Studio Policy and Fees

General

  1. Students are required to practice every day. It is the most essential component in learning the piano. Please have daily practice as an everyday routine. Below is the recommended minimum practice time per day.

    • Beginner (4-5 years old) 10-15 min.

    • Beginner (6 years old and above) 10-20 min.

    • After 1 year of learning piano: 20-30 min.

    • Piano certificate applicants (ABRSM, RCM): 40-60 min.

  2. Parents’ support is required. Students can not learn the piano efficiently without parents’ support, as it is a long and challenging journey. Successful learning occurs only when the student, teacher, and parents collaborate as a unified team. The following outlines the expectations for parents.

    • It is crucial for students to practice every day, and it is the parent’s responsibility to ensure this happens. (Yes, I emphasize again: it is the parents’ responsibility to foster a strong work ethic at home.)

    • Provide a suitable piano setup (acoustic or digital). It has to be 88 keys, touch-sensitive weighted keys, where the volume changes based on how hard the keys are pressed. For young students, a footrest/pedal extender and a seat cushion are highly requested.

    • Create a conducive environment for focused daily practice, ensuring both the space and schedule support consistent practice. If a student’s schedule is too packed to allow for daily practice, they may not reach the necessary level of proficiency to develop piano skills.

    • I strongly encourage parents to stay involved during lessons and to understand what their child is learning. The more encouragement and involvement parents offer, the greater the impact on their child’s progress.

  3. A two-week notice is required when you leave this piano studio.

  4. The student’s concert will be held in May. All students are required to perform at least two pieces on stage. Concert hall fees will be charged separately. (around $40-50)

Lesson Fee

  • In-home lessons (for homes within 15 minutes of travel time):

    Siblings receive an $11 discount. For homes farther than 15 minutes of travel time, pricing is quoted individually — please contact us.

    • $71 for 30 minutes

    • $94 for 45 minutes

    • $122 for 60 mintes

  • Lessons at the teacher’s studio:

    • $60 for 30 minutes

    • $83 for 45 minutes

    • $111 for 60 minutes

  • The textbook fee will be charged separately when the new book is provided.

Trial Lesson

  • Please contact via contact form to schedule a trial lesson.

  • Trial lessons for new students are $66 (in-home) or $55 (in-studio): a 25-minute lesson plus a 5-minute talk at the end.

  • For the in-home trial lesson where takes more than 15 minutes of travel time, pricing is quoted individually — please contact us.

Payment

  • Invoices will be sent out twice in a school year.

    → July invoice (for the lessons in Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.)

    → December invoice (for the lessons in Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun).

  • Please send the payment via Zelle by the first lesson of the semester. A late fee of $20 will apply to the next invoice.

  • If you decide to leave this studio, the teacher will pay you back the unused lesson fee in the original payment method.

Cancelling Lessons

  1. Please inform the teacher as soon as possible if you need to cancel a lesson for any reason (e.g., illness, family events, school commitments, travel, etc.)

  2. If the communication happens after 8 AM on the day of the lesson, the full fee will be charged. If your lesson starts before noon, please inform the teacher by 9 PM the day before to avoid the fee.

  3. When a lesson cannot happen as scheduled, there are four options:

    • Makeup lesson: The teacher will reschedule the lesson for another time, subject to availability, at no additional charge.

    • Recorded Video lesson: Students can send videos of the pieces they are working on. The teacher will provide feedback and suggest areas to focus on for the next lesson.

    • Refundable cancellation: The teacher will issue a refund for the lesson, available for up to three lessons per school year.

      Forfeit the fee: The lesson fee will be forfeited.

  4. There will be no lessons during the following periods (lessons can still be arranged upon request if the teacher is available; additional invoices will be issued for lessons held during these periods):

    2026-2027 School Year:

    August 11, 2026 - June 10, 2027

    <No lessons>

    • Thanksgiving Holidays (11/21/2026 - 11/29/2026)

    • Winter Break (12/17/2026 - 1/4/2027)

    • Summer Break (6/11/2027 - the start of the next school year)

    • Some National holidays and the holiday weekends

      • Labor Day (9/7 Monday, 9/5 & 9/6)

      • President’s Day (2/15 Monday, 2/13 & 2/14)

      • Memorial Day (5/31 Monday, 5/29 & 5/30)

Want a trial lesson? Any questions?

Please contact me at pianobayarea@gmail.com or send a message using the form below.

Contact