Policy & Fees
2026

Commitment

• My commitment when I take on a new student is to offer engaging, informative, efficient, and fun lessons, tailored to the needs and desires of you and your family.  I look forward to helping you/your child to develop all the aspects of musicianship: theory, memory work, technique, aural training, reading, improvisation, performance and expressive playing.  I set aside the arranged time to dedicated to that person, and also take time before and after lessons to plan, prepare and keep progress going.  To help facilitate this, there needs to be consistency and clarity in making things run smoothly for everyone involved.    

• Your commitment to an individual time slot at the studio, other than the financial commitemtment outlined celow, also includes set practice/focused improving time at home.  This will be discussed in a meeting prior to any lessons going ahead. Parental involvement in lessons and some at home, depending on your child's age/stage, is part of how I operate things here and it is great to have clear and open communication about what's being taught and what is expected. Please be present both physically and mentally as you are a big part of your child's musical journey too and I do engage parents in lessons too.  Most students work really well with parents around and gradually better without parental involvement in the actual lesson (you'll always know what they are doing and what is expected through their lesson plans).  This gets discussed individually as needs arise.

• Listening to recordings of what is being learned as well as other music related to what is being learned also helps maximise learning by ear and having a broader understanding of music.  I will regularly recommend YouTube links, recordings or send audio files to help with this.

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Timetables and Cancellations​

• Invoices are issued every term, payable within two weeks, for the set number of the weeks in the state school term minus one for random stuff like performances.  This is a flat fee for the whole term regardless of whether the lessons are attended or not and I keep a tally of how many we actually get in a term.  

• Cancelled lessons are added to a wait list of possible other time slots and I do let you know if something comes up within the term, which usually does happen.  But in the event that another timeslot doesn't work, these lessons are simply forfeited.  This helps to keep my schedule, record-keeping, budgeting, and my own family time with clear boundaries.  Even though from an individual's point of view it may seem like one or two lessons missed that should be easy to squeeze in somewhere or just get refunded/deducted, from my point of view it has ended up being between 20-70 lessons missed/shuffled each term which is not sustainable.  Private music teachers running their own businesses do not get sick pay, holiday pay, annual leave, usually have no income between November - February, and have limited workable hours outside of school times.  Hence the same rationale as school fees: it is for the term/set time frame and missed lessons get replaced only if it works for both parties involved.

• Sickness or changes of circumstances sometimes happen and there are other things I can offer in the time allocated to you: reviews/feedback of videos you send me or correcting theory pages that you send pictures of. Or mini videos/texts/emails of new practice plans.  Online/phone lessons are always an option.  Or you can offer the slot to a sibling or another student who you know from the studio (letting me know in advance of course so I know who is coming when!).   

• If I have to change a lesson for whatever reason I will always ensure that I make the time up either during the term or during the holidays or occasionally carry it over to the next term since it is I who had to reschedule.  

• Extended time away that you know of in advance can sometimes be worked around before invoices are written as it give me a chance to organise other people in those time slots while you are away. And it also gives you a chance to be in the missed-lessons wait list earlier to take advantage of any other slots that come up before you go away.  

• Ceasing lessons before the end of a term means forfeiting the remaining lessons as I have still schedule that time in for you for the rest of the term.  If one sibling stops but another continues the extra time can be used by the continuing sibling or another student from the studio, but not refunded or transferred to another term.  

• Lesson times are pre-set before the term starts and arriving on time means we can maximise the time together.  Sometimes I do end up going overtime with a previous student to complete a learning task but I will always ensure you get your full arranged time some way or another. 

• Dropping off/picking up needs to be close to the alocated time and I don't just let kids wander out and wait indefinitely outside for you to come back.  I cannot always guarantee that I am present here long before or after the allocated time so early drop offs or late pickups are not helpful to anyone.

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Fees  for 2026

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Solo/Individual lessons:

15 mins = $24.50

20 mins = $32.60

30 mins = $49.00

45 mins = $73.50

60 mins = $98.00

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Overlap/Combined time

(for theory games, worksheets and activities)

15 mins = $18

20 mins = $24

30 mins = $36​

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Group-Week Sessions

(optional, and invoiced separately to individual/overlap lessons.

See here for more details):

75 minutes = $35

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Accompaniment Fees

These are the same as private lesson fees which helps covers my own practice time outside the arranged rehearsal.  Details are to be arranged and agreed upon via text or email before commencing and music is preferably provided or easily sourced beforehand so I can be as well prepared as possible for you.  Anything over about 5th grade exams I recommend an hour's rehearsal as a minimum.  Number of rehearsals before a performance varies.  Fees for any performances or exams depends on travel and how involved I am on the day which can make fees spread out over other musicians so will be negotiated at the time. Usually a flat $50 per exam/performance but it is up to negotiation.

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60 mins  = $98.00

45 mins = $73.50

30 mins = $49.00

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• Invoices are to be settled within two weeks and are not to be adjusted.  If anything needs to be altered I will issue a new invoice to keep things simple for my records.

• Overlap time is a pre-arranged agreement that fits in between a couple of individual lessons and is a great way to build community and have fun doing musical things with others each week rather than just solo. It's especially great for piano players who may not get orchestra or ensemble experience elsewhere.  This time is for theory games, worksheets, rhythm games and some playing of duets or trios. This time is charged differently as it is not individual time.  If one student is absent for any reason, the remaining student/s simply gets that time as solo lesson time instead and no make up time is arranged for the overlap time.     

 

Housekeeping

• My studio carpet, couches, instruments and books don't like food and drink! So these need to remain out in the foyer/tiled area.  Same with shoes.  Hands and faces need to be clean before we start any work together. 

• Other family members or friends are always welcome, provided they can keep themselves occupied, can learn to be respectful by not interrupting the time with the current student or can be looked after by an adult if needed.  Feel free to use the books and games on the bottom shelf here or bring your own.  

• Other instruments in the studio are not to be played during the lesson without permission. They get used regularly for rhythm games and activities but not randomly as toys.

• Remaining in the studio/foyer area keeps clear boundaries for the rest of my family, including my excited dogs who only come in on special occasions if you're keen to meet them.  Students and their families are sometimes welcome outdoors when there is a planned concert/party.   

 

​Thank you (and congratulations!) for reading the full policy and for taking the time to understand each dot point.  Did you get to finish your cup of tea? :-)  If you are a current ongoing student continuing or a newbie starting, let me know what colour Ralphie's bow tie is in the pic below (left dog) for acknowledgement that you've actually read the terms and conditions above ...

and to receive a $5 thank you discount on your next invoice in 2026!

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Contact  

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  

I do have a waiting list for the home studio at present and am not able to take on new individual students but I'm happy to chat with you and recommend some other teachers I know.  

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