Lesson Policies

Lesson Frequency: Students have the option to register for lessons once or twice a week, depending on their preference and availability.

Lesson Duration: For beginners and early-intermediate students, the standard lesson duration is 30 minutes. The lesson length increases for intermediate and advanced students.

AIM Exam Preparation: Students at level 5 and above, who are preparing for the AIM (Achievement in Music) exam, are required to extend their lesson duration. Details about the recommended lesson times for each level can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section.

Attendance: Regular attendance is crucial for progress. If a student needs to reschedule a lesson due to an unavoidable conflict, please provide a timely notice. Make-up lessons will be arranged at the earliest mutually convenient time. See more info on cancellation and make-up lessons below.

Practice: Consistent practice is vital for improvement. Students are encouraged to practice regularly outside of lesson time. Practice recommendations will be provided, tailored to the individual student's level and goals.

Materials: Students are responsible for obtaining the necessary piano books and sheet music. Recommendations for appropriate materials will be provided based on the student's level and musical interests.

Cancellation and Termination: If a student decides to discontinue lessons, a 30-day notice is required. In case of repeated cancellations without proper notice, excessive absences or uncooperative behavior of the student, I reserve the right to discontinue lessons.

Prepayment and Invoicing: Piano lessons require prepaid monthly tuition. Invoices will be sent electronically via email, providing a comprehensive breakdown of charges for the upcoming month. To ensure timely payment, invoices will be dispatched one week prior to the due date. We kindly request that you thoroughly review your invoice before proceeding with payment.

Due Date and Late Fee: The due date for tuition payment is set as the 1st of each month. Please make sure to submit your payment on or before this date. Payments received after the due date will be subject to a late fee of $2.50. We encourage prompt payment to avoid any unnecessary charges. If payment is not received within three days after the due date, the timeslot will be forfeited.

Payment Methods: Payments can be made via Zelle, cash or by check. For Zelle payments use 708-890-2030. If you prefer paying by checks, make the checks out to Vera Pelin piano lessons LLC. Please select the method that is most convenient for you, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery of your payment.

Timely Cancellation: A timely cancellation refers to notifying your teacher of the cancellation by 9 pm the day before the scheduled lesson. In such cases, I’m happy to offer a make-up lesson to ensure continuity in the learning process. See the make-up lesson policy below.

Same-Day Cancellation: Lessons canceled on the same day as the scheduled lesson cannot be made up. I understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, but due to scheduling and availability constraints, it is not feasible to accommodate last-minute changes. See the emergency make-up lesson policy below.

Teacher Cancellations: In case the teacher cancels the lesson, due to emergencies, extreme weather or health issues, the student will always receive a make-up lesson. I will notify you of the cancellation in a timely manner and discuss options to reschedule. 

Saturday Students: The AIM examinations and Sonata-Sonatina festival are usually held on Saturdays and may interfere with your regular scheduled lesson. As a teacher registering students in these events, I am required to assist with administrative tasks or adjudicate. You will be notified in a timely manner about these scheduling conflicts, and won’t be billed for the canceled lesson. 

Make-ups Per Semester: There is a limit of two make-up lessons per semester. These make-up lessons provide opportunities for students to cover missed material and maintain their progress. The make-up lessons resulting from teacher cancellations do not count towards this limit.

Emergency Make-up Lesson: Each student is granted one emergency make-up lesson per academic year. This emergency make-up lesson can be used for unforeseen circumstances that result in late cancellations. It’s an opportunity to cover missed material and maintain the learning progress despite the unforeseen absence. This emergency make-up lesson counts towards the two make-up lesson limit per semester.