Tuition:
Invoices are given to the students in the first week of the month and payment is due at the following lesson. The monthly total stays the same regardless of the number of lessons that are attended in the month. This includes studio closings due to holidays – see the calendar. The music cost and fees for auditions are added to the invoice. Accepted methods of payment are cash, checks, or online payments through your bank, if you pay bills online. Studio communication is managed through text, email, phone calls, or the student may tell me at their lesson.

Attendance:
Regular lesson attendance is necessary for students to make progress. Lessons missed due to teacher absence will be rescheduled or deducted from the invoice. Make up lessons are not guaranteed or credited for student absences August – May. An online lesson may be scheduled at the student’s scheduled time when needed because of inclement weather, transportation problems, or illness. Please call in at your lesson time for a FaceTime lesson at 256 683 3107. Summer lessons are flexible and will be deducted or rescheduled if advance notice is given. All students are expected to study in the summer when in town to be scheduled for fall lessons.

Registration:
I give a Summer-Fall Registration form to each student in May before the end of the school term and ask that it be returned for me to schedule lessons. I keep the same schedule for the summer and fall unless a change is requested. I will honor the requests if possible. If you need another time, I will let you know if that time is available. My teaching schedule is posted on my website (SchwemmerStudio.com) and it is password protected. If you do not want your information listed, please let me know. Please contact me for the 2026 password.

Practice Skills:
Student progress and advancement are determined by the quality and quantity of practice. Good habits begin with the parent and the student working together as their age and maturity permit. As a student moves forward the practice can be more independent. Try to practice as soon as possible after the lesson to reinforce what was learned at the lesson. Try to practice as many consecutive days as possible, taking some time off each week as well. Successful practice helps us do something that used to feel difficult into being easy, or close to it. Counting aloud and using the metronome is essential to develop learning to practice at a tempo that is no faster than can be played without several stops and stumbles. Students should bring all materials to each lesson and to be prepared to play all pieces assigned, including keyboard theory. A well-maintained instrument is essential. Practice takes work and patience because it requires both hemispheres of the brain! Short fingernails are essential for a correct hand position – please.

Parking and Waiting:
Please Park on either side of the driveway and not in the middle, because it blocks the next student from having a parking space. Students are asked to wait quietly before and after lessons.

The Studio Calendar:
Will be updated as soon as I know the dates of different events. It will be posted on my website. I will schedule one group class in the fall and one in the spring. There is no extra fee for the group classes or the spring recital. All students are expected to perform in the spring recital and guests may be invited.