Little Bird Piano Academy® Policies
Effective date: January 1, 2025
I am delighted to welcome you to Little Bird Piano Academy® Private Family, Group, and Individual Classes!
We are located at 160 NW Gilman Blvd., suite 203 in Issaquah
Please review the following policies regarding tuition, vacations & holidays, sick leave, and special dates.
Classes Offered
Classes are held weekly and are 45 minutes each.
There are 45 lessons per year.
Lessons are tailored to the needs of all students, including parent(s).
Private Family Class
- 45-minute class for parents and children infants to age 6
- Parents, grandparents, au pair, multiple children may attend at your discretion
- Setup fee includes sheet music, flash cards, audio recordings and two performance opportunities
- Registration is for the term of one year and may be renewed annually
Group Class
- 45-minute class
- Registration includes 1 child infant to age 6, and 1 parent
- An additional child or parent may attend for $50 per session or by registering for the class
- Minimum class size 3 children, 3 adults
- Class size limited to 5 children, 5 adults
- Setup fee includes sheet music, flash cards, audio recordings and two performance opportunities
- Registration is for the term of one year and may be renewed annually, contingent upon continuation by at least 3 group members
Practice
Practicing regularly is a skill that develops over time. Be kind to yourself and your child as you add this new habit to your lives.
Interim practice has been found to be the most effective, both for consistency and for long-term retention of knowledge and skill. Rather than one longer practice session each day, practice may be divided into three or four smaller sessions. The brain will be more actively engaged in the first few minutes (or for a baby perhaps one minute or less). Piano practice may be added to existing habits, such as before or after mealtimes, prayer time, or other routine events that happen throughout the day, to help make practice easier to stick to, and to become a life-long habit.
Most importantly, practice time should be fun and inviting, never forced. Think of practice time as an opportunity to grow a best friend (your child) through musical play.
Instrument
Since 90% of progress is made during at-home practice, students need an appropriate instrument to practice on. (Recommendations below)
Tuition
Tuition is based on one year, divided equally into 12 months. There are 45 lessons each year. The setup fee includes all materials including sheet music, flashcards, music books, recordings, and two performance opportunities. Payments are made automatically through the payment portal below.
Payments will not be reimbursed for missed lessons. Parents should make every effort to prioritize consistent attendance. Please, however, do not come if you or your child are not feeling well, and please let me know as soon as you can. (makeup policy below)
Vacations
Please give two weeks notice for upcoming family vacations. Tuition payments will remain the same, but missed lessons may be made up prior to or after the vacation as openings are available, and may be made up within three months.
Make-Up Lessons (updated)
Missed lessons due to school functions, family gatherings, power outages or other miscellaneous reasons will not be reimbursed nor made up. Missed lessons due to illness or pre-planned vacations (two weeks notice) may be made up at weekend group classes, offered once each month, or if available, during another student's absence.
Make-up classes will be held one weekend each month, and may be grouped with students of appropriate age and ability. Make-up lessons may, alternatively, be held during another student’s absence if this becomes available at a suitable time. This is not guaranteed, but every effort will be made to accommodate individual needs.
If you're planning a vacation you may front-load your make-up classes if there is room in the group session.
Materials
The Annual Supply Fee covers all materials necessary for practicing at home. All course material is protected by copyright by Little Bird Piano Academy® , and may not be copied, shared, or reproduced in any manner without written permission from Holly Hamilton. You may copy materials for student use in these lessons.
Baby-Led Piano® toys (Piano Mat, Wooden Piano Town Toys, and 3 pairs of Bee Gloves) may be purchased at registration if desired, or at a later time. These are generally recommended for kids 5 and under but are sometimes useful for kids who are older, who may have unique needs.
Little Bird Piano Academy® Holidays
Little Bird Piano Academy® will be closed on the following dates. Please mark your calendar. These have already been calculated into the 45 lessons per year and will not be made up.
- April 14-20, 2025
- June 30-July 6, 2025
- August 25- September 7, 2025
- November 24- 30, 2025
- December 21- January 4, 2026
Performance Opportunities
Please Mark Your Calendars for these performance opportunities:
Spring Ensemble Festival- All Students and Families
- March 22, 2025 10AM
- Crossroads Community Center
Fall Piano Party- Students 5 and Under
- October 18 10-11am, 12-1pm, or 4-5pm
- At Little Bird Piano Academy®
Fall Recital- Students 5 and Over
- October 25, 2025 6:00- 7:30 PM
- Location TBD
Registering as a member of Little Bird Piano Academy® serves as agreement to these policies for the term of one year. Policies and dates may be updated from time to time, and you will be notified via email.
Instrument recommendations
The ideal instrument is an acoustic (made of wood, with strings and hammers inside). These need to be tuned regularly and serviced by a licensed technician to keep them in ideal working condition, and for optimal ear training for you and your child. I recommend shopping at Classic Pianos in Bellevue (425) 462-1888 for a new or used acoustic piano. Their service is unparalleled, which translates into high value, and great ear training for you and your child. Please ask for Ben and tell him I sent you. He's promised to take extra good care of you. :)
James Han is my tuner and I highly recommend him to keep your acoustic piano in pristine condition. He is very busy, so schedule early at 206-405-0737.
However, not all circumstances are suited for this investment.
Other options include a weighted, 88-key, touch sensitive, keyboard with a stand and a sustain pedal. Rather than trying to keep up with the latest improvements and the best values in keyboards, I recommend Jonathan Appleton at Sweetwater for all music related electronics. You can call or text him at 260-247-6847 or email at [email protected]. His service has been fantastic. Also tell him I sent you, as he knows my standards.
You might be able to find a used piano on Facebook Marketplace or from a friend or neighbor to begin with, but know that finding a used piano in the free market can be a lot like shopping at a junkyard for a car. You might save a lot of money at first, but there may be significant costs to repairs and to having a poorly functioning instrument. Sometimes you can find a gem, but please consult with a proficient piano technician before making the investments of moving, housing, and repairing a used acoustic piano.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about the Little Bird Piano Academy® Policies, please contact us:
- Email: [email protected]
- Text: 858-225-9114
