Valerie Groh's
piano Garden
tuition, Fees & policies
Attendance: Weekly attendance at lessons is extremely important to a student's potential success. Every effort must be made to attend regularly, and to help encourage that commitment, I will offer only two make-up lessons per semester that are not due to emergency circumstances or illness. I must receive at least 24-hours notice for lessons to be rescheduled. The ONLY circumstance in which a lesson will be credited or refunded is if I am unable to teach a lesson and cannot make it up for some reason. This is an extremely rare occurrance. Please carefully consider what day and time will work consistently for you and your family for the full academic year, and be prepared to honor your commitment for the full academic year.
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FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
TUITION - For the 9-month academic year, September to May, tuition is charged monthly and is due at the first lesson of each month. This guarantees each student a 45-minute or hour-long placement each week in my studio. I am always there, prepared in advance for each student's highly individualized lesson, and my family clears out of the home to offer us a quiet space and time for each student's lesson. Therefore, the monthly tuition must be paid in full - I do not charge an hourly or pro-rated tuition. This tuition is based on four-lessons per month - some months will have five lessons, and there is no extra charge for those months. The "extra" lessons will make-up for months with only three lessons due to holidays such as Thanksgiving or Christmas or Spring Break. This helps me keep a consistent income, and makes it simpler for my students as well.
Monthly tuition for 45-minute weekly private lessons is $165.
Monthly tuition for hour-long weekly private lessons is $180.
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Artwork used with permission from artist, Lea, at Words & Confetti
A pay-per-lesson option is available to students in the summer months of June, July and August due to high rates of travel, camp commitments and family vacation time. The pay-per-lesson rate is slightly higher than the monthly rate to account for inconvenience of inconsistent scheduling and a lower rate of income than in months bringing in a regular tuition. The rate is $50 per 45-minute-lesson and $60 per hour-long lesson.
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ADDITIONAL COSTS A reimbursement for music purchased for students will be charged as needed throughout the year, and may be paid for individually or added to the following month's tuition. Advanced notice will be given for any upcoming music needs and costs. Beginners will face an initial investment of between $20 and $30, depending on what method is chosen for a beginning set of books.
A $50.00 annual studio fee will be charged at the first lesson of the fall semester. Money from this fee helps defray the cost of various items and services given throughout the year (rewards, practice incentives, motivational resources and games, studio maintanence- piano tuning, membership fees for local and national professional music organizations, recital hall rental fee, etc.)
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A metronome is a highly recommended practice tool - click here to buy one or here for help choosing an app or access one free online.
Arrange to have your piano tuned on a regular basis, at least once per year. Click here for a list of piano tuners.
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Required Materials
Yes, you need a piano at home. Students must have an instrument available for practice between their lessons. An acoustic piano is preferable over a digital instrument. There are many used pianos out there looking for a loving home, and I'll be happy to help you locate and choose the right one for your family. There are also rent-to-own options available at local music stores. If a digital instrument is the best choice for you at this time, you must be sure to get one with "fully-weighted keys" - refer to this article for more information. Additionally, students need a good, solid bench and sufficient lighting in their practice area.
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Parent Participation
Students are most successful with a parent involved in attending lessons, helping to establish daily practice, and expressing enthusiastic support.
Encourage a set time every day for your child to practice.
Provide a welcoming practice setting - a student will not want to spend time at an instrument that is in an isolated corner - instead, choose a place that is well-trafficked - the more a student passes the instrument, the more he or she may be inticed to play.
Check on your child's practice progress during the week.
Make sure your child brings all of the correct music and materials to EACH lesson, preferably in a specially chosen tote bag.
Check the music assignment notebook regularly for communication from the teacher.
Make sure your child finishes all written assignments and is prepared for each lesson.
Arrive on time for all lessons and pick up from lessons promptly.
Keep your child's nails clipped short, and encourage them to wash their hands before coming to lessons.
Play recordings of beautiful piano music, take your children to concerts, or just tune in occasionally to Austin's Classical Music Radio Station, KMFA.