Fees & Studio Policy

Studio Policy 

 

Updated August 2024

 

Thank you for your interest in my online singing studio. You are very welcome! 

This page outlines details of my studio fees and policies, such as cancellation, make-up, and payment policies. 

In booking through this site, all singers agree to abide by the following policies regarding fees, payments, and cancellation. 

These policies are unique to the studio, and may not be what you are expecting, so please read this page carefully before making bookings. Thank you. 

 

First, a note about illness:

Singers agree never to attend an in-person lesson or event when they are showing signs of illness.

You also agree not to attend an in-person lesson if you feel unusually tired, or think you may be coming down with something. 

If you attend a lesson feeling ill, you will be sent away and the lesson will be charged.

 

How the Studio Works:

I teach both online and in-person. 

After speaking to me about lessons, singers book their lessons directly on the online studio calendar. They then inform me how they would like to pay (termly or monthly) - from this I set their lesson fee rate. 

Rates are determined by:

  • whether lessons are in person or online
  • how many lessons are being paid for at once 

I set the fee rate and send out an invoice 7 days in advance of the payment due date. Singers pay by credit card or e-transfer in advance. 

Once purchased, lessons are non-refundable, but they are transferable. 

Make-up lessons are offered based on fee rate and must be taken up in the term they were created.


STUDIO RECITALS - NEW!

1. Virtual Studio: 

I hold termly studio recitals for my online singers. These take place, like our lessons, on Zoom. 

Singers can perform live (singing online to a backing track) or they can prepare an audio or video recording which will be played during the recital.

NEW FOR 2024. To help cover my video editing costs, I will be charging a small fee for singers requesting video and audio editing help:

- Audio editing only: $25 per file

- Audio editing of an audio file submitted with or as part of a performance video completed by the singer: $25 per file

- Partial Video production (production of video from audio files and photographs submitted by singers): $50

- Full Video production (production of compilation video from video and audio files submitted by singers): $100

2. In-person studio

In recent years I have not been holding studio recitals for my in person singers. If enough in-person singers would like to perform, please let me know, and I will organise this.

For singers performing in-person in a studio recital, there will be a charge of $75 to contribute to the cost of a pianist, who will play for you in one lesson and who will perform with you in the recital.

Please read on to learn more.

 

STUDIO TERM DATES: 

My studio observes 4 Terms: 

  • Term 1 - Sept to Dec; 
  • Term 2 - January to Easter; 
  • Term 3 - after Easter to mid May, sometimes end of June
  • Term 4 - July and August (occasional teaching days only). 

Booking through this site normally happens on a termly basis, with new booking made available about a month before the beginning of the next term.

 

LESSON RATES FOR TERMS 1-3, 2024-25

 

Virtual (V) Private Lessons

Fee includes live virtual lesson, plus downloadable video recording of lesson to keep 

  • Rate 1: A single V lesson: $94/hour Canadian* (Payment invoiced, due within one week of lesson. Late payment charge of 5% per week applies)
  • Rate 2: When purchasing 2-6 private V lessons at once: $92/hour Canadian* (Payment termly or monthly, lesson is non-refundable but transferable, 2 make-up lessons per term)
  • Rate 3: When purchasing 7 or more private V lessons at once: $90/hour Canadian* (Payment in advance, termly only, lesson is non-refundable but transferable, 3 make-up lessons per term)

 

In-Person (IP) Private Lessons - fee includes live lesson only, singers may self-record their lesson 

  • Rate 1: A single IP lesson: $104/hour Canadian* (Payment invoiced, due within one week of lesson. Late payment charge of 5% per week applies)
  • Rate 2: When purchasing 2-6 private IP lessons at once: $102/hour Canadian* (Payment termly or monthly, lesson is non-refundable but transferable, 2 make-up lessons per term)
  • Rate 3: When purchasing 7 or more IP lessons at once: $100/hour Canadian* (Payment termly or monthly, lesson is non-refundable but transferable, 3 make-up lessons per term)

 

Group lessons (between 2 and 4 singers in a class)

Group lessons are also available. For 2-4 students, rates are as above, pro-rated. For 5 or more singers, please be in touch.

 

HOW TO PAY & STUDIO CANCELLATION POLICIES

 

Invoicing & Payment Terms

You will be invoiced for your lessons one week before payment is due.

Termly Payments (Lesson rate 3): payment in full due on first day of the month at the beginning of the series of lessons.

Monthly payments (Lesson rates 1 and 2): payment for month due in advance on the first day of the month.

 

How to Pay

Singers can choose to pay:

  • By Credit Card the payment portal on this site, which allows payment through Stripe and credit card. Please note that, owing to website charges, payment by Stripe or credit card through this website incurs an additional fee of 3.25%.
  • By E-transfer to kathryn (at) kathrynwhitney.net (This email remains the same for e-transfer)

If you have financial challenges and would like to spread out your payments over time, please be in touch so we can set up a payment plan.

 

Cancellation Policy 

All lessons, once booked, are non-refundable. 

However, in the event of cancellation within the guidelines below, make-up credits can be issued (2 make-up lessons for fee rates 1 & 2; 3 make-up lessons for fee rate 3)

 

Make-up Credit Guidelines.

  • If the instructor cancels a lesson, she will issue a make-up credit that is valid until the end of the term in which the lesson was booked.
  • If the student cancels a lesson with 48 hours notice, the instructor may issue a make-up credit at her discretion (2 make-up lessons for fee rates 1 & 2; 3 make-up lessons for fee rate 3)
  • If the student cancels a lesson with fewer than 48 hours notice, the lesson is forfeited and the lesson fee is charged.
  • Cancellation in advance owing to illness, if accompanied by a doctor's note, may be refunded, less transaction charges.
  • If a student attends a lesson showing signs of illness, they will be turned away and the lesson will be charged. Please speak to Kathryn about when to return to lessons after illness.
  • Make-up credits can only be used in the term the original lesson was booked and cannot be carried over into subsequent terms.

 

Refunds.

  • Once purchased, all lessons are non-refundable, even if cancelled with 48 hours' notice, except in the case of illness, when a doctor's note will be requested. 
  • All Lesson credits are transferable. 
  • If you cannot use your make-up lesson or lesson credit within its time of validity, please consider 
    1. Swapping your time with other singers in the studio. 
    2. Gifting the credit to someone you know who might enjoy some singing time
    3. giving the credit back to the studio so it can be used by another student unable to afford lessons.

Payment Considerations

If you are going to have any difficulty paying your invoice, please don't hesitate to be in touch. I am sure that we can work out a way for you to make your lessons affordable over time.

 

Late Payment Fee

Please note that invoices that remain unpaid for 7 days without notice incur a charge of 5% of the outstanding invoice fee per week Thank you.

 

Right to Cancel 

The instructor reserves the right to cancel future lessons at her discretion with 7 days notice. In the event of cancellation by the instructor, remaining fees will be returned less transaction charges and any applicable taxes.

 

Thank you!

Thank you for your interest in working with me in my private singing studio. I am looking forward to working with you and I wish you well with your music-making!

 

Kathryn Whitney