Studio Policy - 2023/2024
LESSON COMMITTMENT
Lessons are organised into school terms which follow the State School terms dates (usually 11-13 weeks depending on the time of year). Students commit to lessons termly and are invoiced for the amount of weeks in a given school term. Pro rata rates applicable if families join in the middle of a term.
FEES
£56 per hour, times the weeks in a term.
(£42 - 45 minute lesson / £28 - 30 minute lesson)
CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS
If a student needs to cancel their lesson for any reason, you can simply message to say they won't be able to attend that particular lesson. We are unable to offer refunds or credits for cancelled lessons. If there happens to be a free space available during the term where a make-up lesson is suitable we might offer it for a make-up, but finding such a free space is not a guarantee and in most cases not possible. If we have to cancel a lesson for any reason we will always offer a make-up lesson or apply a credit to the next term's invoice.
MATERIALS AND BOOKS
Piano Students: There is a £20 material fee at the start of the year per child. New books will probably be needed throughout the year. We will either ask you to order these directly or we will buy them and apply them to your next term’s invoice.
Violin Students: You will be asked to order these directly or we will buy them and apply them to your next term’s invoice
OTHER FEES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
In some instances throughout the year there might be other additional fees. Such fees might include: exam registration, additional exam music books, instrument hire, music festival registration, masterclass/workshop sign up fees etc. We will always have a discussion with you about these fees to decide together if you would like to take part in such activities.
LATE ARRIVAL
We will always try to give you a full lesson. If you arrive late to your lesson, however, we will not be able to go over time and give you a full lesson. We will try to be flexible with this but please try to arrive promptly for the start of your lesson.
PRACTICE
We understand that building healthy practice habits takes patience and time. We create a lot of activities, projects and challenges to help students develop these skills. Parents agree to work with children to build good practice routines and help children meet goals and challenges. Without parental commitment in this area, student progress will be slow and frustrating. Please chat with us if practice becomes a struggle and we can work together to help make this easier.
RECITALS / PIANO CLUB
Surrey Piano organises several opportunities for performance and collabortive learning. There are recitals each year, in December and throughout the spring and summer terms. Students are carefully prepared for these performances over several weeks and months, so that they feel confident and prepared. All students participate in recitals, even the youngest beginners. If there is ever a concern about an upcoming performance please chat with us and we will work together to make this easier. Recitals are part of the piano curriculum and are considered compulsory for all students under the age of 18.
Throughout the school year there are also Piano Club sessions. These informal class sessions are free for all current students and students are asked to sign up to as many of they want, and are asked to attend at least two over the course of the academic year.
EXAMS
All students who study with Surrey Piano are taught at a high international level. Their training will allow them to choose any musical path they desire. Sitting performance and theory exams are not necessary for this process and sometimes even get in the way of it, for this reason exams are not compulsory. However, if a student ever wants to sit an exam we are happy to discuss this with them and help them prepare. We will, in fact, suggest that students sit exams at certain stages throughout their studies especially grades 3, 5 and 6 as these will help prepare them for musical studies within the British school system.
Exam Expectations:
Students are required to have spent at least 1-2 years in weekly lessons before considering sitting any exam.
Students are required to be in a comfortable routine of daily practice.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
We consider it a privilege to work with each student. We strive to provide excellent music instruction patiently and kindly. We will always communicate with you and be available to discuss any questions or concerns. We will always work together with you to create the best learning experience possible.