Studio Policies and Procedures:

At Basically Beethoven: Piano Performance Studio, I teach by the semester following the school schedule both for inclement weather and major holiday breaks. The first lesson of a new student can be paid with cash or check and comes with no commitment. It is just an opportunity for me, the parents and the student to make sure we all enjoy working together and allows me to assess the skill level of the new student. 

At the second lesson, I ask parents to provide me with a check for the prorated tuition remaining in that month, and one check for each month of that semester dated for the first of each consecutive month. If the parent prefers, the semester can be paid in full at the second lesson instead. This simplifies everything, making payment a semesterly process instead of a monthly process. I can also send a PayPal invoice if requested, but I have to raise the price by 2%, because that is what PayPal charges me as a business. If a lesson is missed by the student, they are still required to pay for it; however, if sufficient notice is given for the missed lesson, I will do my best to schedule a make-up lesson within the same week. Missed lesson make-ups cannot be carried into the next month.

I recommend a weekly 30-minute lesson for children and 1-hour lessons for teenagers and adults. Occasionally I am able to offer a 45-minute lesson slot. Tuition for a 30-minute lesson is a flat rate of $140 a month for 4 lessons ($210 for 45 min/$280 for 1 hr.), depending on the lesson length. The semesters run from September-January and then February-June. I offer a 4-week summer session in July and break for the month of August before starting up again in September. Enrollment for the fall is opened at the end of the spring semester and your student’s enrollment is held with one future dated check for their September tuition.

I am currently teaching students ranging from 4 to 74 years old. I love helping students of all ages grow in their understanding and appreciation of music. For parents who would like to start students younger than 4 years old, I usually recommend that the parent begin taking piano lessons. Our children can learn SO much by watching us practice and learn something. This also has the added benefit of acclimating the child’s ear to music and scales. I am always willing to add a 15-minute infant lesson to the end of a parent lesson to help familiarize the child with the piano. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching the many parent/child student combinations I have had in my studio.

COVID-19: I can teach both in person and Zoom lessons depending on the needs of the family. I find that for young children it is necessary for the parent to remain present for the entire lesson in order to help facilitate the virtual learning process. Usually teenagers are able to manage on their own. For those who are comfortable with in-person lessons, I can sanitize the keys between each student, and I allow each individual family to decide whether or not face masks stay on for the lesson.

I offer a casual Living-Room-Style Recital opportunity in mid-December to allow my students an opportunity to practice performing for people other than those in their own family unit. This is a great and not so intimidating opportunity to learn about performance and is usually combined with a Christmas cookie decorating party and an educational Masterclass to compensate for the two lessons missed over the holiday break for Christmas and New Year’s. In the end of our Spring Semester, we have our annual recital which is usually held at Gateway Fellowship in Poulsbo.

I also sell a personalized new student starter kit for $30. Each piano bag comes with 2 piano books, a blank notebook, music pencil, fingernail clippers and a hand-strengthening exercise ball. If necessary, I can adjust the books included in the starter kit to fit the needs of the individual skill level of the student according to their assessment in the first lesson. Each student kit has the students’ name on it and helps the students feel like they are receiving a special gift for their first lesson.

One of the services I offer at my studio is that if my student does not currently have a piano, I am willing to help the parent shop to find an appropriate instrument for the student in their price range based on their needs and current housing situation. I can offer my advice and opinion on the quality of the instrument and the purchase price and can also provide referrals both for piano movers and piano tuners/technicians.

I currently have two studio locations. I teach on Bainbridge Island at the Island Music Guild in Rolling Bay on Monday & Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, and I teach in Kingston on Wednesdays.