Studio Policies

NEW This Year

KeyNotes Classes

This year we are launching KeyNotes-music Group Piano Class. It is an innovative method that you and your children will love!

• Current students are encouraged to try the Group Piano Class in August.
• All new students will begin in KeyNote Classes.
• If your child tries the newly licensed KeyNotes-music program and you feel it is not for them, private lessons are available for current students. All private lessons will be 45 minutes in length and be $140 per month. To be in private lessons, each student must practice the appropriate amount of time 5 days every week. I really believe the KeyNotes Group Classes will provide superior music education for all students! 

Pilot Groups

Pilot Groups will launch in August with Escape Room Fun! Not every Group works together as we hope, so at the end of August, we will evaluate each student. Mrs Donna will work together with parents to determine what path is best for each and every student. 

Studio Policies

The studio schedule runs from August 11th through June 30th. Camps and lessons/classes will continue through June 30th. Each student is expected to participate in June. 

Tuition

Yearly Tuition guarantees that the studio will be teaching 45 weeks.

• a)You can pay in full at the beginning of August or the total can be divided into 11 equal monthly payments.
• b)Tuition is due on the first day of every month from August through June. If tuition is not paid until after the 10th day of the month, a $20 late fee will be charged.
• c)The 2nd, 3rd and 4th child in a family will receive a 10% discount on the monthly tuition.
• d)We would prefer that you set up your payments as automatic withdrawal from the 1st of the month through the 10th of the month. You can do this in your Parent Portal. There will be a convenience fee charged by PayPal.
• e)Check payments should be made out to Donna Truitt. There will be a $45 non-refundable registration fee per student.

Tuition rates for each type of lesson/class are detailed on the website. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Truitt at 865-679-9071 by phone or text. 

Missed Lessons

If a student can’t be at a lesson, a lesson online during their regular time is encouraged. If this isn’t possible, recordings of their pieces and/or assignments should be recorded in the practice app for teachers to listen to and send new assignments and instructions.

If a teacher misses a lesson, one Group Class will be scheduled for all students to attend. 

Practice Outside of Class

Regular practice is imperative to learn how to play proficiently. A minimum of 15-45 minutes of practice on 5 days per week is expected, according to the age of the student. 

Scheduling Considerations

Please be considerate of scheduling: if you arrive 15 minutes late, we cannot always provide an extra 15 minutes at the end of your child’s lesson.

Our teachers may also need your patience! Sometimes schedules do not work in reality the way they appear to work on paper. It may take a few lessons to determine if a change needs to be made on a particular day for the schedule to run smoothly.

Everyone has tight schedules and we will do our best to keep everything running smoothly. We appreciate you being considerate of a 15 minute window of time while we work each day. 

Nail Care

Fingernails are expected to be trimmed short. In order to be able to learn proper technique, nails should be no longer than the tip of the finger. If a student shows up with nails that are too long, they will either be trimmed by Mrs. Truitt or lessons for the day will consist of non-playing activities. 

Studio Yard & Pets

Do not approach the dogs in the fence. Anyone caught teasing the dogs, throwing things into the fenced area or harassing the dogs in any way to make them run or bark will be put on notice. Three incidences and the family will be dismissed from the studio.

Please do not bring your dog to piano lessons. If it is necessary to bring your dog, you must inform Mrs. Truitt that your dog is here and they must stay in your vehicle. This is for the safety of students and dogs. 

Cell Phones

We are a cell phone free zone. In order for students to stay focused and on task especially during lab time, I would like to ask cell phones and other electronic devices be left in the basket on my desk for the duration of the lesson time. It’s also very helpful for parents to remain attentive during lesson time so children feel that what they are doing in class is as important to you as it is to me! If a parent needs to take phone call for an urgent reason, please do so outside. Thank you for understanding the importance of maintaining a distraction free zone. 

Noise Level During Classes

There will be many students, parents and younger siblings coming in and out of the studio. Please be considerate and quiet so the student having a lesson can focus. Feel free to bring activities to keep them occupied. Mrs Truitt will not hesitate to ask you to go outside or in the back room for discussions or play time. 

Communication, Updates, & Reviews

Watch for texts and emails from the studio. There will also be a Facebook Group set up for parents and students where current information will be posted. We will make every effort to contact you in the event there is a problem or schedule change. Your life and ours will be so much better if you are checking these sources for information. 

Stay in the loop by following The Pianissimo Studio on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” or follow the page for announcements and reminders. We also appreciate any reviews on this page. 

Please leave a review on our Google Business Page.