Studio Policy
GRACE NOTES PIANO STUDIO POLICY (as of August 30, 2026)
Twinkle Ratnasamy, NCTM
3820 Forest Trail Drive
Findlay, OH 45840
Website: https://twinklespiano. com
Phone: 419-421-5334 Cell: 419-889-1795
E-mail address: gracenotes87@gmail.com
Special Note: All public health policies will be followed in the studio
Philosophy: Children have the God-given potential to learn and play music if given the right tools, creative atmosphere, and regular encouragement. Music opens the mind of the student to learning and self-discipline in any subject. It brings a sense of accomplishment and boosts self-confidence. Music lessons also help them develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. My goal is to help each child listen to and express himself/herself through music and play in different settings. To this end I encourage them to play solos, duets and accompany vocalists/ instrumentalists at school or church. Loving, consistent parental involvement is also a key factor in the child’s success. Parents of first year students are required to attend lessons (unless work conflict exists). I also believe that music is a gift that God gives us to use in worshiping Him and to that end would help students prepare music for church and other worship settings.
Lesson Format:
30-minute lessons
45-minute lessons (most recommended for 1st year new students and intermediate level and higher)
1 hour lessons (intermediate/ advanced levels)
Fees: A $15 non-refundable registration fee is assessed each student once per academic year. This fee is used to cover studio materials, recital programs, and other notices given through the year.
Fall term: Aug. 31- Dec. 18 (15 weeks).
Spring term: January 5- May 19 (19 weeks)
Tuition & Payments:
Tuition: 9 monthly payments (September- May)
Monthly fee for a 30-minute lesson is $ 80
Monthly Fee for a 45-minute lesson is $ 117
Monthly Fee for 1 hour lesson is $ 154
Students paying in full for Fall and Spring terms will be awarded a 4% discount:
30-minute lessons paid in full : $ 697
45-minute lessons paid in full: $ 1,014
1 Hour lesson paid in full: $ 1,330
Please select the payment option that works best for you.
Due Date: Tuition payment is due before or on the first lesson of each month.
Acceptable forms of payment include cash, checks through Billpay (your bank online payment setup) electronic payments through Zelle. Please note that any NSF charges on bounced checks/ payments will be the parent’s responsibility.
Late fees: A $10 late fee will be automatically applied to any account if payment is NOT received by the 10th of the month.
If students stop lessons due to unforeseen extenuating circumstances (e.g. family illness, job transfer to another city) , tuition credits or additional payments may be due based on the amount that has been charged and lessons taken to date.
Federation : For the Fall 2026-27 session, I will be collecting Federation fees by the first lesson in October. I will hold the check until October 31st when I have to submit it to the headquarters. Please pay this separately from tuition. Checks are payable to Twinkle Ratnasamy; I will collect all the fees and submit one payment to OFMC.
Music, Theory, Technique, Other Books: I will be ordering your child’s method books online or through different vendors; this includes a lesson, technique, and theory book. I will also purchase any supplemental music including music for Ribbon Festival or Federation and notify you of the materials that I will be ordering. ALL students must have their own original music for public performances (NO EXCEPTIONS) per event regulations. Please note that a student using supplemental music will NOT be learning all the music in that book as the book has been purchased for a special event. The student is free to explore other songs on their own in that supplement.
Other Materials Needed:
Well-tuned acoustic piano or quality digital instrument (e.g. Yamaha Clavinova, Roland) and bench (preferably adjustable height). For quality long-term studies, I highly recommend a good quality acoustic or hybrid piano. Acoustic pianos should be tuned at least 1- 2 times a year and have maintenance work as needed for optimal practice at home.
A 3-ring binder and paper. All assignments and studio notices will be kept there. Parents, please help your younger child/ren read and follow through with assignments in the binder.
Metronome ( mechanical or digital )
Digital metronome options: Metronome Beats and SpeakBeat Metronome apps
Piano Tuners: Gary Lora 419-423-3196
Registered Piano Technicians (repairs, tuning) :
Michael Fisher 419-352-55552
Clark Sprague 419-352-2198 or 419-308-7093
Practice Tips: Regular practice is required for student progress. Quality time is more valuable than quantity. Please review listening, technique, repertoire, and theory assignments and do the warmups prior to practicing the pieces. For Elementary Students and above, please use the “The Piano Students’ Guide to Effective Practicing” by Nancy O’Neill Breth (I will order this.)
Level:
Beginner or elementary level - 30 minutes/ day minimum 5 days a week.
Intermediate level students - 45 minutes daily/ 5-6 days a week
Advanced level students - 45 minutes + daily/ 5-6 days a week
If longer sessions are difficult, strive to do 2 or 3 shorter sessions, which can be more effective!
Recitals/ Performances: Performance is a vital part of a student’s musical development, helping to build confidence and celebrate their hard work. All students are required to perform in recitals and group lessons. Exceptions will be made in extenuating circumstances. Please feel free to discuss any concerns with me regarding the spring recital. These performances are great opportunities to grow musically and get comfortable playing in front of others. Having performance goals helps the student to be more focused and develop a growth mindset in learning new skills.
Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Festival:
As a member of the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs, I would like to give each child the opportunity to play in front of two qualified judges and receive helpful critiques to develop their skills. I also encourage students to take the theory tests and try the other hymns/ concerto/ solo categories. I am encouraging all students (except first year) to participate in Federation and work towards memorizing 2 pieces in the piano solos category. The Federation Festival will be held at Heidelberg University on Saturday February 27, 2027. Please see the website http://www.nfmc-music.org/festivals for further details.
Findlay OMTA Ribbon Festival:
The Findlay Ohio Music Teachers Association Ribbon Festival will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2027 and allows students all over the city to perform 1 memorized piece in front of qualified judges and the public. Each student receives a comment sheet from a judge, certificate and ribbon/ award based on year of participation. The Ribbon Festival is a non-competitive adjudicated event that is very fun and provides a great opportunity to hear other students from the area perform.
All students (except 1st year beginners) must participate in the Federation Festival OR Ribbon Festival. I encourage students to participate in both events if possible.
Attendance, Missed and Cancelled Lessons:
Regular attendance is essential for musical progress. However, I understand that schedule conflicts arise.
An alternative to an in-person lesson is an online lesson OR swapping with another student. Please see the student swap list ( with the teaching schedule/ parent contact info). If you swap lesson time with another student, please let me know of the change as well. The swap list will be provided in September once the teaching schedule is made.
Advance Notice: if you need to miss a lesson for a planned event (vacation, school activity, etc.), you must provide at least 2 days (48 hours) advance notice.
Illness: Advance notice is waived in the event of a sudden illness. Please do NOT come to lessons sick. Contact me as soon as possible, and we will handle it safely. In place of the in-person lesson, I will offer a virtual lesson, phone call lesson, OR use the lesson time to prepare repertoire, lesson plans/ worksheets for your child. If you provide the recordings of the student’s assigned pieces, I will use the lesson time to provide feedback. If the sick student has siblings also studying piano, I will be happy to extend the lesson time of the sibling who is able to attend.
Makeup Lessons:
Semester limit: Students are allowed a maximum of 2 makeup lessons per semester.
Eligibility: Makeup lessons will only be issued for absences that meet the 48-hour notice requirement or are due to sudden illness.
No-Shows/Missed Lessons: No-shows or Missed lessons without 24 hour advance notice are forfeited and are NOT eligible for a makeup class or refund.
Group Lessons: NO makeup will be given for group lessons.
Performance Class- FREE 1-hour sessions (1 to be held in the fall and 1 in the spring)
Inclement Weather:
If Findlay City Schools have No School/ Delays due to inclement weather I will still teach that day (unless there is a Level 3 ). If you are physically unable to bring your child under Level 1 or 2 alert, please call and cancel ahead of time. I will continue to teach lessons at the student’s regular lesson time on FaceTime or Google Meet or other virtual means.
Teacher cancellations: Teacher cancellations will be credited or rescheduled
Studio Calendar: This year I will NOT be exactly following the Findlay City Schools calendar.
I will continue to teach on President’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, etc…
Please see the attached studio calendar and post on your frij or a place that you will see along with other student schedules. If there are changes, I will notify you asap.
Student and Parent Agreement
By enrolling in lessons, you agree to abide by the policies outlined above.
Student Name:_________________________________________________________
Parent/ Guardian Signature:______________________________________________
Date:___________________