Regular lesson slots:
Most lessons slots are weekly for one half hour. There are limited spots available for alternating week lesson slots. We must discuss the pros and cons of these options in person. Weekly hour long lesson slots are also possible for serious singers, but only at my invitation.
Supplementary Lessons:
Some years we enjoy the opportunity to offer supplementary lesson times with a staff instructor who I have trained and whose qualifications I trust. Our current staff instructor is Alisa Kieffer. The regular availability of "extra" lesson spots with Alisa will allow me to better support you in achieving your goals while you wait for a regular lesson to become available. Alisa will follow my lesson plans for your vocalizations, and she will use repertoire which is chosen in your lesson time with me. She will be provided with your information, music and accompaniments.
Cancellation List:
I keep a cancellation list of 5 students. If you are on the cancellation list, you will be first in line for the next regular weekly opening that occurs. Depending on the student’s availability, we usually could have 2-3 lessons each month in other students' cancelled lesson times, sometimes more. Openings occur when, in keeping with our studio cancellation policy, students inform me of their absences ahead of time. For scheduling, I'll be in touch by email if we have a few days notice, or by phone if an opening comes up at the last minute.
Waiting List:
Students on the waiting list are called when an opening occurs that the 5 students on the cancellation list cannot take. This applies to single lessons as well as regular weekly times.
To cancel a lesson without being charged for that lesson, notify us at 703.321.8213 by 12:00 p.m. on the day prior to your lesson. If you call after 12:00 p.m., you will be charged for the lesson. We recommend that you call from a land line, as cell phone reception is often unreliable. We must receive your message in order for credit to be given. Email is not a reliable method of contacting us regarding scheduling…there are times when we cannot check email for several days.
We have created this policy to accommodate family plans, and scheduled conflicts, and have tried to design it fairly. This policy is NOT designed to encourage you to come to your lesson if you are ill! We don’t want to make you sick and we don’t want you to make us sick. Please understand that there will be times when you must cancel a lesson without sufficient notice due to sudden illness or unforeseen circumstances. On the other hand, there will be times when your lesson slot cannot be filled, even given advanced notice. Occasionally, you may lose a lesson, and occasionally wemay lose a lesson. We hope that in sharing this responsibility, we give you the opportunity and freedom to make plans and to balance busy lives.
Make-up lessons for scheduled absences, and/or extra lessons when needed (i.e. audition and performance preparation), can often be arranged, as other students’ scheduled absences make various times available. Please note that lessons that are scheduled as a result of an unexcused absence are scheduled as extra lessons, not as make up lessons. We encourage you to keep us informed of your scheduling needs, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Weather related cancellations are taken on a liberal leave basis. If there is snow or ice on the roads you may call the day of your lesson and your lesson will be credited or rescheduled. Use the honor system. For example, if you have been out of your neighborhood for other reasons and the roads are passable, then come to your lesson. Also, if you have a snow friendly vehicle and feel comfortable driving then we are happy to see you, and there will probably be hot cider on the stove in your honor.
Important to note: Snow in the forecast or snow on the grass and sidewalks do not apply. There must be snow or ice on the roads for same day cancellation to apply. In the case of a major weather event, (blizzard/hurricane, etc.), we will call to officially close the studio and to reschedule.