Studio Policy & Calendar

Keys of Praise Academy of Music

Studio Policy (Updated July 2024) 

Thank you for joining the Keys of Praise family! I am so happy that you want to learn and grow and become a better musician! Below are a few policies that have been implemented to help the studio run smoothly. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns!  I look forward to teaching you to make beautiful music!  Mrs. Rhonda Rice Hatfield

*Fall Registration is first come, first serve with priority given to summer students.  I will only have 12 slots open at my home studio this Fall.  Billing will be a little different this semester.  Please read all of the information below (also included in the Google form).  As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns!!  

Please be advised that the Fall semester is a very busy time for me.  I intend to teach from home on Mondays and Tuesdays with Wednesdays and Thursdays being alternate days.  I may have to reschedule lessons frequently due to my children's athletics and school events.  I will do my very best to be considerate of everyone's time by giving at least 48 hours notice and ensure each student receives their 16 lessons.  

Payments:  The Fall session will consist of  16 thirty minute lessons and an end of the semester recital/outreach.  The session runs from the week of August 5th with the end of semester recital/outreach tentatively scheduled for December 14th.  The cost of the Fall semester is $500 or 5 payments of $100 which includes recital/outreach ($50) and registration ($25) fees.  A discount of $25 will be given if tuition is paid in full by August 1st. 

Monthly tuition invoices are sent out on the 20th of the month prior to the due date. Payments are due by the 1st  of the following month (for example, January invoices are automatically sent on December 20th  and are due by January 1st). If payment is not received by the 5th of the month, a $15 late  fee will be incurred, and lessons will be suspended until tuition is paid. If lessons are suspended due to non-payment, you will be charged for suspended/forfeited lessons.  If tuition is late 3 or more times, Autopay will be required or lessons will be permanently canceled.  Please feel free to reach out to  me if you are having financial difficulties or need to make payment arrangements.  Payments accepted are online payments (Paypal/Venmo/CashApp or cash). Online Payments are processed through Paypal Pro (direct click from emailed invoice) OR Venmo: @rkhatfield7.  There is an automatic 3 - 3.5% processing fee for Paypal payments.

30 Day Notice of Cancellation: If a student must discontinue lessons, a written, 30-day notice is required (preferably via email).  Payment is due during this 30-day period whether lessons are taken or not. Because you are paying for a slot of time with a teacher, if you cancel without proper notice, it leaves an open spot that cannot be filled.  In most cases, I need at least a 30 day window to fill your lesson spot. As a general rule, I do not give refunds. 

MyMusicStaff Portal:  All invoicing, payments and scheduling is done through MyMusicStaff.  If you need to cancel or reschedule a lesson, schedule a makeup or sign up for the new semester, it can all be done through the portal.  You can also login and see/pay your tuition and recital fee invoices.   

Attendance/Makeup Policy: Please give your teacher 24 hours notice if you are going to miss your  lesson. If less than 24 hours notice is given, the lesson will be forfeited unless it is an emergency  situation. Each student has a reserved lesson time and is responsible for that time, this includes online  lessons. If the student is tardy, the lesson will not be extended. Makeups will be offered at the teacher’s  discretion, in the form of an online lesson, group lesson or masterclass. Missed lessons must be made up  before the end of the semester. After this time period, any remaining make-ups will be forfeited. In the  case of a teacher cancellation, all attempts at a makeup or substitute teacher will be made. We will follow the Tangipahoa/St. Tammany Parish School Calendars. If school is out, generally, we will not have  lessons. *Please see the attached calendar as there are a few exceptions*.

Practice:  All instrumental students must have an instrument on which to practice regularly. This is crucial to the student’s success in piano lessons.  For beginner piano students, a 61-key weighted or semi-weighted keyboard is acceptable.  For intermediate to advanced students, a fully-weighted 88 key keyboard with a pedal attachment (or an acoustic piano) is required.  Students need a daily, non-interrupted time to practice. We have motivational, practice challenges throughout the year.  Your student’s goal should be to practice at least 30 minutes per day, at least 5 days per week.   

Curriculum Fees/Recital Fees:  Typically, your teacher will send you a link to purchase your own curriculum.  If we provide the curriculum, I will bill the cost of that curriculum immediately. Please pay  for books by the next lesson date. In some cases, I will bill your curriculum to your next tuition  invoice. You are always welcome to purchase your own curriculum.  I do have an extensive library and sometimes have the books we need in stock. I do not upcharge for curriculum.  

Fall Recital/ Outreach: The Fall Recital/Outreach is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 14th.  More details to follow.  We will have a regular recital as well as an outreach on this day.  The outreach is an opportunity for students to give the gift of music to those in the community who need it most.  What a great gift! 

Spring Recital Fees are due the month prior to recital, with April’s tuition. Recital fees are typically $75-100 per student.  This fee includes the rental of the venue, piano rental, cleaning fee, awards, programs, etc.  Admission is always free.  The recital fee amount will vary depending on the number of students participating and venue cost.  If you need to break the recital fee into payments, please contact Mrs. Rhonda.  

Parental Involvement:  Parental support is crucial to the success of each student. The MyMusicStaff portal is our means of weekly  communication about expectations, assignments, scheduling reminders, studio news and student  progress. You will receive a login and password for this portal. It can also be reached from our website,  www.keysofpraise.com.  

Semester Calendar - Fall 2024

AUGUST

August 5th - Fall Lessons Begin

August 12th - CCS Event (move Monday lessons to Wednesday 8/14)

SEPTEMBER

September 2nd - Labor Day -  No Lessons (Monday lessons to Wednesday 8/4)

September 9th & 10th - CCS Open House (Move Tuesday lessons to Wednesday 8/11)

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

November 25th-29th - Thanksgiving Break - Makeup Lessons only

DECEMBER

December 2nd - 4th - Last week of regular lessons

December 9th - 13th - CCE Christmas Events

December 14th - KoP Christmas Recital and Outreach (more details to follow)

END OF FALL SEMESTER -  Spring semester begins January 7th, 2025!

Keys of Praise Academy of Music

Studio Policy (Updated August 2024) 

Thank you for joining the Keys of Praise family! I am so happy that you want to learn and grow and become a better musician! Below are a few policies that have been implemented to help the studio run smoothly. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns!  I look forward to teaching you to make beautiful music!  Mrs. Rhonda Rice Hatfield

Payments:  The Fall session will consist of  12 twenty-five minute lessons and an end of the semester recital/outreach.  The session runs from the week of August 26th with the end of semester recital/outreach tentatively scheduled for December 14th.  The cost of the Fall semester is $400 or 5 payments of $80 which includes recital/outreach ($50) and registration ($25) fees.  A discount of $25 will be given if tuition is paid in full by August 30th. 

Monthly tuition invoices are sent out around the 20th of the month prior to the due date. Payments are due by the 1st  of the following month (for example, January invoices are automatically sent around December 20th  and are due by January 1st). If payment is not received by the 10th of the month, a $15 late  fee will be incurred, and lessons will be suspended until tuition is paid. If lessons are suspended due to non-payment, you will be charged for suspended/forfeited lessons.  If tuition is late 3 or more times, Autopay will be required or lessons will be permanently canceled.  Please feel free to reach out to  me if you are having financial difficulties or need to make payment arrangements.  Payments accepted are online payments (Paypal/Venmo/CashApp or cash). Online Payments are processed through Paypal Pro (direct click from emailed invoice) OR Venmo: @rkhatfield7.  There is an automatic 3 - 3.5% processing fee for Paypal payments.

Notice of Cancellation:  As a general rule, Keys of Praise does not give refunds. When you sign up for lessons, you are making a semester commitment.  If you need to cancel lessons before the end of the semester, please contact Mrs. Rhonda directly to discuss your options.  In the case of expulsion from the school, the student forfeits the remainder of their lessons.  

MyMusicStaff Portal:  All invoicing, payments and scheduling is done through MyMusicStaff.  If you need to cancel or reschedule a lesson, schedule a makeup or sign up for the new semester, it can all be done through the portal.  You can also login and see/pay your tuition and recital fee invoices.   

Attendance/Makeup Policy: Please give your teacher 24 hours notice if you are going to miss your  lesson. If the student has an excused absence, every effort will be made to makeup the missed lesson.  Each student has a reserved lesson time and is responsible for that time. If the student is tardy, the lesson will not be extended. Makeups will be offered at the teacher’s  discretion, in the form of an online lesson, group lesson or masterclass. Missed lessons must be made up  before the end of the semester. After this time period, any remaining make-ups will be forfeited. If the student misses a lesson due to detention or suspension, that lesson will be forfeited.  In the  case of a teacher cancellation, all attempts at a makeup or substitute teacher will be made.  If school is out, we will not have lessons. 

Practice:  All instrumental students must have an instrument on which to practice regularly. This is crucial to the student’s success in piano lessons.  For beginner piano students, a 61-key weighted or semi-weighted keyboard is acceptable.  For intermediate to advanced students, a fully-weighted 88 key keyboard with a pedal attachment (or an acoustic piano) is required.  Students need a daily, non-interrupted time to practice. We have motivational, practice challenges throughout the year.  Your student’s goal should be to practice at least 30 minutes per day, at least 5 days per week.   

Curriculum Fees/Recital Fees:  Typically, your teacher will send you a link to purchase your own curriculum.  If we provide the curriculum, I will bill the cost of that curriculum immediately. Please pay  for books by the next lesson date. In some cases, I will bill your curriculum to your next tuition  invoice. You are always welcome to purchase your own curriculum.  I do have an extensive library and sometimes have the books we need in stock. I do not upcharge for curriculum.  

Fall Recital/ Outreach: The Fall Recital/Outreach is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 14th.  More details to follow.  We will have a regular recital as well as an outreach on this day.  The outreach is an opportunity for students to give the gift of music to those in the community who need it most.  What a great gift! 

Spring Recital Fees are due the month prior to recital, with April’s tuition. Recital fees are typically $75-100 per student.  This fee includes the rental of the venue, piano rental, cleaning fee, awards, programs, etc.  Admission is always free.  The recital fee amount will vary depending on the number of students participating and venue cost.  If you need to break the recital fee into payments, please contact Mrs. Rhonda.  

Parental Involvement:  Parental support is crucial to the success of each student. The MyMusicStaff portal is our means of weekly  communication about expectations, assignments, scheduling reminders, studio news and student  progress. You will receive a login and password for this portal. It can also be reached from our website,  www.keysofpraise.com.  

Semester Calendar - Fall 2024

AUGUST

August 26th - Fall Lessons Begin/STAR Testing week

August 30th - Last day to receive pay in full discount

SEPTEMBER

September 2nd - Labor Day -  No School / No Lessons

OCTOBER

October 4th - Fair Day

October 7th - Professional Development Day

October 8th - 14th - Book Fair - may affect lesson times

October 21st - STAR Testing week - may affect lesson times

NOVEMBER

November 11th - Veterans Day Program

November 22nd-29th - Thanksgiving Break 

DECEMBER

December 14th - KoP Christmas Recital and Outreach (more details to follow)

December 16th - 18th - makeup lessons, if needed

END OF FALL SEMESTER -  Spring semester begins January 13, 2025!