“The only thing better than singing, is more singing.”
Ella Fitzgerald
- Great for beginners and younger singers.
- Perfect for busy students or adults looking to sharpen their skills.
- For dedicated musicians high school and up.
Studio Policies
Please read through these policies before our first lesson together. Scheduling with me indicates your acceptance of all current policies.
Click here for our current COVID-safe in-person lesson policies!
Scheduling
Van Maanen Studios is sensitive to busy schedules. That’s why our schedule is available 24/7 online! To sign up for lessons, reschedule, or cancel, please login to your account. Students may choose whether they would like to reserve a weekly lesson time (recommended), or whether they would like to sign up week-to-week for “drop-in lessons” as time allows.
If you are serious about improving your voice, a weekly spot is encouraged. There is no penalty for cancelling or rescheduling your time as long as it is done in advance (see Cancellation Policy below). I understand that plans change, rehearsals get moved, etc. and I try to be as flexible as possible to make it all work.
If you are just in need of a tune-up here and there, you may sign up for a drop-in lessons anytime, as needed! (Click here for instructions) You are always welcome at Van Maanen Studios!
Lesson length: Because of the nature of our work together, each lesson may end up being a few minutes more or less than 30, 45 or 60 minutes respectively. Your teacher will determine when it is appropriate to end each lesson. Music is never an exact science!
Billable Hours Outside of Lessons: Depending on your individual musical journey, it may be necessary for your teacher to provide services outside of your lesson time that we consider “billable hours”. This includes: student related phone calls longer than 15 minutes (not including discussions about scheduling), audio/video editing, career planning meetings etc. Your teacher will discuss these occasions with you so that you are aware of any outside fees that may be incurred. All outside “billable hours” will be added to your profile and can be viewed under the “Accounts & Invoices” tab.
Payment
Payments can be made by cash, check, or credit card online via your My Music Staff account. You may also send electronic payment through Zelle. We do not accept Venmo or Cash App payments.
Students may choose to pay monthly or lesson-by-lesson. An invoice will be sent at the beginning of each month. If paying monthly, please submit payment at the beginning of each month. Students who prefer to pay monthly are encouraged to enroll in Auto Pay with a credit card or bank account. You will also receive an Invoice Reminder if you carry a balance on your account. A late fee of $10 will be added to any accounts with a balance 30 days after the last scheduled lesson.
If your are experiencing financial hardship, please reach out to Katrina directly to discuss finance/scholarship options. Limited scholarship opportunities are available on a case by case basis. It is important to us to keep music accessible to all while also compensating our teachers for their time and expertise.
Cancellation Policy
If you need to miss a lesson, please cancel your lesson on your profile at least 24-hours prior to your scheduled lesson time (Click here for instructions). We do not keep track of “make-up lessons”, however, if you would like to reschedule, simply cancel your reserved lesson time and choose any of the available lesson times on the online calendar that work for your schedule.
**IMPORTANT: Lessons cancelled within 24-hours will still be charged in full. If you are sick and need to cancel the day of, please cancel online and also send a text message before 10 am the day of your lesson and you will not be charged. Lessons cancelled within two hours of the lesson start time will be charged regardless of the reason. Thank you for understanding!
In the event of inclement weather, lessons will be held via Zoom. You will be notified via text/email of the change. (Click here for information on accessing your virtual lesson.)
Cancelling multiple lessons: Please do not use the Portal calendar to change more than one lesson at a time. For bulk changes, please contact me directly.
Tardiness: If a student is late to their lesson, the missed time is forfeited and will not be made up by the teacher. If the teacher is late, the missed time will be made up at the end of the lesson or the lesson will be cancelled and the student will not be charged for the lesson.
Teacher Absences: From time-to-time, we may be called away for concerts, rehearsals, etc. If your teacher needs to cancel an upcoming lesson, they will do so at least 24-hours before the scheduled lesson, and they will find a time to makeup that lesson as schedules allow. Otherwise, you may decide to skip the lesson and will not be charged. Those who pay monthly will be credited for any pre-paid lessons that are cancelled.
Discontinuing Lessons: Lastly, students are free to cancel or discontinue lessons at any time, for any reason. However, if you are signed up for a weekly lesson spot and would like to discontinue lessons, please let us know at least two weeks in advance. Furthermore, I do not refund any fees paid in advance. If you are considering discontinuing lessons, for any reason, please email me, or discuss your plans with your teacher during your scheduled lesson. This will allow us to offer advice, discuss transitioning to a different instrument or teacher, or even find a solution that you might not have considered.
Music, Books and Other Supplies
Voice lessons: All singers are encouraged to bring a 3-ring binder to their lessons for keeping sheet music neat and organized. Most vocal sheet music will be provided by your teacher during lessons at no extra charge to you. Van Maanen Studios has an extensive library of vocal sheet music, which is one of the advantages of taking private lessons! From time to time, you may be asked to cover the cost of specific songs if they aren’t in our library. Furthermore, you may be required to provide original copies of your music for competitions etc. which must be purchased separately from copies given in lessons. Lastly, singers may be given a theory workbook to strengthen musicianship skills. Theory books will be provided by the teacher and the cost will be added to your account.
Piano/Guitar lessons: Your teacher will recommend materials such as lesson books, sheet music, flashcards, or other learning materials. Books can be purchased online or at most music retailers. If we happen to have resources in stock at the studio, your teacher will provide materials in lessons and the cost will be added to your account. Students are responsible for keeping their music neat and tidy and bringing their materials to each lesson.
Privacy
Generally, caregivers of students age 16 and younger are invited to sit in on our first lesson together. As a general rule, caregivers are kindly asked to wait outside the room during lesson time. This promotes a comfortable space for the student to work freely without distraction. For safety, our lesson room door has a window that allows those waiting in the hallway to see in the room, and all teachers are required to pass a background check. If you are a caregiver and have concerns about this policy, please let Katrina know and we will make exceptions on a case-by-case basis.