Studio Policies
The following lists the policies by which I offer private lessons in my home studio and online via Zoom from September 2023 onward. Please read them carefully and let me know if you have any questions.
John’s Mission and Responsibilities
To give you or your child the most comprehensive music education possible. Students will be exposed to a whole range of music and musical styles, as well as technology and apps to boost learning, and important concepts that bridge the gap between how to practice music and how to live a good life. All lessons are designed to suit the individual goals, desires, and interests of the individual student. Although my training and pedagogical approach is classical at its core, I believe that a 21st Century pianist requires a diverse skill set and fluency playing in a variety of styles and genres. I teach all students to read music, as nothing opens more doors to musical exploration than literacy in music notation. I encourage my students to be curious and creative, and I show students how music is constructed (music theory) and how they can make up their own (music composition). I teach students chords and ways to improvise over chord progressions so they can jam with friends. In general, I’m here to help students learn the music they want to learn, so I'm always flexible and open to different possibilities as the process unfolds. Finally, maybe the most important way in which I can serve students is to save them a lot of time and frustration by promoting effective practice strategies to accelerate progress — essentially to help them learn how to learn.
Student/Parent Responsibilities
Expectations. Students are responsible for arriving to lessons on time, with correct books, and having completed their practice goals. Students need to keep their fingernails trimmed in order to play piano! This is a must. I expect that all instructions are followed week-to-week, and that assignments are completed to the best of each student's ability. It is the parent’s job to monitor the student, and to ensure that the student is practicing daily and working to complete their assignments.
Arriving on time. In general, late arrival times cannot be made up as I often have other students or commitments immediately following the lesson. For lessons taking place in my home, I ask that students arrive no more than 10 minutes early to a lesson. If for some reason a student needs to be dropped off earlier than 10 minutes before their lesson time, please clear this in advance with me.
Providing a quality at-home piano for practice. At home, students should have access to a quality piano. An acoustic piano, whether a grand or an upright, is the ultimate tool for success in piano lessons. I encourage students and parents to take the leap and get a real piano sooner rather than later. In the early stages of piano lessons a digital piano can be sufficient. As students progress and the music they play becomes more sophisticated, it becomes more paramount to have access to a real piano.
Piano maintenance. For those with pianos, please ensure that yours is regularly tuned and is in good condition (i.e. all the keys are functioning, the pedals work, etc.). If using a digital piano, please ensure it has a solid wooden stand (I do not suggest using a cross brace or “X” stand, if it can be avoided), and please be sure it has a music rack for holding students’ sheet music upright. The music rack should ideally attach to the keyboard. I also encourage an adjustable piano bench so that the student can sit comfortably and develop a healthy piano technique.
Help finding and choosing the right piano. When shopping for a digital piano, seek out ones with touch sensitivity, weighted keys, and a full-size 88-key keyboard. I am available to help students and their families find pianos and digital pianos alike, at whatever price point. Please reach out to me for help and guidance in finding the right instrument for your home.
Studio Calendar
2024-2025 Studio Calendar for GATE Academy students
Studio Calendar. My studio calendar is designed to reflect the vacation dates found in the MCOE Countywide School District Calendar. The calendar for GATE Academy students accounts for extra holiday breaks taken by GATE Academy. The piano studio's academic year is 9 months long, from September 3, 2024 to May 31, 2025.
Summer Lessons. Lessons are available during the summertime. In scheduling summer lessons, clients are not required to commit to an agreed-upon weekly lesson slot, as is the case during the school year. Lesson scheduling will be arranged in a more piecemeal fashion, based around our vacation dates. I encourage students to keep up with piano lessons over the summer because while school is on break, there is a lot more time to devote to music.
Scheduling. My work days are Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday-Monday is my weekend. Lessons will not be conducted on holiday breaks unless special arrangements have been made.
Billing and Payment
Annual Admin Fee. Please note that a yearly *administration fee of $150 will be billed each September.
*Payment of the yearly admin fee covers enrollment in any of the various student recitals I offer throughout the year, the hours spent planning and hosting any such events, and helps cover the cost of venue rental fees for these events. It also covers the cost of my time prepping for lessons, time spent arranging the schedule, communications with students and parents outside the lesson, any lesson materials purchased and provided by me, in addition to printing, scanning, and copying. If a new student is accepted mid school-year, a prorated admin fee will be charged in the first month’s bill. Students accepted over the summer (May, June, July, or August) would not pay an admin fee until the beginning of the next school year in September.
Monthly Tuition and Lesson Rates. Tuition is paid in 9 fixed monthly payments. I determine the monthly payment based on the following fees:
- $125 for 60-minute lessons
- $99 for 45-minute lessons
- $73 for *30-minute lessons
*Lesson Length. It should be noted that 30-minute lessons are best for early beginner students (3-7 years old) and for more casual students. For more serious students and most students over 8 years of age, I encourage 45-minute lessons. For serious and advanced students, I recommend 60-minute lessons.
Determining Your Fixed Monthly Payment. During the school year, tuition is billed as a fixed monthly payment. I take the value of all lessons from September 3 through March 31 divided into 9 equal monthly payments from September through May. For the 2024-2025 school year, students will receive 33 lessons over this 9 month period.*
*GATE Academy students will only receive 30 lessons during this period.
*These monthly tuition amounts are accurate specifically for students starting lessons at the beginning of school year in September.
**GATE Academy students, who will only receive 30 lessons during this 9 month period, would pay the following monthly amounts:
- 60-minute lessons: $417 per month
- 45-minute lessons: $330 per month
- 30-minute lessons: $243 per month
Paying by semester. I offer the option to pay for the full semester upfront. Clients would save some money by doing this, as the semesterly price will be reduced by the value of one half-priced lesson. Clients who regularly pay by the semester effectively receive one free piano lesson every school year
Billing. Tuition will be billed to the parent’s email on or around the 1st of each month. Payment is due by the first lesson of the month (e.g. payment for January piano lessons is due by the first lesson of January). Please make payments promptly! I have never charged a late fee for accounts 30+ days past due, but please don't let that be a reason to pay late every month or to allow your account to go multiple months past due. All tuition payments are non refundable, but a credit will be applied to your account when appropriate.
Payment methods. Cash payment is encouraged. Electronic Payments can be made via VenMo, CashApp, ApplePay, or Zelle. I do not accept PayPal payments. Please send VenMo* payments to @johnmetzpiano, CashApp payments to $johnmetzpiano, and ApplePay payments can be sent from iOS devices via the Messages app. Please send Zelle payments to the email address johnmetzpiano@gmail.com. Checks may be delivered in person or mailed to my Lincoln Avenue address, which appears in your monthly bill.
*Please always use "friends/family" when making VenMo payments, as I will not pay a vendor fee to receive the payment. If you use this option, neither of us pays a fee.
Missed Lessons
Make-up lessons and lesson credits. Missed lessons due to forgetfulness, illness, or scheduling mishaps are non-refundable. However, I don’t enjoy seeing any student miss out on any lesson they've paid for. I am happy to reschedule lessons — especially when informed in advance — and will offer make-up lessons for a later date when appropriate. Exceptions will be made for prolonged illnesses and extenuating circumstances on an individual basis. Generally, your account will be appropriately credited in cases where we are having to cancel numerous lessons in a row or simply cannot find an available time to meet due to multiple scheduling conflicts. But these are all exceptions to the basic expectation that each student reserves a slot on my schedule and pays monthly or semesterly to maintain that slot. My time is limited, and I can only teach so many people so I simply request that each student on my roster value and utilize the time I’ve reserved for them.
Cancelled lessons. There may be times when I'm not able to provide a lesson to a student. If I'm sick or otherwise unable to provide a lesson, I'll endeavor to reschedule or offer a make-up lesson at a later date. If a make-up lesson is not possible, the student's account would be credited accordingly.
24-hour notice. Ideally, please provide at least 24 hours notice prior to any absence. When students know of a scheduling conflict in advance, please inform me and we can aim to reschedule the lesson.
Summer Lessons
I teach every summer, and strongly encourage students to take summer lessons. When there’s no school and no homework, there’s more time for personal growth and artistic projects like learning piano. Due to summer being vacation and camp season, lessons will be arranged according to availability.
Recitals and Competitions
Recitals. The Marin Branch of the Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC) hosts monthly recitals in which students can perform. Additionally, I host my own studio recitals at least 4 times per school year, including an end-of-the-year recital every June. There is no fee to enroll students in recitals because payment of the annual administration fee covers any and all recitals the student chooses to participate in.
Competitions. Some students will be encouraged to enter competitions such as the local Margaret Bean Davis Piano Competition or the Marin Music Chest Competition, which often require their own separate fees.
Exams
Practical Exams. I participate in three exam programs: Certificate of Merit through the Music Teachers Association of California, National Guild Auditions through the American College of Musicians, and Royal Conservatory of Music examinations. Generally, students wishing to enroll in practical music exams will need to have been learning with me for at least one year before I will enter them for an exam. I need this time to ensure they are ready, that exams are the right thing for the student, and to cover areas missing in a student's prior education. Students looking to take exams should be aware that it takes a huge amount of effort and determination.
Lesson Length Requirements. Students interested in entering exams must take weekly lessons 45 minutes in length or longer. Extra lessons may be necessary as the exam date approaches.
Terminating Lessons
If a student wishes to stop taking lessons, please provide notice by email or in person. Students will continue to receive the lessons they've paid for until the end of the monthly cycle when the termination will take effect. Refunds will not be issued.
Contacting Me
Parents and students are welcome to call or text me during daytime hours to discuss any matters associated with their lessons. You can also email me at john@johnmetzpiano.com. Texting is best if a more immediate response is required.
Media Release
From time to time I may use photos and short videos of my students on my website. If the parent does not want their child's image(s) to be used, please let me know by email or in person. If a video or image is to be published, I will contact the parent to ask permission. In general, this is for the promotion of the studio and to motivate and encourage my students. Students would be identified only by first name or not at all.
The commencement of lessons is deemed acceptance of these terms.