Tuition & Payments
Tuition covers 48 contacts per year - private lessons, ten Saturday studio classes, registration, and a recital rehearsal - billed as a flat fee regardless of how many lessons fall in a given month. Pay in 12 equal monthly installments (due at the last lesson of each month) or 2 semester payments (first lessons of August and February). Cash, personal check, or bank draft, payable to Cyndie Caruth.
Student Activity & Book Accounts
- Each student secures a minimum $100 deposit used to track books, sheet music, competition fees, and late tuition. Deductions are tracked monthly, and you're notified as the account nears depletion.
- Late payments incur a $20 late fee; returned checks a $40 fee, deducted automatically from the account.
Materials
Students provide copies of long-term pieces, metronomes, books, tests, flashcards, and recording equipment. Proper bench height and posture are emphasized - hydraulic benches and pedal extenders are recommended. Optionally, students may use an iPad with the forScore app ($25 lifetime) and a foot-operated page-turner such as Lekato or Airtone.
When using ForScore, the student must own an original, legally purchased copy of the printed music. IMSLP may be used when the music is in the public domain. Whenever available, a high-quality Urtext edition is recommended.
Attendance
- Makeup lessons are provided only for teacher-missed lessons. Conflicts are resolved by swapping times with other studio families - you arrange the trade.
- Illness: do not attend with symptoms of any kind. Text early to request a virtual lesson or swap with another family.
- Inclement weather: don't drive from outside the immediate area - a virtual lesson is always available during your contracted time.
- Promptness: come early, warm up or sightread in the waiting room.
- The year includes 33 academic-year lessons, 5 summer lessons, and 10 Saturday studio classes. Additional summer lessons may be purchased by mutual availability.
Calendar & Schedule
Each family receives a printed calendar, and a live online calendar is always available on this site (password-protected for your safety). If you have a conflict, check the online calendar and arrange a trade with another family as early as possible.
Performance Opportunities
Competitions and public performances are goal-based activities, carefully prepared in studio classes and private lessons. A typical season includes district auditions in January, state auditions in March, an Honors Recital for students advancing to state, and a duet and chamber festival in the spring alongside summer camp scholarship tryouts. Advanced students may also pursue the Dorian Keyboard Festival, MTNA competition, concerto competitions, and summer camps.
Dates, times, and venues are set each year and are subject to change - the current season is always listed on the announcements page, which you can also download and print.
The Parents' Role
Involved parents make the difference. Provide a cheerful, distraction-free practice setting, check progress during the week, and treat practice like homework - unprepared lessons cost the same as prepared ones. Avoid the timer trap: swap the practice chart for a goals chart - play a piece three times in a row while counting aloud, play it twice with eyes closed, record yourself and note what to improve. When students are truly engaged, time disappears.
Studio Courtesy
Discontinuing Lessons
- Discontinuing requires early notice and an in-person conversation - not text, phone, or email. Notify at the beginning of summer if you plan to stop in the fall.
- All borrowed library materials are returned before the final "exit lesson," where any outstanding balances are settled.
- Lessons through August are part of the 12-month signed contract and billed accordingly. Activity and book account fees are non-refundable except for relocation or graduation.
- Early, honest communication is always appreciated - it never hurts feelings, and it serves both your family and the waiting list with integrity.