Stephanie Claussen Harp Studio Policy

Updated 10/1/25

Payment

Lessons are $40 per half hour, $60 per 45-minutes, and $80 per hour. Payment for the entire month is due at the first lesson of each month. A $5 per week fee may be assessed for late payments. I do not offer refunds for unused or cancelled lessons. Venmo and check are my preferred payment methods because there are no fees, but I also accept PayPal.

Cancellation

Send an email or text my cell as soon as possible if you’ll need to miss your lesson.

For a lesson canceled with MORE than 48 hours’ notice (for any reason other than a lack of practice) I offer a makeup lesson or credit for a later lesson.

Payment is required for ALL lessons canceled or rescheduled with LESS than 48 hours’ notice for any reason. An online lesson is always a possibility if you can’t come in person. In cases of bad weather, illness, or a family emergency, a makeup lesson outside of the regularly-scheduled time within the next two weeks may be requested.

Even if no other lesson times are available within two weeks, the payment cannot be refunded or transferred to a later date. A limited number of reschedules are possible per year per student. Rescheduled lessons cannot be rescheduled a second time. Lessons cancelled after the lesson would have started cannot be rescheduled.

I have a “Attend Concert; Earn a Free Lesson” policy. Details at https://stephanieclaussen.com/attend-concerts-earn-free-lessons-program/.

Questions? Check out this FAQ about harp lesson cancellation/rescheduling: https://stephanieclaussen.com/harp-lessons-cancellation-reschedule-faq-for-current-students/.

Tardiness

If you will be late to a lesson, please email me, text me, or leave a voice message to let me know you are still coming. Lessons end at the scheduled end time regardless of late starts. If I don’t hear from you within the first 10 minutes of the lesson I will assume you are not coming, and the lesson will not be rescheduled.

Practice expectations and required equipment

Practice 30 minutes per day, six days a week for 30 minute lessons, 45 minutes for 45 minute lessons, etc. Lack of practice during the week is not an acceptable reason to reschedule a lesson. If you are not able to practice the required amount, we can spend lesson time on music theory, memorization techniques, or sight reading. Refer to your practice notebook daily for specific goals and assignments.

You are required to own a harp, music stand, metronome (or metronome app), an electronic tuner (or tuning app) and Exercises for Speed and Agility, by Deborah Friou. By registering with my studio, you agree to receive my e-mail notifications regarding upcoming concerts, workshops and harp events. I strongly encourage attending as many harp events as you can.

For lessons

Bring your notebook and books. Clip your fingernails and remove any rings, bracelets or earrings that could scratch a harp. Set your cell phone on silent. If you arrive during another student’s lesson, come in quietly and get your music or harp set up for your lesson. Please avoid turning around in my neighbors’ driveways. Please no strong perfumes.

Resources

Visit http://www.stephanieclaussen.com/studio-reference for further information on practicing, memorizing, harp maintenance, and more.

Online Harp Lesson Addendum

Device

If possible, use a computer or large device rather than a phone so that you can see me better. Place your device to your left and charge the battery ahead of time or keep it plugged in. If possible, sit close to your internet router.

Sheet Music:

If you are working on a piece of music that I do not own, take a picture or a scan of the music ahead of time and email it to me. If you send it right before your lesson time, I will need to use lesson time to download it.

Online Lesson Platforms

I use FaceTime, Teams, GoogleMeet and Zoom (max. 30 minutes for Zoom) to teach online lessons.

Zoom: make sure you have your audio settings configured so that you can use the “Original Sound” option.

Teams: the browser version works better for transmitting the sound of the harp than the app. Turn noise cancellation off.

FaceTime: turn off “Center Stage” (the face following feature). Also, turn of “Portrait Mode.”

Non-Apple computers: some computers have automatic sound cancellation embedded in the general settings. Check this before your lesson and set it to off.

Equipment: Have a notebook handy to take notes in, and always have a pencil with a working eraser within reach. Try to minimize other sounds and distractions in your space during the lesson. (Example: turn off the TV, close the door, etc.)

Schedule

No lessons the week after Christmas or the week after the Spring Recital (which is usually in May).

Taxes

Minnesota parents, you might be able to write off the cost of harp lessons for your child on your Minnesota tax return. I am a “qualified instructor.” If you would like an end-of-year receipt for lessons, please let me know by January 15th.

Earn Free Harp Lessons

I offer this program as an incentive to encourage attending harp concerts and participating in harp activities. Read complete details here.

Resources

Please visit my Studio Reference page for information on how to practice, recommended reading, resources on harp maintenance, etc.