Late Payments 

Payments made after the student’s first scheduled lesson of a month will be subject to a late payment fee of $5.00 per week.

Returned Check Policy

The charge for a returned check or a returned electronic payment is $20.

What’s included in the cost of my lesson?

• Made-to-order transcripts of jazz and popular songs
• Customized piano accompaniments for contest solos
• Free and unlimited access to premium features of Soundtrap
• Access to 16-track digital audio recording equipment for making demos or holiday recordings
• Access to my library of recordings (in-studio only)
• Printed music, exclusive of method books required by school band programs
• Mixing, editing, and mastering of recordings made in the studio
• Advice for those wishing to pursue music as a vocation

What’s NOT included?

• Reeds and other instrument accessories such as neckstraps and ligatures
• Band method books
• Access to my musical instruments, recording equipment, and accessories outside of the studio
• Music for solo contests, auditions, and recitals

Things to Note

• Competitive rates for 30-minute lessons (as low as $40 per month) and 1-hour lessons (as low as $70 per month) are available
• Parents are encouraged to wait in an adjacent room with wi-fi, coffee, and tea
• I am unaffiliated with local and online music retailers and repair shops and, am not endorsed by any music industry retailers. This helps to assure unbiased opinions relating to purchases and services
• Students aged 10-15 may be eligible for scholarship funds for private lessons and band camps through the HAVlife program. Ask your band director for details
• The Catfish Jazz Society offers scholarships to high school jazz students interested in summer band camps and pursuing music studies at the college level. They also host jazz jam sessions the second Sunday of each month from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1111 West 35th Street, Davenport

What is Soundtrap?

Soundtrap for Education empowers students and teachers to explore creative sound recording in all subjects, for all ages and ability levels.

Absence and Dismissal Policy

A student may have a make-up lesson or may reschedule for any reason, provided at least 24 hours’ notice is given. A make-up lesson can only be rescheduled once (in other words, you will not be able to reschedule the rescheduled lesson). If a student is rescheduling more than once a month, a more stable lesson time will need to be determined. If less than 24 hours’ notice is given, no make-up lesson or rescheduling will be available. Exceptions can be made for illness, family emergencies, and, for in-person lessons, extreme weather conditions. Please note that if a student is without an instrument or other essential equipment, a lesson can be comprised of music theory, composing, arranging, notation/transcribing, or audio recording and mixing. Any in-person student with a contagious illness is asked to take online lessons while their condition is transmissible. All in-person students are understood to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

If I cancel a lesson with less than 24 hours’ notice or plan on being unavailable during a student’s scheduled lesson time, a full refund or credit for that lesson will be given if the session cannot be rescheduled to the convenience of the student. Absence without any notice will be charged at the full rate. Four consecutive absences without notice will result in the student being dropped from the schedule.

Please make every effort to arrive no sooner than 10 minutes prior to the scheduled lesson time and to leave no later than 10 minutes after the lesson has ended. Anyone needing to stop by my studio outside of a scheduled lesson time is asked to give at least 30 minutes advance notice. Permission must be sought before bringing any non-family guest to a lesson.

A student may also be permanently dropped from the schedule without warning if:

• a student or parent/guardian presents a threat to my security or well-being
• a student or parent/guardian inflicts intentional damage on my property, or to my professional reputation without just cause
• a student presents a credible threat to the safety, security, or well-being of others, or demonstrates intent or evidence of self-harm
• a student or parent/guardian engages in inappropriate communication with me, including texting or calling at inappropriate hours, and including inappropriate subject matter
• there is a sustained disinterest or disregard for music or for the learning process
• a student or parent/guardian consistently maintains unreasonable expectations of musical progress without an appropriate level of effort and sense of responsibility on the part of the student
• the student makes me aware of their continued involvement in any illegal activity, such as underage smoking, drinking, or drug use
• threatening, aggressive or intolerant language is used on or near my property, or the student is known to be intolerant of differences in race, nationality, physical/mental ability, religious belief, political affiliation, or gender orientation/identity