Program & Policies

Lesson Options

In-person and online lessons are both options, or a hybrid combination. Considerations when weighing the options can be found HERE.

Lessons and Performances

– The year is divided into 4 terms as follows:

Fall Term – Sep through Nov
Winter Term – Dec through Feb
Spring Term – Mar through May
Summer Term – Jun through Aug

– Lessons are scheduled weekly except during vacations.

– There are no lessons during Fall Break, Thanksgiving Week, Christmas/Winter Vacation, Spring Break. I DO teach Labor Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day and other school conference or collaboration days.

– I may take up to four weeks of additional vacation time off, one week during Fall Term, one week during Spring Term and two weeks during summer term.

– Excluding vacation weeks, there are at least 11 teaching weeks per term.

Tuition & Fees

30-min lessons – $330 per term or $120 per month

45-min lessons – $445 per term or $155 per month

– Tuition for additional students in the same immediate family is discounted by 5%

30-min lessons – $314 per term or $110 per month

– Payments may be made by cash, check, Paypal or Venmo.

– Since the amount due each month is the same, I will not send out monthly statements unless there is a past due balance or money owed for books.

– A $20/month surcharge will be added to tuition balances carried over into the next month or for checks returned for insufficient funds.

– Tuition is due as long as a student is enrolled whether or not that student attends lessons because as long as the student is enrolled I cannot give that time slot to anybody else.

– Tuition covers:

Private lessons
Development of teaching materials and trips to the music store
Recitals
Music lending library
Professional organization memberships to enhance teaching skills
Tuning and care of pianos
Time spent in communicating with parents
Continuing education
My expertise and experience

Attendance & Cancellations

– Students commit to piano lessons for an entire term unless they move out of town. I will assume continual enrollment unless I am notified otherwise. Should a student choose to not take piano lessons during a particular term he is not guaranteed a time slot when he is ready to resume.

– Because regular attendance is essential to musical growth, a commitment to attend all lessons except in a real emergency is expected.

– Lessons cancelled by the student are not made up. Instead I use the time in the student’s interest, i.e. looking at new music, studying or practicing, any effort to make myself a better teacher.

– Summer Term lessons may be rescheduled with advance notice. However, I do not “owe” students lessons missed because they were out of town, forgot, were hiking, etc.

– I make every effort to be available to teach students at their scheduled time and to be on time. I expect the same from students.

– Parents are always welcome to sit in on lessons. Even listening from another room is helpful to know what is expected and how lessons are going.

Materials

– For Private Lessons each student needs a 3-ring binder for assignment sheets, note-reading pages, great composer pieces, etc. The binder should be available at all lessons.

– More advanced students, especially those in high school, need a metronome. A metronome app on their phone is fine.

– Let me know what music you have at home. Even old music is useful for variety and sightreading.

– I require most students to use one of the following popular music collections. All are available from Amazon in softcover, spiral bound and digital editions.

First 50 Disney Songs You Should Play on the Piano

First 50 Popular Songs You Should Play on the Piano

First 50 Relaxing Songs You Should Play on the Piano

100 of the Most Beautiful Piano Solos Ever

– Music will often be sent to students as email attachments. Print it out immediately and put it in the student’s binder. This music is all either in the public domain, i.e. music written by classical composers, or it is freely available on the internet, or it is a copy of hard-copy music in my possession which the student is “borrowing”. Music in the latter category should be deleted as soon as the student is finished with it.

– It is important that students have a well-tuned, well-maintained acoustic piano on which to practice. Electronic keyboards are NOT pianos! The sound is different as is the touch, the action, the expressive ability, the way the pedal works, etc. Do what you can to provide a good instrument for your child in order to not limit progress.

Adult Students

Adults students are special. I enjoy working with them and want to encourage them to continue (or start) their piano study. I will be as flexible as possible with adults, allowing them to determine the frequency of their lessons and the music they will study according to their personal goals and life situation. The fee for adults is $45 per lesson and most lessons last 45 min. Adults are not required to perform in recitals but, of course, are welcome to do so.

Other Details

– Students need to keep their fingernails trimmed. If you hear clicking on the keys or can’t play on your fingertips, your nails are too long.

– Students should wash their hands before beginning their piano lesson.

– Parents are welcome to remain during their child’s lesson. However, younger siblings are not allowed to be noisy or run through the house.

– If sibling students come together they need to bring a quiet activity to do while they are waiting.

– Food is not allowed except in the kitchen.

– It is impossible to learn to play the piano well without regular, consistent practice, no matter how smart and talented the student is. Please help your child schedule their piano practicing. If it means turning off the TV, making a job chart, bribing them, do that. Help them to succeed. Being able to play the piano well will enrich their life always.

Contacting Me

You can contact me by phone or text at 801-717-5571, but I never answer while I am teaching. Easier is emailing at sladepiano@gmail.com. Please give me a parent’s email address and cell phone number that I may use to communicate with you.

Click here to access and complete the Agreement to enroll a student.

Program & Policies

Materials

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