Semesters - Answers To Your Most Common Questions - Updated Spring 2021

Whether you are a current student, a parent of a current student, or you are interested in enrolling in piano lessons soon, I'm sure you have a lot about how piano lessons work with STL Piano Lessons.

Worry not.  We have answers for you and here they are!

When does the Spring semester begin:
January 11th, 2021

What are some other important dates for the fall semester:

• Enrollment opens:  December 6th, 2020

• Enrollment closes:  January 4th, 2021

• Vacation:  April 26th - May 2nd

• Recitals:  TBA

How do I enroll:

• If you ARE NOT a current student, you will be able to enroll a month before the next semester.

• If you ARE a current student, you will be automatically enrolled.

What if I want to enroll after enrollment closes?  Can I enroll mid-semester:
No.  Once enrollment closes, we will not be taking any new students until the next semester opens for enrollment.  If you do not enroll by January 4th, you will have to wait until our next semester to get in.

How much is tuition:
We are excited to now offer simplified tuition!  No more variable tuition.  The rates are as follows:

• 60 Minute Lesson​s

  • Pay Up Front For Semester:  $1040

  • Monthly Payments:  $285

• 30 Minute Lessons

  • Pay Up Front For Semester:  $720

  • Monthly Payments:  $190

How do I pay my tuition:
You now have two payment options.  You can either pay upfront for the semester at a discounted rate or you can make monthly payments.  When you enroll you will have the option to choose which one you want to do.  Tuition will be auto-charged to your account just like our monthly tuitions are now.  Once you enter your payment method into your account (credit card, debit card, or checking account), you are all set.  All billing will be done automatically.  Semester payments will be billed when the student enrolls or on the first day of the new semester.  Monthly payments will be billed on the first of every month.

Do I need to re-enroll every semester:
No.  Current students will be automatically enrolled in the upcoming semester unless they give written notice (via email) that they want to cancel lessons.

What if I want to drop out mid-semester:
We ask all of our students to commit to a full semester of lessons. If a student wants to drop out mid-semester, that is their prerogative, but they will still be responsible for paying for the entire semester. No refunds. If you want to cancel at the end of a semester, you can do so by sending us an email.

What if I want to take a vacation during the semester:
Students, and teachers, will get a one-week vacation at the end of each semester.  If you want to take a vacation during the semester, you will have to cancel your lesson(s) with your teacher that occur during that time.  If you let your teacher know 4 hours or more ahead of time they will send you a video lesson through your online account for the week(s) you miss.

Are there any other changes to the school policies due to the change to semesters:
Not many.  Most of our policies will remain the same, but there are a few that will change.  Please CLICK HERE to download a PDF of our new school policies.

What if I have more questions:
If you have any other questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page by CLICKING HERE.  You can also hit reply with any questions you have and I am happy to answer them for you.

We could not be more excited to have you on board this spring!

Semesters - Answers To Your Most Common Questions

Whether you are a current student, a parent of a current student, or you are interested in enrolling in piano lessons soon, I'm sure you have a lot of questions about how semesters will work once we begin them in September.  

Worry not.  We have answers for you and here they are!

When does the fall semester begin:
September 14th, 2020

What are some other important dates for the fall semester:

• Enrollment opens:  August 2nd, 2020

• Enrollment closes:  September 8th, 2020

• Vacation:  December 21st - January 3rd

• Recitals:  TBA

How do I enroll:

• If you ARE NOT a current student, you will be able to enroll starting August 2nd.  You can enroll via our Enroll page on our website by CLICKING HERE.

• If you ARE a current student, we will contact you via email to get you enrolled in August.

What if I want to enroll after enrollment closes?  Can I enroll mid-semester:
No.  Once enrollment closes, we will not be taking any new students until the next semester opens for enrollment.  If you do not enroll by September 8th, you will have to wait until our next semester to get in.

How much is tuition:
We are excited to now offer simplified tuition!  No more variable tuition.  The rates are as follows:

• 60 Minute Lesson​s

  • Pay Up Front For Semester:  $1040

  • Monthly Payments:  $285

• 30 Minute Lessons

  • Pay Up Front For Semester:  $720

  • Monthly Payments:  $190

How do I pay my tuition:
You now have two payment options.  You can either pay upfront for the semester at a discounted rate or you can make monthly payments.  When you enroll you will have the option to choose which one you want to do.  Tuition will be auto-charged to your account just like our monthly tuitions are now.  Once you enter your payment method into your account (credit card, debit card, or checking account), you are all set.  All billing will be done automatically.  Semester payments will be billed when the student enrolls or on the first day of the new semester.  Monthly payments will be billed on the first of every month.

If I am a current student, do I have to make the switch over to semesters:
Yes.  All current students will be converted over to semesters and will be asked to commit to a full semester of lessons starting on September 14th.  When enrollment opens, we will contact you via email to get you enrolled for the fall semester.  You will have your normal month to month lessons right up until the week of September 14th.  Please note that you will have two separate charges in September.  One will be a prorated charge for the first two weeks of lessons in September as you finish out your month to month lessons.  The second will be your charge for the upcoming semester with your new tuition.  

Do I need to re-enroll every semester:
No.  Current students will be automatically enrolled in the upcoming semester unless they give written notice (via email) that they want to cancel lessons.

What if I want to drop out mid-semester:
We ask all of our students to commit to a full semester of lessons. If a student wants to drop out mid-semester, that is their prerogative, but they will still be responsible for paying for the entire semester. No refunds. If you want to cancel at the end of a semester, you can do so by sending us an email.

If I am a current student, will my tuition be changing:
Yes.  All students will be paying the new tuition.  When we contact you to enroll in the fall semester, you will have the choice to pay upfront for the semester or set up monthly payments.

If I am a current student, will my schedule be changing:
No.  Unless you and/or your teacher would like to change your schedule before then, your schedule will not change from what it is now.

What if I want to take a vacation during the semester:
We are eliminating our current vacation allowance policy.  Moving forward, students, and teachers, will get a two-week vacation at the end of each semester.  If you want to take a vacation during the semester, you will have to cancel your lesson(s) with your teacher that occur during that time.  If you let your teacher know 4 hours or more ahead of time they will send you a video lesson through your online account for the week(s) you miss.

Are there any other changes to the school policies due to the change to semesters:
Yes.  Most of our policies will remain the same, but there are a few that will change.  Please CLICK HERE to download a PDF of our new school policies.

What if I have more questions:
If you have any other questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page by CLICKING HERE.  You can also hit reply with any questions you have and I am happy to answer them for you.

We could not be more excited about this new direction and the way it will impact our students, our teachers and our school as a whole!  We can't wait to see our students shine this fall!

Why online piano lessons are better

Times are changing. And change is hard. It’s weird. It’s uncomfortable. But it also can bring a lot of great opportunities and chances to learn.

So don’t be afraid. Life goes on. Life always finds a way.

And today, the way for many of us is the internet.

While we are a big proponent of in-person lessons, online piano lessons are the way of the future. It’s a platform to learn in ways we never thought possible. We want to embrace the future and we want to ensure you that the future is bright.

A lot of folks have been asking about our online lessons. Are they really as good as in-person lessons? Can you really learn the piano over the internet?

Our answer is ABSOLUTELY! Technology has come so far that there is little difference between online lessons and in-person lessons. As a matter of fact, online lessons have quite a few advantages over in-person lessons.

So we thought we would share with you our…

Six Reasons Why Online Piano Lessons Are Better Than In-person Lessons

1. No commute. We all have busy lives and the time it takes to drive to and from piano lessons is valuable time. Without having to drive to your piano lesson, you just bought yourself anywhere from 10-30 minutes of free time each way. Imagine what you could do with that much extra time in your day?

2. No more driving kids all over town. Now your kids can take their lesson in the other room while you get a little alone time. Perhaps you can use that time to clean, work, cook or catch up on Netflix. Whatever you want to do - it’s your time!

3. Easy and simple. Technology has come a long way. With all the amazing online platforms we have now, all you have to do is click a link and you are ready to go. You can set up your computer, phone or tablet right by your piano or keyboard and you are all set. Let the learning begin!

4. Access to amazing teachers even if you live in a remote area. The internet connects us all, no matter where we live. We have had a lot of folks who were really interested in lessons but the drive to their teacher was just too far. With online lessons, we can bring the world’s best piano instructors right to your home! Problem solved.

5. You don’t have to wear pants. This is probably the best part of doing anything online. Just like working from home, you can take your online lesson while staying in your comfy clothes. No need to get all dressed up!

6. Safe. Whether you are worried about getting sick, getting someone else sick, going out in the cold, or driving in extreme weather conditions, online lessons keep us all safe in our homes while allowing us to connect and communicate with each other. Even if it’s “snowmaggedon” outside, you can still have your lesson!

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of benefits to in-person lessons. We still highly encourage our students to come out from behind their laptops and participate in the real world. As great as technology is, we still need to be in the same room as other people sometimes.

But when that just isn’t an option, online lessons give us all the same value that in-person lessons do and as you can see, they even offer a few advantages.

The point is the show must go on. The world needs music. We need to keep living our lives no matter what is going on in this crazy world of ours. Don’t give up on yourself or your future when it gets hard. Keep an open mind and look for solutions. They are always there.

And with online piano lessons, the solution for continuing your music education is here.

Why your kids should play video games

I still remember getting my first Nintendo. And my first Nintendo was THE first Nintendo.

That’s right kids, I was there when the first Nintendo came out. It was an exciting time.

I used to love playing all the classics - Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3…ok it was a lot of Mario but it was also a lot of fun.

When my mom finally made me shut it off at night, I would head off to bed but the game stuck with me. In particular, the MUSIC from the game stuck with me.

I would spend the rest of the night humming Mario’s theme song. When it was raining out and I was feeling sad, I would hum the underground Mario song. You know the one I’m talking about.

The point is, these simple little tunes were memorable even back then. The sound wasn’t good. They had what seems like ancient technology compared to today’s standards, but we all still knew the songs. Somehow those composers made those songs come alive with the limited 16-bit technology that they had.

And a lot of those songs are still considered classics. Kids and adults both still want to learn the Mario Bros. theme song to this day.

There is a reason for that.

Today the technology has improved so much it makes those old games seem almost laughable. Nowadays, composers can use full symphony orchestras to create the soundtracks to these games. Playing a video game now is like walking into a movie. It’s a magical, wonderful place and the music plays a huge role in that.

Don’t believe me? Try turning the sound off next time your kid is playing his favorite game. He will lose his mind!

When kids and adults play video games, they are actually learning a lot. Hand-eye coordination for one. But I’m here to talk about what they are learning from the music.

Without even knowing, gamers are exposing themselves to intricate works of art. Beautiful soundscapes that inform our imagination.

That’s right - your kid is learning while he is playing video games!

And I bet when he walks away from the game (Finally….after you yank the controller from his hands and hide it in the attic), he will walk away humming the tune. Just like I did all those years ago. That song will stick with him. Maybe for the rest of his life.

What if you could teach him how to play that song on the piano? How excited would he be to learn the song and be able to play it for his friends! Oh man. He would be the hit of the party.

And as exciting and fun as that would be for him, he also gets to learn a whole lot about music along the way. Not just music, but discipline and appreciation for the beautiful things in life.

You are molding a genuine, caring human being. And video games can be a big part of creating the person you want him to be.

Video games are here to stay. And I think that’s ok. You don’t have to fight it. Instead, learn to embrace it. Video games are amazing works of art. And maybe sometime soon, when your kid is playing his game, you can close your eyes and just listen. I bet you may just love what you hear.

Mario would be proud.