Rates & Policies
Leon’s Policies 2025
Rates
Half-hour lesson: $90
45 Minute lesson: $120
Hour lesson (for a single student): $160
Payment methods
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Venmo and Zelle are the most common. Cash payments are highly appreciated and come at a 10% discount. I used to do semester invoices, but I have pulled back from recently.
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Monthly Billing
Lessons are invoiced monthly. A few days prior to the coming month I invoice all upcoming lesson dates in the month.
example: We meet Tuesdays at 5:00 for a half hr lesson & there are four Tuesdays in the month paying by venmo or Zelle = $360. Cash = $320.
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Cancels & Reschedules
Lessons cancelled by my students can be rescheduled, but not cancelled. If I cancel a lesson, I will refund the student.
In other words - if a family takes a lesson off for ski week, thats ok! …but the invoice for that week still stands. On the bright side, the credit also still stands.
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Students whose lessons are paid by the California Self-Determination Program are invoiced at month's end. SDP funds educational opportunities for children & adults with developmental disabilities.
For more info: https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/sdp/
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Recitals
I encourage everyone to participate in our recitals.
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December 2025 - Winter Recital at Gradus Ad Parnassum in San Mateo
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June 2026 - Summer recital at San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
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Daily Practice
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Music is difficult precisely because it requires hours of deliberate, focused, precise skill building.
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We must give ourselves over to this work. Find the love in it, despite the tears and even the boredom.
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Music asks us to give over our hearts, our creativity, our intelligence, our free exploration.
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For both skill and creativity to emerge in ourselves we have to agree, inside our minds to the task.
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Its ok to be afraid we'll fail.
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to be true we must commit to both when beginning piano lessons.
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Students are expected to practice every day
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Students will begin with either 15 minutes or 30 minutes but must move steadily to build their endurance until they can handle a more useful amount of practice between one to three hours.
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The rigors of practice are necessary and not to be underestimated
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Going easy on yourself now will lead to shame, disappointments and “coulda shoulda” type self-talk in the future. Lets have an adventure together and really go for something.
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Don't just practice until you have it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong.​
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Strike hard! Strike Fast! NO MERCY!
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Enjoy!
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For music therapy clients this is all relative to the nature of our lessons & goals
Holidays
The studio is open for regular lessons Sundays through Wednesdays, from the morning until about 10pm. Often federal holidays are great times for makeup lessons, although some I take off. I take some Jewish holidays off as well. Mostly I try to coordinate my holiday time with that of my students.’
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Summer Vacation
I encourage you to use as much of summer break as you can to advance at music while you have free time.
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Students are expected to maintain practice during the summer months.
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