Private Music Lesson Program
Who Can Take Private Music Lessons?
- BAND INSTRUMENTS and VOICE: Students in Grades 5 – 12 are eligible to take private lessons.
- PIANO: Students in Grades 2 - 12 are eligible to take private lessons. Students in grades K and 1 may also take lessons if the schedules allow, but only before or after school.
What Are the Student's Responsibilities?
- To practice and be prepared for each lesson.
- Comply with all School policies.
- Follow guidelines pertaining to absences (see cancellation policy).
- Try their best and have fun!
NOTE: The School may suspend lessons if it seems to be compromising a student’s other schoolwork.
Costs & Fees
- 30-Minute Lesson: $70.00/session
- 40-Minute Lesson: $80.00/session
Parents are billed in advance (to the RCDS student account) in 12-lesson packages. There is a one-time registration and music supply fee of $65.00.
The length of a lesson depends on student/teacher schedule availability and is set at the beginning of the year.
NOTE: For students who receive financial aid, music lessons are covered at the same percentage as the financial aid grant for tuition. Please note, the total program cost will be adjusted to match your financial aid grant percentage by the Business Office after registration is submitted.
What is My Commitment in Signing Up for Lessons?
Signing up for private lessons indicates a commitment to prioritize music lessons and attend them consistently. Lesson schedules cannot be changed for extracurricular activities, sports, or after-school clubs. Please list available lesson times with this in mind.
What is the Cancellation and Make-Up Policy?
If at any point the student wants to discontinue lessons, the student shall be responsible for payment of two more lessons after the last lesson is given. Cancelling in the last eight weeks of the school year will forfeit the remaining lessons in the 12-lesson package.
- Students may cancel a lesson for school trips without charge if they provide the teacher more than 24 hours notice. The School does not report absences to the private music lesson teachers, so you must email the teacher directly. If you do not, the lesson will be charged.
- In the case of illness, the student must give notice by 8 a.m. the morning of the lesson and is eligible for a make-up lesson at a mutually agreeable time. If the student does not give notice or schedule a make-up lesson within four weeks, the full lesson fee will be charged.
- If the student misses a lesson without proper notice, the entire lesson fee will be charged, and the student will not be eligible for a make-up lesson.
PLEASE NOTE: The tuition for private lessons pays not only for lesson time but also for the teacher’s time in planning, parent consultation, and recital organization. Because the teacher clears his or her schedule of other commitments to provide a regular lesson, the cancellation policy must be strictly followed.
What Happens When a Teacher Misses a Lesson?
Teachers will give advance notice to students and parents if their schedule requires them to miss a lesson, except in the case of emergency. Lessons will be rescheduled if possible and will not be charged unless they are rescheduled.
Registration
Registration is completed online and must be submitted before the start of the school year. If would like to register for multiple instruments/voice, please complete separate registrations for each. Please note that registrations received after the deadline may have limited scheduling options.