tuition rates

1-ACADEMIC YEAR: Our academic year runs from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026.

2-REGISTRATION FEES: A non-refundable registration fee of $30 per student is required for new students and returning students who have previously discontinued lessons or taken a break. This fee may be waived by the studio director due to seasonal offers for new students.

3-TUITION: Piano tuition must be paid one month in advance and is due before the first day of each month. Don’t forget, some months have 5 classes. Payments are considered late if they are received after the first day of each month, and you will be charged a late fee. Please contact us if you need to make arrangements for paying after the 1st of the month. All tuition, registration and other fees are NON-REFUNDABLE or transferable. Tuition is subject to change without notice. We only accept payments online.

4-LATE FEE: Unless you have made arrangements with us, we will add $35.00 to your monthly tuition if you pay after the 1st of the month. We will not hold your day/time until your payment is received.

5-PRACTICE AND STUDIO EXPECTATIONS: Students are expected to practice a minimum of 30 minutes at least 5 days a week minimum. If you wish to progress more quickly, the student should plan on practicing 1 hour daily. Eventually, you will need to practice a minimum of 1 hour daily.

• Parents should monitor practices and ensure that all the assignments given to the student are completed.

• Students are expected to: Bring required lesson materials and books to each lesson. Complete practice and written assignments. Keep hands clean and fingernails neatly trimmed.

• The Studio will provide the Student with verbal or written warnings of breaches in Studio Expectations, and the Student will have the opportunity to correct or rectify such breaches. Repeated or frequent breaches may result in termination of lessons.

6-DAY AND TIME: When you enroll in private lessons, you enter into an agreement for a dedicated time slot that is exclusively reserved for you. This time cannot be easily filled by another student, as it would be in other service-based appointments. Your teacher dedicates themselves entirely to this scheduled time, and they do not take on other commitments during it. Respecting this arrangement not only honors their time but also ensures that you get the most out of your lessons.

7-PUNCTUALITY: We will wait 10 minutes for you, unless you have notified us that you are running late. Remember, if you show up late, you will only receive the remainder of your lesson time.

8-MISSED LESSONS: There are no refunds or credits for any missed lessons regardless of the reason. This includes missed lessons due to unforeseen circumstances, a family emergency, or illness. Students are purchasing the teacher's time and classroom space.

9-SAME DAY SWITCH TO ONLINE LESSON: If you are not feeling well, we are willing to switch your in-person lesson online with at least 3 hours’ same day notice. There will be no refunds, credits, or make-up(s) for missed online lessons.

10-MAKE-UPS: Each student is allowed two make-up lessons per year:

1. The first make-up lesson is provided as a one-time courtesy and is free of charge.

2. The second make-up lesson incurs a non-refundable fee of $20 per student.

Make-up Eligibility and Rules:

• All make-ups require a 48-hour notice.

• Make-up lessons are not cumulative, transferable, or refundable. Any unused make-up will be forfeited at the end of the year or if the student chooses to terminate lessons or take a break.

• Make-up lessons can be conducted by any available studio teacher, either online or in person.

• Once issued, all make-up lessons are final and will expire 30 days later. They cannot be rescheduled.

• If a make-up lesson is not completed within the 30-day timeframe, the opportunity will be forfeited, and no additional make-up will be provided until the next studio school year.

• Once a parent or student gives notice for the last month of lessons, all remaining make-up(s) will be forfeited. No make-up(s) will be granted the last month of lessons.

• Make-up is considered a privilege not an expectation and depends on the availability of instructors. If a make-up lesson cannot be scheduled due to time constraints for either the student or the teacher, that opportunity will also be forfeited.

• This make-up policy applies to any temporary schedule change requested, even if given ample notice. Please remember that make-up lessons cannot be rescheduled.

11-PROCEDURE TO DISCONTINUE OR "TAKE A BREAK" FROM LESSONS: A parent or adult student must inform Dr. Alma Batista via email (drbatista@msn.com) with one month's written notice before the 5th of the month for it to take effect that same month. The written notice must explain the reasons for terminating the lessons. A one-month payment is required, whether the student attends lessons during their last month or not. No make-up(s) will be scheduled once notice to terminate is given. All unused services are non-refundable and will be forfeited.

For example: if you give us notice, on March 1-5, you will pay for March and end your lessons at the end of March. However, if you give us notice on March 6th, or later in the month, you will have to pay for March and April, even if you don’t attend any lessons. All unpaid fees must be paid prior to termination. All unused services are non-refundable and forfeited.

12-EXTENDED FAMILY VACATIONS: Any break in lessons of 3 weeks or longer is considered a discontinuation. Please follow the "Procedure to Discontinue or Take a Break from Lessons." When a student takes a break, they forfeit their scheduled day and time. Upon returning, they will be offered whatever day/time is available and will have to pay the $30 registration fee. Returning students who have already used their make-ups or whose make-up opportunity was forfeited due to notice of terminated lessons will not be eligible for another make-up until the next academic year. If you want to hold your day/time, you will have to pay the tuition fee, but there will be no make-up(s) for your missed time.

13-TEACHER ABSENCE: Illness or other emergencies may arise which prevent the teacher from offering a lesson at a scheduled time. If the teacher is unable to provide a scheduled lesson due to illness or other reasons, and a substitute teacher cannot be arranged, a make-up lesson will be scheduled at a time when the student and teacher are available. No refunds or credits will be provided if the make-up lesson cannot be scheduled.

14-TEACHER SUBSTITUTIONS: The school reserves the right to provide a substitute teacher if the scheduled teacher is unable to teach the class. If the school cannot provide a teacher any missed classes will be made up at a later date.

15-TEACHER CHANGES: The school reserves the right to assign a new teacher if the regular teacher stops teaching at the studio for any reason. If a new teacher cannot be provided, any missed classes will be made up at a later date.

16-VIDEO CONFERENCING CONSENT: Your initials indicate your consent to have you (adult student) or your child access lessons with their instructor via Zoom, Google Meet, or any other video conferencing App. These sessions may be recorded, and the file will be shared only with you, your child, their instructor, and studio director.

17-PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRONIC DEVICES: We will not refund any monies if your Wi-Fi or your electronic device does not work properly at the time of the lesson. We understand that we cannot always control the performance of electronic devices, however, we recommend that you try your electronic devices and connections before your lesson so you can correct the issue in advance.

18-PROBATION: A 30-day probation will be given for any of the following reasons: Paying your tuition late, not being prepared for the lessons, not showing improvement, not willing to try your teacher's suggestions, poor attendance, not bringing books and materials, behaving poorly, or being disrespectful in the wait area, recital, and/or at the lesson.

19-RECITALS: We offer two studio recitals per year. All students are expected to participate in the recitals. Recitals are a way for students to share their progress with their families and friends. There is a recital fee for recitals to help pay for venue fees. Please refrain from bringing young children who are not able to sit still for a long period of time so that other students and families are not disturbed during the recital.

20-PRIVACY NOTICE: All recitals are recorded, and photos are taken. Some selected performances and photos are posted on the music studio's social media (studio website, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn) without any compensation to Parent or Student. Parent and/or Student agree to waive and release any and all claims Parent may have against Studio relating to the use of these recordings, images, or statements. This Consent is binding upon all heirs and future legal representatives. Let me know if you don't want the student’s picture or videos on social media.

21-PARENTS OR SIBLINGS AT LESSONS: Only the student is allowed to enter the lesson room. Parents, siblings, or guardians are not permitted in the teaching room. We may grant one parent to sit at the lesson a few times per year if the student needs help and supervision with their practice or if the student is very young. All our rooms have windows and parents can watch the lesson from the window. Face masks are no longer required to enter our office, but if you are coughing or sick, we will ask you to wear one. Parents and siblings can wait in our waiting area.

22-HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Other closures will be announced as necessary. We may also take the following weeks off: 1 week in the spring, 1 week in the summer, Thanksgiving week, and 1 week during Christmas.

23-ACCESS AND SAFETY: The studio is in a high traffic business area. We recommend that parents accompany their children to and from the studio. The studio is not responsible for any injuries or accidents outside of the studio area.

24-BATHROOM: We do not have a private bathroom in our studio. If you need to use the bathroom, request the key from Dr. Batista. The bathrooms are located on the second floor outside of our office. The key must be returned to Dr. Batista for safety reasons.

25-TERMINATION: The Studio may also terminate lessons for any reason, at the sole discretion of the studio. If the Studio terminates lessons, TUITION WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.