INSTRUMENT REQUIREMENTS

Students must have access in their home to an acoustic piano or 88-key, weighted, digital piano with pedal.  The quality of instrument the student practices on weekly plays a significant role in their success at playing the piano. 

LESSON TIMES

Lesson times for each student occur on a consistent basis.  Once the lesson time is decided, I reserve a place for the lesson in my schedule.  Please bring all materials and work completed to the scheduled lesson. 

LOCATION

All lessons take place at The Original Strand Piano Studio at 1 Bank St, Orchard Park or online for those out-of-area.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Any material needed for the lesson (lesson books, staff paper, etc.) must be paid for by the parent or the student.  Materials can be ordered online.

Each student has an account for lesson notes on the app Practice Space and must have access to a tablet/iPad/iPhone as assignments and resources are uploaded weekly.

ATTENDANCE

In order for a student to progress and so that instruction is effective, lessons must be attended on a regular basis.  Student are expected to arrive on time to each lesson. If a student arrives late the time will not be made up.

Please keep nails clipped short. This is necessary for building proper piano technique.

When students enroll, they are reserving their spot in the studio for the entire year. The signed application form or registration is a firm commitment and guarantees your place in the studio. Please understand the tuition you pay reserves your exclusive weekly time in my schedule.

CANCELLATIONS

If you or your child are unable to attend your lesson at your regular time, please notify me as soon as possible.  Please note that if you choose to cancel a lesson, you are still obligated to pay for that lesson time.  Alternatively, there are options if a student can not make a lesson in-person and will be discussed in the initial interview.                        

NO SHOWS

If a student fails to show for their lesson without prior notification, that student will be considered a no-show and will be charged the full lesson fee.  

MAKE-UP LESSONS

Make-up lessons will be scheduled at the availability and discretion of the teacher.  Please note that if a lesson is cancelled it does not guarantee that a make-up lesson will be scheduled. In the event that a make-up lesson is not able to be scheduled, the teacher will provide a non-synchronous video lesson providing the student has shared recordings of their music with the teacher prior to the lesson. 

LESSON CREDIT

If, for any reason, I must cancel a lesson I will either schedule a make-up lesson time or you will receive a lesson credit, provided that the lesson time has been paid for in advance.  

WITHDRAWAL OR DISMISSAL

If, for any reason, you must discontinue lessons, one month's notice is required. Regrettably, I reserve the right to dismiss a student if any of these circumstances occur:  

Failure to pay tuition  -  Uncooperative attitude  

Lack of progress due to insufficient practice or unfulfilled requirements  

Persistent absences  -  Failure to complete assignments as instructed

STUDIO CALENDAR + TUITION

The studio operates on a 10-month regular lesson schedule and a 4-week Summer Session -   

• September - June include 30 private lessons and 4 group lessons.

• Summer Session - July, starting the week after the 4th of July through the end of the month.

Yearly tuition can be separated into two payments, one in August and one in December. Or as an equal monthly amount from August - June. The Summer Session is paid separately.  The studio is run much like a private school and is based on your child's enrollment, not attendance, which guarantees that particular time is reserved solely for you or your child.  

SUMMER SESSION

For the month of July, students schedule 2 - 4 lessons to keep fresh what has been learned throughout the school year.  This is also a time to explore music and styles that are different from things studied during the school year. The studio is closed the month of August and re-opens the week after Labor Day in September.  

RATES 

30-minute private lesson.........$110/month

45-minute private lesson.........$162/month

Your tuition from August 2025 to June 2026 includes 34 lessons (private + group) from September to June.

Student's tuition who arrive mid-semester is pro-rated.   Payment for lessons is due by the 8th of every month. Please note the payment schedule is one month in advance of the scheduled lesson to allow for studio planning.