Policies and Expectations

I will teach students the language of music in a positive and enthusiastic environment. I will tailor the curriculum to match each student's specific learning needs.

I can teach you to:

• Build efficient practice routines

• Develop techniques through targeted exercises

• Prepare level-appropriate repertoire for performances or competitions

• Play your all-time favorite songs confidently

• Feel prepared for auditions or public performances

• Or, simply play freely, and rebuild yourself

Students agree to arrive at each lesson punctually, well-prepared, and with their books, music, and instrument. To make good progress, daily quality practice is necessary. Please ask questions about home assignments so that the student and parents can completely understand the assignments and goals.

Parents: If something is happening at home or school that is affecting your child, please don’t hesitate to let me know. The more information I have, the more I can be sensitive to the needs of your child.

All students are encouraged to play in public and take auditions for local ensembles and competitions. If an opportunity arises, please bring information to the next lesson so that I can help your student prepare.

Students must have their own instrument to practice at home. If you have questions or would like input on the purchase of an instrument, please let me know. I am happy to set appointments to meet the student and their family for instrument trials and make specific recommendations.

On the note of practicing:
Practice is essential to improving on your instrument. Students are required to practice between weekly lessons. Showing up to a lesson without having practiced is unacceptable and can result in re-assessment of the student’s goals and if lessons are a good fit right now.

Amount of practice is very individual to each student, their goals and schedule constraints. I am a firm believer in efficient, healthy practice and this is something we will work on often in lessons. I will not assign a number of hours for a student to practice as I find this ineffective and often unhealthy. Rather, I will work individually with students to create a practice plan for each lesson and we will reflect on how it went each week. I value consistency over quantity, so I tell students if you have just 15 min a day you can commit to 5-6 times a week, that is going to get you much further than 2 hours once or twice a week.

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The best way to ensure regular practice is to have it be on the schedule for the day. I find it very helpful to tie it to something, or find a time of day that works best most days. Often for students a good example of this is: M-F after school, after I’ve had a snack and transitioned from the school day, I practice. This could look like: I get home from school at 4pm. From 4:30-5:15 pm I practice.

Practice is essential to improving on your instrument. Students are required to practice between weekly lessons. Showing up to a lesson without having practiced is unacceptable and can result in re-assessment of the student’s goals and if lessons are a good fit right now.

Amount of practice is very individual to each student, their goals and schedule constraints. I am a firm believer in efficient, healthy practice and this is something we will work on often in lessons. I will not assign a number of hours for a student to practice as I find this ineffective and often unhealthy. Rather, I will work individually with students to create a practice plan for each lesson and we will reflect on how it went each week. I value consistency over quantity, so I tell students if you have just 15 min a day you can commit to 5-6 times a week, that is going to get you much further than 2 hours once or twice a week.

​

The best way to ensure regular practice is to have it be on the schedule for the day. I find it very helpful to tie it to something, or find a time of day that works best most days. Often for students a good example of this is: M-F after school, after I’ve had a snack and transitioned from the school day, I practice. This could look like: I get home from school at 4pm. From 4:30-5:15 pm I practice clarinet.

Please note that tuition reserves the weekly time slot but may not directly correlate with lessons received if the student does not attend the scheduled lesson times.

Tuition is calculated per lesson and the total for the allotted lessons per month may vary based on the lessons in the month. Tuition may vary by month in the case that there is an additional week of lessons or in the case of my own pre-planned absence.

Invoices will be sent by the 25th of each month prior for all enrolled students. Invoices will reflect the number of lessons in that month based on the calendar and the studio/school schedule.

Payments are due by the 1st of every month. Payment received after the 5th of each month is subject to a $10 late fee. Payment received after the 7th of the month is subject to an additional $10 late fee and the lesson time for that student may not be reserved for the next month.

Recurring late payments may result in termination of the student’s enrollment.

Preferred methods of payment are cash, Venmo, or Zelle.

Lessons canceled under 24-hour notice will not be credited a make-up lesson. Lessons canceled with at least 24-hour notice will be credited a make-up lesson for that month. Due to high demand for lessons, make-up lessons will be offered as a virtual option on Saturdays through Zoom. I understand that emergencies arise every now and then. As these circumstances happen, please communicate them to me as they come up.

Make-up lessons do not count as credit for the next month’s tuition.

Lessons canceled by me will be given as much notice as possible and will be rescheduled within 30 days.

Each student is responsible for purchasing the required music and materials for lessons. Materials will be assigned by me, and the student will be expected to have the materials no later than two weeks after the materials have been assigned. Advanced notice will be provided whenever possible.

All students are expected to have a notebook for assignments, metronome, and tuner (both metronome and tuner are available in app form)

Please consult me before making any decisions to purchase new mouthpieces, equipment, or instruments.

When students enroll, they reserve their place in the studio for the entire term. Changes to weekly schedules may be made on a case-by-case basis each month before tuition is due.

If the student decided to pause lessons during a semester, tuition for the remainder of the semester still applies. Alternations to this policy are on a case-by-case basis.

Fall Term – September through December

Spring Term – January through May

Summer Term – June through August

Please note that a student’s spot will not be guaranteed for the fall term if the were not enrolled in lessons during the summer term.

From time to time, I use photos and short videos of my students around the studio, on the studio website, or in social media posts. These videos and posts are encouraging to other students and helpful to other teachers. If you do not want your child's image(s) to be used, please let me know. In general, the students love to see their pictures and videos on my website or around the studio. They find it motivating and exciting to think that others want to know what they are learning. The students are identified only by their first name.

By enrolling and paying tuition for my child in Sean Reynolds’s studio, I certify that I understand and agree to the studio policies for the 2024/2025 school year.