Pricing & Policy
Tuition and Fees
Tuition
Lessons are $35 per half-hour.
Tuition is billed monthly and is not lowered or refunded for missed lessons. (See “Make-Up Lessons & Credits” below.)
Billing & Payments
Tuition is due on the 1st of each month.
Invoices for the upcoming month are sent 7 days BEFORE the due date.
Accepted Payment Methods
Credit Card/PayPal/Stripe/Venmo through the Student Portal (Preferred)
Cash
Check
Returned check fee: $30
Additional Fees
Books & Sheet Music
Any books or sheet music purchased through the studio will be charged to the student’s account in addition to tuition.
Copy Fee
The first printed copy of a solo is complimentary.
Additional copies will be $0.05 per sheet.
Recital Fee
$15 per participating student, covering programs, refreshments, facility fees, and other recital costs.
Accompanying Fees
To support performances outside regular lesson preparation time, the following rates apply:
Mid-America Music Festival: $10.00
MSHSAA District Solo: $25.00 (if school does not compensate)
MSHSAA State Solo: $50.00 (if school does not compensate)
Other events are priced case-by-case.
Late Fees
Tuition not received by the 20th of the month will incur a $15 late fee.
Students may not continue into the next month with an unpaid balance.
Make-up Lessons, Credits & rescheduling
Missed Lessons
A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule a lesson.
Lessons canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice will be charged without a make-up credit.
Missed lessons due to busy schedules, vacations, or lack of preparation do not qualify for any tuition adjustments.
When Make-Up Lessons Are Offered
Make-up lessons are provided only under the following circumstances:
1. Illness or Family Emergency
At least 8 hours’ notice is required.
Eligibility is determined at teacher discretion.
2. Teacher Cancellations
Any lesson canceled by the teacher (including inclement weather or schedule conflicts) will automatically receive a make-up credit.
The teacher will coordinate the new lesson time with the family.
How Make-Up Credits Work
Make-up credits provide an additional lesson, not a reduction in tuition.
Example: If a student has four lessons in a month, all four are billed even if one is later made up.
Credits expire 14 days after issuance.
Families are responsible for scheduling their own make-up lessons.
Exception: If the teacher cancels the lesson, the teacher schedules the make-up.
Students should select a regular lesson time they can commit to. Lesson times will not be shifted for extracurricular activities. (See “Rescheduling Lessons” below.)
Rescheduling Lessons
You can reschedule a lesson for free when:
You cancel 48+ hours before the lesson, and
You choose a new time from the studio’s available openings.
After you cancel, a make-up credit is automatically added to your account and must be used only toward the replacement lesson.
excessive absences
After three consecutive absences, a conversation about continued enrollment will take place.
If attendance does not improve, the student may be removed from the studio to allow space for families who can maintain consistent lessons.
Contract Cancelation
Cutt Above Music Studio, LC is committed to full customer satisfaction. If concerns arise:
Contact the studio owner in writing as soon as possible to allow for resolution.
If concerns cannot be resolved, a student may withdraw after completing any prepaid month.
Canceling mid-month for non-emergency reasons results in forfeiture of the remainder of prepaid fees
“Non-emergency” is determined at the discretion of the owner.
A formal written request (email, letter, etc.) is required to terminate the contract.
This protects both the student and the studio.
Tuition and fees may adjust over time due to market conditions and cost-of-living rises.
Policies may be revised periodically; families will receive notification of any changes.
Fee & Policy Changes/UpdateS
A Final Note
These policies reflect recommended standards within the music education profession. Tuition supports:
Retirement, Social Security, and continuing education costs
Studio equipment and maintenance (instruments, lending library, materials)
Additional time spent planning, scheduling, communicating, bookkeeping, and managing studio operations
Teaching is my profession, my business, and my art. I take pride in offering a “Cutt Above” musical education and building meaningful relationships with every student and family I serve. Thank you for choosing Cutt Above Music Studio!