Payment, Billing, & Rates
Payment is due at the time of booking via Venmo. Please inquire about other methods of pay available
All payments are due in advance of your sessions.
Coaching
Single sessions and coaching packages are payable in full upon booking, and only confirmed when paid.
Studio lessons
Studio lessons are billed monthly. You may also pay up front in advance for the semester (please ask about a total).
On the 20th of each month (or closest business day), you will be billed via Venmo for the upcoming month’s tuition. Payment is due by the 25th of each month for the upcoming month.
A 5-day grace period from the due date will be in effect. Tuition must be paid before the first lesson of the month. Payments received more than 5 days late may incur a $25 late fee.
Monthly tuition amount adjusts according to the number of weeks in a calendar month. Holiday closures will be communicated in advance.
Rates
Studio lesson rates are based on taking weekly lessons with a minimum commitment of a full semester (August-December, January-June). For shorter commitments, coaching rates apply.
Cancellation, Scheduling, and Attendance Policy
- Please arrive on time at your scheduled time and prepared with your materials. If you arrive late, your lesson will still end at the same time.
- Please be sure when you commit to lessons that it is a time that works well for you. When you schedule a lesson with me, I am reserving that time especially for you. Available slots are booked on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Students must provide a minimum of 24 hours notice of cancellation. There are no refunds for canceled lessons.
- Lessons canceled with proper notice are eligible to be rescheduled based on availability within the calendar month.
- If a student arrives for their lesson and is actively ill, I reserve the right to end the lesson, and no refund or credit will be given (see Wellness Policy below).
- For the best experience possible, please make every effort to attend your lessons consistently. Soula Vocal Studio is not obligated to make up missed lessons, but will make every effort to accommodate your needs within reason.
- Makeups are limited to one per 60-day period and two per semester due to limited availability.
- Please remember the full rate is charged for any lesson that is canceled or rescheduled with less than 24 hours notice.
- If I need to cancel a lesson, I will reschedule and if I am unable to reschedule, I will refund or credit you for the cancelled lesson.
Ending or Pausing Lessons
To pause or discontinue lessons, written notice must be received by the 1st of the month prior to the change.
For example, to pause or discontinue lessons beginning in April, written notice must be received no later than March 1st.
Please email zina@soulavocalstudio.soulamama.com indicating if you are exiting the program or going on pause. If you will be returning to class, please indicate the estimated date of return.
Please be aware that there will be no refunds for the monthly tuition should you decide to quit before the end of the month.
Schedule Change Requests
Once the semester schedule is set, shifting times becomes challenging. Please plan ahead for activities such as theater, sports, and rehearsals.
Schedule change requests may be submitted in writing 30 days prior to a new semester. Requests made after the schedule has been built will be reviewed based on availability and require at least 30 days’ written notice. I will do my best to accommodate all requests.
Thank you for your understanding.
Wellness Policy
- To preserve everyone’s wellness, Soula Vocal Studio has a strict health policy.
- If a student is exhibiting any symptoms of viral illness of cold, flu, or COVID-19 including fever, cough, runny nose, sneezing, cold or flu symptoms, vomiting , diarrhea, or otherwise contagious symptoms, please contact me immediately to discuss alternative options.
- If the illness is severe, rescheduling would be most appropriate. For minor symptoms, you have the option to schedule a virtual lesson via Zoom instead. If symptoms are consistent with Covid-19, you may be asked for a negative test prior to continuing in person lessons.
- Please be mindful and do not bring an illness into the studio. Please note that if a student arrives for lessons actively ill, that I reserve the right to end the lesson and send the student home. Thank you for your understanding.
- If your voice is affected by illness or fatigue but you are otherwise well enough to attend (virtually or in person), please reach out about keeping your scheduled session. We can still work on musicianship, theory skills, repertoire selection, and vocal support techniques. Voice lessons are about much more than singing alone.
- As singers, our bodies are our instruments. As such, please care for your body and voice and protect your health in order get the most out of your lessons (and your daily life of course!).
- If you have any questions about your vocal health or whether you should be singing while recovering from an illness or injury, please don’t hesitate to reach out or inquire in your lessons.
*Thank you for your attention to these policies and for supporting the positive flow of studio lessons!
How to Prepare for Your Lessons
Whether your lessons are virtual or in person, here are some tips to prepare for a successful lesson:
- gather all your lesson materials in advance: music, pencil, recording device, water, notebook
- for virtual lessons, take some time to set up your environment and technology in advance
- warm up a little bit on your own before your lesson for the best results
- practice in between your lessons so you can internalize what you have learned, and be ready to move forward
What to Bring to Your Voice Lessons:
- Bottled water
- Audio recording device: (smartphones are great for this), but you can also use an alternative. iPhone has voice notes and android phones usually have a built in app called voice recorder. There are a ton of free apps available. Please be sure to explore this and have your app ready to use before your lesson to allow for best use of your time.
- Pencil with working eraser
- 2 copies of the sheet music for the songs you are working on. For virtual lessons, please send a PDF digital copy of any music you are working on in advance.*
- If you are singing along to a recording, have it saved, cued and ready on a separate phone/device.
- Notebook to write down vocal exercises, goals, or vocal tips.
*Although upon occasion, I may be able to provide music, students are responsible for the purchase of their own music. There are a wealth of online resources available to purchase your repertoire (suggestions coming soon).
How to Prepare For a Successful Virtual Lesson:
- Make sure you have a strong internet connection and are close enough to your router to have a consistent signal
- Set up your lesson environment in advance. You will need:
- a computer or tablet with Zoom installed. (I find that laptops with a decent speaker work better than iPads because you have access to better Zoom audio settings, but iPads will work too)
- a print out of your music and a working pencil with eraser
- a separate device to play your accompaniment tracks-you can use a smartphone with external speaker or other device that will play into the room that is not your zoom screen.
- water nearby so you can stay hydrated
- to set up your computer so that you can stand up straight with good posture and be seen clearly in the camera. You may need to move around until you find the best angle.
- Test your video and audio in advance
- Check your Zoom settings in advance. You will want to enable original sound and turn it on, and if you are on a computer, you will want to go to audio settings and turn the filter background noise to low or off
- Pick a quiet place where you will not be interrupted