Policies 2011-2012
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RECITALS: Students may perform a solo on one recital and an ensemble on the same recital or another recital. Students may perform again if there is room on a later recital. The final concert is for string ensemble (required for all string students) and other ensembles chosen by the teachers. All students and families are invited to attend any recital or concert. .
PAYMENT FOR FALL/WINTER SEMESTER: The first payment and registration fee is due by August 1st with the registration sheet. Subsequent payments are due Sept. 1, Oct. 1, Nov. 1, Dec. 1, Jan. 1, Feb. 1, Mar. 1, Apr. 1 and May 1. Payments should arrive by the first of each month. If FMS does not receive payment, you will get a courtesy reminder phone call or email by the 5th of the month. Lessons may be curtailed if non-payment extends beyond the 15th of the month until payments are caught up. FMS is not a bank. Parents should not expect FMS to carry a balance due. We have refrained from charging late fees and expect that our families respect the payment due date. Checks or Bank Bill Pay is preferred for payment. Paypal is available as well. Please consider setting up automatic payments with your bank. There are 10 equal monthly music tuition payments. The amount represents an average. We do not charge lesson on months with fewer lessons nor do we charge more on months with more lessons. You are paying an average tuition payment for 10 months (Aug-May). Thank you for your consideration.
ATTENDANCE: There are 32 lessons scheduled over 10 months. 2 extra lessons are also scheduled at no extra charge. These two lessons are scheduled to cover student absences during the year. If the student does not show up for a lesson, there will be no refunds or make-up lessons for any reason (conflicts, forgetting, sickness, transportation issues, vacation, etc.). If the teacher will be absent, the teacher will either (1) Give a make-up lesson, (2) Arrange for a substitute teacher, or (3) Give the student a refund equal to 1/34th of the teacher’s 10-month salary. If the weather is inclement, call Family Music Studio or your teacher to see if class or lesson will be held. FMS reserves the right to cancel classes/lessons once per semester for inclement weather without adjusting fees. Since classes/lessons are usually late in the day when the snow has melted off or been plowed, this is rarely necessary.
PLANNED ABSENCES AND SCHEDULING CONFLICTS: You may ask your teacher for a studio schedule and students' phone numbers/emails. If you have a scheduling conflict, it is your responsibility to call another student and arrange a swap. Please notify your teacher if you have swapped or will be absent. A swap can only be made between private lessons. Class lessons must remain as scheduled.
COMMUNICATION: Email from a teacher at least 48 hours before a change in schedule constitutes adequate communication. Otherwise, a phone call may be made. Please be diligent about checking your email and notifying your teacher and Barb Walters if your email is down or changed. Feel free to call Family Music Studio at any time (765 891-1241). If you get voicemail, please leave a message and your call will be returned. You may also email Barb Walters at fmsinformation@gmail.net. If it is something requiring immediate attention, you should call, not email. Please communicate with your teacher via the method the teacher has requested (email, home phone, cell).
WITHDRAWAL POLICY: Please notify both your teacher and FMS Director Barb Walters if you decide to withdraw your student. When a student withdraws, the monthly fee for that month is forfeited. The fee covering whatever remaining lessons there are in that month is non-refundable and non-transferable to another student. The student may finish the month and take the lessons. A two-week advance notice of withdrawal is requested as a courtesy to the teacher. This policy allows Family Music Studio and the teacher time to either adjust the schedule or insert another student into the time slot. When sports conflicts come in the spring, we expect families to swap lessons with other students as needed (see "Planned Absences and Scheduling Conflicts" policy above). We also expect families to finish the studio year and commit to all ten payments
OTHER POLICIES: Parents are welcome to observe classes or lessons. However, in some of our teaching locations space is very limited. Please check with your teacher regarding observation. Studio space is not childproof. Younger siblings should be either on a lap or sitting next to parent at all times to ensure safety of musical instruments. If a younger sibling needs to crawl or toddle please wait in your vehicle.