We believe any education is an investment. The following policies exist to ensure that our students develop an appreciation for music and develop personal values that will help them succeed throughout life.
We seek to develop a student’s character through values of consistency, dedication, integrity, and a positive attitude. We want our students to enjoy learning.
Please contact us with any questions in regarding these policies.
Studio Hours
Monday thru Friday 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Each lesson is once a week and lasts 30 minutes. If you home school and are interested in morning lessons please contact us for arrangements.
Student Age
We specialize in teaching students ages 6 – 18 years.
If you are older and seeking for lessons please feel free to call us. We will help refer you to available resources.
Piano or violin lessons are highly recommended for beginning students. This will provide the foundation they need for further musical training including: familiarity with reading music, development of a musical ear, and patterns of consistent practice.
Voice Lessons typically begin at ages 13 – 18. This is to avoid vocal strain and unnecessary frustration due to changes in physical maturity. Exceptions will be addressed on a case by case basis.
Fees
Our lessons start at $30.
A lesson is one half hour, one-on-one, with an experienced teacher who is trained to make the most of lesson time.
There is also a one time service fee of $25 for setting up your account. This fee can typically be waved when signing up for several months. Please call for details.
Upon signing up for lessons the student will purchase a packet which includes their books and metronome. Packets have been designed to provide quality and consistency for students. The packet fees vary according to the level of books the student is using.
Please call regarding specific packet fees as we are currently working with publishers to negotiate prices. Our primary focus is on quality. We will work with you to get the most from your investment.
Information regarding rehearsals / competition fees will be provided in advance of events and as needed.
Please contact us directly to inquire about any specials.
Lesson Payment Policies
Lessons are billed monthly.
Lesson fees are due at the first lesson of the month and include all lessons for that month. This will usually be 4 lessons, but occasionally 5 depending on the number of weeks in the month.
Blackburn Music accepts most major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, etc). We also accept checks.
Attendance Policies
We want our students to succeed!
Consistency is very important to a student’s development. Also, please be considerate of your teacher. They are hard working and want to make the most of their students.
Lessons begin each half hour. Please arrive on time. If a student is late their time will not extend beyond the scheduled 30 minute lesson – they will forfeit part of the lesson. We are unable to offer make up lessons as all practice rooms are scheduled for use by other students and teachers.
If one of our assigned teachers must be absent we will provide a substitute for the lesson. Arrangements for additional lessons can be scheduled on a case by case basis.
Practice Policy
Minimum daily practice requirements by age are:
Ages 6-10: 30 minutes
Ages 10-14: 45 minutes
Ages 14-18: 1 hour
A student is required to practice 5 days a week. Lessons are designed to optimize student talents. Regular practice will help optimize lesson time. We want the time and money you invest to provide benefits that will last a lifetime.
Also we want our students to enjoy the process of learning and experience the fulfillment of achieving goals. If a student goes three weeks without practicing, their commitment and needs will be discussed with a guardian.
The student will have two weeks to re-establish practice habits. If after two weeks they do not develop a consistent practice routine we reserve the right to reassign a lesson time to a student on our waiting list. Commitment to practice is required for students to gain full benefits from your investment.
Our goal is to enhance the music programs of our community. If you feel these policies do not adequately address the needs of your student we are able to provide referrals to alternative programs in the area.