orlando j. spikes
baritone & voice teacher

 

Lesson Fees

Lessons are either twenty-five (25) minutes or fifty (50) minutes and are billed at $30 and $60, respectively unless you have purchased a Studio Membership, which qualifies you for discounted fees. All Lesson Fees are due upon scheduling unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

Rescheduling

As a courtesy to other members of the studio, you must provide a full 24 hours' notice if you will not be able to make a scheduled lesson so I can offer that time to another student. If a lesson is missed without the full 24 hours' notice, you will unfortunately forfeit that lesson.

Studio Membership

The Studio Membership Plan is billed at $45/month and qualifies you for the MEMBERS ONLY rates as shown on the scheduling page. These rates are subject to change at anytime, but currently reflect a fifty percent (50%) discount on the published Lesson Fees.

First Lesson for Nonmembers

If you choose to purchase the SMS Studio Membership after having your first lesson, the fee for that lesson will be applied to the first month's dues. For example, if your first lesson is 1 hour, you will receive a $45 credit towards your first month's dues and a $15 credit towads one half hour lesson. If your first lesson is 30 minutes, you will receive a $30 credit and your first month's dues will be only $15.

Inclement Weather

I follow the Inclement Weather Policy of the Baltimore County Government. If liberal leave policies are in effect, lessons will not be held unless the lesson is to be completed remotely.

Holidays

Lessons will not be held the following holidays: Martin Luther King's Birthday, President's Day, Memorial Day, the week of Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thansgiving Weekend, or between December 18th and January 1st. These dates will be shown as unavailable on the schedule.

Other Considerations

• My wife and I own two small and friendly designer breed dogs who love music and being around people. If you are uncomfortable with dogs for any reason, you must inform me in advance so I can make arrangements for them to be elsewhere in the house.
• If you arrive more than ten (10) minutes early, please wait in your vehicle to avoid interrupting another lesson.
• As a courtesy to our neighbords, park your vehicle as close to my red Honda as possible.
• Private lessons require intense concentration from both teacher and student and mistakes will be made because they are part of developing the muscle memory necessary to be an effective musician. Because these situations are already stressful, well-meaning family and friends often aggravate that stress level by simply being present. For these reasons, I recommend parents, friends, and other family only sit in for the first one or two lessons. If guests demonstrate that they will not be a distraction (e.g. gum chewing, video game music, ringing phones and/or phone calls, or interjections) I welcome them to sit in on as many lessons as they would like.

Skype & Phone Procedures

Skype lessons can be purchased and scheduled in the same manner as in-studio lessons. Please ensure that you are in a relatively quiet and well-lit place for your lesson. Although it can be helpful, it is not necessary for you to have a webcam under most circumstances; my training and experience make it possible for me to fix most vocal challenges by hearing you sing and asking questions about what you are doing with your body.

Refund Policy

If you are a nonmember, you may request a full refund for any reason in the 24 hours following your first lesson only. If you are an SMS Studio Member, you may request a refund of your first month's dues at any point during the first 30 days of membership. Refunds will not be offerred for lessons taken as a Member during those 30 days. All other products and services are nonrefundable.

Privacy Policy

Your personal and billing information will not be used for any purpose other than the delivery of products and services you have purchased.