Studio Policy

Fees

A $100 fee shall be paid at least 48 hours in advance of each 60-minute online lesson. This fee may increase at any time, and discounts may be offered at Mr. Howard's discretion. View current pricing here.

Scheduling

Lessons will be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time at least 48 hours in advance. However, it is preferable to schedule lessons a week or more in advance. For continuing lessons, Mr. Howard and the student will do their best to keep a regularly scheduled time. However, with Mr. Howard's performance schedule with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Carnegie Mellon University, there will be times when the regularly scheduled time will have to be moved.

Cancellations

Mr. Howard and the student will make every effort to keep the agreed-upon lesson time. If the student must cancel for reasons out of their control, Mr. Howard must be notified at least 24 hours in advance, or the lesson fee will be forfeited by the student. If the lesson is canceled with proper notice or Mr. Howard has to cancel for any reason, a makeup lesson will be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.

Punctuality

Music lessons must run strictly on schedule. Lessons will finish on time, even if the student arrives late.

Lesson Preparation

The student must set aside an appropriate amount of time every day to prepare for their next lesson with Mr. Howard. Without proper preparation, the student will not make any significant progress. Lessons alone are not enough, and Mr. Howard makes no guarantees regarding the student's progress because of this.

Setup

In order to get the most out of online lessons, the student should have the best equipment and setup possible. It is highly recommended that the student have a USB microphone and headphones. Additionally, it is best to connect directly to the internet with an ethernet cable rather than relying on wi-fi. It is also essential to make sure that the student's Zoom desktop client is up-to-date with high-fidelity audio settings applied. For more information on setup, go here.

Students Under Sixteen

If the student is under the age of sixteen, the Parent/Guardian shall ensure a responsible adult is present for the duration of the lesson.

Photographs, videos & recordings

Any photographs, videos, and recordings taken in the course of music lessons may be used on Mr. Howard's websites for the purpose of demonstration and promotion with prior permission from the Student/Parent.

This information is accurate as of October 1, 2020.