2024-2025 Studio Policy
Studio Policy Sheet for 2024-2025
Tuition
Tuition covers the following:
Lesson Length Yearly Tuition Quarterly Payment
60 minutes $4700 $1175
75 minutes $5875 $1470
90 minutes $7050 $1762
Payment Schedule:
Quarterly payments are due: September 1, November 1, January 1, and April 1 and should be made payable to James Litzelman. The preferred method of payment is via Zelle; you can find me by my email address: [email protected] or my cell number: (703) 615-3614.
All tuition payments are non-refundable unless I terminate the lessons.
Enrollment Form
Please complete the Enrollment Form you received via email; print/sign/scan and return to me at [email protected] at your earliest convenience. Even if you’ve been in the studio for a number of years, kindly check the form for any errors and complete/update as necessary before returning to me. Accurate information is necessary for me to have when I enter your child in festivals and competitions.
Missed Lessons
Any lessons that I miss will definitely be made up, or your money refunded for the missed lesson. And if my schedule permits, I will make up lessons that your child may miss.
Additional Lessons
If you wish for your child to have more than the required four lessons during the summer, the fee for those is as follows:
Inclement Weather/School Closing
When we have inclement weather and/or schools are closed, lessons will be given online for those who feel it’s unsafe to drive to the studio.
Parking
Do not park in the driveway or block the driveway with your car. Parking is available on the street. If your lesson is between 8:00-5:00 you need to obtain a parking permit from me; place the permit on your dashboard when you arrive for the lesson and keep it in your car for the entire year.
Lesson Recording
You have the option of recording your child’s lesson. If you wish to have your child’s lesson recorded, please bring your own recording device. Listening to a lesson recording can often clear up questions regarding what is expected for the following lesson.
Group Classes
Group Performance Classes will take place in-person on Saturday mornings at the studio. These classes will be at 10am.
Performance Opportunities
All students are invited to perform in the group classes and studio recitals each year. All local music associations sponsor recitals, festivals and competitions. Students are expected to participate in those events that I feel are beneficial to their progress. These performances give students specific goals to meet, introduce them to other youngsters who share their love of music, and help them assess where they stand in comparison to their peers.
Practicing
To achieve success, even young students must serve as their own “teacher” when practicing, even if a parent is assisting them. There is no magic to success—having regularly scheduled daily practice will help your child achieve his or her potential—this cannot be emphasized enough.
Students need the following:
Studio Etiquette
Tuition
Tuition covers the following:
- 34 lessons annually, from late August to late May
- Any Group Performance classes we may have
- Any Studio Recitals we may have
- Time spent judging/monitoring on day of a competition/festival due to entering your child; usually a minimum of three hours per event.
Lesson Length Yearly Tuition Quarterly Payment
60 minutes $4700 $1175
75 minutes $5875 $1470
90 minutes $7050 $1762
Payment Schedule:
Quarterly payments are due: September 1, November 1, January 1, and April 1 and should be made payable to James Litzelman. The preferred method of payment is via Zelle; you can find me by my email address: [email protected] or my cell number: (703) 615-3614.
All tuition payments are non-refundable unless I terminate the lessons.
Enrollment Form
Please complete the Enrollment Form you received via email; print/sign/scan and return to me at [email protected] at your earliest convenience. Even if you’ve been in the studio for a number of years, kindly check the form for any errors and complete/update as necessary before returning to me. Accurate information is necessary for me to have when I enter your child in festivals and competitions.
Missed Lessons
Any lessons that I miss will definitely be made up, or your money refunded for the missed lesson. And if my schedule permits, I will make up lessons that your child may miss.
Additional Lessons
If you wish for your child to have more than the required four lessons during the summer, the fee for those is as follows:
- 60-minute lesson = $138
- 75-minute lesson = $172
- 90-minute lesson = $207
Inclement Weather/School Closing
When we have inclement weather and/or schools are closed, lessons will be given online for those who feel it’s unsafe to drive to the studio.
Parking
Do not park in the driveway or block the driveway with your car. Parking is available on the street. If your lesson is between 8:00-5:00 you need to obtain a parking permit from me; place the permit on your dashboard when you arrive for the lesson and keep it in your car for the entire year.
Lesson Recording
You have the option of recording your child’s lesson. If you wish to have your child’s lesson recorded, please bring your own recording device. Listening to a lesson recording can often clear up questions regarding what is expected for the following lesson.
Group Classes
Group Performance Classes will take place in-person on Saturday mornings at the studio. These classes will be at 10am.
Performance Opportunities
All students are invited to perform in the group classes and studio recitals each year. All local music associations sponsor recitals, festivals and competitions. Students are expected to participate in those events that I feel are beneficial to their progress. These performances give students specific goals to meet, introduce them to other youngsters who share their love of music, and help them assess where they stand in comparison to their peers.
Practicing
To achieve success, even young students must serve as their own “teacher” when practicing, even if a parent is assisting them. There is no magic to success—having regularly scheduled daily practice will help your child achieve his or her potential—this cannot be emphasized enough.
Students need the following:
- a well-maintained instrument that is tuned at least twice a year
- a metronome
- a music dictionary
- short fingernails—this is a must as it is impossible to play the piano properly with long nails
Studio Etiquette
- Please remove shoes once inside the studio.
- Students are asked to wash their hands in the studio restroom before the lesson.
- Any snacking should be kept to a minimum in the waiting room.
- A Keurig coffee maker is available for your use; please assist your children who may wish to have a drink. Any left-over beverages should be disposed of in the sink.
- Be considerate and keep the waiting area clean.
- If you leave during your child’s lesson, be sure to return on time to pick up your child when his lesson is finished, especially if your child’s lesson is the last one of the day.