380 Music Studio Lesson and Class Policies

Welcome to Music Lessons! Thank you for enrolling! We look forward to a continued long-term relationship with your family. Please take a couple of minutes to read through the policies outlined below. Having clear-cut policies allows both parents and teachers to focus their time and effort on lessons, rather than attendance and billing. You will be given two copies of this policy sheet at your first lesson: one to keep, one to sign and return to the teacher. 

SCHEDULING LESSONS 

Lessons are held on the same day at the same time each week. Your lesson time starts at the scheduled lesson time. Be ready to play and learn when you arrive at lessons. 

We do not offer “every-other-week” lessons. Consistent weekly lessons are necessary for development and enjoyment, even if the student is “just taking lessons for fun.” 

LESSON PAYMENT PROCEDURES 

Payments are made directly to 380 Music Studio for the month in advance via automated payment using a credit or debit card.
Those wishing to pay in cash on a regular basis may contact the studio for special payment/deposit instructions and timing

Students will be required to place a credit or debit card on file, which will be charged as follows:

Tuition payments are charged to your card on file on the 1st of each month. 

Students commit to one calendar month at a time, and there are no refunds for any unused lessons. If a decision is made to discontinue lessons in the middle of the month, the student may choose to take or forfeit the remaining lessons, but no refund will be given. 

There is a $20 fee for declined/returned/dishonored payments if a successful payment is not made within 24 hours. Payment for tuition plus $20 fee must be paid before the student receives another lesson. If payment is declined, lessons are paused until payment is received, and no make ups or credits are given for lessons missed due to late payment. 

Students are charged a flat-rate fee per month. Most months, the student will receive 4 private lessons. Some months, because of the way the weeks fall, the student will receive 5 lessons: we do not charge extra for 5-lesson months. Occasionally, due to pre-scheduled vacations such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, the student will receive 3 lessons in a month. The 3-lesson months and the 5-lesson months balance out to an average of 4 lessons per month over the course of the year. Students will receive a list of pre scheduled vacations each semester. See “Pre-Scheduled Studio Closures” on this page. No refunds or credits are given if a student discontinues lessons before their 3- and 5- week months balance out.

The only time we prorate tuition is during the first month of lessons and in extreme circumstances, which are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For example: we do not prorate tuition when a student decides to discontinue lessons or wants to take time off.

Music Makers is considered a free add-on program for those taking private lessons. There are no refunds/credits/make ups for missed Music Makers classes. If Music Makers is canceled due to weather, lack of teacher or substitute availability, there will be no make ups or reschedules of the class, however, students may attend another Music Makers session at a different time. There are no tuition adjustments if a student cannot attend a different Music Maker class, as these classes are considered a free add-on program.

PRE-SCHEDULED STUDIO CLOSURES

Specific dates for pre-scheduled studio closures will be announced at the beginning of each semester. In general, we do not teach on normal school vacation days (except for summer-- we do have regular weekly lessons throughout summer). 

Pre-scheduled studio closures are:
Spring Break (one week)
Memorial Day (Saturday, Sunday, Monday)
July 4th Week (one week)
Labor Day (Saturday, Sunday, Monday)
Halloween (only lessons starting after 5 pm are cancelled)
Thanksgiving Week (one week)
Christmas/New Years Vacation (two weeks)

* Tuition is not adjusted for pre-scheduled holidays/vacations, as the they balance out the 5-lesson months (see above).

MAKE-UPS & ABSENCES 

Lessons missed due to teacher absence will be made up. 

Lessons missed due to student absences will be made up if the teacher receives 48-hours notice.
The exception to the 48-hour cancellation policy is in the case of student illness or true emergency. Whether a situation is deemed a "true emergency" is at the discretion of 380 Music Studio.

If a student cancels a make-up/rescheduled lesson for any reason, the lesson is forfeited. In other words, you can't make up a makeup lesson. 

There is a limit of one student make up/reschedule per calendar month. Any student cancellations exceeding one per calendar month will be forfeited except for documented long-term student illness or other extenuating circumstances.

Any make ups/reschedules must be used within 60 days of the original absence, and are forfeited if not used within this time period. Only currently enrolled students may attend make ups.

Music Makers is considered a free add-on program for those taking private lessons. There are no refunds/credits/make ups for missed Music Makers classes.

LONG TERM ABSENCES 

Long-term absences (an example would be taking the summer off) are detrimental to the student’s development and enjoyment of lessons. After returning from a long-term absence, the student will experience frustration as they will be reviewing things they knew a short time ago! Teachers are not able to hold spots for students who take a long-term absence from lessons. We ask all students to continue lessons throughout the summer. Students who continue through the summer will be given first priority when scheduling lessons for the fall. If the student must take a long-term absence, the only way to hold a spot with the current teacher is to pay for lessons throughout their absence.

DISCONTINUING LESSONS 

Student/Parent must inform 380 Music Studio in writing (email or text) in order to cancel lessons and discontinue billing. There are no refunds for un-used lessons due to student cancellations except in extreme situations at the discretion of the teacher. 

Tuition billing will continue until you notify 380 Music Studio of your discontinuation. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

It is the parent's responsibility to communicate absences, cancellations and to give payment. Important information and tasks should not be given to students. 

The teacher reserves the right to un-enroll or decline any student due to student behavior, parent behavior, lack of payment, or any other reason the studio deems necessary. 

ENTERING/EXITING PROCEDURES & PARENT PRESENCE 

Please enter a couple of minutes before your lesson/class time so you can use the bathroom and be ready to go at your lesson time. 

Please do not enter any rooms with closed doors while in the building. Be respectful of the space. All children must remain under parent supervision if not under direct supervision of a teacher.

Parents may watch their child's private lessons (we have seating for you in the studio room), or may sit in the lobby or their car. Any siblings that will be waiting should bring something quiet to do.  Some students focus better when a parent is in the room, others struggle to learn and focus when they have an audience, even if its a parent. We ask parents to be flexible about observing lessons based on how their child responds, but we will never prohibit a parent from being in the room during a lesson.

Music Makers sessions may be observed through the classroom windows if desired, but we do not have space for multiple parents to be in the room during Music Makers sessions. 

After our first private lesson together, once we get to know the student, parents may leave during the lessons, provided we give approval and provided the parent:
-Returns at least 5 minutes before the lesson is scheduled to be finished.
-Confirms that they have their cell phone with them, turned on so they can hear it ring.
-Confirms that the teacher has an accurate/current cell phone number.
-Understands that we may not be first-aid certified and/or up to date on first-aid training.

 If your child appears to need medical attention, we will call 911. If appropriate and if you are waiting in the car, we will attempt to first communicate with you before calling 911. However, if it appears to us that it is an urgent medical need, 911 will be called first, and then you will be informed. It is understood that any and all costs associated with such call will be paid for by the parent/student, not the teacher/studio, regardless if medical professionals determine there to be no medical emergency. The parent/student understands that the teacher/studio is NOT a babysitter or childcare facility and agrees to hold the teacher/studio blameless for any inability to administer proper first aid care to the student. Parent/student assumes all risk when they, or any of their children/friends/relatives, are in the studio. 

Parents: Please do not leave until you see your child enter the building.

TEACHER PLACEMENT & TRAINING

380 Music Studio invests significant time and financial resources into recruiting, screening, hiring, training, and supporting our teachers, as well as marketing the studio and matching students with the right instructor. These efforts allow us to provide high-quality teachers without families having to search for and evaluate instructors on their own.

Accordingly, students and families agree not to arrange or receive private instruction outside of 380 Music Studio from any current 380 Music Studio teacher without the prior written consent of the studio.

Students and their families agree not to retain the services of any 380 Music Studio teachers-- regardless of instrument/subject or nature of services or location of services-- during the teacher's contract period with 380 Music Studio and for a period of 12 months following the end of their contract with 380 Music Studio. If a student or their family fails to honor this agreement, student agrees to pay a placement fee to 380 Music Studio equal to 380 Music Studio's current monthly tuition rate for the type of lessons the customer was receiving with 380 Music Studio, multiplied by 12. This placement fee is charged on a per-student basis, and is due prior to the commencement of such instruction.

OTHER COSTS

Books/Materials
Most students will need curriculum books, sheet music, and/or learning materials, and the costs associated with these are the student's responsibility.

Registration Fee
A non-refundable registration fee will be due upon signing up for lessons.

Instrument
Students must have their own instrument to learn on at home, and the cost for this is the student's responsibility.
Students must have their own instrument at home by the second lesson, unless otherwise consulted with the teacher.
380 Music Studio is happy to provide guidance about instruments, but is not responsible for any consequences of your purchase decision.

Performance/Recital Fees and/or Ticket Fees
Most recitals will require students to pay a Recital Fee to participate in order to cover the performance hall rental, piano rental, sound system costs, program printing costs, and staffing.

Recitals and performances are optional, but strongly encouraged.

There are no fees for informal performances held during Music Makers Sessions, but there may be fees for larger performances held outside of Music Makers sessions.

At this time, 380 Music Studio does not charge ticket fees to attend our performances.

Any entry fees, ticket fees, and parking fees required to participate in third-party performances will be the responsibility of the student, and participation in these events is optional.

WAIVER
The student and parents acknowledge that there are risks in any activity, and agree that 380 Music Studio, its owners and/or teachers, will not be held liable for any personal injury, or damage to personal belongings that should occur to either the student or any observers they bring, during anytime they are in my home. Though the chances of injury or damage occurring are extremely low, students/parents agree to take any and all financial and personal risk associated with classes, and agree to hold 380 Music Studio, its teachers and owner blameless should such an issue occur, and indemnify the teacher/studio in such cases.

If a student or visitor willfully causes any property damage to the studio/teacher's home, or if damage is caused due to student or visitor's lack of following rules or instructions, the parent will be held financially liable for such damage.

LATE PICKUP
As a small studio, we do not have staff available to supervise students who are not picked up on time. Being late interferes with other students' lessons, and often causes undue difficulties for the teacher. To prevent late pick ups, we ask that you return 5 minutes prior to your child's lesson/class end time. The studio reserves the right to charge a late pick up fee of $3 per minute should a parent repeatedly pick up their child late from lessons.

ILLNESS/SICKNESS POLICY
We have a very generous make-up policy for illnesses. There is no reason to come to a lesson sick! Please do not come to lessons if you are ill. Because we work in close quarters, we often breathe the same air, and we touch the same keys and writing utensils. This means that its easy to spread germs in a lesson. If the student missed school or work due to illness, he/she is likely not well enough to come to lessons. If a student comes to the lesson sick, the teacher reserves the right to cancel the lesson with no make up / reschedule provided. Please show courtesy, kindness and respect to the teacher and all the students coming to lessons after you: do not come to lessons while sick.

Students must be fever free for at least 24 hours before returning to lessons after an illness.

PHOTO RELEASE

Student and/or parent gives 380 Music Studio the right to publish images and/or videos on their website, Facebook page, and printed marketing materials for the purposes of marketing and social media use, with the student's first name and instrument he/she takes lessons on. If the parent/student does not want his/her image to be included in such materials, he/she must notify 380 Music Studio via email at 380musicstudio@gmail.com .