Tuition and Attendance
Fall 2007 Tuition
Lesson tuition is to be paid in advance by the month. An envelope will be provided for each family at the beginning of the year stating the amount of tuition for each month and the due date for tuition. A discount is applied for tuition paid prior to the first of the month.
| Joliet Studio | Per lesson when paid prior to the 1st of the month | Per lesson when paid on or after the 1st of the month |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minute lessons | $22 | $24 |
| 45 minute lessons | $32.50 | $36 |
Length of Lessons
Piano students working at AIM level III and higher are strongly encouraged to enroll for 45 minute lessons. Having spoken with a number of teachers throughout the greater Chicago area, I know that many students are benefiting from longer lessons to adequately prepare the theory and literature that enable them to become well-rounded musicians. This is especially true for those students who are also working on written compositions. I am aware that this calls for a greater financial commitment and therefore the choice is entirely yours.
Students who will actually enter AIM at level IV or higher are required to enroll in 45 minute lessons each week if they wish to enter AIM. Students at this level who have only 30 minute lessons may study some areas of AIM, but will not be allowed to enter. If you have questions, please discuss them with me.
Voice students who are preparing for a career in music may also wish to study in 45 minute lessons. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in this option.
Attendance, Lesson Season, and Make-Up Lessons
Tuition payment for missed lessons is forfeited. Make-up lessons will be offered for students who miss a lesson due to significant illness or a death in the family, provided that 1) I am notified at least 24 hours in advance of the absence (unless the illness is sudden) and 2) there is time available. Make-up lessons will not be offered for absences for any other reasons or if there are no openings in my schedule. I will make every effort to makeup lessons caused by illness. Make-up lessons are limited to one in the fall semester and one in the spring semester per student.
Students are responsible for being at their lesson on time each week. If needed, students may arrange with other students to switch lessons in a given week if another student is willing to switch.
The regular lesson season runs from the last week of August through the second or third week of June (whenever one week after Guild auditions occurs). Two weeks of vacation are automatically scheduled at Christmas. In addition, two vacation days are allowed per regular lesson season. Any additional absences will be charged the regular lesson fee. Musical progress cannot occur if lessons are repeatedly missed. Frequent absences will lead to the student being dropped from the studio.
Lessons will not be taught on Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday immediately following, 2 weeks at Christmas/New Year's, and Good Friday. Lessons on Memorial Day and July Fourth will be rescheduled.
If I am unable to attend a lesson, a make-up lesson will be provided. If you cannot make the makeup time offered, the payment will be transferred to the next month.
Termination of lessons after the first of the month will result in forfeiture of the remaining tuition paid.
There will be a fifteen (15) dollar charge for a returned check. After one check is returned, payment for lessons must be made by cash or certified check.
Summer Lesson Attendance
Summer lessons follow the same guidelines with one exception. Unlimited vacation weeks are allowed in the summer provided that you give me your vacation schedule at the beginning of the summer term. This will allow me to adjust lessons to fill "gaps" that occur. Thank you. Participation in summer lessons is not required.
Information for Trading Lesson Times
A revised list will be available by late September of students who may be willing to trade lesson times on occasion if needed. Contact information will be provided. Please trade lessons only as necessary, and understand if someone cannot trade times with you. No one is ever obligated to trade lesson times.