Tuition, Calendar, and Lesson Policies

Melody Tree Studios Lesson Policies 2025/2026 

Calendar

Our studio offers an ongoing, year-round (12 month) lesson program, September - August.

Studio Events

• Workshop Day – Saturday, October 11, 2025

• Winter Recital – Saturday, December 13, 2025

• Spring Recital – Saturday, May 16, 2026

• Workshop Day – Saturday, May 30, 2026

Holidays and Studio Closures

Scheduled Studio Breaks

No lessons will be held during the following breaks:

• Thanksgiving Break – November 24–30, 2025

• Winter Break – December 21, 2025–January 2, 2026

• Spring Break – April 5–10, 2026

• Summer Break – June 14–27, 2026

• End of Summer / Back-to-School Break – August 31–September 11, 2026

Workshop Weeks

During these weeks, youth students don't have regularly scheduled lessons, and will attend a group workshop on Saturday instead. Adult students attend regular lessons as scheduled.

• October Workshop Week/MEA (no lessons for youth students) 
  – October 13-19 (Workshop on Saturday, October 11)

• May Workshop Week/Memorial Day Week (no lessons for youth students)
    – May 24–29, 2026 (Workshop on Saturday, May 30)

Note: These are the only scheduled weeks with no regular lessons.

Tuition

$170/month - 60 Minute Piano for Beginners

$170/month - 60-Minute 20/20/20 Lessons 

🎸 Private Lessons – Piano, Violin, Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, Drums, Songwriting

$170/month - 30 Minute Private Lessons 

$255/month - 45 Minute Private Lessons 

$340/month - 60 Minute Private Lessons 

Tuition Details & Payment Options

Your monthly tuition payment reserves your student’s weekly lesson time and includes the opportunity to participate in two group workshops and two recitals each year.

Tuition is due on the 1st of each month.

Accepted payment methods:

• Zelle

• Auto-pay through your bank

• Cash

• Checks made payable to Rachel Robinson

Books/Materials fee

A yearly nonrefundable $75 books/materials fee is due upon registration or with September tuition, and covers all lesson materials including method books, holiday music, recital music, and any other supplemental or fun music that students would like to play.

Attendance Policy

• Consistent attendance is key to musical progress. Your tuition payment reserves your weekly lesson time; therefore, tuition is not refunded or adjusted for missed or canceled lessons.

• There are no make-up lessons during the school year. Just like university tuition, lesson tuition is due whether or not a student attends.

• If you will miss a lesson, please notify us as soon as possible as a courtesy to your teacher.

Punctuality

• Lessons begin and end promptly. Please arrive on time to make the most of your scheduled time.

Lesson Swap Program

• If you know in advance that you’ll miss a lesson, you may arrange to swap times with another student.

• A Lesson Swap Sheet with names, contact information, and the current lesson schedule will be shared early in the year.

• If you arrange a swap, please contact me via email at least 24 hours in advance so I can confirm the change with both families.

• You may opt out of being included on the swap sheet using the registration form below.

Online Lesson Option

Online lessons are always available as an alternative to in-person attendance.

This is a great option for situations like:

• Mild illness

• Travel

• Transportation issues
  
  

Just let us know in advance if you'd prefer to attend your lesson online that week!

Illness Policy

• If your student is sick, please keep them home from lessons. 

• If they are feeling well enough to attend online, please let me know and we will have their lesson via Zoom. 

• Likewise, if your teacher is under the weather but feeling well enough to teach, I will notify you and lessons will be held online.
  
  

Teacher Absences

Your teacher may cancel up to two lessons per calendar year without providing a make-up. These built-in teacher absences may be used in cases of:

• Severe illness (including being too sick to teach online)

• Family emergencies

• Personal commitments

If your teacher needs to cancel more than two lessons in a calendar year, a make-up lesson will be scheduled at a mutually agreeable time.

Inclement Weather

If you prefer not to travel to your lesson due to the weather, please let me know and we will have your lesson online.

Discontinuing Lessons

• Lessons are ongoing and year-round. Students are expected to continue throughout the year.

• If you decide to stop lessons, please provide one month’s written notice.

Summer Lesson Policy (Year-Round Enrollment)

• Lessons are held year-round, September through August.

• To retain a spot in the studio, students must continue lessons during the summer. Consistent, year-round instruction is essential for developing and maintaining musical skills.

• Students who remain enrolled throughout the year will receive priority scheduling for the following school year.

• Students who discontinue lessons for the summer are not guaranteed a spot in the fall, but may re-enroll if space is available.

Flexible Summer Schedule Options

1. Special Summer Make-Ups

During the summer, several make-up lesson times will be available for students who cancel lessons in advance.

• You may schedule up to two back-to-back 30-minute make-up lessons per student, per day.

• A minimum of 7-day notice is required to be eligible for a summer make-up.

• The schedule of available make-up times will be announced in the spring.

2) Alternate Summer Lesson Time

You have the option to choose a different lesson time that works with your summer schedule (camps/etc.) for the months of June, July, and August, and return to your regular school year lesson time in September.

3) Additional Make-Up Slots

Throughout the summer, additional time slots for make-up lessons will open up due to student cancellations. 

Practice

• Regular practice is important for all music students.

• Parents, please help your child develop good practice habits by setting aside a regular practice time each day in a distraction-free environment.

• Students and parents are welcome to email me with any questions regarding practice during the week. I am happy to help!