Stringfield Piano Studio


 Leigh Stringfield 

 232 Nettles Dr.

Madison, AL  35757

901-494-4125

piano@stringfieldorg.com

stringfieldpiano.mymusicstaff.com.                   

Facebook.com/StringfieldPianoStudio





2025-2026 CLASSES STUDIO POLICY


MY GOAL 

  • To transform students into pianists through developing the necessary skills that will equip them to play, create, and be inspired to become lifetime musicians.  
  • My studio has a positive and enthusiastic environment tailored to match the curriculum with your pianist’s specific learning needs.  

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO REACH MY GOAL FOR YOU?

  • Years of experience in teaching both private lessons and group classes and as a pianist.  
  • Your investment covers my time commitment to research, plan, and prepare for your pianist’s musical advancement above and beyond their normal lesson time.

LESSONS

  • A year-round commitment of the teacher, pianist, and family includes whole body learning through studying repertoire, theory, musicianship, technique, sight-reading, and ensemble playing
  • A combination of 45-minute weekly class lessons with 2 recitals build this program
  • Lessons are conducted with a top of the line Steinway 6-foot grand piano and 5  digital pianos.

  • SUMMER LESSONS:
  • 3 Classes or the equivalent of will be optional for the summer term and scheduled with a choice from 2 days of the week.  
  • Summer lessons may be cancelled or rescheduled with 48 hours’ notice.  
  • Summer tuition will be equivalent to the studio year monthly tuition.   

PRACTICE and HOME ENVIRONMENT

1.  Practicing should be:

  • 5 days per week of a minimum of 5 minutes each.
  • Including practice with the unique benefit of the Practice Buddy backing tracks to ensure a steady rhythm is established.
  • Parents helping form a practice habit from the beginning of each studio year by making it a priority and attaching it to a particular activity and time of day.  
  • Daily dedication and discipline to practicing with clean hands, proper posture, feet placement, and short fingernails.  
  • Quality practicing includes: counting, thoughtful, isolation of problem spots, & concentrating 
  • Doing it right after the class lesson OR the day after at the latest
  • In a well-lit, distraction-free, not totally isolated place 
  • Practicing ALL assignments carefully is more important than how long each day.
  • Monitored by parents with encouragement and ensure all assignments are completed.

 2. Suggested Amounts of Practice Time:

Year 1:  schedule at least 5-10 minutes a day.  Consistency and covering all assignments count more than time.

Year 2-4:  schedule 20-30-minute session or break into two 15-minute sessions a day, or three 10-minute ones.

Advancing:  schedule at least 30-40 minutes practice sessions or break it up into two 20-minute sessions.

For those doing auditions/festivals/exams:  plan on 30-mintues to an hour per day two months prior to the event.

CONTEST/INCENTIVES

  • Various studio contests will be conducted each year dependent upon the size of the studio.  
  • May include the 30-Piece Challenge and others.
  • Recognition will be given at the spring recital for the winners of various contests & for years of study.  

PIANOS:  ACOUSIC OR DIGITAL?

  • Digital Piano: 76-88 weighted keys or hybrid wood action and all keys in working condition. (ask for a list).
  • Acoustic piano: 50 years old or less, good working order, tuned twice a year. Hire a piano tuner to inspect a used one before purchasing. 
  • Please have a good bench or stool that allows the child to sit at the instrument with arms level.
  • A.B Stephens Music in Huntsville has a great selection of both types such as my Yamaha P515 digital.

 ATTENDANCE AND MISSED LESSONS

  • Lesson time is reserved exclusively for each Piano Class at a specific time.  
  • Attendance is expected. 
  • If illness or bad weather, there is the option of exchanging videos through the Practice Space app.
  • A student who does not attend a Class lesson will simply miss the benefit of that class.  
  • If 2 or more consecutive lessons are missed, a 20-minute makeup lesson will be allowed when the schedule permits.
  • Your tuition pays for more than your weekly class.  No credit is given for missed classes.
  • School dismissed due to the weather:  lessons will meet if safe to attend.
  • Lessons missed due to the teacher’s cancellation will be made-up or a credit applied to the music & Practice Buddy fee, at the teacher’s discretion.  
  • Please note, if the student arrives late for a class, the class will still end at the scheduled time.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

  • Students are encouraged to perform in church, school, and community events as much as possible.  
  • Please advise the teacher of dates and events well in advance so the student will be well prepared.  
  • Any fees or expenses associated with extra events will be added to the next monthly invoice.

CALENDAR

  • The studio calendar will begin in mid-August.  
  • A studio calendar will be placed in the clear back cover pocket of the student assignment binder.  
  • The only holidays from classes are the ones marked on the studio calendar.  
  • Students whose class fall on the studio calendar holidays will not receive a class lesson that week.  Tuition fees are not affected.  
  • I have built in 2 flex-time weeks that will be used at my discretion and do not affect your tuition.

COMMUNICATION

  • If you have any information on how I can help your child learn better, please contact me.  
  • If something is happening at home or school that is affecting your child, please let me know. 
  • If you have any questions or concerns to discuss with me, please communicate by text, email, or phone.

WEBSITE  

  • A superb benefit of my studio is the right of entry to my website at stringfieldpiano.mymusicstaff.com 
  • Access to: the studio calendar, studio policy, summer lesson enrollment and photos from studio events/achievements.

PIANO STUDIO MASCOT

  • Each student can have Treble Teddy visit at their home and watch them practice for the week.   
  • Record their practice time and student information in his travel log binder.
  • Send a photo of the student with Treble Teddy to me for the studio Facebook page.

GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

  • Please enter quietly and no earlier than 5 minutesprior to the class time.
  • Wash hands and sit with music books ready to start when the class begins. 
  • Please bring all music and assignment binder to each class in a tote bag or backpack.
  • Please respect our home and do not be destructive in any way.  
  • Parents are welcome to participate in classes, however, any siblings must sit quietly with the parent.  Parent participation is required for Music is Fun and Junior Keys classes. 
  • Please confine waiting to only the living room and use of the bathroom beside the studio room.  
  • Please do not bring in food, gum, or drinks and silence all cell phones.  Only water in a closed container with a folding straw is allowed. 
  • Any borrowed music that is damaged or not returned will be charged to the student at its replacement cost.

TERMINATION OF LESSONS  

  • Lesson time is reserved exclusively for your child and contracted for a complete studio year from July 1st -May 31st.  
  • Should a student need to discontinue lessons at the END of the studio year, advance notice in writing or by email must be given no later than May 1st and any account balance paid. 
  • If your contract is broken prior to the end of the studio year (May 31st), the remainder of the studio year tuition balance will be due at the student’s last class lesson.  
  • There will be no refund of any unused Music and Practice Buddy fee and it will not be applied to the tuition balance due.
  • I also reserve the right to discontinue lessons for any of the following reasons:
    • Failure to pay tuition or continually causing difficulties when making a tuition payment.
    • Paying tuition late more than 3 times in a studio year, including requests to hold a check.
    • Missing more than 3 classes per semester whether a cancellation notice was sent or not. 
    • Continued lack of practice or failure to cooperate with assigned practice instructions.
    • Continued lack of interest and/or uncooperative attitude during lessons.
    • Other difficulties in working with students or their parents.

2025-2026 Class Tuition Policy

 Tuition covers more than my time with your pianist at the classes.  My commitment to the musical advancement of the pianist sitting on my bench is a full-time effort, and goes above and beyond an hourly fee.

 

Due to the cost of inflation and keeping a cutting-edge studio with current materials, there will be an increase in tuition and/or the music and activity fee each year on July 1st.

WHERE DOES YOUR TUITION GO?

  • Class lesson time spent with the students
  • An investment in quality music instruction
  • A guaranteed place in my studio with weekly lessons including solo concerts on a 6’ Steinway grand piano
  • Certification & Elite Membership in Forte Accredited Group Piano Teachers 
  • Time spent planning and preparing weekly for each class lesson
  • Online research for and purchase of repertoire music and teaching techniques
  • My training and experience
  • Recital preparation, organization, and costs (programs, sound tech, photographer, props, facility rental)
  • Researching and staying current with the latest technology for use in the studio
  • Repertoire planning
  • Professional organization memberships (2 local, 2 states, and national)
  • Professional journals
  • Continuing education: webinars & state, national, & online conferences to keep me current on methods & techniques to help your child succeed 
  • Personal support at local and state festivals, auditions, and recitals
  • Studio expenses:  copying, incentive programs, instruments, tunings, instrument repairs/maintenance, my reference music books for each class level
  • Practicing
  • Property taxes, self-employment taxes, insurance, & retirement

 Annual tuition is:  payment for the pianist’s course of music study for 1 studio year (July 1: Music/Practice Buddy fees and Classes: August-May)

 It is a flat fee based on the length of lessons:  $117.00 per month for 45-minute class lessons

 Payable in:

  • 1 yearly payment (earns a 3% discount)
  • 2 equal semester payments (earns a 1.5% discount)
  • 11 equal monthly installments from July--May regardless of the number of weeks per month (The July invoice wil be for your Music & Practice Buddy fees for the studio year unless we complete more than 2 music book levels.)

 Information:

  • All students have the same number of class lessons scheduled. 
  • Monthly invoices and receipts will be emailed.
  • Payment is due at the first class lesson of each month.  
  • A $15.00 late fee will be added to the invoice for any balance not paid by the 15th of the month. 
  • No refunds will be given if a student quits before the end of the month.
  • If you cannot bring payment on or before the due date, please scan the QR code on your invoice to pay online with credit or debit card by the due date.

 Payment methods:

  • Stripe (scan the QR code on your invoice): preferred method: use a debit or credit card/no fee to you
  • Your bank’s online bill pay system (You can set up autopay or control monthly)
  • A check made payable to Leigh Stringfield or Stringfield Piano Studio

MUSIC & PRACTICE BUDDY FEE

  • Nonrefundable $117.00 fee per Class Student (due in July of each studio year)
  • Required of all class students 
  • Billed on the July 1st invoice for the new studio year (no tuition is billed in July)
  • Due no later than July 15th
  • May be submitted early and check will be deposited after July 1st
  • If the money is used in full, an invoice will be sent to the parent and another deposit will be required

 This includes:

  • Music Books
  • Practice Buddy online backing tracks for each book level
  • Solo Sheet Music 
  • Digital Studio License Sheet Music or Books
  • Theory Materials
  • Printing costs
  • Recital Fees
  • Class Lesson Materials

 Edited 4.24.25