Silicon Valley Second School Policy

1. Absence. If you need to miss a lesson, please give us at least 24 hours’ notice. Otherwise, you will be expected to pay for the lesson, because your time is reserved specifically for you. Lessons canceled before the deadline will be made up. Lessons canceled after the deadline will be forfeited. If your child becomes ill overnight or comes home sick, please text or email us right away. We will schedule a make-up time.

2. Tardiness. Your lesson time is reserved specifically for you, and we honor this appointment conscientiously. To give other students the same consideration, we cannot allow a lesson to extend into another time period. Therefore, if the student arrives late, their lesson will end at the usual time without adjusting the fee.

3. Payment. Lesson fees for the month OR semester are due on the first day of the month. A late fee of $25 will be assessed if payment is not received on the first day of the month. We bill by lesson. Some months will have fewer or greater than four lessons; please adjust payment accordingly.

4. Holidays. For observance of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year, the school will be closed. If you wish to keep lessons falling on these days, we will reschedule them for an earlier or later time.

5. Logistics. The front door will be unlocked. Please come right in and go quietly to the waiting area. We welcome parent attendance at private lessons if the student does not object.

6. Materials. Please purchase the books and items requested promptly, as delaying interrupts the student’s progress.

7. Metronome. A metronome is an important practice aid. It is an investment the student will use forever. Each student must have a working metronome.

8. Piano maintenance. Please tune your piano at least once a year; twice a year is better. The technician can also adjust sticking keys, a squeaking pedal, etc. Playing on a poorly-regulated or poorly-tuned instrument is a detriment to developing good skills, as well as a nuisance.

9. Communication. Please feel free to contact us any time about your child’s progress or any difficulties.  Parental involvement is the best insurance of success. If the child knows the parent is interested in what they do, they are more willing to practice daily. The combined effort of student, parent, and teacher always produces a superior result.

10. Vacation. Since students take vacation at the different time, we keep the school open year around. Summer is a fantastic time for students to focus on improving skills and engage in learning opportunities. When students take shorter breaks, they have less time away from academic studies, resulting in a more continuous learning experience. This helps minimize the potential for learning loss or forgetting important concepts during a long hiatus. If you plan to take a break longer than one month, please arrange makeup classes in advance.

11. The Requirements. Assignments, practice, and participation in SVSS activities are to have the same priority as homework from school. In order to make the best progress in music, daily practice is strongly recommended. To help self-discipline and good work habits, it is suggested that a regular time for practice be determined and set aside each day. It is the responsibility of the student to read the weekly assignment and to make the effort to meet practice goals. It is the responsibility of the parent(s) to see that home practice and assignment are carried out free of distraction and interruption. Parental recognition, support and encouragement are vital for continued progress and success.

12. Hygiene and Safety. No food or drink in the school. Hands must be clean and fingernails trimmed. Young students or younger family members must be supervised in the waiting area. 

13. Discontinuing Lessons. 30 days' notice is required in the event that student decides to discontinue lessons.