Tuition for Individual Lessons

Students are scheduled at a regular weekly lesson time. Most lessons are 30 minutes per week. Tuition is due monthly, by the first day of each month. During the months from September to May, my monthly tuition rate is semester-based. Fall semester includes September through December, and Spring semester includes January through May. Your monthly tuition rate, listed below, remains the same, no matter how many lessons you attend. I have set my rates in a way that the number of lessons I offer to teach in a semester is always about three or four more than the lessons you are paying for throughout that semester. If you attend lessons regularly, some months, you may get as many as five lessons, and some months, you may only get two. The monthly payment amount is an average amount, and even if you or I need to cancel a lesson or two, you'll still be getting more lessons than you pay for over the course of the semester.

Tuition rates are based on $45 per half hour lesson. Monthly rates are as follows:

30 minute lessons: $135 per month

45 minute lessons: $203 per month

60 minute lessons (or two 30 minute siblings): $270 per month

For the summer months, June through August, your base monthly payment remains the same. Summer lessons are not semester-based, because sometimes we take vacations that weren't planned a month before. If I take a week or two off lessons for the summer, I will let you know as far in advance as possible, and depending on how many lessons you will still receive that month, I may give you a discounted monthly rate for that month. If you plan to take vacations during the summer, please let me know as soon as possible so that we may arrange scheduling and tuition accordingly. In the absence of significant summer vacations, your summer monthly rate will remain the same as it is throughout the year.

You may choose to set up online credit card payments and auto pay by logging in at the link below. The first time you log in, you'll need a password from me. Please contact me for your first-time password.

melaniesmelodies.mymusicstaff.com

I also accept Venmo and Zelle.

​Prorating: If you begin your first lesson in the middle of a month, I will prorate your first monthly amount. After the first month, your monthly payment will always be my monthly rate as listed above, no matter how many lessons you attend. If you continue attending lessons regularly and paying the monthly amount for the remainder of the semester, you will still receive more lessons than your monthly payment covers.

Make-up lessons

Because of my full schedule, I have set up my tuition rates in a way to eliminate the need for make-up lessons. However, you may choose to use a video lesson as a make-up lesson any time. These do not need to be scheduled with me. Simply take a video of the student playing any scales, exercises, or pieces and send to me. I will send you back a response with feedback and next steps.

Recitals

I hold recitals usually three times per year: October, December, and a spring recital. Rather than add an extra recital fee, I have decided to include recitals as a lesson in terms of tuition. Most of the time, recitals will replace regular lessons for that week. Recitals are a very important part of learning to play an instrument, so I encourage all students to participate in person or virtually.

Injuries and Sickness

If your student receives an injury to one hand or arm, you have the option of continuing lessons uninterrupted as we work on music theory and one-hand piano music.

If your student is sick with anything contagious, we may hold virtual lessons rather than canceling altogher. If you need to cancel or switch to a virtual lesson, please contact me as soon as possible. I will do the same if I am sick.

Arriving Late

If you are late for your lesson, please text me. I will always teach a student who arrives late, up until the time the lesson is scheduled to end. I will still have to end the lesson on time, so as not to cut into the next student's lesson time, to stay on schedule.

Waiting during lessons

If you arrive early and need to wait your turn, please wait outside my studio until it is time for your lesson. Please knock or ring if I don't open the door for you on time. If your child has siblings not enrolled in lessons with me, please have them wait outside my studio. Siblings who both have a private lesson and wait for each other can use the other sibling's lesson time to work on theory assignments or play note reading apps.