Studio Policy
General Information:
Weekly private and group piano lessons are available in 30min, 45min, or 60min time slots at the studio location in Mundelein, IL.
Registration:
An annual, non-refundable fee of $40 per student or $75 per family will be due along with tuition at the first lesson of each new school year. This amount will be prorated upon enrollment for families starting later in the year.
Tuition:
The 2024-2025 calendar has 34 lesson weeks from Sept-May. Tuition is split into two 11 week sessions — fall and winter – and one 12 week spring session. Tuition is based on 32 of those weeks, leaving 2 weeks to be used as “flex weeks” for any unexpected teacher absences. Any unused flex week lessons will be given to students free of charge. Summer lessons are a shorter session and will be billed separately at a lower rate. (See below for session dates.)
Tuition rates are $340/session for the 24-25 school year (for 30 min lessons; inquire for 45/60min pricing)
Tuition is divided into equal installments and can be made in the following ways:
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One time payment for the year: $1000 due 9/3/24 (2% discount)
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3 installments each session: $340 due 9/3/24, 11/18/23 and 2/24/24
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Monthly: $118 due at the 1st lesson of each month (+5% for monthly admin fee)
Billing:
Tuition will be billed in advance and payment can be made in cash, check, or online via Zelle (preferred). Checks should be made out to Kelly Tooley. The teacher reserves the right to raise tuition fees at the beginning of every other academic year.
Late fees:
If payment is not received by the 2nd lesson of the session, a $10 late fee will be added to your next bill. If payment is not received by the 3rd class of the month, the student will be suspended from class until payment is made in full.
Discounts:
Off-peak hours: Families that schedule lessons during the off-peak weekday hours between 9am-3pm receive a 5% discount on tuition prices ($320/session). Availability of those times is not guaranteed and is dependent on the teacher’s schedule.
Referral credit: Families that refer a new family to the studio will receive a $25 credit that will be applied to their account after the new student’s first session of lessons.
Calendar:
The teaching schedule for the 2024-2025 school year runs from September 3th to May 23th and follows the local public school calendar of closures and holidays. Session dates are as follows:
Fall Session: September 3-November 15
Winter Session: November 18-February 21
Spring Session: February 24-May 23
Summer Session: TBD
There will be NO LESSONS on the following dates:
September 2: Labor Day
November 25-29: Thanksgiving Break
December 23-January 3: Winter Break
March 24-28: Spring Break
May 26-May 30: End of School Year Break
Group Lessons: *new for the 24-25 school year*
Each session will offer an optional group lesson in which students can engage with other students in musical games, duets, and performances. During group lesson weeks there will be no individual lessons offered, whether or not students attend the group lesson. Group lessons will take place on Monday afternoons at the studio in Mundelein on the following dates (time TBD):
Monday, October 14
Monday, February 17
Monday, May 23
Makeups/Cancellations:
In the event that a student is not able to attend their scheduled lesson time, the teacher should be notified at least 24 hours in advance. If possible, an online lesson via FaceTime will be offered during the student’s scheduled lesson time. If an online lesson is not possible, the student can submit a video recording of their playing to receive feedback and practice instructions for the week from the teacher. Beyond that, no makeup lessons or payment credits will be offered to students who miss lessons for any reason. In the event that the teacher has to cancel, the lesson will be made up or a credit will be given. Exceptions to this policy are made at the teacher’s discretion.
Temporary suspension of lessons for any period of time cannot be accommodated. Should a student’s schedule temporarily change and they are unable to attend lessons, tuition payments are required to hold his/her time slot. Otherwise, the time slot will be forfeited and offered to those on the waiting list. There is no guarantee that there will be an open time slot when said student is able to return for lessons.
Student and family expectations:
Practice: To enjoy and succeed in piano study, spending time at the piano outside of class is very beneficial. Lessons are a time for collaboration, honing technique, learning new songs and concepts, and creating/improvising. Without home practice, lessons can become more repetitive and a student is likely to get discouraged more quickly at the slower progress. See FAQ page for more info on practice expectations.
Listening Assignments: Most weeks, the studio will share a link to audio files of certain pieces the students are working on in lessons. Students and their families should listen to these pieces throughout the week.
In-studio expectations: Students enrolled in lessons at the studio are to arrive promptly and quietly as a previous lesson is often finishing as they arrive. Students should arrive no more than 5 minutes early to their lesson time out of respect for other students and/or the teacher’s schedule. Likewise, students who arrive late will still finish at their appointed time, the lesson will not be extended past their scheduled time. Siblings/parents may wait in the living room during lessons only if they are not a distraction to the lesson. Devices with sound on MAY NOT be used by waiting family members; headphones are required!
Instrument:
It is ideal for each student to have access to a piano/keyboard for practice outside of class time, especially beyond the first year of lessons. If a family does not own a piano, using the piano of a neighbor, family member or other resource for practice time is acceptable. It is strongly recommended that the instrument be a tuned, acoustic piano or a full, 88 weighted-key digital keyboard with a music stand and sustain pedal. A solid bench of appropriate height is also necessary. Smaller sized keyboards may be acceptable during the first year of study, but families should plan to upgrade as students progress. See piano buying guide for more information.
Materials:
Upon enrollment, and as needed throughout the school year, the studio will purchase method books, sheet music and other supplementary materials for each student. Notification of this will be communicated in advance, and the cost will appear on the next session tuition invoice (usually no more than $50-$60 per school year). It is important that students bring all of these materials to each lesson.
Performance Opportunities:
There will be two formal recitals held each year, one in December and one in May. Participation is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged. Check the studio calendar for performance dates.
Media Consent Policy:
The studio maintains a website (ainsleylanestudio.com) and Facebook page (facebook.com/ainsleylanestudio.com) wherein audio recordings, videos and photographs taken from various lessons and studio events are often posted. It is required that each parent fill out and return the Media Consent Form (even if they are choosing not to participate), along with the Agreement To Terms previous to—or at—the student’s first lesson. Note: students will never be identified by last name, school, or school grade..
Communication:
With a full schedule, it’s not always easy for the teacher to communicate with parents between lessons. To discuss progress or other concerns, parents are welcome to talk with a teacher in the first few minutes of their child’s lesson, not afterwards (in order to respect the next student’s time slot and the teacher’s schedule). If a longer discussion is needed, a meeting can be scheduled for a later date. In case of an emergency or a last minute cancellation, a text message is the best way to contact the teacher for a quick response. Parents are strongly encouraged to communicate with the teacher via email (at kelly@ainsleylanestudio.com) or phone / text message (at 331-551-2321).