McIntire Studios Policies & Calendar

What to Bring

During lessons, students are required to record their lessons. Audio-only is fine, video is okay too. Piano students are welcome to record as well. Parents of young piano students may find that taking a video of the lesson to be very helpful in assisting their child with their practice. It is a good idea to have a bag or carry-all dedicated to your music lessons. This way, everything will be in one place.

• practice binder: Logs, assignments, notes

• music

• pencils

• water bottle

• metronome

• recording device (smart phone etc.)

• instrument and accessories

Practice

All students are expected to practice daily and to log their efforts.
Students will be taught effective practice habits. Parents of children under 13 or so should expect to assist their children in developing consistent (and fun!) practice habits.

Studio Classes and Recitals

Studio voice and piano classes meet monthly as possible. They are open to students only. These (required) group classes are in addition to your tuition and are announced throughout the semester. Cost varies depending on presenters, length, etc. between $25 - $50. These additional, peer-critiqued performance opportunities are a valuable addition to our curriculum.

Studio recitals occur in spring and winter, with an occasional solo or summer recital. Participation in recitals is strongly encouraged. The recital fee goes to pay the pianist and rent on the venue space. Recital fees are due the week before the recital.

Tardies

If you know you are going to be late (traffic etc.), please call. If you are up to 15 minutes late for your lesson, your lesson will end at the scheduled time.
If you are more than 15 minutes late, your lesson is forfeit. If I am late for your lesson, you will get your entire time.
If I am more than 15 minutes late for your lesson, I will credit you with the remainder. Please be on time or no more than 5 minutes early for your lesson.

Cancellations

24 hours notice is required to cancel a lesson, or lesson fee is charged. There will be no make-up lessons for last-minute cancellations made by students.
Teacher cancellations will be made up. Please make note of the previously mentioned holidays so you can plan around them.

Inclement Weather

If local schools are closed, so are we. If you wish to try to come to your lesson, please call me FIRST to confirm.
There are two snow days a school year built into the schedule. If there are no snow days, you receive those extra lessons. Therefore, up to two official snowdays will not be made up. An official snow day occurs when the studio is closed due to poor weather or traffic conditions. All students will be notified in the event of a closure.
* The third official snow day and beyond will be made up.

Illness/When to Cancel

Everyone washes hands upon entering studio. There are many bottles of hand sanitizer (and lotion) around the studio; please feel free to use liberally. Please cancel your lesson if you have a fever, a sore throat, are vomiting, or have been exposed to COVID. Please use good common sense regarding exposure to COVID, flu, and strep, any of which may quickly infect a studio.
Most head colds or allergies won’t interfere with your singing or your lesson. If you are in doubt as to whether you should cancel, call and ask.
* Piano students: please remember to use hand sanitizer before and after playing.

Taking a Break or Ending lessons

Taking a break is sometimes needed, either for a season, summer travel, or just because of academic overwhelm. If you would like to suspend lessons for a period of time (1 - 6 months), that can be accomodated. If you wish to end your lessons, either to transfer to another studio or to stop altogether, we require 30 days notice.

Other Information

Please enter the studio at your lesson time. If the teacher is with a student, let them know you are here and take a seat. Please park in front of the studio in the street, not the driveway.
No one requiring supervision/babysitting may attend lessons. Parents/friends are invited and encouraged to attend lessons, provided they understand that they are observing, not participating. Parents of piano students 5th grade and younger are required to attend each lesson.
* We have pets! Please let us know if you are allergic or afraid of dogs or cats, and we will close them in another room. Otherwise, expect to occasionally be joined on the piano bench by an extra, feline, 'teacher'!

Referrals

If you refer a student to us and they are accepted into my studio, you will receive a free lesson after they have completed a month of study. Please understand that your referral does not mean that they are automatically in the studio—they will have to (interview) just like you did.