Private Music Lesson Policies & Rates

These policies are designed to provide students and families with consistent, high-quality music instruction while maintaining a reliable and sustainable teaching schedule. Please review the policies below before beginning lessons.

Lesson Rates

Private lessons are billed at a flat monthly rate for one lesson per week.

  • 30-Minute Lessons — $180/month
    Ideal for younger students, beginners, or students looking for consistent weekly instruction.

  • 45-Minute Lessons — $250/month
    Ideal for students who want additional time for technique, repertoire, and more in-depth instruction.

  • 60-Minute Lessons — Contact for Pricing
    Designed for students seeking extended, in-depth instruction. Rates vary depending on the student’s skill level, instrument, lesson goals, and individual needs.

Monthly tuition remains the same whether there are four or five lesson days in a particular month. This keeps billing simple and reserves your student's regular weekly time slot.

Because lessons are taught in the student's home, a travel fee may apply depending on location. Any travel fee will be discussed before lessons begin.

Travel Fees

Because lessons are offered in-home, a travel fee may apply for students located outside my normal teaching area.

Any applicable travel fee will be discussed and agreed upon before lessons begin. Students located near one another may be scheduled consecutively whenever possible to reduce travel time and keep rates reasonable.

Payment

Lesson tuition is billed monthly, with payment due at the end of each month. Your monthly rate reserves the student’s regular weekly lesson time and remains the same whether there are four or five scheduled lesson days that month.

Any additional charges, such as applicable travel fees, will be communicated in advance so there are no unexpected costs.

Scheduling

Students will generally have a consistent weekly lesson time. Once a recurring lesson time has been established, that time is reserved specifically for the student.

Because I travel between students' homes throughout the DC metropolitan area, families are asked to allow for a reasonable arrival window. Traffic, weather, parking, or a previous lesson may occasionally affect arrival time.

I will communicate as soon as possible if I expect a significant delay.

Schedule Changes

Occasionally, I may ask families to adjust a lesson time because of changes to the overall teaching schedule.

This may include:

  • Moving a lesson earlier or later for a particular week

  • Rescheduling to another day

  • Adjusting a student's permanent weekly lesson time

I will provide as much notice as reasonably possible when requesting a change.

Schedules may also be reorganized at the beginning of the school year or summer as student availability changes.

Cancellations & Missed Lessons

Student Cancellations

At least 24 hours' notice is requested when canceling or rescheduling a lesson.

When sufficient notice is provided, I will make a reasonable effort to find a makeup time. However, makeup lessons are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

Lessons canceled with less than 24 hours' notice are generally charged at the full lesson rate because that time was specifically reserved for the student.

Exceptions may be made for emergencies, illness, severe weather, or other significant circumstances at my discretion.

Teacher Cancellations

If I need to cancel a lesson, the family will not be charged for that lesson.

If the lesson has already been paid for, the payment may be:

  • Applied as a credit toward a future lesson, or

  • Rescheduled for a mutually available makeup time.

Students will never be charged for a lesson that I cancel and am unable to make up.

Makeup Lessons

Makeup lessons are offered when scheduling permits but are not guaranteed for student cancellations.

A makeup lesson may be offered:

  • In person

  • Virtually

  • At a different time or day

  • As an extended lesson, when appropriate

When multiple scheduling conflicts occur, virtual lessons may be used to maintain consistency.

Late Arrivals

If a student begins late, the lesson will generally still end at the originally scheduled time so that subsequent students are not affected.

If I arrive late, I will make every reasonable effort to provide the student's full scheduled lesson time or make up the missed instructional time.

In-Home Lesson Expectations

A parent, guardian, or other responsible adult should be present in the home for lessons involving minor students unless another arrangement has been discussed in advance.

Students should have their instrument, music, method books, and other required materials ready when the lesson begins.

Families are also asked to provide a reasonably quiet and appropriate area for instruction.

Holidays & Planned Breaks

There will be no lessons on certain major holidays or during planned teaching breaks.

Families will receive advance notice whenever possible regarding:

  • Thanksgiving

  • Winter holidays

  • Spring Break

  • Summer vacations

  • Military obligations

  • Other planned absences

Students will not be charged for lessons that I cancel because of a planned break or other obligation, unless an alternative lesson or makeup arrangement has been agreed upon.

Weather & Emergencies

For severe weather, unsafe driving conditions, transportation disruptions, or other circumstances outside either party's control, lessons may be:

  • Moved online

  • Rescheduled

  • Credited toward a future lesson

  • Canceled without penalty

Because lessons require travel, I reserve the right to move an in-person lesson online when driving conditions are unsafe.

Summer Lessons

Students are encouraged to continue lessons during the summer, but summer scheduling is designed to be more flexible.

Families may coordinate lessons around vacations, camps, travel, and other summer commitments. This may include:

  • Changing lesson times from week to week

  • Scheduling multiple lessons during one week

  • Taking longer lessons

  • Using virtual lessons

  • Temporarily reducing lesson frequency

Students who take an extended break are welcome to return; however, the same weekly lesson time cannot be guaranteed if the timeslot has been offered to another student.

Discontinuing Lessons

There is no long-term contract or enrollment commitment.

Students may discontinue lessons at any time. However, I ask families to provide at least two weeks' notice whenever possible.

Once a student discontinues lessons, their recurring timeslot may be offered to another student and cannot be guaranteed if they decide to return.

Communication

Clear communication is important. Families should contact me as early as possible regarding:

  • Scheduling conflicts

  • Vacations

  • School events

  • Illness

  • Changes in availability

  • Questions about practice or lesson materials

I will make every reasonable effort to work with families while maintaining a fair and consistent schedule for all students.

Policy Acknowledgment

By scheduling and continuing private lessons, students and families acknowledge and agree to these policies.

Policies and rates may occasionally be updated as the teaching studio grows or scheduling needs change. Families will be notified of significant changes in advance.