2026-27 Preschool Violin Agreement
Please review the 2026-27 Preschool Violin Agreement. Families will be expected to sign documents agreeing to the policy by the start of the first group lesson on September 13th, 2026.
Scheduling, Cancelations & Breaks
Winter 2027 Group Lesson Dates: 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/21, 2/28, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21
Spring 2027 Group Lesson Dates: 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16, 5/23
Students may choose 2 pathways:
Group Lessons only - $345/session (8 group lessons)
Add optional a la carte private lessons when available - $60 for 20-minutes.
Join full program with 20-minute weekly private lessons - $1236 (16 private lessons, 16 group lessons)
We schedule a time for private lessons in addition to the group lesson. Private lessons typically meet weekday afternoons.
Joining the regular Suzuki program requires a commitment of the following:
Same parent/caregiver attends lessons.
Practice daily with the same parent.
No makeup lessons. Please read this page for more details on this policy and what you can do if you miss a lesson.
Billing and Tuition
Invoices are sent via email through QuickBooks Online. You must pay by the invoice date or by the first lesson, whichever comes first. Check, Zelle (jandmstrings@gmail.com), or cash are accepted. Invoices may also include additional lessons, additional piano accompaniment rehearsals, books and other materials, if applicable. If the invoice is unpaid by the due date a $10 late fee will be added every 7 days. A $20 fee will be added to the invoice if the bank transfer/check bounces. There are no refunds or credits for tuition already paid past the second lesson. Please be aware that tuition may increase annually. There will be at least 30 days notice of any tuition changes, typically rate increases will happen before the Fall semester begins. Families should expect tuition to rise on a yearly basis due to a variety of factors.
Expectations
Learning to play the violin beautifully is the result of a long-term commitment that prioritizes daily practice within a loving and nurturing environment. Our program views the teacher, parent, and child as three equal parts necessary for the development of the whole child. When this team works together, children grow into adults with unique abilities and good character–they develop kindness, patience, grit, intelligence, and become a devoted member of a greater artistic community.
By signing this agreement, families commit to the following expectations:
Growing a nurturing home environment that prioritizes daily practice and listening.
Attendance to all lessons, both group and private, and all required community events.
A commitment that the same parent will attend all lessons attentively to bring the lesson home.
Parents are expected to bring a notebook and put away electronic devices for the duration of the lesson unless asked otherwise.
Come prepared to lessons. Namely, bring all your materials, clean hands, and trim nails. Please review Lesson Necessities & Etiquette below for more expectations.
This program teaches violin at the highest degree of excellence, as demonstrated through this agreement, continued professional development, and dedication to each student. We ask each family reciprocate respect for the degree of professionalism provided by this violin studio.
Wellness Agreement
Please stay home if you or your child has had a fever or vomiting in the last 24 hours. See Scheduling, Cancelations & Breaks for cancelation policy and what to do if you need to miss a lesson. If I am sick all lessons will be moved online or rescheduled, but as the teacher I have sole discretion on choosing these options. To keep everyone healthy, parents and students must adhere to the following requests:
If you or your child are recovering from illness, please notify me so that we may wear masks to keep everyone healthy.
Notify me in advance if you or child are unwell and need to stay home. I will also exhibit the same courtesy, so please be prepared that some lessons may be online.
Please stay home from group classes or recitals if you are unwell.
Wash hands before and after lessons.
If you or your child fever if you answer yes to one of the following questions: Have you or your child been sick in the last 48 hours? Is anyone in your family sick? Have you been around anyone that you know has been sick? If you are sick please stay home.
I am happy to continue wearing a mask in lessons for families who prefer this.
Community: Group Lessons, Observations & Performances
Community is an essential part our Suzuki violin program. Our program builds community through group lessons, community events, solo recitals, workshops, evaluations, Suzuki institutes, and agreement to lesson observations for new families.
Group Lessons: In addition to private lessons students attend weekly group lessons. Group lessons are included in program tuition. Group lessons only meet during the school year (see Calendar for all dates) and include a handful of performances and social events throughout the year. Group lessons are an essential part of the Suzuki Method–students will learn new concepts while building community with their peers. Attendance to group lessons is critical.
Community Events: All students are expected to participate in community events ranging from Fall Festival to Spring Famers’ Market performances.
Solo Recitals: There are three solo recitals scheduled throughout the school year. Students are expected to attend at least two of these solo recitals but may attend all three.
Workshops: Students may be asked to attend workshops during the school year. At this time, workshops are optional and will be scheduled over 3-day weekends. Workshop fees will be added to the Spring invoice.
Evaluations: Students must participate in Suzuki Graduations and other evaluations when recommended. These opportunities provide an excellent goal for students to work toward and result in a graded assessment of their performance and musicianship.
Suzuki Institutes: Attendance at the Los Angeles Suzuki Institute is highly recommended. This is an annual event held in mid-June at Pitzer College where students, parents and teachers gather to strengthen their skills. It is, to say the least, the most fulfilling experience a Suzuki family can have.
Observations: By being a part of this program families must agree to having current and new students in lessons for observations from time to time. Current students are welcome to observe, but this is also a requirement for new families to observe in-person lessons.
Parent Support
A key aspect of Suzuki method is parent involvement throughout a child’s entire musical upbringing. Parents are vital in establishing the home practice environment, and as the child grows up, you will need to continue helping with follow-through, setting up practice schedules, and being your child’s biggest fan! Below are some ways I am continually supporting parents within the studio:
Back-To-School Parent Talks: At the start of the school year we will have a parent talk at the first group lesson. Often times I will invite a guest speaker mid-year to inspire the studio. If you cannot attend any of these talks we will spend the following lesson discussing what was covered instead of covering key practice points. These talks are designed to help parents develop the best learning environment for their children and attendance is critical.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Families can have up to two 30-minute Parent-Teacher conferences per year, to be completed before the next school year starts. These PTCs are scheduled a time that works for both parent and teacher. Families requiring more time may be billed at the current hourly lesson rate or may opt to swap lesson time for Parent-Teacher time.
Respect of Teacher’s Personal Time: Any issues that cannot be resolved during lesson time or need more time than the complimentary PTCs will be billed at the current hourly lesson rate. This includes text messages, emails, and phone calls that go beyond the scope of scheduling, billing, and other basic administrative duties. Any emails or text messages that I receive that do not pertain to these basic administrative tasks will not be answered via email but will be discussed at the next lesson or saved for a PTC.
Lesson Necessities & Etiquette
It is essential to come to lessons prepared with the following:
Parents must keep phones and computers away except for taking videos at the end of the lesson, unless asked otherwise.
A notebook
Practice instrument, bow, case
Foot chart
Shoulder pad
Assigned books/materials. Students will have an assortment of practice aids that should return to each lesson.
Please be reminded that I am a teacher not a child care provider. It is the parents’ responsibility for their child’s safety and behavior. This violin class is meant as a bridge between early music classes for babies and toddlers and the formal violin program. Please follow these general rules:
Keep your child(ren) under your watchful eye at all times.
Use the bathroom prior to the start of the lesson.
Please wash hands prior to the start of the lesson.
Be kind to others.
If your child is having a hard time regulating their body or voice, please take a moment to step out of class. Expect this to happen to you and please do not take it personally if I make the suggestion to step out of class. This is a learning moment.
Keep your expectations reasonable. Violin is a notoriously difficult instrument to learn and it requires extreme patience from parents. This class is a place for a child to explore the violin and develop readiness for the formal violin program.
If we say goodbye…
Please schedule a parent-teacher conference before making the decision to quit lessons. Often times if you or your child want to quit we can discuss why and see if there is a better alternative. If you decide to quit I request we have a final lesson to say goodbye. Inevitably, teachers develop a close connection with each family and would appreciate a moment to say goodbye. If you want to continue lessons elsewhere I recognize I may not be the right fit for everyone and I may have recommendations for another teacher, so please ask first. The music world is small and we are bound to run into each other again! There are no refunds for tuition if students decide to leave before the end of the semester or session.