Payment & Lesson Policies

Payment

When you enroll for piano lessons, you are "buying" a block of instruction time as mutually agreed upon by both of us for the ENTIRE semester. By doing so, you are agreeing to this reserved time as a financial responsibility.

Since I begin enrolling  and scheduling students at least six (6) weeks prior to the commencement of an upcoming semester, once you enroll and receive a reservation for an instruction time; then we have committed ourselves for the ENTIRE semester. There shall, therefore, be no refunds for lessons not taken should you or your child decide to discontinue lessons. Furthermore, if there is any balance due, it shall be paid immediately.

Should the discontinuance of lessons be for any reason beyond your control (i.e., sickness, moving out of town, etc); then, in such case, I will talk with you about reimbursement (if any is due) on a case-by-case basis.

A lesson time will be arranged with you, provided (i) you make payment via check or cash in an amount no less than one-third of the semester's tuition fees and the Registration Fee (if any is due), and (ii) the Semester Registration Form is received by online submission in accordance with the time frame set forth within the Calendar and Fee Schedule for the Semester. All fees must be paid in accordance with the appropriate Semester Calendar. There are NO exceptions to this payment policy, other than as may be agreed upon between you and me at the commencement of the Semester.

NOTE: PAYMENT IS DUE ON THE DAY OF THE LESSON. IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE STUDENT PER FAMILY, PAYMENT IS DUE WHEN THE FIRST STUDENT IN THE FAMILY TAKES HIS OR HER LESSON!​

Late payments are subject to a $25 late payment fee. Returned checks are subject to a $30 returned check fee and all future payments, unless the return is due to a bank error, must be paid in cash.

 

Recitals

 

All students are expected to participate in both the Fall (Christmas) and the Spring recitals. These recital are usually separated into three segments to assist with not having "all-day" continuing events. We normally commence at 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 1:30 PM for these segments; however, the times are always subject to change Additionally, I always work with  both students and parents to place them into the best fitting segment. We also typically have a time of "friendship and refreshments" after each recital. I do NOT require my adult students to participate in these recitals unless they so desire.  

​
Lessons and Attendance

Weekly attendance and prompt arrival at lesson time are extremely important. Make-up lessons will always be done when I am responsible for the lesson cancellation.

​

I will also do make-up lessons for:
 

Emergency, last-minute absences (i.e. sickness, death in the family, etc.). It is very important that I be notified of any such unavoidable absences ASAP in order that I may adjust my schedule to eliminate any "dead time."

Advanced-Notice absences (i.e. family trips, school programs, sport and athletic events, etc.). These absences will be considered, at my discretion, for make-up lessons as long as I am given a reasonable and timely notification. If, therefore, you know of any such conflict with the scheduled lesson time, please advise me ASAP so that we can establish a time for a make-up lesson.

​
It is imperative that my students and parents understand that I teach 6 days a week during the Fall and Spring Semesters until quite late in the evening and with a very sizeable number of students.​

​

Summers are only 3 days a week with MUCH greater latitude. My scheduled lesson times during the Fall and Spring, therefore, are VERY limited insofar as makeup sessions are concerned. When a student is absent, especially for an event that has not been brought to my attention in sufficient time for me to reschedule a lesson time, then I have an empty slot and I may or may not be able to fill it with someone else.

​

All of us live by schedules, but (emergencies excepted), I cannot be expected to shift an entire day or week for absences and make-ups, since the latter is very complicated, can involve many students and, frankly, is almost impossible most of the time, other than during the summer.

​

Please understand, I will always endeavor to do make-up lessons on  days when school is not in session, when slots are available,  and on certain Saturdays, if my schedule permits.

​

In advance, I want to thank you for being cooperative, congenial, and understanding. Working together and recognizing the value of each other's time makes for a great relationship with much less of a chance for problems. My existing students and parents know that I am very sympathetic  about problems which arise in life.

Betty Parks

Chattanooga, TN 37421
423.280.0224 (call or text)