Policy

YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO REREAD AND SIGN UPDATED POLICIES AT YOUR CHILD’S FIRST LESSON.

IMPORTANT POLICY CHANGE FOR APPLAUSE PIANO STUDIo.

This update is due to my compromised immune system and recent experience with illness.

Students

All students ages 4 and up who are interested in piano and are willing to make the efforts are all happily welcomed. A strong sense of commitment and respect is expected for those that are accepted into the studio. Practice expectations are expected.

PARENTS:

Must be aware of all updated policies and studio calendar.

Lessons

The lesson length for each student is determined by the teacher. One lesson per student each week is required. Lesson lengths are available in: 30 minute; 45 minute or 60 minute increments. 

Payment Policy

Students must register by June 30th for the entire upcoming academic year. The academic year begins in September 2024 and concludes in June 2025. If students are not registered by June 30th, their spot is no longer guaranteed. Please understand that creating a schedule that suits everyone is nearly impossible. Therefore; as registrations are received, they will be granted on a “FIRST COME FIRST SERVED” basis. The earlier your registration is received the better your chance is of receiving the day and approximate time frame you would prefer.

Tuition payments are available as follows:

  • Payment in full for the entire academic year (September - June)

  • Two equal installments for the academic year (September and January are the installment months)

  • Quarterly installments for the academic year (September, December, March are the installment months)

  • Monthly installments for 10 months. (September through June)

  • All installments are payable by check, cash or credit card and are due the week before the first lesson of the upcoming month. If your payment exceeds the 1st of the month, a fee of $25 will be imposed.

    • Credit Cards: Upon receiving your first invoice for the 2024-2025 Academic Year you will have the option to sign up for automatic payments directly through the invoice. All credit cards will be charged automatically on the date of your choosing, as long as it is by the 30th of the month. If you do not choose automatic payments, you can pay each invoice, as you receive it each month, as long as it is paid by the 30th of the month.

    • Checks and cash: Payments made using checks or cash must be paid prior to your first lesson of the upcoming month. For example, the September 2024 monthly payment must be received prior to the first September 2024 lesson.  There will be a $25 late fee applied if payment is not received by the 1st of the month.

If you enroll in the middle of a semester, tuition will be prorated. We accept cash, checks and credit cards.

The yearly Registration Fee of $60 must be paid in advance of the start of the year to reserve your spot on the schedule. $20 of this fee will be credited to your first invoice.

THE YEARLY REGISTRATION FEE AND TUITION WILL BE NON-REFUNDABLE.

Any returned check will be assessed $37.50 fee to cover the charge incurred from our bank. Recurring returned checks will force me to no longer accept them from you as a payment option.

Lesson Materials  

Tuition does not include student books and materials.  All lesson books and learning materials will be purchased by the teacher, then an invoice along with any new materials will be given to the adult accompanying the student. While every effort is made to purchase materials locally and at the lowest cost available, sometimes orders are purchased elsewhere and will incur an additional shipping fee. Payment is EXPECTED the following week, in the form of cash or check, at the student's next lesson. The studio does not accept credit cards to pay for student books and materials. Checks may be made out to MaryAlice Senecal or Applause Piano Studio.

Student Expectations

ALL STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO WASH AND SANITIZE THEIR HANDS UPON ENTRANCE TO THE STUDIO. YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION IN THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

  • Students are expected to arrive to lessons and recitals on time. Any time missed due to lateness to lessons will not be made up. This is important because one's lateness can interfere with other students' lesson times.

  • Students are expected to practice at home and homework will be assigned at the conclusion of each lesson. Beginners MUST follow the PRACTICE DIRECTIONS given to them. DAILY PRACTICE (at LEAST 5 days and preferably 7) is required and expected in order to make progress. Please schedule practice time into the students daily schedule. Practice needs to become a HABIT! It is recommended that parents assist and monitor practice sessions and provide a quiet environment for practicing.

  • Parental involvement for students under the age of 13 is strongly recommended. For older students, if no progress is made, parents will be asked to monitor practicing. Parents are always welcome to sit in on the lesson.

  • It is IMPERATIVE and EXPECTED that students will bring ALL lesson materials and assignment books to each and every lesson. Should a student arrive without their materials, the teacher reserves the right to dismiss the student and a makeup lesson will NOT be offered. The teacher will make every effort to provide some instruction, but this outcome is not guaranteed if all instructional materials are unavailable.

  • Please have your child come to lessons with NAILS TRIMMED AND CLEAN HANDS. IN THE EVENT THAT YOUR CHILD COMES TO THEIR LESSON WITH DIRTY HANDS, THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO THOROUGHLY WASH THEIR HANDS BEFORE TOUCHING THE PIANO.

STUDENT ILLNESS:

Should your child show signs of illness on the day of their lesson, please let MaryAlice know IMMEDIATELY! If your child is up to it, we can agree to hold their lesson online, using FORTELESSONS.COM. It takes time to schedule and prepare for an online lesson. Should your child have symptoms of a virus, flu, infection or fever, please do NOT come to the studio. When your child is recovered for at least 72 hours and is no longer exhibiting symptoms, they may return to the studio. Please have them wear a mask until they have completely recovered.

Make-up Lesson Policy

At Applause Piano Studio, when a student commits to a lesson day and time, it is expected that he/she will honor this commitment. This is a commitment on both our parts. MISSED LESSONS, FOR ANY REASON, WILL NOT BE MADE UP. It is expected and required that you contact the teacher should the student be unable to attend their scheduled lesson.  

Where possible and upon agreement, if you are unable to attend a lesson due to INCLEMENT WEATHER, FORTELESSONS.COM is available for the studio and the student to facilitate the lesson. Consent to use FORTELESSONS.COM will be completed on the registration form. You will receive an invitation to sign up for Forte (if you haven’t already) the first week of September. It is REQUIRED to be registered for Forte BEFORE THE START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR.

A "make-up week" is built into both Fall and Spring semesters, however, this week is reserved for either teacher illness or inclement weather. Occasionally, a lesson may fall on one of the calendar holidays. BE SURE TO MARK YOUR PERSONAL CALENDAR TO RECORD THE SPECIFIC MAKE UP DATE FOR THE LESSON MISSED, DUE TO A FEDERAL HOLIDAY. Extenuating circumstances, (i.e. hospitalization) will be considered on a case-by-case basis and you are encouraged to communicate in a timely fashion. 

SPORTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

I care deeply about my students and consistency in their lessons. In the event the students’ lesson day and time coincides with any other activity or event, you need to discuss this as a family and make a choice to attend or not attend your lesson. Your decision must be communicated to the teacher. There are no makeups for missed lessons. (Exceptions: hospitalization, teacher illness, inclement weather)

It is in your best interest to select a day and time that does not incur a conflict with other activities. You should keep this in mind when adding additional activities to your child’s schedule. Be sure to inform coaches, dance instructors, team leaders, etc. that you are unavailable the day and time frame of the piano lesson. When a child misses school for any reason, the institution does not provide a “makeup” day to learn missed work. This studio carries that same policy.

Inclement Weather

Lessons cancelled due to inclement weather will be scheduled by 2:15 on Fortelessons.com. You are required to respond and fill out the invitation sent the first week of September. (If you have already accepted and filled out the invitation, you are all set.) If this invitation is not accepted and completed, you will lose the lesson and a make-up will not be offered. Please log in NO EARLIER than 1 minute before the scheduled start of the lesson! PLEASE HAVE YOUR DEVICE SET WITH THE VOLUME TO 100%!  Please be sure to have all their materials ready (including a pencil, highlighter, books) and the device set up for FORTE. If you do not agree to a FORTE lesson, that lesson will be made up during "Makeup Week" posted on the Studio Calendar. Please note that these makeup weeks are due to teacher illness, teacher emergencies or inclement weather ONLY. 

Termination of Lessons

It is expected that students will commit to lessons for the academic year (September-June). If for any reason the parent or student decides to terminate a one month's notice is required. This notification allows for proper arrangements that will appropriately conclude the student's piano study. Reminder: Tuition is NON-REFUNDABLE. 

Teacher Cancellation

In the event that your teacher is unable to teach due to illnesses or other emergencies, lessons will be rescheduled or made up during the make-up session week which are the weeks indicated on the website calendar.

Holidays and Breaks

All students are expected to take lessons from September through June. It is the parents responsibility to be aware of all the calendar dates.  PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE TEACHER BY TEXT OR PHONE TO CONFIRM DATES THAT ARE LISTED ON THE WEBSITE CALENDAR. The studio will be closed on the following holidays/dates and tuition is accounted for these breaks:

  • Columbus Day

  • Thanksgiving Week (Tuesday - Friday)

  • Winter Break, February Break and Spring Break

  • Martin Luther King Jr. day

  • Easter Holy Week

  • Memorial Day

  • The month of July and August

  • Additional teacher time off may be announced throughout the year

Communication

PLEASE LIKE APPLAUSE PIANO STUDIO ON FACEBOOK.

Please frequently check your email and the website, especially on the day of your child’s lesson. In the event there is an emergency or the teacher is ill, an email will be sent to you.

In the event of inclement weather, the closing of the studio will be posted on the website. Please communicate by phone call or text, if you are running late. In the event that your child will miss their lesson, due to unforeseen circumstances, illness, etc., this MUST be communicated no later than an hour before the start of their lesson.

In addition, you are always welcome to email or call to discuss anything to do with your child and their progress. Communication is key in any business. Your child is important to me, so please don’t hesitate to call if you have a question, if you or your child is unsure of an assignment, etc.

house rules

  1. To maintain a clean teaching and learning environment for all, parents and students are requested to please remove their shoes upon entering the house. There is a boot tray, to place shoes in, right by the door.

  2. Please be sure that the student's fingernails are short and hands and fingernails clean! IN THE EVENT YOUR CHILD COMES TO LESSONS WITH DIRTY HANDS, TIME WILL BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THEIR HANDS ARE CLEAN BEFORE TOUCHING THE PIANO.

  3. PARKING: Every effort is made to provide ample parking. Please park or back in STRAIGHT in front of the garage doors. DO NOT park ACROSS the parking area. This does not give the next student arriving enough room to park their vehicle.

  4. Please be aware that this is a shared driveway. Please do not park in the "turn around," on the lawn or blocking the drive to the neighbors.