Tuition

Tuition

 

Trial Lessons

If you are interested in lessons at TAoP, please, call the studio to ask any questions you may have and/or to schedule a trial lesson with interview.  Trial lessons are single private lessons that give you the opportunity to see how comfortable you feel with the personality, abilites and teaching style of the instructor, without any obligation to register for additional lessons. Parents are encouraged to observe their children’s trial lesson. The fee for a trial lesson and interview equals one week’s tuition and is to be paid at the time of the trial lesson.

 

An artfully designed $ sigh symbolizing tuitionHow Is Tuition Calculated?

Private lessons at TAoP are 60, 45 or 30 minutes long, held once or twice a week. With each individual lesson, an additional 30 minutes or more of computer time is offered in the student computer lab to practice note reading, music theory, ear training and other musicianship skills. The studio sponsors five performance opportunities for the students each year. (See the Special Events page for more information.) In addition, students are prepared for a variety of competitions, auditions, festivals, recitals, and other performances outside of the studio. Once in a while, group lessons or classes are scheduled in place of individual lessons for ensemble playing or learning activities best done in groups. Additional classes may also be offered time to time.

Tuition at The Art of Piano is charged on a per term basis. Students are expected to complete each term they sign up for and must pay tuition and fees in full.  Tuition for each term is based on the number of weeks in the term and the length of the weekly private lessons.  However, tuition is not simply a lesson fee (see What does tuition cover?).  The tuition of new students beginning lessons after the term has begun will be adjusted.

 

What Does Tuition Cover?

In order to provide a high-quality education, the instructor has numerous year-around responsibilities in addition to teaching lessons and incurs a variety of expenses. Tuition covers

    • time spent with students
      • teaching lessons & classes
      • helping in the computer lab
      • directing special studio events
      • attending outside-of-the-studio student performances
    • preparation for lessons, studio events & other student performances
      • lesson planning, repertoire selection & curriculum development
      • research & acquisition of teaching materials & supplies
      • planning, organizing, setting up for & tearing down/cleaning up after special studio events
      • hiring, supervising & paying event- and other occasional helpers
      • developing & administering incentive and award programs; purchasing awards
      • membership, duties & other activities in music teachers’ organizations in order to provide opportunities for students; paying membership fees
      • research & administration of student competitions, auditions & other outside-of-studio performances
      • advance planning for competitions, auditions & other outside-of-studio performances, to ensure meeting repertoire and other requirements
      • attending outside-of-studio student competitions, auditions & other performances
      • practicing to perform with students (concertos, duos, duets, etc.)
      • composing & notating performance pieces for young beginners
    • studio management & administration
      • communication with students & their families
      • scheduling lessons, classes & studio events
      • record keeping
      • writing letters of recommendations
    • facilities, equipment & resources
      • facilities maintenance & improvements
      • musical instruments research, purchases & maintenance
      • remote teaching technology & equipment research, purchases & maintenance
      • computer lab research, setup, maintenance & improvements; purchases, repairs & replacements
      • iPad teaching & practice resources research, purchases, setup, updates & improvements
      • teaching supplies & teaching aids research, purchases & maintenance
    • business owner’s legal responsibilities & financial obligations
      • accounting
      • insurance
      • self-employment- & income taxes
    • additional professional activities benefitting students
      • practicing & performing to keep up & improve skills & to show a positive example for students
      • activities in additional professional organizations for continuing professional development, & paying membership fees
      • research (literature, media, webinars, etc.), lectures & publication
      • attending professional meetings, conferences & festivals
      • other professional & continuing education activities

 

Payment Schedule

Calendar iconTypically, payment is due at the time of registration for each term but an installment plan is also available. There are six payment due dates per year, approximately two months apart:

    • Mid-May: Fall Semester Pre-registration (pre-registration fee) for continuing students & Summer Session Registration (paid in full)
    • Mid-August: Fall Semester Registration (Fall tuition–in full or first installment, minus pre-registration fee if paid before)
    • Early October: 2nd installment of Fall Tuition
    • Early December: Spring Semester Registration (Spring tuition–in full or first installment)
    • Early February: 2nd installment of Spring Tuition
    • Late March or early April: 3rd installment of Spring Tuition

Please, contact The Art of Piano for the current tuition rates. 
 

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