General Policies

·       The studio/teaching year is structured in trimesters. This system better allows for organization of goals, payments, and schedules across all students. Specifics of scheduling and payment related to these trimesters are described in the following sections.

-      Trimester 1 – January through April

-      Trimester 2 – May through August

-      Trimester 3 – September through December

Initial Information Session

·       No audition is required to sign up for sessions, however, all students are required to participate in an initial call, ideally through Skype or Zoom, to discuss past experience, goals, etc.

-      This call is no charge and will last no longer than a half hour (typically around 15 minutes).

-      Note that this session does not guarantee a permanent lesson/coaching slot. Think of it as a “get to know you” call, for both of us.

-      At the conclusion of the call students may be sent some documents or asked to send recordings of requested exercises in order to assess skill levels. Specifics will be discussed on a case by case basis, although examples can be found below under “Assessment Process.”

Assessment Process

·       The initial assessment of a student’s skill level begins with the initial information call. The process has many of the same elements of an audition, but should not carry the heavy weight of that word. The process is simply to help the instructor make the best plan for each student.

·       Students may be sent some google forms to assess their various skills. Specifics will vary from student to student, but examples include:

-      Reading assessment: basic music reading and theory skills. Not specific to any instrument.

-      Instrument assessment: designed for each instrument (voice included) to determine knowledge base of instrumental parts, techniques, and terminology.

·       Students may also be asked to provide recordings of certain exercises/repertoire. Again, this will vary from student to student, but examples include:

-      Instrumentalists: Three scales of student’s choosing, short solo piece, sightreading example (provided by instructor).

-      Vocalists: warmup sequence (accompaniment recording provided), short solo piece, sightreading example (provided by instructor).

Communication

·       The studio Discord is the best means for short inquiries or questions. Questions can be posed to the general studio or directly to me. For longer or multiple questions, email is the best method.

·       Students will be provided with a link to a read-only Google Sheet that will be used to track charges and payments. More detail is described in “Fees and Payments.”

·       Please inform the instructor of any physical, emotional, or developmental challenges that may affect a student’s means of processing information, or response to circumstances. Every effort will be made to provide any accommodations that are necessary for each student to have a good experience.

·       Please take note of and adhere to any deadlines assigned by the instructor (i.e.: email responses about studio opportunities, participation in events/recitals, etc.).

Fees and Payments

·       Classroom fees may be paid annually, quarterly, or monthly The total fee for a year will be reduced with fewer payments. As of November 2025 rates are as follows:

-      Annual Payment: $4000

-      Quarterly Payment: $1062.50 (totaling $4250 per year)

-      Monthly Payment: $375 (totaling $4500 per year).

·       Payment is required before services are rendered.

-      Students will be provided with a link to a read only google sheet that will be updated weekly to track charges, payments, and balances.

+      See below for an example of how information is entered in the sheet.

·       Students who choose monthly payments and enroll mid-month will have their first payment prorated unless otherwise specified.

·       Upon receipt of the first payment the student will be given access to relevant Dropbox folders and the studio Discord.

·       Students have a grace period of five days following the payment due date (typically the first of the month/quarter or the year mark of an annual payment) before access to all materials will be revoked.

·       Payments can be made in cash (please include a note with name and date), check, Venmo, or Cashapp.

-      Check payments and payment app handles are subject to change and will therefore be discussed with each student.

·       Educators may be eligible for a discounted rate for Classroom Access. Some proof of educational employment will be required and discussed during the initial information session.

-      Examples include music educators in need of instruction outside their area of focus (i.e.: a choir teacher who will be required to teach orchestra in their next semester), children of music educators who wish to take lessons with someone other than their guardian, or music educators simply wishing to hone their skills.

Refunds

·       Refunds for classroom programs follow the general Refund policies listed elsewhere in this document.
However, refund availability for classroom enrollment may be more limited due to the digital nature of the material. Once materials have been accessed, refunds may not be possible.

·       Eligibility for a refund is at the sole discretion of the instructor.

-      Refunds will typically be provided by payment app (Venmo, Cashapp, etc) or by check.

Disputes

·       The student’s assigned google sheet is the source for all matters of attendance and payment. Any discrepancies should be brought to the attention of the instructor as soon as possible. In the event of a dispute all records will be reviewed to reach a resolution.

·       In order to lessen the chance of any such circumstance, please follow these steps:

-      Cash payments – always include a note with name and date, ideally in an envelope.

-      Check payments – please include intended number of sessions in the memo line.

-      Online payment (venmo, cashapp, etc.) – apps and the timing of the payments will be protection for both parties.

·       See below for an example of how information is entered in the google sheets

Referrals

·       Students who refer others for any teaching opportunity may receive a discount on their next payment, equal to 20% off a monthly payment, following their referral’s probationary period (see “Probationary Periods”).

Materials

·       Classroom students will be provided access to digital materials through Dropbox, including Handouts, Learning Guides, Content Maps, and Supplemental Resources.

-      The instructor reserves the right to update or revise classroom materials at any time to improve the quality of the program.

·       All classroom materials are for the personal use of the enrolled student only. These materials are considered intellectual property of the instructor.

-      Students may not share, distribute, repost, upload, or sell any classroom materials, whether in whole or in part, to any other individual, teacher, school, or online platform.

-      Materials may not be used for teaching purposes by parents, educators, or outside instructors without written permission from the instructor.

·       Sharing or redistributing classroom materials—whether to other students, teachers, schools, websites, Discord groups, social media platforms, or AI tools—is strictly prohibited. Violation of this policy may result in:

-      Immediate termination of classroom access

-      No refunds for remaining enrollment

-      Legal action in the case of repeated or intentional infringement.

·       Access to Dropbox classroom folders remains active only while the student is enrolled and in good standing.
Access will be removed immediately upon discontinuation of enrollment.

·       Students may be required to purchase some outside materials. These will depend on the student’s level, instrument, and goals.

-      Examples include Suzuki Violin Books and various vocal books based on voice type.

·       Students are required to provide their own instruments. If you do not currently have an instrument, please consult the instructor before purchasing one. There are many badly made instruments on the market, and using one of these can be extremely detrimental to a student’s progress. General suggestions are:

-      String players should check out the student outfits from Shar Music (sharmusic.com). Includes instrument, bow, and case.

-      Pianists and vocalists can find good keyboards by Yamaha through various retailers. A full 88 key version is highly suggested.

·       Students should get some method of organizing their materials. A 3 ring binder is suggested for the handouts in particular.

-      Having physical copies of the handouts that can be written on will be invaluable.

Discord Classroom Community Policies

·       Classroom programs include access to a private Discord server used for questions, discussions, reminders, and community support.

-      Access to the Discord server is restricted to current students only.

-      Students may not share invite links, screenshots, or any content from within the server.

·       Students must adhere to respectful communication at all times. Harassment, bullying, spamming, inappropriate language, or disruptive behavior will result in a warning and possible removal.

·       Any student removed from the Discord server for behavioral violations will not receive a refund for any portion of their enrollment.

·       Discord may be used for:

-      Asking questions about assignments or material

-      Posting practice logs or progress updates

-      Participating in optional community challenges

-      Receiving announcements or updates from the instructor

-      Attending occasional text- or voice-based Q&A sessions

·       Discord is not a substitute for scheduled lessons or classroom modules.

·       Questions will be answered as the instructor’s schedule allows.

·       Students and guardians understand that Discord is a third-party platform and must follow Discord’s Terms of Service and age requirements.

Studio Class Policies

·       Studio classes will be scheduled multiple times throughout the week.

-      The student can attend all or none of the studio classes, thought they should be aware some material may repeat (ex: teacher’s prepared lectures may be the same for all classes in the same week, or may be repeated after several weeks for new students or to refresh concepts).

-      The schedule will be announced each quarter and is subject to change.

·       All studio classes are held online through Zoom (or another designated platform).

·       Instructor cancellations are highly unlikely. In the rare event that a class must be canceled or rescheduled, notice will be provided via email and Discord as soon as possible. Additional class times may be offered when feasible.

·       Studio classes may include activities such as guided practice, technique workshops, performance opportunities, ear training sessions, Q&A periods, or topic-specific mini-lessons. Content may vary each week.

-      Students wishing to perform for studio class should email the instructor a week before their intended class date to ensure adequate time.

+      All students are encouraged to perform for studio at least twice a year.

·       The instructor may occasionally record studio classes for the purpose of:

-      Providing students with review materials

-      Creating supplemental course content

-      Allowing students who cannot attend live sessions to benefit from the class

·       By attending a studio class, students (and guardians of minor students) consent to being recorded in video and audio form.

-      Students who prefer not to appear in recordings are encouraged to attend with their camera off and microphone muted unless participating.

-      These recordings will be made available only to currently enrolled students through Dropbox or another secure platform.

-      All studio class recordings are considered course materials and fall under the same intellectual property and distribution protections as other classroom resources:

·       Students may not download, copy, share, repost, distribute, or upload studio class recordings under any circumstances.

-      Recordings are for personal educational use only.

-      Unauthorized distribution may result in loss of access, dismissal, or further action.

-      Access to studio class recordings is available only while the student is actively enrolled and in good standing.

-      Recording by students—audio, video, or screenshots—is not permitted, unless explicitly authorized by the instructor.

·       Students are expected to participate respectfully and follow the general behavioral expectations of the studio. Disruptive behavior may result in removal from a session.

Student Expectations

·       Students are expected to:

-      Put forth consistent effort, both in and out of sessions. Practice is essential to growth as a musician.

-      Keep an open mind and try new things – even if they think it is unlikely to work. A failed experiment can be the best learning opportunity.

-      Be mindful of their progress. No two students will move at the same pace. A student’s progress is dependent on a multitude of factors.

-      Not allow comparison to negatively affect their progress, either to another student, instructor, or performer. Each of us has our own road to take as artists. Comparison can be detrimental to that if not imbued with context.

-      Communicate fully with their instructor. Never be afraid to share if you do not understand something or if a concept makes you confused or uncomfortable.

-      Engage respectfully in any group discussions or online components

-      Keep login information and access links private

·       Students are encouraged to:

-      Participate in an ensemble that focuses on their instrument (ex: school music program, community/church chorus, etc.). This helps ensure well rounded musicianship.

-      Explore styles and genres of art and music outside their main focus. Inspiration can be found anywhere.

·       Students are not expected:

-      To know everything when they walk in the door.

-      To have immense levels of natural talent.

-      To retain every detail of what is said in lessons. This is essentially a new language you are learning and requires repetition; both from instruction reinforcement during sessions, and your own practice outside of them.

-      Understand every concept presented right away. It is the instructor’s job to explain things in a way that makes sense to you. Even then there are times when concepts will not immediately click. Do not get frustrated if something doesn’t immediately make complete sense.

Teacher Expectations

            It is my job to present these concepts to you in a way that you can understand. There are times when students blame themselves for not understanding something. That is not the student’s job. It is my job to find a way to explain things to each student in a way that makes sense. If I cannot do that immediately by drawing from my extensive knowledge base born out of years of study and experience, I will work diligently to find a way to do so.

            You can expect me to be honest with you about your progress and the techniques that I teach you. I promise that I always have a reason for any exercise or technique I give you or question I ask. I will always give you the reasoning if you would like, unless I have a separate reason not to (ex: telling you the purpose of some vocal exercises before doing them can make them less effective).

            I will always do my best to provide you with as many resources as necessary to achieve your goals and make you the best musician you can be. My goal at the end of the day is to give you the techniques and skill so that you can work on new literature without my assistance. If you have to come to me your entire career to make any progress, then I have not done my job (though if you want to come for my advice, I will always try to be there).

Probationary Periods and Grounds for Dismissal

·       Horizon Creative Studio and its instructors have two types of probationary periods for lesson students.

·       Initial probationary period: To ensure that the student and instructor are a good fit for each other, each student will be under a probationary period at the beginning of their tenure. This period will last for one month or four sessions, whichever time frame is longest.

-      If, at the end of the probationary period, the instructor feels the student would be better served elsewhere, references will be given and the student will be entitled to a refund of any payments made on subsequent sessions.

·       Behavior related probation: as described below students will be placed on probation after a second behavioral warning (in writing).

-      The student will be considered on probation for a period of three months or twelve sessions (whichever lasts longest). A further infraction during this time will result in dismissal.

·       Dismissal from lessons is at the sole discretion of the instructor. Payments made will be forfeit in the event of:

-      Any act of physical, emotional, or psychological violence against the instructor, any studio staff, another student, or another student’s guardian(s).

-      Intentional damage or destruction of any studio/instructor property, or the property of another student/student’s guardian(s).

·       In the following circumstances the student will be given a warning, both in verbal and written form. If the behavior does not resolve within two sessions the student will receive a second warning and will be placed on probation (see “Probationary Periods”). If the behavior still continues, the student will be dismissed.

-      Consistent behavior/discipline issues, including, but not limited to, talking back to instructor, refusal to follow instructions, use of inappropriate language, disparaging remarks to, or about another student, etc.

-      Consistent lack of effort. Students who refuse to practice consistently are wasting their own time, as the instructor gets paid regardless. However, these student may be taking space from a student who will put in effort.

+      Consistent lack of effort is a long term problematic pattern and should not be confused with short periods when a student is unable to practice due to life circumstances (finals week at school, family matters, etc.). The motivations of the student will always be taken into consideration.

-      Consistent lack of preparation and/or materials. Multiple sessions without student materials (books, handouts, binder, instrument, etc.) will result in warning and potential probation. Coming to a session without these materials is equivalent to going to school without homework or textbooks.

+      We all forget things. In order for this issue to rise to warning level it has to be a consistent problem. Forgetting a book every now and then is understandable, forgetting the book for multiple sessions in a row is not.

-      In these circumstances the student will forfeit 50% of the payments made on any subsequent lessons.

·       Dismissal is not always a negative thing. There are often instances when the student and instructor may not be a good fit for each other, pedagogically. Or the student may advance to a level when another instructor may be more beneficial (in the case of piano and cello students especially).

-      In these instances the instructor will do their best to provide students with references and/or referrals to other instructors.

-      These circumstances will also be entitled to a refund of any payments on subsequent sessions.

Waiver

·       While chances for injury or damage occurring during a session are extremely low, the student and their guardian(s) understand that any activity involves risk and that accidents can happen.

-      At home students and their guardians agree that they will not hold Horizon Creative Studio, its owner, or any instructors or staff liable should any damage or injury occur during a session.

-      In studio students and their guardians recognize that the instructor is not responsible for providing care for students before or after their session. Students are not to be left at the studio longer than ten minutes before or after their scheduled session.

-      All students assume risk of injury/harm associated in session actions, and agree they will not hold Horizon Creative Studio, its owner, or any instructors or staff responsible in the extremely unlikely event of injury during a session’s activities.

Behind the Scenes

·       People sometimes wonder about the costs of fees, because they do not see the work that goes on between sessions. Such work includes, but is certainly not limited to:

-      Weekly planning sessions to track goals and progress and individualize instruction for each student.

-      Research, development, and distribution of repertoire for each student.

-      Research into techniques to help students with new challenges.

-      Maintenance and upkeep of studio teaching instruments.

-      Continuing instructor education through various conferences, workshops, books, masterclasses, etc.

-      Composition and arrangement of exercises and literature to fit each students’ needs.

-      Coordination of schedules between in studio, in home, and online students.

-      Hardware and software such as computers, recording equipment, zoom, Sibelius/staffpad composition programs, etc.

-      Rental and coordination of studio, rehearsal, and recital spaces.

-      Various fees associated with payment methods

-      Learning/researching repertoire students request from outside sources.

-      Previous degrees, certificates, and training to supplement instructors own teaching and performance experience.