REYNOLDS PIANO STUDIO POLICIES
Payment
Lessons take place weekly and can be purchased in groups of 5, 10, or 15. Families with multiple students will receive a 10% discount for each additional student. Invoices will be sent via email. To pay for your upcoming lessons, click on the link given to you on the invoice.
ACH payments are accepted via My Music Staff. Payment must be completed before a lesson can be given. For more information about setting up ACH payments, click here.
Fees
A $40.00 late fee will be charged for late payment. Students who pay late twice will be required to set their accounts to autopay. Lessons will resume upon payment in full.
Cancellations
In the event that you need to cancel your lesson, please text/call me as soon as possible at 704.560.8348 or email me at ken@reynoldspiano.com.
Students who miss a lesson due to a genuine emergency such as sickness or a death in the family are responsible to schedule a make-up lesson with me within 2 weeks. Lessons missed for any other reason cannot be made up.
Discontinuing Lessons
Students must give 30 days written and paid notice before discontinuing lessons.
Holidays
The following days are considered holidays and no lessons will be given on these days: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
Taking an Extended Break from Lessons
30 days written and paid notice is required for students needing to take a break from lessons for more than 2 consecutive weeks. A previously reserved lesson day and time cannot be guaranteed when resuming lessons.
Student Termination
Reynolds Piano reserves the right to dismiss any student due to frequent absences, inappropriate behavior, overdue tuition payments, and/or parental or guardian noncompliance with Reynolds Piano policies.
Illness
Out of respect for your teacher and the other families who take piano lessons, please do not come sick to the studio. If you or your child are too sick to attend work or school, you are too sick for a piano lesson.
I reserve the right to cancel the lesson upon your arrival if you are visibly ill. Fever, vomiting/digestive issues, communicable skin rashes, and excessive coughing are all reasons to cancel.
Keep in mind that an online lesson is an option in most cases when a student is feeling well enough but might be contagious. See my cancellation policy for more details.
Saving a Lesson Time (New Students)
A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to hold a student’s first official lesson time when it is more than 2 weeks after their free-trial lesson.
Refunds
Reynolds Piano does not give refunds.
Tardiness
Students are expected to come to their lesson on time. The music instructor is not responsible to complete a lesson if the student does not arrive within the first 10 minutes of the scheduled time.
Lesson Preparation
Students are required to have their piano book(s) for each lesson and are expected to purchase all materials necessary for instruction.
Practice
Learning a musical instrument takes time and discipline. Students are expected to practice on a regular basis (5 days/week). The amount of practice time will differ for each student and depend on their skill level and age. The following is a general idea of expected daily practice times:
Beginner: 15 minutes
Level 1 – 2: 25 minutes
Level 3 – 6: 30 – 40 minutes
Level 7 – 10: 45 – 60 minutes
Parents play an important role, especially with younger elementary students. Kids need parents to help them stay disciplined with their practice and to oversee what they are learning.
Piano/Keyboard Specifications
All students must have an acoustic piano or digital keyboard to practice on and use for their weekly lesson. Playing on an inadequate instrument can compromise the learning process and cause the student to be discouraged.
Consequently, acoustic pianos should be in full working order and be tuned at least once a year. Digital pianos should meet the following requirements:
- 88 full-size keys
- Touch sensitivity
- Weighted keys
- Sustain pedal
- Bench of an appropriate height
- Entirely self-contained or on a keyboard stand (not a table or desk)
Internet Specifications (Online Students Only)
I currently use a video conferencing program called Rock Out Loud Live. This program is made for music! With that said, even a great tool like this can perform below average due to the many variables that affect the online experience. Here are some practical things you can do to optimize your virtual lesson.
1. Quit all other programs.
2. If possible, plug in using an ethernet cable.
3. If you are using WiFi, move closer to the router.
4. Ask anyone in your home who is streaming to stop until the lesson is completed.
5. Check your internet speed by going to speedtest.net. In order to have a successful lesson, you need a minimum of 10mbps down and 5 mbps up.
Device Usage (Online Students Only)
A laptop usually provides the best experience, assuming it is in good working condition. This is because it usually has a bigger screen, more processing speed, and better speakers. A tablet can also work, but the audio is sometimes not quite loud enough. In this case, earphones are a great solution! Phones can be used, but it is not recommended. Their small screen size and little speakers make it hard for students to interact while sitting at the piano.
Photo and Video Release
On occasion, I use pictures and videos of students to promote Reynolds Piano. Students will be identified by first name only, and sometimes will not have any identification at all. If for some reason you or your child would rather not have your picture or video online, please let me know.