who own or rent their instruments, the amount of study time required will vary depending on the student’s age and playing level. To achieve progress, a student should plan to study their instrument four days a week for no less than 20 minutes daily (ages 4 to 6) and 30+ minutes (ages 7 and up).
PARENT’S ROLE IN PRACTICE:
When you dedicate time and effort to help your child be consistent in their study, they will progress at an average to above average rate. For young children, sitting in during your child’s lesson can be helpful from time to time so that you get to know what is required by the teacher and the music/exercises that your child needs to study.
YOUR CHILD’S BOOKS:
1. The studio provides a book bag. Store your books/materials in the bag
2. The morning of your lesson, have your child place all the books in the bag and place it by the exit of your home for easy access.
3. Missing books must be replaced. Notify your teacher so the studio may order new books.
A NO SHOW STUDENT is a student who does not pay their tuition and does not show up for two weeks of lessons without notice. THEN: That lesson time will be made available to new or existing students.
SCHOOL PROPERTY RULES: (Adults and Children)
While on the property:
No smoking or vaping on the property
No drinking of alcoholic beverages, legal recreational, or illegal drugs on the property
No use of profanity on the property in talk, MP3’s, Cd’s, song lyrical content, or while singing:
Profane words include any words that refer to sexual content, defecation, hell, damnation, body parts, dogs, and the like. This is simple common courtesy to other human beings. If you desire to speak profane words in the studio or on the property, then our studio is not the place for you.
No destruction of private property
No running, no climbing
Shoes, clean shirt, and bottom clothing must be worn
No dogs or other pets on the property
Do not wear a bathing suit to a lesson
No drunk or “under the influence” people on property
No fighting physically or verbally
No yelling or arguing inside or outside of the premises
Failure to observe property rules may result in discontinuation of lessons
WAITING ROOM BEHAVIOR: Our waiting room is the living room. Children and Adults are not permitted to jump around all over the sofas whether with their feet, hands, or knees. No running around in the waiting room areas. If a child tantrums, please remove child from the waiting room to outside of the studio. A Tantrum may include: laying on the floor or rolling around/refusing to get up, or yelling loudly, or stomping feet, or twirling around in circles, or kicking the wall.
PHYSICAL GROOMING:
Clean trimmed fingernails no longer than 1/4 inch from cuticle line, hair tied back from your face so that your eyes are visible to others for the entire lesson, clean hands and face. Piano students should not wear acrylic (or stick on) nails that are over 1/4 inch from the cuticle line. Doing so makes it impossible to press down the keys unless using the very tip of the nail in a horizontal position. If the nails are 1/2" or longer and sharply pointed then the student is physically unable to play.
FOOD AND GUM: Student's should not eat a snack or be chewing gum during a lesson. Please do not spit/throw gum on the driveway or sidewalk. It is very difficult to remove baked on gum from cement. Place gum in the trashcan, bushes, or grass please. Not the pavement.
STUDENT's CELL PHONE: Students are required to turn off their cell phone during their lesson (if it is brought into the lesson room). Cell phones are extremely distracting to the student and teacher. It places the teacher in a difficult position to request a student to stop looking/checking their phone continuously. Many students are emotionally connected to their phones' sounds/vibrations/light.
TERMINATION OF LESSONS: Give the studio and teacher one week prior notice.
Include in your communication (letter or phone call), the exact day you plan to stop lessons.
A teacher may dismiss a student for the following situations:
- The student demonstrates a lack of desire/motivation to learn to play their instrument.
- The student or parent misbehaves, threatens to quit or disrespects the teacher during lessons.
- The student or parent shows a lack of commitment characterized by chronic absences or lateness.
- The student or parent speaks profanity or curses during the lesson or verbally threatens the teacher
- The student tantrums or the parent does not support the teacher.
- The parent or student insists to sing or play music that contains cursing/profane/violent words or subject matter.
A STUDENT WILL BE DISMISSED FROM LESSONS IMMEDIATELY IF: The student bites, hits, attacks, threatens bodily harm or kicks a teacher, piano, or another student. Also, if the student Damages or threatens to damage private property belonging to anyone while on studio property
RECITALS:
Each year we schedule two recitals (one in December and one in May). There is a Recital Fee of $30 per student (2 or more is $25 each) Many students practice and work on their recital pieces which are a motivational force for your child and an opportunity for them to shine for you. Although not mandatory, students are encouraged to participate in recital if their teacher/parent believe they are ready. All recital pieces must be approved by the teacher and parent prior to being placed in the program.
OPTIONAL: FFMC FESTIVAL: Florida Federation of Music Clubs (FFMC)
This is an optional choice for students: Studio 237 is a member of the FFMC under the Choctaw Bay Music Club of Niceville FL. A Junior Music Student Festival sponsored by FFMC is held every February in Niceville FL. Students perform two compositions before two judges, receive graded evaluations, certificates, and points towards trophies. Students begin to prepare 2 pieces about 5 months prior to this event on instruments such as piano, guitar, voice, drums, and string instruments. Festival application fees ($28 for one event) are due by November 1st and are nonrefundable. Students of all levels may enter. Ask Lisa Cyr about participating (Festival will be held in February TBA). Those parents desiring their student to perform in Piano Guild auditions will be prepared to do so for May.
The policy letter is good until July 31, 2025.