School Policies

Each pupil will receive 35 lessons during from September through the end of May. Holidays will include Thanksgiving week, Christmas, Spring Break and a week of sick leave for teachers. Please refer to our school calendar (the News link) for specific dates.

TUITION: Tuition is PREPAID FOR EACH MONTH in advance by the first week of the month or semester. This fee does not cover music, fees for piano contests, recitals, and festivals. The full term tuition is DIVIDED INTO NINE AND HALF EQUAL PAYMENTS from Aug-May. While the number of lessons varies from month to month, the monthly tuition remains unchanged. You will receive a monthly statement itemizing your tuition payment. A $10 late fee will be assessed for payments net received by the 10th of each month. Payments may be made by check or credit card. Returned check fee is $30. (See also: the tuition rates chart)

MISSED LESSONS: One make-up lesson per semester (fall and spring) will be given with a 24-hour notice of absence. The make-up must be completed by the end of the semester. Absences for illness, death in family, or other emergencies will be considered for make-up lessons at the sole discretion of the teacher. Please be considerate of our faculty’s busy schedules.

SUMMER LESSONS: Each pupil must participate in at least FOUR private piano lessons taught at the Gray School of Music in order to re-enroll for the following year. If family summer plans prevent a pupil from taking summer lessons, please discuss this with your teacher. Special requests will be reviewed individually.

WITHDRAWAL: Registration is for the entire year. If a student must withdraw before the end of the on-going school year, a two-week notice is required. If a two-week notice is not provided, the student is still responsible for the tuition to cover the two-week period.

FEES: Recital, festival, guild, student affiliate, theory test, and other competition fees, as well as special music purchased by the teacher are not covered by tuition, but will be billed separately by each individual teacher. Parents will be responsible for purchasing most of their child’s music at the local music store as directed by the teacher.

PRACTICE: Practice is essential to progress in piano. It is the parent’s responsibility to monitor practice to see that it is done daily. A weekly practice chart must be filled out and signed each week by a parent. Weekly practice goals are set individually for each child by the teacher with parent input.

PUNCTUALITY: Punctuality is expected. Lesson times will not be extended due to late arrivals.

PROGRESS: Progress will be reviewed by the teacher. Students not practicing according to the teacher and parents expectations need to consider whether private lessons are beneficial for them. When students do not practice, parents will be consulted as to whether lessons should be continued.

BILLING: Computerized monthly statements will be mailed to parents the last week of each month. Payment is to be PREPAID by the first lesson of each month. (See also: the tuition rates chart)