Welcome to the HeartStrings School of Music! To ensure the best possible experience for all students, please review our studio policies, terms, and conditions. These guidelines help create a positive learning environment where every student can thrive.

🗓️ Lesson Attendance & Scheduling

❤️ Lessons and group classes are scheduled once per week at a consistent time

❤️ Please arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled time. If a lesson is in progress when you arrive, please wait in the family lounge until your scheduled time is available

❤️ Lessons and classes begin and end at scheduled times, please do not be late

Group Class Auto-Renewal Notice

❤️ Kids who are enrolled with group piano classes will be auto enrolled in the next term. This allows students to progress together as a team, and strengthen friendships made in class.

❤️ Please give at least half term notice (6 weeks before the end of term) if you wish to discontinue your group classes in order to avoid being invoiced for the next term. This gives time for the classes to be adjusted if needed and allows anyone on the waitlist to take up a space in a full class.

💵 Payment & Tuition

Private Lessons

Payment is due on the first of each month and is non-refundable. You are able to set up auto-pay on your student portal. Acceptable forms of payment: Credit Card, Cash, or Check made out to HeartStrings Music School. There is a $40 one-time registration fee for each new student. Mid-Month starts will be pro-rated. Books and materials will not be provided for private lessons, however, the teacher will make recommendations for parents to order books.

❤️ 30-minute lessons: $160/month

❤️ 45-minute lessons: $200/month

❤️ 60-minute lessons: $240/month

Group Piano Classes

Payment is due upon registration for the class and is non-refundable. You may choose to pay by term or monthly. If you choose to pay monthly, automated invoices will be sent on the 1st of each month. You are able to set up auto-pay on your student portal. Acceptable forms of payment: Credit Card, Cash, or Check made out to HeartStrings Music School. Books and materials are provided for group classes.

❤️ Group Piano Classes are 45-minute classes that meet once per week for 12-weeks

❤️ Flexible Payment Terms:

• Monthly: $159 per month for 3 months (total is $477).

• Term: Save 25% when you prepay for the full term $357 for all 12 classes paid upfront! That’s $120 in savings!

🤧 Missed Lessons & Cancellations

❤️ Consistent attendance is key to student progress. Please notify us of any known upcoming absences.

❤️ Illness policy: Please stay home if feeling unwell

Group Piano Class

❤️ If the student misses a group piano class, no refund or credits will be given. However, online resources will be available upon request so that the student can review the lesson at home.

Private Lessons

❤️ No refunds for canceled or missed lessons

❤️ Credit for makeup lessons can be given for cancellations and used to reschedule in the Student Portal.

❤️ Credits should be used within 30 days and limited to 2 credits at any given time

If the teacher cancels a lesson

❤️ Private Lessons: If the teacher cannot attend a private lesson, we will contact you to reschedule. If a reschedule isn’t an option, then we can discount the next month’s payment.

❤️ Group Classes: We will do our best to attend every class scheduled for the 12-week term. But, if the teacher cannot make it to a lesson we will try to find a substitute. If this is not possible, then we will cancel the lesson and notify you by email and text. In the case of a teacher-cancelled lesson, we will provide a refund either as a discounted rate on the next term tuition, or directly to your bank account.

🎻 Materials & Equipment

For Piano Students

❤️ Students must have access to a piano or keyboard at home for practice

○ If you don’t have a piano or keyboard at home, we offer digital piano rentals. Please ask for more details if you are interested in renting a piano.

❤️ Purchase of required music books for private lessons (links will be provided)

❤️ Studio provides folders, practice trackers, and notebooks

For Violin Students

❤️ Appropriately sized violin with bow

❤️ Violin case

❤️ Rosin

❤️ Shoulder rest (or a large, thick sponge with a rubber band)

❤️ Clean dish towel

❤️ Music books for private lessons (links will be provided for required books)

❤️ Studio provides folders, practice trackers, and notebooks

📌 Lesson, Group Class, and Practice Expectations

❤️ We strive to maintain:

• A positive, encouraging atmosphere

• Clean, safe learning spaces

• Respect for instruments, furniture, equipment, and each other

• An inclusive, supportive community

❤️ Students are expected to bring all their materials, books, and supplies needed to every class or lesson.

❤️ Parents are encouraged to stay in the family lounge area during lesson and class times, especially for younger kiddos.

❤️ Daily practice is encouraged and rewarded using the Practice Points system

• Use the provided practice charts to track practice at home

❤️ Parent involvement in students’ music education is essential

• Help establish consistent practice routines at home

• Encourage daily practice and monitor their practicing

• Provide a supportive practice environment that is positive and free from distractions

• Communicate any concerns or questions with the teacher

• Attend recitals and performances

• Celebrate their child's progress

🖥️ Online Student Portal

As a HeartStrings parent you will have access to your own online portal. This enables you to see your schedule, invoices, extra downloads, lesson notes, HeartStrings news and communications. Information may be communicated through this portal so it is important that you check it on occasion.

Important information will be e-mailed as well. Once you are an established student at HeartStrings, and you get signed up with a portal, you can login directly from heartstringsmusicschool.com

🎹 Recitals & Performances

❤️ 2 scheduled recitals per year for private lessons

❤️ 1 scheduled recital for every 12-week group class session

❤️ Recitals are free to attend

❤️ Reception follows each performance

❤️ Students should dress nicely and arrive on time for performances

❤️ Each student receives recognition for their hard work

📢 Communication

Communication with parents is extremely important to us. These are the ways in which we ensure we are communicating with you in order to maximize your child’s experience at HeartStrings:

Student Portal: Through your own student portal, we can send lesson notes and extra resources. You will also receive automated emails and occasional messages through the portal.

Please contact Lila Riley with any concerns or questions you may have:

📨 Email: lila@heartstringsmusicschool.com

☎️ Phone: 503-345-5151

💻 Website: www.heartstringsmusicschool.com

❤️ Same-day responses are typical, but please allow 24 hours for a response

❤️ Last-minute cancellations: call/voicemail preferred

📷 Photo/Video Policy

We occasionally photograph or record students during lessons, performances, and events for:

❤️ Student progress documentation

❤️ Studio Monthly Newsletter

❤️ Studio social media accounts

❤️ Marketing materials

❤️ Website updates

If you prefer your child not be photographed, please let us know.

🔐 Data Protection and Online Security

In order to book lessons with us, you will need to provide us with your e-mail address, name, child's name, child's date of birth and phone number. These details enable us to contact you regarding your lessons, add your child to class lists, and ensure that they are placed in the right class in accordance with their age.

We upload the information that you provide to a portal, managed by My Music Staff. Having audited our data protection and security procedures, we know that we are GDPR-compliant. If you would like to view the privacy policy of My Music Staff or Stripe (our payments processor), please contact us.

Your data will never be passed onto anyone, ever.

We will use your contact details in order to communicate with you about your HeartStrings lessons and for no other reason.

👀 Updates to Policies

❤️ Policies are subject to periodic review and updates

❤️ Families will be notified of any changes

❤️ Current policies are always available on the website