2541 W. Waukau Ave Apt #1, Oshkosh, WI 54904 Ms.

Amy Hartl

Studio Policies
Expenses
1) General Expenses Information
a) Piano/ Voice lessons are $20.00 for a 30min lesson or $30.00 for a 45min lesson on a
weekly basis. The first lesson, orientation, is free.
b) A missed lesson without sufficient notice is still time I set aside to teach. Therefore, the
absence does not excuse the lesson fee.
c) Unless otherwise notified by Ms. Hartl, lesson payments are due by the first lesson of
each month. This payment will cover the lessons to be taken during the corresponding
month in which the fee is due.
i. Exceptions to this rule include the following: 24-hour notice provided in which a
student will not be attending their first lesson of the month, teacher approval
given prior to the payment date, or the first lesson of the month is paid for due
to credit from a previous lesson.
ii. Alternate payment plans must be discussed and confirmed with Ms. Amy.
d) In the event a lesson must be cancelled—and the cancellation adheres to the policies
outlined below— the lesson prepaid for during the current pay period will be applied to
next month’s payment or reimbursed via cash or check.
2) Late fees
a) If payment is not submitted by the second scheduled lesson of the month, a $5.00 late
fee will be charged to the lesson account. Additional $5.00 fees will be added every 7
days following this first late fee charge until payment is fully submitted. I also reserve
the right to refuse lesson services if payment is not received by the 3rd lesson of the
month. Services will not continue until payment is received in full.
3) Forms of payment
a) Lesson fees may be paid either via cash, check, or PayPal.
i. Cash payments must be presented to the teacher at the beginning of a lesson
and may not be sent via mail as this creates liability for misplaced payments.
ii. Checks may be given to the teacher at the beginning of a lesson or mailed to the
address listed above.
iii. Please notify Ms. Hartl— two weeks prior to when the next payment is due— if
you would like to start paying for lessons via PayPal. Also, please be sure that
your PayPal set-up has email notifications turned on.
4) Materials
a) Lesson books, theory books, and music scores are the most common items used during lessons. I
purchase lesson resources for students based on my professional discretion, as well as students’
interests and music progress. keep a receipt copy. This purchase expense will then be added to
your monthly invoice, along with the receipt, for the next month. Materials I purchase for
students will not be allowed to leave the studio until paid for.
b) Spiral notebook (6in x 9.5in preferred)—which will be used to record weekly assignments
c) Folder—to keep all lesson materials organized and in one place
d) Water bottle
e) Drawstring bag, backpack, or satchel
f) Fresh pair of socks for each lesson

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2541 W. Waukau Ave Apt #1, Oshkosh, WI 54904 Ms. Amy Hartl

g) (Opt) Piano journal—to record personal discoveries made while practicing or engaging in a
lesson
Location
1) All lessons will take place on site at Music Speaks Studio located at 2541 W. Waukau Ave, Apt. #1.

Practicing
1) It is the student’s responsibility to set aside the appropriate amount of time to practice on each
day. For beginning students, 15 minutes. For intermediate and advanced students, 30 minutes to
an hour. Practice time will vary depending on the repertoire being studied. (For a suggested
practice length, please feel free to ask Ms. Hartl.)
a) Piano students: If access to a piano is not possible within the home, there are many local
sites that can be utilized. If this is not an option, downloading a piano app on a phone or
tablet is another option or even drawing or printing out the piano keys on paper would
work too.

Performances
1) I collaborate with local music teachers to put together biannual piano/ voice studio performances.
Performing in the studio recitals is not a requirement, but rather something I strongly encourage
my students to participate in.
2) I do also encourage students to perform in public settings like nursing homes and other local
venues. If this is something they wish to do, as a soloist or with a select group of musicians, I will
gladly help to make this possible.

Lesson Policies
1) Make-up lessons
a) I try to accommodate the needs of my students to the best of my abilities. However, since the weekly
lesson time is a student commitment, I expect make-up lessons to be avoided whenever possible.
Therefore, I generally do not provide make-up lessons unless for the following reasons: student illness,
family emergency, or other family events such as weddings and funerals. Please also take advantage of
the lesson SWAP list where you can switch your lesson time with another student for one week.
2) Emergencies
a) The above lesson policies are void in the event of an emergency: illness, serious injury, medical
emergency or family matter. Contact with Ms. Hartl should be made as soon as possible for purposes of
notification of the pending lesson.
b) In the event of an emergency, in which the teacher encounters, you will be notified directly by me or
sent an email notification as soon as possible.
i) A note will be left on the studio complex’s security door if I am unable to contact you directly
when the cancellation of a lesson occurs due to an emergency situation.
b) In the event poor weather prohibits travel—for either the student or the teacher—contact should be
made, via phone-call (or email IF phone service is down), to affirm the cancellation.
3) Student cancellation of a lesson
a) In the event that a lesson must be cancelled, sufficient notification— 24-hours prior to the day of the
lesson—must be provided. Each student is allowed 3 excusals from a lesson for personal reasons every

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2541 W. Waukau Ave Apt #1, Oshkosh, WI 54904 Ms. Amy Hartl

year (January 1st to December 31st) in which no charge will be incurred upon a lesson where sufficient
notice was not provided.
b) To obtain excusal from a lesson, virtual or verbal communication must be made with Ms. Hartl at
least 24-hours in advance. Approved inquiries will be recorded on the lesson excusal sheet found in the
studio.
4) Teacher cancellation of a lesson
a) I reserve the right to cancel a lesson for personal proceedings, only IF a 24-hour advanced notice is
given prior to the upcoming lesson for that week.
5) Termination of lessons
a) Termination of lessons can only occur on the last lesson of every month. Lessons unattended due to
stopping lessons mid-month will not be reimbursed. Please plan ahead accordingly and notify Ms. Amy
of your decision prior to the first lesson of the month, so an EXACT end date can be determined and
lessons paid for up to that date.

Teaching Times
1) Lessons during the Academic Year
a) Occasionally, a need arises where lesson times must be changed or cancelled due to Ms. Amy’s
schedule. In the event this occurs, you will be notified either via phone or email.
2) Summer Lessons
a) In order to hold a spot in Music Speaks Studio, a minimum of 8 lessons must be taken during the
summer (June 1st-Sept. 1st). If this requirement is not fulfilled, I reserve the right to give your weekly
lesson time to another student. If this occurs, 24-hour notification will be given to you.
3) Holidays
a) I do not teach during the following holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and the 4th of July.
Exact dates in which lessons will not be given, during these holidays, is clearly posted on the
website and in the studio. Additionally, I post reminder flyers outside to ensure communication
of such events is clear.

My Educational Philosophy
I believe in the equal opportunity for all students to learn and excel in their music studies. This is
accomplished through performance exposure, focusing on music theory and aural skills, expanding technical
knowledge of the instrument of study and building connections to pre-known knowledge. As music is a language
in and of itself, it is important to learn the ropes. Using innovative ways to teach students this language makes
learning music more fun and comforting. For example: visual, aural, and kinesthetic learning opportunities such
as playing music review games and swapping rolls through peer reviews both motivates and excites students to
learn new concepts. Additionally, I believe the language of music is an outlet for students to “express
[themselves] through music 7 days a week” and enhance communication skills. Lastly, I always try to keep an
open-mind and view all problems from multiple perspectives in order to find the most effective solution.
Therefore, in the event that a student is struggling to understand a concept or to master a technique, I make it a
point to research possible alternative teaching methods to better accommodate the needs of that student.
Overall, my students are the number one focus and their learning comes first.

Contact Information
Phone: 920-312-7307 Email: amyallison.hartl@gmail.com Website: www.musicspeaksstudio.weebly.com
Music Speaks Studio Address: 2541 W. Waukau Ave, Apt. #1, Oshkosh, WI 54904

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2541 W. Waukau Ave Apt #1, Oshkosh, WI 54904 Ms. Amy Hartl

Please return this form completed to Ms. Amy by the 3 rd music lesson:

(parent’s name)

I,___________________________________________, understand the studio policies outlined above

and hereby agree to the terms and conditions listed. I also acknowledge that Ms. Hartl reserves the

right to revise the studio policies without prior notice.

(student’s name)

I, _____________________________________________, agree to the studio policies outlined above

and hereby agree to the terms and conditions listed. This means I understand the opportunities that

are available to me as a student to learn about and perform various styles of music. I also understand

that these proceedings are completely voluntary and not a requirement. Lastly, I acknowledge that it is

my responsibility to practice the assigned materials for each week.

Student Signature: ______________________________________________ Date:_____/_____/_____

Parent Signature: _______________________________________________ Date:_____/_____/_____