Studio Life
Our shared commitment
Commencement of lessons serves as an agreement to the following studio policies. We believe that clear communication between the instructor, the student, and the family is the foundation of musical success.
Student and parent responsibilities
Students are expected to arrive for lessons punctually, well-prepared, and with all necessary music and materials. To achieve true musical independence, consistent quality practice is essential.
We encourage parents to stay informed about weekly assignments and to communicate any life changes at home or school that may affect a child's learning. This allows the instructor to remain sensitive and adaptive to the student's needs.
Instruments: Students must have a functional instrument at home for daily practice.
Performance: Students are encouraged to participate in studio recitals and local festivals to build confidence and community.
Payment: During our introductory phase, payment is due at the time of service via Venmo or Zelle.
Cancellations: Please provide cancellation notices as soon as possible. We require at least 24 hours' notice to reschedule; lessons cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice will require full payment to cover the reserved time slot.
Health and safety
To protect our musical community, students must stay home if they have experienced a fever, vomiting, or contagious symptoms within the last 24 hours. If a student arrives visibly ill, the instructor may ask to transition the lesson to a video format or reschedule to keep the studio a healthy space.
The policies below will be in effect starting August 1, 2026.
Tuition and enrollment
Verse Music School operates on a flat monthly tuition model based on a guaranteed minimum of 44 lessons per calendar year. This provides families with a consistent monthly rate, regardless of how many weeks fall in a specific month.
Trial lesson: New students begin with a one-time introductory lesson billed at $35. Formal monthly enrollment picks up after families meet their instructor and choose a curriculum track.
Monthly academy rates: $265 per month for weekly 45-minute lessons on the Foundation track, and $340 per month for weekly 60-minute lessons on the Comprehensive track. Pricing is tied to your reserved lesson length and renews yearly with any published tuition adjustment letters.
Calculated value: Monthly tuition is an installment of the annual cost and remains the same even during holiday breaks or months with five lessons.
Annual Resource Fee: A $100 Annual Resource Fee is applied at enrollment (and renews yearly). This covers your required method books, sheet music, and recital fees for the full year so you are not asked to purchase those materials separately.
Non-refundable policy: Tuition is based on your reserved time slot and will not be adjusted for missed lessons or early withdrawals. All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Annual update: A small tuition adjustment occurs each year to ensure the continued quality of studio resources.
Attendance and cancellations
When you enroll, you are securing a specific time slot that is reserved exclusively for you.
Punctuality: Lessons conclude at their scheduled time. If a student is late, the lesson cannot be extended. If a student is more than 10 minutes late, the instructor reserves the right to consider the lesson forfeited.
Teacher absences: To ensure consistent progress, any lesson missed due to a teacher's professional obligations or illness may be covered by a qualified substitute. If a substitute is unavailable, the lesson will be made up via a rescheduled session or a customized video lesson.
Inclement weather: In the event of dangerous travel conditions or studio closures, families will be notified as early as feasible. Lessons may be held virtually or rescheduled when it is safe to do so.
Options for missed lessons
While we do not offer refunds for missed lessons, we provide several ways to ensure your child's progress remains a priority. To qualify for a Makeup Credit, at least 24 hours' notice must be provided (except in cases of emergency or illness).
1. Immediate Alternative
- Remote Sessions: We can pivot an in-person lesson to an online session at your regularly scheduled time.
2. Flex Week Makeup Sessions
- Flex Weeks are dedicated solely to makeup lessons; no regularly scheduled lessons occur during these weeks.
- The Guarantee: Every student is guaranteed one (1) lesson slot during a given Flex Week to use a Makeup Credit.
- Registration: To ensure fairness, slots for Flex Week open exactly one week prior. For example: Monday Flex Week slots become available for booking on the Monday evening prior, immediately following the final lesson of that day.
- Open Slots: Any Flex Week slots not claimed by students with makeup credits will be opened to the studio for additional scheduling.
3. The Makeup Credit "Cap"
- Credit Limit: Students may accrue a maximum of four (4) Makeup Credits at any given time.
- Forfeiture: If a lesson is missed while a student already holds four credits, the lesson is forfeit and will not be credited. We encourage families to use their credits during the nearest Flex Week to avoid hitting this cap.
Studio calendar
| Grand Opening | August 3, 2026 | Regular Lessons Begin |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Flex Week | Nov 16 – 22, 2026 | Makeup Lessons Only |
| Thanksgiving Break | Nov 23 – 29, 2026 | Studio Closed |
| Winter Flex Week | Dec 14 – 20, 2026 | Makeup Lessons Only |
| Winter Break | Dec 21 – Jan 3, 2027 | Studio Closed |
| Spring Break | Apr 5 – 11, 2027 | Studio Closed |
| Spring Flex Week | May 24 – 30, 2027 | Makeup Lessons Only |
| Summer Flex Week | June 28 – July 4, 2027 | Makeup Lessons Only |
Discontinuation of lessons
Immediate Withdrawal: No tuition will be prorated or refunded for the current pay period; however, students are welcome to attend all remaining paid lessons.
Makeup Credits: Upon discontinuation of lessons, all accrued makeup credits are forfeit and cannot be redeemed, transferred, or refunded.
Time Slots: We cannot hold specific time slots for students who choose to take an extended leave of absence.