Puget Sounds Piano School offers comprehensive piano lessons in historic downtown Issaquah.
We are dedicated to coaching pianists of all ages and levels to enjoy playing as much as we do.
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For Current Teachers
Hello Teachers! Here’s a copy of our current annual Student Handbook that has important dates and explains our expectations of our students.
Puget Sounds Piano School
Student Handbook
2025-2026
Congratulations on your decision to study, or continue to study, the piano! The piano is one of the most versatile instruments, and one of the easiest to begin with. With a little practice, you are on the path to a lifetime of music making.
Puget Sounds Piano School prides itself on positive musical growth for all students. We strive to balance positive encouragement with the rigors of musical study to create students who are educated, accomplished, and feel good about their music making.
Communication - One of the keys to your student’s successful piano study is good communication between families, teachers, and the studio. Upon enrollment in the school, you will be sent a link to access the student portal, where you can view your lesson schedule, tuition fees, and contact your teacher. Please contact the studio at info@pugetsoundspianoschool.com with any billing or administration questions. For scheduling, and questions specific to your student’s study, please contact your teacher directly.
We are very open to hearing your opinions about your or your student’s musical experience. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any observations, questions or concerns. We shall attempt to return all calls and emails within 24 hours.
Monthly Newsletter - The studio newsletter is sent out via email on the first of each month, September through June. This is how we convey information about upcoming performances, festivals, and holiday closures, as well as recitals and concerts that you might find interesting. Please make sure that the studio has the best email address for you to receive the newsletter.
Studio Website and Facebook- Our studio website is another great way to stay current with studio happenings. The calendar page on our site has all of our monthly events and holiday closures listed. The studio website is www.pugetsoundspianoschool.com.
And “like” us on Facebook to get reminders about holiday closures, upcoming classes, and other fun, music-related articles.
Calendar - Lessons start Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025, and run through Sunday, August 23rd, 2026, with the following exceptions:
Tuesday, November 25 – Sunday, November 30, 2025 (Thanksgiving Break)
Monday, December 22, 2025 – Sunday, January 4, 2026 (1st Winter Break)
Monday, February 16 – Sunday, February 22, 2026 (2nd Winter Break)
Monday, April 13 – Sunday, April 19, 2026 (Spring Break)
Monday, May 25, 2026 (Memorial Day)
Tuesday, June 16- Sunday, June 28th, 2026 (Intersession)
Rest assured, our calendar has been carefully crafted so everyone gets the same number of lessons per year, no matter what day of the week your lessons fall on.
You are responsible for attending all other lessons scheduled during our academic year.
Our summer session runs from Monday, June 29th through Sunday, August 23rd, 2026. Students are automatically signed up for all 8 weeks of our summer session, but can drop weeks and have tuition adjusted during our open period, which happens in May, 2026. You must take a minimum of 5 lessons to hold your lesson spot for the following school year. **Please note- you will not be guaranteed a lesson spot in the fall without taking the minimum number of lessons.
Practicing - It would be wonderful if good lesson attendance was all that was necessary to master the piano. However, it takes more than that: daily practice is essential.
The trick to developing good practice habits is to find a constant practice time. Make sure it is a time when other family members, television, or friends will not disturb the student. Remember that regular, daily practice is the key to learning the instrument. Students should aim to practice at least five days per week, but are encouraged to take one day a week off.
Billing – Puget Sounds Piano School operates on a 10 month installment plan of your school-year tuition, September through June. Your tuition includes your weekly lessons, theory classes, group masterclasses and recitals. We calculate tuition by adding the total number of lessons up from September through June, pulling out the holiday weeks, and dividing the balance by 10. This means you are not paying for lessons on the weeks PSPS is closed.
For September through June, our monthly tuition rates for the 2025/2026 school year are as follows:
30 minute lessons - $216 per month
45 minute lessons - $324 per month
60 minute lessons - $432 per month
Tuition is due on the 1st of the month for the upcoming month. **We require all students to have an active payment method on file with Puget Sounds in our student portal. There is no additional charge for bank transfers, checks, or Google Pay, however we do charge a 3% convenience fee for credit card payments. Payments are considered late if they are paid after the 5th, and will result in a $25 late fee and a suspension of lessons
For our summer session, (July and August), we charge per lesson:
30-minute lessons- $54/lesson
45-minute lessons-$81/lesson
60-minute lessons- $108/lesson
Attendance Policy - In addition to practicing, good attendance is essential to successful progress in piano study. By enrolling at Puget Sounds, you are reserving a mutually agreed upon day and time on your teacher’s schedule, and you are responsible for attending all lessons that occur at this time. Consider your private lesson time carefully before enrolling, and if you find that you are no longer able to make that lesson time at some point, do reach out to your teacher as soon as you can about finding another permanent lesson time.
Virtual lessons and asynchronous assessments are great alternatives to in-person lessons, should you not be able to attend a regularly scheduled lesson. Please let your teacher know at least 8 hours in advance if you generally have in-person lessons and would like a virtual lesson or asynchronous assessment instead. **Your virtual lesson will take place at your regular lesson time.
Please note that we operate on a tuition system, and Puget Sounds is not obligated to make up a lesson that a student cannot attend. If 48-hour notice is given prior to the missed lesson, your instructor may offer you any other openings (if any) that occur on their schedule within the 7-day period following the missed lesson. Please try to schedule other activities, social gatherings and vacations around your existing lesson time. Any teacher-missed lessons will be made up. No refunds will be given for any missed lessons.
Withdrawing from Lessons – If you decide you need to discontinue lessons, we do require you to email our office at least two weeks before their last lesson. Please email info@pugetsoundspianoschool.com to formally withdraw.
Inclement Weather - Puget Sounds Piano Studio follows the lead of the Issaquah School District in the event of inclement weather. If Issaquah schools are closed, Puget Sounds will be closed to in-person lessons, and will offer a virtual lesson instead at your regular lesson time. If the inclement weather occurs on a weekend, in-person lessons will be replaced with virtual lessons scheduled at your regular lesson time at your teacher’s discretion.
Recitals - Puget Sounds students participate in two piano recitals annually. Recitals will take place in the winter and in the late spring. If your student is unable to attend their instructor’s scheduled recital, we will try and work them in with another instructor’s recital, if space allows. Check your November and April newsletters for more information about upcoming recitals.
Piano Parties and Masterclasses - In addition to the piano recitals, there are several Piano Parties and other extra performances scheduled throughout the year. These performances provide students with the opportunity to play for others in an informal, relaxed environment, and perhaps play a musical game or two.
Spooky Piano Party (costumes encouraged)- Saturday, October 25th, 2025 at 4:00pm
Holiday Performance at Aegis Living Issaquah - December 20th, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Valentine’s Piano Party- Saturday, February 7th, 2026 at 4:00pm
Adult Piano Support Group- is an opportunity for adult students to gather, socialize, and perform for each other. Adult Piano Support Group will meet on the following Saturday afternoons at 5:30pm: Saturday, October 25th, 2025, Saturday February 7th, 2026 and Spring 2026, date TBD.
Theory Classes – PSPS group theory classes are free for all students currently enrolled in private lessons, and run from September through May. Understanding the theory behind the music is essential to playing. Our theory classes take place virtually, roughly every other week throughout the school year. Your teacher will assign you to the appropriate theory class in the late summer, and you will receive information about what book to purchase for class at that time as well. Topics covered and assignments given will be posted on our studio Theory website, Please talk to your teacher if you need help deciding which theory class to attend, and Zoom links to theory classes will be sent to students the evening before class.
Studio Rules - Please observe the following rules when at the studio:
1) Please always wash your hands at the studio before coming into your lesson.
2) No eating or drinking in our studios. No eating in the waiting areas, however water or drinks with lids are ok in the waiting areas only. Due to allergies, Puget Sounds Piano Studio is a Peanut-Free zone. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY PEANUTS INTO THE STUDIO.
3) Please do not leave young children unattended in the waiting area.
4) Please try to keep noise at a minimum in the waiting area, in the hallways, and on the stairs.
5) Please do not occupy unused piano studios. Students waiting for a lesson can practice in unused rooms upon teacher approval only.
6) Do not wear sports cleats to your piano lessons. If necessary, leave your cleats in the waiting area and have your lesson in your socks.
7) Please do not bring sick children to lessons. Not only does this put others at risk, but it makes for a very unproductive lesson. If you’re mildly ill, contact your instructor 8 hours before your lesson and ask for a virtual lesson instead.
We are looking forward to yet another great year of piano playing, learning, and performing!
Shannon Keeler
Director, Puget Sounds Piano School
pugetsoundspiano@gmail.com
206-384-0578
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