Lesson Scheduling Policy

Lesson times are applicable for the entire current academic year and cannot be changed. Lesson scheduling cannot be held off to wait on other activity schedules—all scheduling happens before breaking for summer. Waiting for one family’s schedule means holding up nearly everyone which is not fair to other families or the instructor. (“I’m sorry, I don’t know if Wednesday at 6:00 or Saturday morning will work because X hasn’t committed to a time. If they take Saturday that means I have to move Y and Z to Tuesday which bumps M to Wednesday. We will hold the entire schedule up until X decides.”). I’m not sharing this to be snarky, only because over the years I don’t think families realize what they are asking when they request to “hold off” on scheduling, I know there is certainly no nefarious intentions! But, it affects much more than just them. Many, many families, their schedules, and the instructor’s family and schedules need to fit like a jigsaw puzzle for everything to work out, it takes time and student/teacher commitment for this to happen. In exchange, Nifty Notes will do whatever possible to find the best fit and compromise for all students.

Lesson time requests are given each spring and all efforts are made to try to balance the needs of studio families. In cases where there are time conflicts (too many people needing a specific time with no other options), the following priority will apply:

1. Keeping siblings grouped back to back

2. Reserving earlier lessons for younger students

3. Prioritizing Students who have shown a commitment to music studies through regular practice and participation in studio and extra curricular musical events

4. Long-term students (students in lessons 5+ years)

Students should not arrive more than 10 minutes before their lesson or remain in the studio more than 10 minutes afterwards as there is no supervision. Please consider lesson time requests in light of this and winter driving, and plan child care and scheduling accordingly. A parent must be with young children at all times.