Studio Policies

Last Updated May 11, 2025. Policies are immediately in effect.

Attendance and Absences

Regular Attendance:
Consistent attendance is crucial for progress. Please notify the studio at least 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel a lesson.

Absences:
Unnotified absences will not be rescheduled, refunded, or eligible for makeup lessons.

Annual Calendar

  • Lesson Schedule: Lessons are scheduled weekly. The studio closely follows the local school calendar for holidays and breaks. Due to holidays and vacations, some months may have more lessons than others.
  • Vacations: The studio will be closed for major holidays and vacations per the annual calendar. A detailed calendar will be provided at the beginning of each term and is available online at https://riverviewpianostudio.com/calendar/.

Instrument Requirement

Students must have a well-maintained piano or a full-sized, weighted keyboard for practice at home.

Environment:
Please ensure a quiet, distraction-free space for practice.

Makeup Lesson Eligibility

  • Makeup lessons are offered only for cancellations made by 11:59pm the night prior to your regularly scheduled lesson.
  • Students will receive no more than 3 makeup lessons per academic year.
  • Makeup lessons must be scheduled and completed within the same month as the missed lesson and are subject to availability.
  • Makeup lessons are not available for no-shows, late cancellations (done the day of), or after enrollment termination.

Teacher Absences

If the teacher must cancel a lesson, students will be notified ASAP. Canceled lessons by the teacher will be rescheduled and will not be credited toward the next month’s tuition.

Inclement Weather

Lessons may be canceled due to severe weather (storms, floods, hurricanes). Due to the volume of students enrolled at the piano studio, these lessons cannot, and will not be rescheduled.

Practice Expectations

Students are expected to practice daily. Recommended practice times will be discussed individually. Keeping a practice log is encouraged.

While the Studio strives to provide high-quality instruction, individual student progress depends on consistent practice and engagement. No specific level of achievement is guaranteed.

Tuition & Payment

  • Tuition is due on the 5th of each month. If the 5th falls on a weekend (Saturday/Sunday), then tuition will be charged the Friday prior.
  • Payments can be made monthly, yearly, or bi-weekly upon request.
  • Accepted payment methods: major credit cards and ACH bank transfer only. Cash and checks are not accepted.
  • Your tuition is tied directly to your signed studio agreement.

Late Fees & Grace Periods

  • A 10-day grace period is allowed for late payments.
  • Payments received after the grace period will incur a $25 late fee.
  • Lessons may be suspended if payment is not received within 21 days.
  • Repeated late payments may result in termination of enrollment.

Rate Increase & Guarantee Policies

  • Rate increases will be communicated at least 30 days in advance.
  • Rates are reviewed annually and may be adjusted once per year.
  • New students have rates locked for the first 12 months from enrollment.

No Early Entry Policy

Please do not arrive more than 2 minutes before your scheduled lesson time to avoid disrupting other students. Early arrivals should wait outside or in a designated waiting area. Students will not be allowed into the studio prior to their lesson time.

Photography and Media Release

Riverview Piano Studio may take photographs or videos during lessons, recitals, or studio events for promotional and educational purposes. By enrolling, clients grant permission for the Studio to use such media in marketing materials, social media, and other public platforms unless a written refusal is submitted to the Studio.

Illness and Studio Environment

  • Students should arrive with clean hands and trimmed fingernails.
  • Only water is permitted in the studio to prevent spills.
  • Students showing symptoms of illness should not attend lessons.
  • Students may be asked to leave if illness is detected.
  • Please notify the studio promptly to arrange makeup lessons or rescheduling due to illness.

No Gum or Candy In The Studio

  • Please, no chewing of gum/candy of any sort while in the studio.
  • Gum/candy must be disposed of BEFORE entering the studio
  • Throat lozenges are acceptable if the student is recovering from a sore throat.

Arbitration Clause

Any disputes arising from services (payment, scheduling, instruction quality) must first be submitted in writing, allowing a 90-day period for resolution. If unresolved, disputes will be handled via binding arbitration per AAA rules in Hillsborough County, Florida. Each party covers their own costs and shares arbitrator fees equally. By enrolling, you waive the right to bring lawsuits or class actions in court.

Parent Participation

  • Parents are encouraged to support their child’s practice and attend lessons periodically.
  • Regular communication between parents and teacher is essential.

Office Hours

Online Membership Resources

  • Enrolled students have access to exclusive online resources (practice materials, song libraries, videos, etc.) to supplement lessons.

Recital Participation

  • Students are encouraged to participate in bi-annual recitals.
  • Recital pieces will be selected and prepared during lessons.

Scheduling

  • Lesson times are fixed for the term based on mutual availability.
  • Changes require at least three week’s notice and are subject to availability.

Communication Methods

  • Primary contact: [email protected].
  • Urgent matters: call or text (813) 291-6734.
  • Expect responses within 24 hours during office hours.

Membership Agreement and Policy Updates

  • By maintaining a membership account and continuing tuition payments, you agree to abide by all studio policies.
  • Acknowledgment of Policy Updates: The Studio may update policies at any time. Updates will be communicated via email, text, phone calls, hand-written notes, or certified mail. You acknowledge responsibility to regularly check your email, text messages, and membership portal for updates. Policy updates are deemed received once sent by these methods, whether or not you have opened or read them.
  • If you do not have active access to these communication channels, notify the Studio immediately with updated contact information.

Lesson Termination

  • A 30-day written notice (via email or text) is required to terminate lessons.
  • No refunds for unused lessons without proper notice.
  • Students on monthly agreements that fail to deliver a 30 day notice will be charged a 1-month tuition fee
  • Students on annual agreements cancelling before lesson #36 ill be charged a $375 cancellation fee.
  • The teacher reserves the right to dismiss a student at any time for any reason, no refunds of any kind will be given unless explicitly administered by the instructor per their discretion.

Client Communication

  • All communication from clients must be via email, text, or phone.
  • Communications are considered delivered only when acknowledged by the Studio.