As I divide my teaching between RHS, my home studio, and the University of St. Thomas, my teaching schedule is often very tight. Please understand that this necessitates a very firm attendance policy in my studio. I appreciate your understanding and cooperation with the policies below.
Attendance and Absences
Consistent attendance at lessons is essential to make vocal progress.
Please avoid scheduling doctor appointments, etc, over your student's lesson time if at all possible. If a student is feeling under-the-weather, please evaluate whether it is necessary to miss. Most typical head colds or allergies, while not the optimal, can be sung over, and our work can always be adapted to include lighter vocalizing and/or non-vocal work such as work on text, rhythms, etc. If the illness includes fever, coughing, or laryngitis, however, it is best to forgo the lesson that week. This also goes for any stomach viruses. My policy is that if you are well enough to be in school and choir, then you are expected to attend your lesson.
Absence Procedure
If students are ill or have an unavoidable conflict with their lesson time, they should do the following:
1. Try to switch lesson days with another student in their choir. (If they need names of other students to contact, please have them ask their choir director or myself.)
2. If it is not possible to switch, please text me (952-200-7579) at least 24 hours in advance (or when you call school in the morning to report your student's absence.
If students have followed these steps, it is considered an excused absence and students are given a makeup lesson credit option that they can use to schedule a make lesson online in one of my makeup lesson spots. Please note that makeup lesson spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and may include private lesson slots at RHS, my home studio and also group lessons/masterclasses.
These makeup lessons are entirely optional, and it is the responsibility of the student to schedule them with me through the student portal on my website.
Terminating Lessons
In order to allow sufficient time to fill an upcoming vacant slot, a two week notice is required when discontinuing lessons. If there is less than two weeks notice given, there will be a two lesson charge billed to the student's account.