Cost of lessons varies by location, based upon operating costs associated with studio spaces. The cost of lessons at each location is as follows:
Students learn quicker when lessons are consistent. For this reason, Alicia Wrigley Music requires students to commit to a weekly time slot. Time slot may be rescheduled or cancelled according to policies below when conflicts arise, but bi-weekly and other irregular schedules are not accommodated.
Payment for monthly lessons is made in advance of the month of lessons, and is due by the 5th of each month. The monthly total due will be reflected in the monthly invoices sent out, along with any outstanding fees or payments due.
A pattern of failure to pay in full by the 5th of each month may result in a student being dropped from the studio.
Accepted payment types and associated policies are as follows:
As a courtesy to students, monthly invoices, outlining upcoming scheduled lessons and any outstanding payments due and payments due for the upcoming month, will be sent out to students and/or their parent(s) 2 days prior to the 1st of each month.
If there are any questions or discrepancies to be resolved, it is the student’s (or their parent’s) responsibility contact Alicia to resolve these between the 1st and 5th of the month, when payments come due.
A $15.00 fee is charged if payment is not received by the end of the day on the 5th of each month. Late fees are added directly to online PayPal payments. Those paying with other payment methods should include this fee with their tuition payment. If late fee is not included with late payments, the fee will roll over and be added to the next month’s invoice.
The student and teacher will arrange for a regular time slot for the student during the first lesson. The time will be reserved in both the student’s and teacher’s schedule and, with mutual respect in mind, should not be flippantly rescheduled or cancelled by either party.
That being said, there are some cases in which the realities of life will require the lesson to be rescheduled or cancelled by either or both the student and the teacher.
In cases where students need to make a change to their lesson time, they must contact Alicia at least 24 hours in advance of their scheduled lesson. At that time, the two parties will try to find another time within the same calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) as the scheduled lesson. If an alternate time can be identified, the lesson will be rescheduled.
If an alternate time within the same calendar week cannot be identified, the lesson for that week will be cancelled and excused. The value of that week’s lesson applied towards the next month’s bill. While credits towards future months will be applied, no refunds on tuition will ever be given.
In cases when 1) a student contacts Alicia to reschedule or cancel less than 24 hours in advance OR 2) the student fails to contact Alicia before missing a lesson, the student’s lesson will be cancelled and not excused. In this case, students forfeit the value of the cancelled lesson and receive no credits towards future lessons nor refunds.
In cases of sudden illness or family emergency, Alicia may agree to cancel or reschedule less than 24 hours in advance of a lesson without the consequences outlined in the paragraph above. However, whether or not the lesson is excused will be at Alicia’s discretion, and excusal is not guaranteed. It is assumed that emergency cancellations would be a very rare occurrences. If Alicia sees a pattern of last-minute cancellations claiming illness or family emergency, a written warning will be issued via email. If the pattern continues, the student will be dropped from the studio.
As a working musician, Alicia will occasionally have performing or other conflicts with regularly scheduled lessons.
In nearly all cases, she will contact the student (and/or their parent(s)) at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled lesson time and seek to reschedule the lesson. If no time can be identified, the lesson will be cancelled and excused. Students will receive a credit for the value of the lesson towards the next month of lessons.
If ever an emergency or illness arises and Alicia needs to cancel a lesson less than 24 hours in advance of the scheduled time, she will reach out via every form of contact information she has available to her. Generally, she will try to reschedule, but occasionally she may need to simply cancel. In either case, students will receive credit towards the next month’s lessons for any lessons cancelled by the teacher.
Students should ensure that they are on time to their lessons by arriving at the lesson location 5 minutes prior to their lesson start time. They should wait, as appropriate to the location, in the waiting area or in the car.
If a student arrives late to a lesson, they have forfeited that portion of their lesson. Lessons will not be extended to make up missed time. Students are responsible for the full price of the lesson, regardless of when they arrive.
As soon as a lesson has been rescheduled, the teacher and student should both record the rescheduled lesson in their personal calendars.
Rescheduled lessons, once finalized, hold the same weight as regularly scheduled lessons. All policies outlined above, including cancellation/missed lesson policies and payment obligations, are in full effect.
Alicia will cancel or reschedule all lessons that fall on major Federal holidays, and occasionally on days adjacent to those holidays. However, this will be discussed and made clear well in advance.
Students and their parents should never assume that lessons that fall on State or school holidays are automatically canceled or rescheduled. If a student or their family wishes not to participate in in lessons on one of these holidays, it is their responsibility to follow the standard attendance policies outlined above and cancel or reschedule according to the normal guidelines. Those who fail to do so will be subject to forfeiting or paying for missed lessons.
Regular practice is essential to growth as a musician. It is expected that students in lessons will practice regularly in both formal and informal ways.
Formal practice methods include scales, rhythms, transcribing, ear training and exercises. Assignments for formal practice will be given by the teacher for students to work on between lessons. The teacher will begin every lesson by asking the student for a report of their practicing and reviewing the work that has gone on at home between lessons. It is expected that students will have made progress. If insufficient progress has been made, the student may be asked to repeat the assignment in the coming week, and progress will be slowed.
Informal practicing includes anything that contributes to musicianship, such as attending live concerts, listening to music, researching history of pieces or musicians, etc. While this type of practice will not as directly contribute to the skills of the student, it is nonetheless an important type of practice, and will occasionally be assigned.
Parents should encourage regular, focused practicing at home. It is much preferable for students to be doing 15 minutes daily of focused practice than many hours of frantic practice in a single day. However, at least 30 minutes of formal practice 5 or 6 days per week is the minimum suggested for someone in private lessons.
In addition to helping to oversee regular formal practice, parents should recognize and encourage informal practice.
In cases when the progress of a student is being seriously impeded by their lack of practice, a written warning will be issued via email. If the pattern continues, the student may be dropped from the studio.
All students need an instrument in good working order to be eligible to take lessons. Whether they own, rent, or borrow this instrument from school or another party, students must have sufficient access to their instrument to be able to complete daily practice.
When attending lessons, students should bring the following:
If there is a need to stop taking lessons, the ideal time to notify Alicia is before or between the 1st and the 5th, when monthly invoices are being generated and sent out.
Should a student on the monthly plan give notice of discontinuance in the middle of the month, no refunds will be issued on monthly tuition already paid. The student is welcome to continue attending lessons through the end of the month, or they may choose to forfeit the value of their remaining lessons.
All students will receive a final invoice shortly after giving notice of discontinuance. It will outline any outstanding fees and payments. All outstanding fees or payments must be paid before this contract is considered null and void.
I, the student, agree to all the policies outlined in the Alicia Wrigley Music Studio Policies document.
I agree to practice regularly and bring all required materials to lessons.
Name:_____________________________ Signature_________________________________
I, the the responsible financial party associated with the student listed above, agree to abide by all policies outlined in the Alicia Wrigley Music Studio Policies document.
I agree to provide timely payment, respect the time of the teacher regarding scheduling, and oversee the at-home learning of the student above.
Name:_____________________________ Signature_________________________________
I, Alicia C. Wrigley, agree to provide all teacher services according to the policies outlined in the Alicia Wrigley Music Studio Policies document.
I agree to provide quality musical instruction to and open communication with the student and/or their parent or guardian, and to respect the time of the student in regards to scheduling.
Name: Alicia C. Wrigley Signature: __________________________________________