Payment 

Payment is due at the first lesson of each month.  Cash, check (made out to Heather Gill), or Venmo @Heather-Gill-Studio are accepted.

Do you take payments via ESA (Class Wallet)?

Yes! I am registered and verified through the Arizona Department of Education - Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program and can accept payments through the Class Wallet platform.

Lesson Cancellation and Makeup Lesson Policy 

When sickness, vacations, or conflicting events arise, please let me know at your earliest convenience that you will miss a lesson. Your monthly tuition remains the same for both months that have four lesson weeks and five lesson weeks within them. Since some months have five lesson weeks within them, that fifth week serves as a makeup lesson (if one is needed) or it is simply an extra lesson at no extra cost (if no makeup lesson is needed). Keep in mind, even though monthly tuition is required and payed each month, if excessive cancelling becomes an issue, I reserve the right to replace your lesson time with a more consistent student. 

Parent Attendance

Parents are free to stay in my waiting area or drop students off for lessons. If leaving, I ask that you respectfully and promptly return to pick them up when the lesson time is over.  


How long are lessons?

You can choose to have a 30 minute or 45 minute lesson.  I suggest 30 minute lessons for beginners or intermediate players and 45 minute lessons for advanced students.


What ages do you teach?

I teach students from 6 years old up through high school, as well as adult learners.
 

What role do I, the parent, play in my child’s music development? 
 

As a parent, you are an important advocate for your child’s musical growth.  I appreciate that you are already aware enough to get your student an instrument and into lessons.  It is also important to listen to your student practice from time to time to check for improvement and to communicate with your child about how practicing is going.

How do I, the student, acquire an instrument?

Renting from a local music store is a great way to start playing an instrument.  Many stores have a credit system in which you gain credit as you rent.  I have happily helped my students choose an instrument to purchase when they received enough credit, or thought they were ready to buy.  


How much time should my student practice?

All students should strive to practice 5 times in a 7 day week.  Young beginners should be playing anywhere from 10-20 minutes each time they practice.  Intermediate players should be practicing about 30-45 minutes each time and advanced students may need 45 minutes to an hour in each practice session.  Of course, each student is different and has their own schedules to prioritize, but this is a general guide.  I encourage students to take breaks and intersperse homework time with practice time.


What if I want to work on a specific piece or genre?

I am here to help you!  Be open and willing to share what you need out of lessons, or what you would like to play.


My son or daughter has severe allergies, do you have pets?

My home is a smoke free environment and I am an allergy sufferer myself!  We own a 6 pound Yoki-poo, a hypoallergenic dog that stays happily in her kennel during lessons.