As a private music instructor, I feel there are certain policies that are necessary for the benefit of both teacher and student. These are in accordance with the recommendations of the Music Teachers National Association and the National Flute Association.

1. Tuition: Tuition is due at the beginning of each lesson. The fee is forty dollars per hour and may be paid weekly or monthly.

2. Scheduling: Students will meet with me once a week, with time off for school holidays and vacations. Please have a schedule of your school’s calendar year available when scheduling lessons. It is best to continue lessons over summer break.

3. Missed Lessons: As in all education classes, make-ups or refunds are not given for unexcused absences. I must have AT LEAST one day’s notice if a student needs to miss a lesson. Students or parents may call up to 11:00 p.m. and as early as 7:00 a.m. My home answering machine is always on and my mobile phone is equipped with voice mail.

I WILL SCHEDULE MAKE-UP LESSONS WITH EXCUSED ABSENCES, SUDDEN ILLNESS, OR EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS.

*REMEMBER: YOU ARE RESERVING YOUR TIME SLOT. DENTIST APPOINTMENTS, SCHOOL SPORTS OR ACTIVITIES, ET CETERA ARE NOT CONSIDERED EXCUSED ABSENCES.
*PLEASE DO NOT SCHEDULE OTHER ACTIVITIES DURING YOUR LESSON TIME!

LESSONS WILL NOT BE MADE-UP AND PAYMENT STILL DUE IF 24 HOURS NOTICE IS NOT GIVEN FOR MISSED LESSONS.

4. Teacher Responsibilities: I will provide instruction for students on any level of performance and work to the best of my ability to further the musical education and enjoyment of music by each student. In addition to the principles of flute playing, I will teach basic music theory and rudimentary music history. I do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation or disability.

5. Student Responsibilities: The student must arrive on time and be prepared for each lesson. This includes having all the necessary materials- all music and a pencil. (A lesson notebook or folder is recommended). Take good care of your instrument. Clean it out with a soft cloth after every practice session. You may also want to wipe off the dust and fingerprints with a polishing cloth. Be careful when assembling and disassembling the flute not to bend the keys or rods.

Daily practice is a must! Please schedule a slot of uninterrupted practice time! This means no TV, radio, computer, texting or other distractions.
*Remember: Good and quickly seldom meet!
George Herbert
(1593-1633)

6. Parent Responsibilities: Please purchase all necessary materials for your child in a timely fashion. Music may be found at local music stores (e.g. Brodt's) or from online sites such as Fluteworld.com. Music stands, metronomes, tuners and other accessories are also available locally or online. Please keep your child’s instrument in good working condition and schedule repairs promptly when necessary. J.L. Smith (located off I-77 at Clanton Rd.) can help with this. Feel free to ask about other repair options.

Please drop off and pick up your child on time. I cannot run overtime due to late arrivals nor can I be responsible for supervising a student once the lesson has concluded.

If you are considering a new instrument please consult with me before any purchases are made. I will help in finding the best and most appropriate instrument at the most competitive cost.

7. Dismissal: I reserve the right to dismiss any student who will not maintain a reasonable level of effort, or whose behavior is not conducive to progress.

8. Conclusion: I look forward to teaching every one of my students and sharing the passion I have for music with them. I welcome any comments on my teaching and encourage students or parents to call me with any questions or concerns they may have. These policies are designed to help lessons run better and make learning the flute as enjoyable as possible! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my music with you!