The details
My Goal
To develop the necessary skills so students grow into confident pianists equipped to play and create in most styles and inspired to make music for a lifetime.
What does it take to reach my vision for you?
To transform students into pianists takes an experienced teacher who searches for the best instructional tools and pivots (when the world calls for it!) between weekly in-person and online lessons with ease.
With thirty-plus years of teaching students of all ages and abilities and a past university position, I’m well qualified and fit the bill.
Your timely tuition payments go towards lesson time and guarantee a place in my studio.
In addition, your investment covers my time in preparation outside of the lesson time.
On the task list between lessons?
Search for appealing repertoire
Organize recitals and festivals
Design summer camps
Researching and Staying current with the latest technology
Write student recommendations
Attend conferences
Present at conferences and teach other teachers
Practice the piano and organ
In other words, the time commitment to the musical advancement of your pianist goes above and beyond your pianist’s weekly lesson.
To account for the cost of materials and inflation, plan for an annual increase in tuition.
Lesson Formats and Rates as of 2024-25
When students become pianists, a 30-minute weekly lesson is barely enough time. That’s why all lessons include Off Bench Time, which gives pianists time to reinforce concepts just learned on the bench. This time is spent on the iPad, at a keyboard, completing worksheets, and even practicing how to practice!
Online lessons are available upon request.
🎶 Option #1 SHARED Lesson Time (for beginner and transfer students)
In-Person: 60 min Lesson with Off Bench Time = 30-min lesson with me + 30-min Off Bench Time for completing assignments on the iPad, computer or the piano to reinforce piano lesson content.
Online (when necessary): 30-min Lesson with Off Bench Assignments to complete at home.
$46 per lesson.
🎶 Option #2 PRIVATE Lesson Time (for intermediate to advancing students)
In-Person: 60 min Lesson with Off Bench Time – 45 + 15 min (allows more lesson time to cover advancing repertoire.)
Online (when necessary): 45 min Lesson with Off Bench Time assignments to complete at home.
$70 per lesson
☀️ K-12th Grade Summer GROUP Classes
75-minute Group Lessons are in lieu of private lessons and may be held in the summer. Group lessons, or what I call Summer Camps, offer a social setting in which to drill concepts, perform for peers, play games that solidify learning, and play and improvise with other pianists.
Tuition is the same as private lessons.
🌧 This is a “hybrid” studio!
Although local students are expected to arrive for in-person lessons when signing up, online lessons serve as a terrific alternative for when the weather gets nasty, or one of us is a little under the weather.
Practice
Practice Expectations
All assignments will be written and delivered in an app called Practice Space.
Please download the app after I give you instructions.
Efficiency is more important than the amount of practice time.
With the help of parents, if needed, pianists must develop a plan so that 5 practice times are part of the weekly schedule (just like soccer practice, homework time, TV time, etc.)
Although I highly encourage doodling at the keys, practicing what is assigned each week, FIRST is expected and will ensure progress.
Suggested Amounts of Practice Time
Year one: Schedule at least 5 - 10 minutes a day. Consistency and covering all assignments counts more than how long each day.
Year two- four: Schedule 20 - 30-minute practice sessions or break it up into two 15-minute sessions a day or, three 10-minute sessions.
Advancing: Schedule at least 30 - 40-minute practice sessions or break it up into two 20-minute sessions.
For those signed up for Federation or other festivals, plan on 30-minutes to an hour per day two months prior to the event.
At the beginning of the fall session, students receive practice strategies and assemble a practice pouch that contains items to to build strong practice habits.
Materials
Music Books
All music books will be supplied by me. As part of your $50 book fee, your pianist will either borrow or keep the books given at the lesson. On occasion, a book may cost too much and I’ll ask you to purchase the book. Payment for the book must be made at the next lesson.
Additional Required Materials
A metronome or metronome app.
A book bag to keep and carry all books and binder.
A device to access Practice Space where assignments are communicated.
The iPad and Apps
The iPad and Mobile Devices
I highly recommend that all students have access to a device during practice sessions to access their assignments in Practice Space.
I believe that certain apps are just as important as music books! Many apps are essential tools to boost at-home practice. Please consider purchasing any of the apps I recommend.
Calendar
Note: Due to the change in the number of weekly lessons during a session, the tuition will differ slightly from session to session and year to year.
Fall (Aug-Dec): Around 14 Lessons and one Flex Week
Spring (Jan-May): Around 17 Lessons and one Flex Week
Summer (May-Aug) Students are encouraged to enroll in at least ONE option each summer:
Four to Five Private Lessons (45/15min): Times/Dates to be determined around teacher and student availability.
Four-Day Studio Camps: (120min each): Times/Dates to be determined around teacher and student availability.
Flex Weeks
Additional obligations beyond my piano studio may require occasional travel, which means there will be no lessons. Instead of attempting to make up missed lessons, I will schedule FLEX WEEKS or no lesson weeks. You will not be charged for these weeks I do not teach.
Tuition and Fees
Note: Due to the variance of lessons during a session, the tuition will vary from session to session and year to year. The Annual Fees remain the same and are above and beyond the tuition rate. Payment for the annual fee is considered Fall deposit and reserves your spot for the upcoming year.
Annual Fees Per Family
Performance Fee: $50 Partially covers the cost and time needed in preparation for recitals and other performance opportunities.
Technology Fee: $50 Partially covers the cost and time needed to stay current with the technology trends and equipment for off bench tasks, and online lessons and communication of assignments.
Book Fee: $50 Covers all books, library loans, bags, binders and miscellaneous materials.
Annual Deposit Per Family
The fees above are combined into a Fall Deposit. The $150 is included in the May invoice and secures lessons for the following fall.
Billing
Four Invoices are emailed each year.
August: Invoice for Fall Session
January: Invoice for Spring Session
May: Invoice for Deposit for Fall Lessons
June: Invoice for Summer Session
Payments may be made in FOUR equal installments per session, due on the 5th of each month. If you pay by installment, you are required to divide the invoice total by four and are responsible for making timely payments by the 5th of each month within the first three months of the session.
Payment Options
Checks made payable to LEILA VISS
Automatic credit card payment
Online credit card payment
Online Paypal payment
At the lesson with Square Register App
Venmo
Zelle
Two late payments will result in lesson termination.
Missed Lessons and Lesson Termination
Missed Lessons
Your lesson slot is reserved for you, and a lesson reminder is emailed and texted prior to every lesson. Please make every effort to read all lesson reminders and schedule other activities around your lesson time.
Before you ask to reschedule a lesson, please remember the following:
If a pianist is mildly ill, the lesson can still take place online.
There are no make-ups for forgotten lessons or lessons canceled 12 hours prior.
Missed lessons may possibly be rescheduled IF the teacher’s schedule allows and there are openings available.
Missed group lessons will not be made up but your pianist may attend another group lesson within the same week if available.
The studio remains open during storms. If schools are closed or roads are dicey, plan to swtich to online lessons instead.
There are NO Refunds for ANY missed lessons.
Lesson Termination
A student is expected to commit to lessons for an entire session. If lessons are discontinued by you before the end of a session there will be a $50 cancellation fee and the equivalent of two weeks worth ’ worth of lessons.
Lessons may be terminated by the teacher at any time if
Progress is non-existent.
Pianist enthusiasm for the piano is waning.
Tuition balances are not paid.
Late payments occur on a regular basis.
