Students 

Students ages 4 and up who are interested in piano or voice lessons and are willing to be committed and put in the necessary effort needed to learn an instrument are welcomed. The first lesson will be an introductory lesson and interview to ensure interest and make sure our studio is the right fit for you. Students and parents who show interest, compatibility with teaching style, and who agree to abide by studio policies will be admitted to the studio. Commitment and respect from the students and parents is necessary in order to form a partnership and help your student grow and succeed. 

Schedule

Our lesson schedule is based on the calendar year with considerations given to the academic year. This includes, but is not limited to, holidays and seasonal breaks. Upon registration, families will work with me to determine a consistent time each week that they will book for the entirety of the piano/voice year. This will be considered and reserved as their "time-slot," with me and are responsible to make it to their lessons each week. More details on the attendance expectations are outlined in the, "Attendance and Practice," section below. Lessons will be divided into three terms: 

1^st Semester: Fall/Winter – September 11^th, 2023 – December 15^th, 2023 

~Includes 10 Lessons + 2 Weekend Master Classes + Virtual Holiday Performance 

• Weeks Off 
  • Fall Wellness Week: October 16-20th, 2023 
  • Thanksgiving Break: November 20-24^th, 2023  
  • Winter Break: December 15^th – January 7^th (weeks off before 2^nd semester begins) 

2^nd Semester: Winter/Spring – January 8th, 2024 – May 24th, 2024 

~Includes 14 Lessons + 2 Weekend Master Classes + Annual Spring Recital 

• Weeks Off 
  • Martin Luther King Day: January 15th, 2024
  • Winter Wellness Week: Tuesday, February 6th- Friday, February 9th, 2024 
  • President's Day: February 19th, 2024
  • Spring Break: March 18th-29th, 2024

Summer Semester – Lesson Package of Your Choice (4, 6 or 8 Lessons): May 28th-August 30th , 2024 

Pricing and Payment

Semester Terms

Though under contract for the whole calendar year, tuition for both semesters is paid either up front, in two payments; or monthly, divided into nine equal installments. Please see the details below...

Summer Term

Students are required to take at least 4 lessons over the summer. In efforts to allow my students and their families adequate time to travel and enjoy all that summer has to offer, families may choose from any of the following Summer Term Packages (NOTE...Priority scheduling for the Fall term is contingent upon your selection): 

• Package 1: 8-Lesson Plan (First choice time-slot for Fall Term)
• Package 2: 6-Lesson Plan
• Package 3: 4-Lesson Plan/Place Holder Fee (Only guarantees a spot in the Fall)

The place holding fee is not a deposit but rather covers the student’s absences over the summer and retains their spot in the studio for the fall (while allowing them to take 4 lessons over the summer when/if available to attend), and prevents us from giving their spot in the studio to a new student who may wish to start in the summer. 

Summer Pricing listed below...

Adult Lessons 

For adult lessons that are scheduled before 3:00pm on weekdays please reach out to inquire about lesson package options and pricing. 

- Where Your Tuition Payment Goes – 

• Annual Registration Fee (Factored into term total).
• Time spent with the student in lessons and master classes.
• Time spent preparing for the student, which includes lesson planning, bookkeeping, research and development of curriculum. 
• Studio Expenses which include copying, incentive programs, instrument, tunings, repairs, etc. 
• Music books and CDs, often lent to or used by students (materials purchased by the teacher to keep student costs low).
• Self-employment taxes and business insurance. Tuition helps cover the increased living costs of your self-employed teacher. 
• Continuing education (classes, workshops, and shows that help keep the teacher current on teaching methods, strategies, and techniques). 
• Books and Music Club Memberships that enable a lower cost of materials to be offered to students. 

-  Disclaimer on required materials:  If music books, flash cards, or song materials are bought by the teacher, the cost of those materials will be added an additional fee. -

Payment Policy 

Payment, up-front, by semester and summer term (3 total payments) will be due at the beginning of each session. Lessons will not begin for a given session until payment has been made in full and received. Monthly payments (9 total, not including the summer session) will be due on the 1st of each month and no pro-rations will be offered for lessons either canceled by the family or missed in the month. Lessons will not begin for a given month until full payment has been made and received. All teacher absences will be made up during the final two weeks of the semester if they are not needed for student absences or an alternative will be provided. 

One of my most requested features was to set-up automatic payment options. Payments can be made through credit card or bank account. 

Melomanie Music Studio Payment Options 

Checking Account: This payment option allows Melomanie Music Studio to securely store a checking account as your primary form of payment. With this payment option, there will be no processing fees. 

Credit Card: This payment option allows Melomanie Music Studio to securely store a credit card account as your primary form of payment. With this payment option, there will be no processing fees. 

Declined Payment Method: If at time of collection, your payment form is rejected due to insufficient funds or the credit card no longer being in use, Melomanie Music Studio will provide 48 hours to correct the account information. If there is no response from you within 48 hours, an alternate method of payment will be requested. 

Change Payment Method: At any time, you can change your method of payment through the parent/student portal. 

Attendance Policy 

One of the most important factors in your child's success in learning music and, ultimately, having the best experience possible is student attendance at lessons. Students are given the option to attend their regularly scheduled lesson in person or via Zoom call. A combination of both can be utilized as desired. 

Students are expected to be at every lesson they are scheduled for. "Make-up" lessons, as they are often referred to as, will not be offered. No refunds/pro-rations will be issued for missed/canceled lessons.  Rather, I am offering at least two additional, "bonus," lessons at the end of each semester term at no additional charge. Students may attend these lessons if an extenuating circumstance** arises that prevents the student from making it to any of their scheduled lesson times. If the student attends each of their lessons for the given term, these additional lessons become opportunities to get in extra work with me at no additional charge. In the case of extreme Chicago weather or a global pandemic, a Zoom/FaceTime lesson may be offered as alternative. 

Please note that for your child to have the most positive experience at the annual recital in the spring, all lessons the week prior to the recital (including master class up to a month prior), are mandatory and cannot be replaced with the bonus lessons. Attendance at Master Classes is expected and encouraged in order to enhance the learning experience for your child and help them build a sense of community within the studio. 

** These include: Illness, Family Emergency , and inclement/dangerous weather.  These and all others will be left to my discretion.

Withdrawal Policy 

If the student and family decide to terminate lessons all together due to an unforeseen, unexpected change in circumstances, I require at least one month’s notice and final payment to avoid penalty or two months tuition for any amount of notice less than that. No refunds will be issued if elected to pay per semester/session.