TUITION
All lessons are 45 minutes long with a different rate depending on the payment plan you choose. Each student might have a slightly different amount of lessons offered based on the regularly scheduled lessons and how they fall in the studio holiday calendar. The tuition will always reflect the proper amount of weekly lessons.
Payment Plans
Annual payment: If you would like to pay for the entire year upfront, then you will receive all 41 lessons (35 regular school year lessons and 6 summer lessons) at the discounted rate of $45/45 minutes. Your payment will be due on August 15th and will be $1,755. This includes your 2 excused absences you may use throughout the year (see Attendance Expectations for more details). If you register for lessons in a time other than August, then your annual payment is due at the time of registration. *Families who follow the annual payment plan will receive a 10% discount for one additional family member following the annual payment plan.*
Trimester payment: You can pay for lessons one trimester at a time (Fall, Spring and Summer) and will be charged $50/45 minute lessons. If you choose this option, you will receive an invoice at the start of each trimester, and you are expected to complete the tuition payment by the following dates:
Fall trimester (15 lessons) is between August 22nd – December 16th and will be $755. This payment is due August 15th.
Spring trimester (20 lessons) is between January 4th - June 2nd and will be $1000. This payment is due January 2nd.
Summer trimester (6 lessons) is from June 5th – August 18th and will be $300. This payment is due May 30th. It is required that you take at least 6 lessons throughout the summer as part of the Loud & Proud Piano Studio. If the teacher and student are both available for more than 6 lessons throughout the summer trimester, then lesson arrangements will be made.
Total Yearly Payment: $1,950. This includes your 2 excused absences you may use throughout the year (see Attendance Expectations for more details) *Families who follow the trimester payment plan will receive a 7% discount for one additional family member following the trimester payment plan.*
Monthly payment: Monthly tuition is an option but must be submitted to me before the first lesson of each month. This rate is $55/45 minute lessons and will follow the same holiday schedule as those paying for the entire year upfront. It is required that you take at least 6 lessons throughout the summer in order to keep your lesson space for fall lessons. I will send you an invoice at the beginning of each month and you must have it paid before the first lesson of the month.
Total Yearly Payment: $2,145. This includes your 2 excused absences you may use throughout the year (see Attendance Expectations for more details) *Families who follow the monthly payment plan will receive a 5% discount for one additional family member following the monthly payment plan.*
Accepted Forms of Payment – Your invoice will be sent via email and can be paid through Venmo or a check made to Loud and Proud Piano LLC.
Late Fee - Failure to pay tuition by the second lesson of the month will result in a $20 late fee. If tuition is not paid by the second lesson, lessons will be placed on hold until payment is provided.
Summer Lessons – In order to hold your place for upcoming fall lessons, students must register for 6 lessons throughout the months of June, July and first two weeks of August and pay the registration deposit. Students who are not residing in Denver during the summer may have the option of arranging lessons through Zoom.
POLICIES
Calendar - The studio calendar is available online through My Music Staff. Once you activate your student portal through My Music Staff, you will be able to see all scheduled lessons and recitals. All studio families are required to have a My Music Staff account in order to schedule summer lessons and receive lesson notes. Please be sure to add the dates of lessons and recitals to your personal and family calendar. If revisions are made during the year, you will be contacted immediately via email.
Holiday Calendar
August 22 - Start of fall lessons
October 12-18 - Fall break (no lessons)
November 21-25 - Thanksgiving break (no lessons)
December 19-January 3 - Christmas and New Year's break (no lessons)
March 6-10 - Parent teacher conferences (plan to have one parent available to discuss progress)
March 27-31 - Spring break (no lessons)
June 2 - Last day of regularly scheduled lessons
June 5 - Start of summer lessons (must take 6 lessons between June 5-August 18)
Annual Books and Materials Fee ($75) – Upon registering for lessons in the Loud & Proud Piano Studio, there is a $75 books and materials fee. This annual fee covers the cost of all books, binders, and miscellaneous items needed throughout the year. Each year that you are taking lessons, you will be billed with the $75 fee to cover books for the upcoming year. The teacher will be responsible for providing the appropriate books and having them to the student in a timely manner.
Annual Technology and Performance Fee ($25) – Along with the books and materials fee, the annual technology and performance fees are due when you register for lessons each year. This cost covers the preparation required by the teacher for recitals and other performance opportunities. This also covers part of the cost and time needed to stay current with technology trends and equipment for lessons.
Annual Registration Deposit – In order to secure lessons for the fall, a $100 registration fee is due by July 18th. This will be billed in your July tuition in order to secure the student’s spot for the fall and will be credited towards your August tuition. There is no refund on the registration fee.
Note: The Annual Fees are required each year that you sign up for lessons and are above and beyond the tuition rate. If a student decides to leave the Loud and Proud Piano Studio, fees will not be reimbursed.
Communication – Open communication between parent and teacher is critical to success in any educational endeavor. To keep communication open and clear, there will be parent teacher conferences once a year. This will take place the first week of lessons in March and will happen in place of the regularly scheduled lesson. During this conference, we will discuss your student’s progress, practice habits and any other concerns you may have. Please call or email me directly to communicate any concerns you may have throughout the year.
Practice Expectations – Quality of time spent at the piano is far more important than quantity of time. Each student should develop a practice plan that includes at least 5 practice sessions as part of the weekly schedule (similar to other extracurricular activities).
Assignment sheets are given to students after each lesson as a guide for specific pieces to practice along with suggested practice strategies. This sheet should take priority in practice sessions as it includes detailed assignments meant to propel students forward in their musical journey. Beyond these assignments, students are encouraged to simply sit down and enjoy time discovering the piano in their own unique way.
In general, students 5-8 should practice around 20 minutes a day. Students 9-13 should practice at least 30 minutes a day. Students 14 and up, or students who are preparing for unique performances/auditions, should schedule a minimum of 40 minutes a day. No matter the age, I suggest breaking up practice sessions into multiple parts throughout the day to make each minute spend at the piano focused and efficient.
Keep in mind prepared lessons cost the same as unprepared lessons, but are much higher in value.
ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS
Attendance at every lesson is vital to student success. By paying tuition, you are guaranteed a weekly slot in my teaching schedule. Therefore, please make every effort to keep track of your lesson time and schedule other activities around your weekly lesson. Once you commit to lessons in the Loud & Proud Piano Studio, you are expected to take lessons for the full amount that is listed in the studio calendar (35 regular school year lessons and 6 summer lessons).
If a student is absent from a private lesson, the instructor is not obligated to offer a make-up lesson under any circumstance. There will be no refunds for missed lessons outside of the 2 excused absences given throughout the year (details in the next section). However, if a make-up lesson is requested at least a week in advance then the lesson may be rescheduled if the teacher’s schedule allows. This lesson may be offered through an online or in person format. There are no make-up lessons offered for lessons canceled within 24 hours.
Holidays and Excused Absences - I follow the Denver Public School system and their calendar holidays. This includes the following weeks off: 1 week for fall break, 1 week for Thanksgiving, 2 weeks for Christmas/New Years and 1 week for Spring break. In addition to these holidays off you will be given 2 weeks of an unpaid excused absence that you can use throughout the year if you are ill, have a family emergency, take an additional vacation, etc. This excused absence is already calculated into the yearly tuition. Once you use your 2 excused absences you will still be charged the remaining balance of future absences. If you pay by the month or the trimester, you will be refunded your 2 excused absences through Venmo.
If you begin lessons in February or later, then you will only have one unpaid, excused absence to utilize until the new school year begins again in August. Please let me know at least a week in advance if you plan to use your unpaid, excused absence.
If your lesson occurs on a one day holiday that is not a full week off from school such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th, Martin Luther King Jr Day or President’s Day, then makeup lessons will be offered if you plan to be out of town. This lesson may take place in person or online. If teacher and student will both be available then lessons will resume as normal. If a makeup lesson can not be found then you will not be charged for this lesson.
Online Lessons - Unless prearranged for weekly lessons, online lessons will only be implemented when scheduling a makeup lesson for inclement weather, teacher cancelation or a student is sick. Otherwise, please plan to attend lessons in person on a weekly basis.
Teacher Cancelation – Lessons missed by the instructor will be made up at a mutually convenient time. If a makeup lesson cannot be rescheduled, you will not be charged for the missed lesson. I will always try to let you know at least two weeks in advance if I have to cancel a lesson.
Inclement weather - Anytime bad weather affects our lessons, we will find a mutually agreeable time to make up the lesson within the following month. This may take place in person or online. If there is not a mutually agreeable time within the following month, then you will still be charged for the lesson.
Lesson termination or withdrawal – A one-month notice will be required if you choose to withdraw from piano lessons. You are expected to pay for lessons in the one-month notice and will receive a 50% refund for the remaining balance of lessons if you paid for the entire year up front. Your lessons may also be terminated by the instructor if tuition balances remain unpaid for more than two weeks or late payments occur regularly.