Studio Policy

Lesson Length

Lessons are available in 30-, 45-, and 60-minute sessions, depending on student age and playing ability.

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Note: Final decisions about level placement are made by the teacher and may not always align with the age guidelines listed.

Cello Students

30-minute lessons – Beginners, ages 5–7
45-minute lessons – Intermediates, ages 8+
60-minute lessons – Intermediates, Advanced players, ages 12+

For students ages 5–9, a parent or guardian is required to attend lessons.

French Horn Students

30-minute lessons – Beginners, ages 10–11
45-minute lessons – Intermediates, ages 12+
60-minute lessons – Intermediates, Advanced players, ages 15+

Adult Students

Adult students (18+) may choose 45- or 60-minute lessons based on their goals and in collaboration with their teacher.

Absence Policy

When you register for lessons, you’re reserving a specific weekly time slot. Please let us know as soon as possible if you have an upcoming absence.

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Planned absences – You’re welcome to swap with another student or sign up for an available spot on the teacher’s schedule.

Teacher absence – If a teacher must miss a lesson, a make-up will be scheduled.

Unexpected conflicts – When unforeseen circumstances arise, an online lesson may be offered as a substitute. For added flexibility, each semester also includes one built-in Make-up Lesson Week (in Jan and Jun). Only one make-up lesson per semester is allowed. Semesters are September-January and February-June.

Tuition

We handle lesson payments a bit differently during the school year than we do in the summer.

School-Year Tuition (September–June)

Students attend one weekly lesson. Monthly tuition is consistent. Tuition includes 35 lessons during the academic year and takes into account holiday breaks. There are two “Make-up lesson weeks” (4th week of January & 3rd week of June). Tuition also covers administrative fees as well as pianist and venue fees for the end-of-year recital. Our studio recital for the 2025-2026 school year will take place June 13th at 4pm.

Beginner 30-minute lessons – $180/month

Intermediate 45-minute lessons – $240/month

Advanced 60-minute lessons – $280/month

Summer Tuition (July–August)

Flexible, pay-as-you-go pricing based on student availability. No recitals are held in the summer. Summer schedule will be made available in March.

Beginner 30-minute lessons – $45 per lesson

Intermediate 45-minute lessons – $60 per lesson

Advanced 60-minute lessons – $70 per lesson

Practice & Listening

Expectations and tips

Take notes during lessons, listen regularly to your recordings, and practice at home to prepare for your next lesson and upcoming performances! For students ages 5–9, a parent or guardian is required to attend lessons and support daily home practice. Taking notes during lessons and guiding at-home practice is key to steady progress for all ages. As students grow older, they will naturally develop more independence in their musical routine.

Listening to recordings daily is essential. We recommend listening to what you are working on twice a day—in the car, during meals, at bedtime, or while doing homework. Regular listening accelerates progress and deepens musical understanding. For cello students, this can be the Suzuki recordings or other pieces they are practicing. Horn students may listen to their solo music or can look up music that matches their Houghton “Grain” exercises. Once your child meets this minimum, feel free to explore other music: advanced Suzuki pieces, favorite genres, or anything that brings joy and curiosity. The goal is to build a rich musical environment at home.