Studio Policy – Children

Lawson Music Studio

I look forward to giving your child an excellent music education.  In order to ensure the musical progress of your child, I would like to share the following information with you:

 

1. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

Children whose parents take an active and honest interest in their children’s progress tend to be more enthusiastic and productive.  While most students are initially excited to begin piano lessons, please be aware they will face challenges and sometimes frustrations.  As the initial enthusiasm is replaced by the commitment required to achieve excellence, your encouragement and praise will be essential.  You can help your child by doing the following:
 

  • Please read the assignment email I send.  Teacher/parent communication is very important for the success of your child.  Feel free to call me 608-788-1874 from 8am – 8pm Monday – Friday or email lajtlax@yahoo.com at any time 24/7 with any questions or concerns. Emails received after 8pm may be answered the next morning.
  • Set aside a scheduled practice time.  This should be a time where your child is able to concentrate without distractions of hunger, siblings, exhaustion, etc…
  • Supervise home practice sessions and make sure your child completes all assignments.  Young  beginners require more supervision.  Older, more advanced students require less.
  • Ensure your child arrives at his or her lesson at the appropriate time (within 5 minutes of the lesson time is appropriate). Often students are too early and I’m not ready for them or even home.  Sometimes parents are late picking up their child and the child becomes worried or I have an event to attend, but I can’t leave because I still have a student at my house.  I’m happy to try accommodate you if you need to run an errand, have a complicated schedule, or have an emergency, but please confirm with me first to make sure that it’s okay. If doing an online lesson, be in the ‘waiting room’ a few minutes before your scheduled lesson time.
  • Students are to stay in the waiting area of my studio until they see their parent’s car or their parent comes in to get them.  Students walking or riding their bikes home must have their parent’s permission.
  • Sit in on lessons occasionally even if only for a few minutes.  It’s always helpful to see firsthand what is happening during the lesson.


For Piano:
Take care of the instrument.  Have your acoustic piano tuned at least twice a year.  An out-of –tune piano teaches your child incorrect relationship between the notes and makes ear training difficult. The best location for your piano is an interior wall where the temperature and humidity are consistent. Make any needed repairs. Broken keys or a pedal that doesn’t work can make practicing frustrating and difficult for your child.
 

Electronic keyboards should have touch response, a pedal, and ideally be full size with weighted keys.  I understand a parent being hesitant to make a substantial financial investment in an instrument only to have the child decide they don’t want to continue lessons.  An inexpensive keyboard is fine for beginners in the first 6 months, but a limited keyboard will put the student at a disadvantage as they progress.  Being able to play loud, quiet, and having the ability to use pedal are essential to learning the piano. Consider upgrading your instrument as your child becomes more committed to playing. 



2.  STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

It is my job to teach and the student’s job to learn.  Here is what I expect from the students:
 

  • Practice 5 -7 days a week (minimum 4 days if your child has a busy week).  This is important.  Without practicing, there will be very little learning or progress and your child is simply not getting the most out of their lessons.
  • Bring your books and other needed papers to lesson every time.
  • Be willing to follow the Studio Rules.  These are introduced on the first day of lesson are also listed under ‘Studio Conduct’.

 

3.  LESSON FORMAT, TUITION, AND SCHEDULING

  • I give half-hour one-on-one lessons once a week. The tuition is $19.00 per lesson (starting August 25, 2025) and due at the first lesson of each month for the entire month. This reserves your time slot in my studio for that month. Prompt payment is appreciated and expected.
  • Holidays and my vacation days will be planned into the schedule at the beginning of each month and you will not be charged if your child’s lesson falls on one of these days.
  • If I close the studio for any reason, you will not be charged for that lesson.
  • You are required to pay for your time slot for the month regardless of days you miss due to illness, vacations, or other reasons where you may choose not to attend lessons.  That time slot is reserved for you.
  • You will receive a tuition email at the end of each month with the amount of tuition due for the following month, the date it is due, and lessons dates you are paying for.  Please take the time to read these email I send.  They contain important information.
  • If your tuition is still unpaid by the end of the month, your child will not be allowed to attend lessons until the back tuition has been paid.
  • If there are five lessons available in the month on your child’s day during the School Year Session, the “fifth” lesson is free or is a make-up lesson.
  • Lessons I miss will be credited or made up (depending on available and convenient-to-the-parent time slots.) I’m rarely sick, but it happens.
  •  Please write checks payable to Lori Lawson.  I am on Paypal using my email adress. If you use this method please remember to use the Goods and Service option. I pay the transaction fee on Paypal as the business owner. You are not charged. I am on Venmo as Lawson Music Studio. Cash is always accepted, but please keep in mind I rarely have change. Payments can also be sent via e-pay from your bank. Contact your individual bank to find out more information regarding this method.
  • Optional Lesson Days: These are days where the La Crosse Public Schools are closed, but I am still available to teach. If your child’s lesson falls on one of the Optional Lesson Days, you have the option of scheduling a lesson that day. Your tuition will include the additional lesson and it will be treated like a regularly scheduled lesson. If you choose to not attend an Optional Lesson Day, you will not be charged for that lesson.
  • You are responsible for any and all fees my bank charges me for checks returned for non-sufficient funds.
  • Lesson time slots are scheduled at the mutual agreement of parent and teacher, subject to the availability of open lesson times.
  • Primer level students will have a lesson book (usually $6-$8).  Beginner level and above will have a lesson book and an extra songbook (total usually $12 – $15).  I will let you know what books your child needs and you can purchase these from a variety of sources like Leithold Music in Downtown La Crosse or Amazon. Around Christmas, I’m happy to help you pick out a level-appropriate Christmas book if you’d like to purchase one for your child.  I provide additional supplemental music by loaning out my books.  Students are always welcome to bring in their own music.
  • Students who take 5 or more lessons in June and July get first priority scheduling for the fall. Students who take 4 or fewer lessons in June and July get second priority scheduling for the fall. Students who choose not to take lessons over the summer risk losing their spot in my studio because I accept new students all year round.
  • Summer lessons are scheduled on a Flexible Schedule. More information is under Summer Lessons Policy.


 

4.  ABSENT POLICY

If your child is going to miss a lesson for any reason, please call me (608-788-1874) or email lajtlax@yahoo.com and let me know.  Please leave a message on the answering machine as I might not be home or I’m with a student.  I worry when students don’t show up and there was no notice – especially if they usually walk or ride their bike.  Please call or email me as soon as possible when you will be missing a lesson so I can offer that time slot to people looking for make-up lessons.  You are welcome to call between the hours of 8am to 8pm. You can email 24/7, but email received after 8pm may be responded to the next morning.

  • If there is an open time slot, you may have an opportunity to make up a missed lesson, but this is not guaranteed.  You must give notice in advance of the lesson you will miss. If you do not attend your scheduled lesson and I have not been informed you will be gone, you will not have the opportunity to make up the lesson.
  • If you wish to make up a lesson and there is an open time slot for doing so, that lesson must take place within 10 working days of the missed lesson. 


 

5.  STUDIO CONDUCT POLICY

I want everyone to be comfortable at my studio, but please remember this is also my home.  You are always welcome to come inside and sit in the front living room during the lesson.  The bathroom right next to the living room is available for everyone’s use – you don’t need to ask.  There is a garbage can underneath the bathroom sink.  You and/or your child can have snacks and drinks as long as no garbage or spills are left behind.  Keep in mind that even though the studio door is closed, sound does transfer.  Please help your children be respectful of the student taking the lesson. Think “Library Manners”.  All young non-student children must be supervised at all times.  You can bring books, games, etc…inside to keep your children occupied.

During online lessons, students are expected to be respectful, listen, and follow directions just as they would during a lesson in my studio. Background noise and distractions should be kept to a minimum so your child can focus on learning. You’d be surprised to find out just how loud sounds like loading the dishwasher, talking on the phone, a sibling playing with Legos, etc…can be over Zoom. Students should not be touching their electronic device during the lesson unless it is to adjust the volume or camera angle. Please check the section on Online Lessons for more information and tips.

 

All students are expected to follow the Lawson Music Studio Rules, which I introduce during the first lesson.

               Rule #1  Please try your best at every lesson.

               Rule #2  Please don’t play the piano when I am speaking. Listening to the teacher is very important during the lessons.
               Rule #3  Please keep your feet off the piano pedals unless you are using them for your piano piece. It’s not good for the piano to make the pedals thump thump thump.
               Rule #4  Please don’t chew gum during your lesson. I need to be able to understand what you say.
               Rule #5  Please have clean hands for every lesson. You can wash your hands in the bathroom or use the hand sanitizer on your way in. No sticky fingers, please.
               Rule #6  Please come to every lesson with your homework completed to the best of your ability.
               Rule #7  Please tell me when you don’t understand. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know”.
              

6.  PRACTICING

Practicing at home is essential to learning to play an instrument.  If your child is not practicing enough, they simply will not progress and will have trouble learning the material.  Please read the emails I send so you know what your child should be working on. I am often asked how long or how much a student should practice.  The simple answer is “It depends.”  I prefer to have each practice be goal-oriented rather than just setting a timer.  For example, if a mid-level student has perfected his or her pieces, a few repetitions a day should do to maintain the piece.  Setting a timer for 30 minutes and expecting the student to sit there can cause a lot of resentment from that child.  That particular student would benefit from more piano homework.  On the other hand, if a mid-level student isn’t able to perfect his or her piece in the 15 – 30 minutes daily practice time, maybe he or she needs more practice time or needs to use some of the practicing techniques we learn in lesson. I have a separate hand-out on practicing suggestions and problem solving.

 

  • The Primer level and Beginner level students are taught to successfully play their entire piece during lesson. 
    Practicing during the week maintains the accuracy and increases the speed of that piece.   In general, beginners should spend about 5 to 15 minutes a day practicing.  These students would be in a primer book or level 1.
  • The Mid-level students should spend about 15 to 30 minutes a day practicing.  They learn most of their piece in lesson and are expected to know how to finish the rest at home.  They should be practicing in sections if needed and know to include the dynamics, articulation, pedal, and to achieve the appropriate tempo.  A Mid-level student would be in book 2 to 3 depending on the series.
  • Intermediate/Advanced students should spend about 30 to 45 minutes a day practicing. Intermediate and Advanced students are taught how to and are expected to ‘prepare’ pieces for lesson so we can spend valuable lesson time on more difficult passages and techniques.  An Intermediate/Advanced student would be in book 3 – 6 depending on the series. They should be practicing in sections if needed and know to include the dynamics, articulation, pedal, and to achieve the appropriate tempo.


 

A piece should significantly improve as the week goes on.  If there is no improvement or the piece gets worse, there is something wrong with the practicing situation.  Please let me know if this is happening.  Input from the parents is very important.  By paying attention during home practice, you as the parent should be able to gauge if your child is having trouble or if they are breezing through the material.  I try to tailor assignments to keep each student both challenged and motivated.
 

7.  DISCONTINUING LESSONS


I offer no refunds except in the case of prolonged illness or injury where the student will not be returning to lessons.  If need be, the end of the month is a good time to discontinue lessons.  Please tell me in advance so I can end the lessons on a fun, positive note with no assignment.  If your child is extremely disinterested, repeatedly disrespectful, or is consistently unprepared for lessons, I will bring those problems to your attention.  If those problems aren’t fixed, I will recommend discontinuing lessons.

 

8. REFERRAL REWARDS!  My business is advertised word-of-mouth.  For every student you refer who begins lessons, you will get TWO free lessons on the next tuition bill.