Gorin’s Piano Studio
(317) 432-8478 - Phone
gorins5@yahoo.com

Policy

This policy has evolved from three decades of my private teaching experience as well as other piano studios throughout United States. It aims to benefit your child musical study every minute of every lesson.

Annual Fees

Annual materials/registration fee for one student is $25.00 per year.
Annual materials/registration fee for family is $40.00 per year.
“Piano Explorer” magazine yearly subscription is $6.00 (optional).
Theory book is $15.00 (if needed for a new level)

The yearly fee is collected in June, to reserve a place in the schedule for lessons the following year. Materials fees go toward office supplies, Compact Discs, and videos used to enhance piano study. New students pay the materials fee at the initial interview.

Tuition

Lessons during the school year are based on a monthly tuition which reserves your child a specific weekly time slot and membership within the studio. Tuition covers your private and group lessons during the school year, as well as teacher’s time spent planning each lesson, attending professional meetings, and Piano Teachers’ Organizations fees. Tuition will remain fixed from month to month, regardless of the number of lessons. Lessons falling during holidays and breaks listed in the Studio Calendar below are included in the monthly rate and will not be credited or refunded.
Monthly tuition is based on four lessons at an hourly rate and a group lesson fee.
Hourly rate: -$27.00 for 30 min lesson
-$38.00 for 45 min lesson
-$50.00 for 1 hour lesson
Tuition is due in advance, no later than by the first week of the month. If you are not at the first lesson of the month for any reason, you must pay the tuition the week before or mail in the tuition by the due date. Late payments upset instructor’s personal bill-paying process as well as personal income. It is necessary to ensure that these payments are received on time. Therefore, a $10.00 late fee will be assessed for any payments received after the 10th of each month. This late charge would best be paid at the time that the monthly tuition is received, or it will effect the following month's payment.
Parent-teacher conferences are held during the lessons and are included in the monthly tuition.
Special discounts will be considered in certain situations such as piano lessons taken by two or more children in the same family, lessons taken twice a week, and family’s financial difficulties due to sudden unemployment of one or both parents.

2009-2010 Studio Calendar

Tuition during the school year is the same amount each month, regardless of holiday schedule. Please bear in mind that some months contain an extra week for which there is no additional charge.
There will be no lessons held on the following dates:
Labor Day (Monday, September 7)
Fall Break (Tuesday, October 20 – Sunday, October 26) *
Thanksgiving Break (Thursday, November 26 - Saturday, November 28)*
Christmas Break (Wednesday, December 23- Saturday, January 2)*
Spring Break (Saturday, April 3 - Saturday, April 10)*
Memorial Day (Monday, May 26)

*Note: Irina Gorin Piano Studio follows the Carmel school calendar for Thanksgiving, Fall, Winter, and Spring Breaks.

Summer Schedule and Tuition

It is important that students keep the momentum of their musical progress throughout the year. However, there will be more flexibility in the summer schedule to accommodate family vacations and other special activities. During the summer months, each lesson will be paid at an hourly rate. There should be at least six lessons per student in June – August.
In the rare case of an extended summer absence of six or more weeks, a payment of $100 per student is required in order to hold a lesson slot in the fall.

Attendance

Regular attendance of lessons is an issue of responsibility and choice on the part of parents and students. The studio will not assume any financial responsibility for student's absence(s) due to illness, weather, sports, etc. Please bear in mind that some months contain an extra week for which there is no additional charge. The studio will, however, assume financial responsibility should the instructor become ill, be out of town, or cancel for any reason. In such case, credit will be given towards the following month’s tuition.
The piano studio will be open on official school “snow days”. Lessons missed due to weather can not be made-up or refunded.
In case of an upcoming scheduling conflict you are aware about in advance, you may swap the lesson times with another family.
If possible, please provide 24 hours courtesy notice when your child is ill. Please do not come to your lesson sick. If he/she is not well enough to attend school, he/she is not well enough for a piano lesson.
Emergency situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
TARDINESS: Please be on time! If a student arrives late, time will not be taken from the following student’s lesson to accommodate late arrivals.

Theory and Group Lessons Fee

Theory Group Lessons are required for all students elementary through middle school. They are offered once a month (September – May).
Group lessons fee is included in the flat monthly fee and is not refundable.
Theory lesson fee is $15.00 per 55 min. lesson.

Lessons

Lessons are by appointment only. Time slots are scheduled prior to the start of each school year.
Students must arrive for their scheduled lesson time and be picked up immediately after the lessons. Students are expected to bring all necessary music and materials to the lesson.
Lesson time must remain as focused as possible - siblings or visitors are welcome to attend provided they remain quiet.

Studio and Studio Procedures

REMEMBER—the studio is an extension of the private residence and must be regarded and respected as such. Please remove your shoes before entering the studio. You may bring a clean pair of socks to wear in the studio.
No food or drinks (except water) is allowed in the studio! An exception may be made for adults only, provided that they assume full responsibility for the expense of cleanup or repair of damage to the studio due to spills or other like accidents.
Students must wash their hands immediately before lessons. Instruments are expensive and require exceptional respect. Clean hands and fingers are a must before playing any instrument. Additionally, piano keys can be a medium for communicable diseases: simple cleanliness and personal hygiene on everyone’s part can help reduce disease transmission.
Students are to come to the lessons ready to learn. Shortly trimmed nails are a must. Girls should have their hair pulled up and away from the face, as that maybe a distraction.
PARKING. All long-term parking is along the street only, either side is acceptable. The driveway is off limits to all vehicles and is not to be used to head in/back out for turnaround purposes. At no time is prolonged parking in the driveway permitted. Please—do not use any of the neighbors' driveways for any reason.

Your Piano

Home environment should include a satisfactory, playable acoustic piano. The instrument should be tuned at least once a year.
Ask your piano technician to check the functions of all pedals and keys. Practicing a fine, tuned instrument with even tone and consistent key action is necessary for students of all levels.

Recommended Piano Technician: Myron Gorin
Telephone #: ( 317) 432-2328
E-mail: m_gorin@sbcglobal.net

Recitals and competitions

During the year, several performing opportunities are made available to qualified students. These events provide pupils with further incentive to practice and excel and can have a positive effect on a student's sense of accomplishment. Recitals build confidence and reinforce the concept that good practice habits make good pianists.
When students reach an appropriate level of advancement, they will be eligible to participate in the studio's class recitals. Those students whose piece(s) is/are not performance level two weeks prior to the scheduled event will be withdrawn from the program.
Studio recitals are held 2 times per year.
Solo Recital fee is $5 per student. Duet and Concerto recital fee is $10.00. These fees include rental charges, programs cost, instructor/accompanist's time.
Dress for student recitals is formal concert attire. Suitable attire: sport coat/tie or white shirt /tie—for boys. Dresses or tea length skirts—for girls. Absolutely no shorts, short skirts, jeans, gym shoes, boots or flip-flops/slip off shoes. Inappropriately dressed students will not be allowed to perform at recitals.
The last lesson before a recital or a competition is a dress-up rehearsal.
The day of the recital or competition, performers must be at the facility no later than 15 minutes before the beginning of the recital. Participating students and their families are expected to remain for the duration of the entire recital, thereby providing ample audience and respect for all performers.
Each year, the various organizations, of which studio is a member, provide educational and competitive opportunities for qualified students. Such events may be offered by the instructor to those students who seem to possess the necessary maturity, discipline, and preparation to participate in such events. Bear in mind that these opportunities require a high level of determination, more serious practice habits-and the ability to perform in a competitive arena with a high level of confidence and intensity.
For students to be able to participate in the competitions outside of Indianapolis area, there will be an additional charge (depending on distance, traveling expenses). For participants of the World Piano Competition, the charge is $50.00 per student, $75.00 per family.
Instructor’s accompaniment fee will be applied for concerto competitions on an hourly rate basis.

Termination Policy

The Studio requires 30 days written notice for students terminating lessons for any reason. Following the termination notification, a 30 day tuition payment is required. In addition, the Studio reserves the right to terminate lessons with any student for non-compliance with any of the stated lesson policies and requirements.