Thomas J. West Music

I offer private instruction in piano, string, and band instruments for students in Chester County,  Pennsylvania. Please note that the information below are for private instruction from myself as a freelance teacher and are not the policies or payment rates associated with the Musika or TakeLessons online lessons service. I am also a contracted teacher for the Musika and TakeLessons networks, and you will find that my freelance services are very similar to their structure.

The instruments and skill levels I provide services for are:

Beginner (grades 1-5): piano, any band instrument including percussion, and any string (violin, viola, cello, bass)
Intermediate (grades 6-8): piano, any string instument, and any band instrument including percussion
Advanced (grades 9-12): Any wind instrument

Lessons are a half-hour in length once a week and are conducted in the student's home. I do not charge for travel expenses. Lessons are scheduled a month in advance and one make-up lesson is offered per student per month. I assume that families willing to pay for private lessons have a student willing to invest time and effort in their instrument and will be well-prepared for every meeting.

At this time, Mr. West is not taking new students for Fall of 2008.

Monthly Payment Option (recommended)

A flat-rate payment of $80 is due on the last lesson of each month.This payment secures a weekly half-hour slot in my schedule for the next month and is not a per-lesson fee. The payment is the same regardless of the number of lessons in a given month. (You will not be charged more for months containing 5 lessons and you will not be charged less for months containing days off for major holidays.)

If a student is unavailable for the last lesson of the month, I request that you mail your payment to me to ensure that you reserve your lesson time for the upcoming month. You will receive a copy of this policy and my mailing address during our first lesson.

All payments are final.

Absence Policy

1. Students must notify me of an absence by phone or email no later than 5:00 PM the day before their lesson. I appreciate as much advanced notice of a conflict as you are able to give me. Students who notify me of an absence in advance are eligible to schedule one make-up lesson per month on a date and time determined by the student and teacher.
2. If a student is absent without sufficient notice, the lesson may not be made up.
3. If a student is absent without sufficient notice for two consecutive weeks, it will be assumed the student has quit and the slot will be made available to waiting or new students.
4. If I am absent or a lesson is canceled due to inclement weather, a make-up lesson may be scheduled. If traffic unforeseen traffic conditions prevent me from arriving to your lesson on time, we will either extend the lesson time as needed or reschedule. I do not award a credit to students for a loss of lesson time due to a traffic delay.

Individual Payment Option

In special circumstances, students who can not schedule a consistent time each week or who wish to have an hour lesson rather than the standard half-hour can schedule these on a week-to-week basis. These lessons will be scheduled after monthly lesson students are scheduled, so a consistent time each week is not likely. Individual lesson payments are $20.00 per half-hour or $40.00 per hour with payment due at the end of the lesson. This payment plan is a popular option during the summer months.

All payments are final.