Studio Policies

I received a phone call from a mom whose daughter had her first lesson with me last week. She clearly wants to “try out” piano lessons for her daughter and she is not committed to continuing if it becomes a huge struggle to get her…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• commication, commitment to lessons, holidays, Laurie Richards, long term relationships, prorating tuition, studio policies, trying it out, tuition, tuition credits

What is your policy and procedure on make up lessons? I’m thinking about when students are sick as well as when they miss for planned reasons such as dad’s graduation from college. I have a full studio and not many times that I can make…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• make up lessons, make-ups, missed lessons, student vacations, tuition

I have not been giving myself set time off each year, but now am considering 2-3 weeks. Any advice/thoughts? Are you talking about ‘paid’ time off? I’ve considered having at least a week paid vacation but never have done it. Yes, I know teachers who…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• flat fee tuition, Laurie Richards, paid time off, studio policies, vacation, vacation days, vacation weeks

It’s flu season so a parent asked me what I do in my music room to keep the piano and environment as germ-free as possible. What do you do and how would you answer this question? I keep hand sanitizer on the piano, and wipe…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• flu, germs, illness, sickness

Has anyone had any issues with parents of students trying to manipulate policy? My policy clearly states that I do not do makeup lessons or refunds unless in the event of inclement weather, and I just had all of my students and life coaches sign…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• coach not coaching, dealing with parents, Laurie Richards, makeup lessons, policy, pushy parents, studio policies

Anyone had a parent demanding a refund for a lesson they didn’t show up to and then cancelled lessons and never came back? While I was kind and said I would refund his $25 with the next round of billing, he has sent me 4…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• missed lessons, refunds, studio policies, tuition refunds

I have always charged students per school term, regardless of when they are away on holidays. If they are away, they still get charged. But I have LOTS of students who go away! I seem to have the conversation with them frequently. I have 5…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• breaks, holidays, rescheduling lessons, studio policies, tuition breaks, tuition credits, tuition refunds

A mom asked me if I would teach her son and daughter on Saturday instead of our weekday time because she does not have childcare for her 4-year-old, and he is somewhat disruptive during lessons. I do not want to teach on Saturday. I know…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• Robin Keehn, scheduling, siblings, siblings at lessons

A family told me this past week that they are discontinuing, because their only remaining lesson mate recently decided to discontinue, and this family did not want to continue in a private situation. My policy is 30 days’ written notice, and they’d prepaid for this…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• Gordon Harvey, integrity, policies, policy, quitting, refund, relationship, students quitting

When you have a new student sign up at the FIS, do you collect the first month’s lesson fees right away, or let them pay you the first time they come? Pros and cons of different ways for this? I always ask at the FIS…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• collecting tuition at FIS, commitment, commitment to lessons, first month fees, FIS, Laurie Richards, new students, SIS, tuition