HERITAGE MUSIC STUDIO
STUDIO POLICIES / STUDIO HANDBOOK
Learning a musical instrument or how to sing is a wonderful journey! Our enthusiastic, caring, and encouraging instructors are here to help guide along the way. We have compiled the below policies to ensure we can focus on the joy of teaching and making music alongside our amazing students. Thank you for the opportunity to work with your family!
Materials/Music Books/Instruments
· For new and re-enrolling students, there is an initial enrollment fee of $35.00 to secure your student’s class time and first learning materials.
· Additionally, there is an annual studio material fee of $25.00 per family that will be charged every September 15 th . Students who have newly enrolled and have paid an enrollment fee in August or September of the current year will not be charged a material fee in that same year.
· At student’s first enrollment with our studio, we will provide a folder and method book or resources. After the student completes their first method book(s) or resources (usually within a year), you will purchase future books at the recommendation of the instructor.
· We encourage you to purchase a canvas bag or shopping bag for your student’s folder and book(s) and any other materials we gather along the way.
· Your student will need to bring their folder and all books to every lesson.
At-home Playing – AKA ‘Practice’
· While we encourage at-home playing (also called practicing), we know how busy lives are and understand some weeks are better than others when it comes to finding time to play your instrument at home. We also understand children sometimes dread practice time. If you or your student didn't practice at home, it's okay and part of the musical journey.
· We think it is wonderful to encourage at least one dedicated practice time at home during the week, playing or singing assigned pieces but there is no pressure from the teacher or studio to have required at-home practice time. This is because we believe setting practice expectations on children too early will result in a negative experience. We are joyful teachers who love music and will work in each lesson to motivate you or your student. The desire to practice or play at home will come as the student progresses in lessons.
· Practice pieces from the student's book, sheet music, and/or theory homework will be assigned as a guide. Initial practice should typically take around 5-30 minutes per day, 3-5 days a week (depends on student’s age and level) and will increase as the student has a desire to explore the instrument and additional pieces/genres.
· Practice sign-off by the student or parent is encouraged on the sheet we provide in the binder, and successful practicing will result in a more productive lesson and increased musical progress.
- Parents of young learners (under age 12) are encouraged to assist in at-home practice times even if you don’t consider yourself to be musical. These students need a "piano (or other instrument) buddy" to sit with them and learn alongside them. Talk to your child’s instructor about knowing how to help your child practice and making it a bonding experience that will be both effective and enjoyable.
My Music Staff
· My Music Staff is our scheduling, registration and billing software. Upon registration, you will receive an email with information needed to log in to the student portal. From here you can see your child’s attendance, invoice information, as well as the studio newsletter.
· Through My Music Staff you will receive weekly email reminders (23) hours in advance reminding you of your child’s upcoming lesson. If you do not wish to receive these messages, please opt out using the directions when logged into your student account or email us at info@heritagemusicstudio.com
· If you wish to opt-in to SMS (text) reminders, please do so by logging into your student account at My Music Staff.
Expectations:
· It is ideal for students to have an instrument to practice with at home. Let us know how we may assist in finding a suitable one.
· Parents should drop their students off at lesson time and must return at the end of their scheduled lesson time. Students left unattended outside of lesson time cannot be supervised by Heritage Music Studio staff.
· Students will be expected to show up to each of their lessons on time, prepared, and ready to learn.
· All books, materials, and instrument (when applicable) should be brought to every lesson.
Tuition
· Monthly Tuition for private and group lessons is due by the 1st of the month. Some group classes (e.g. Musikgarten) are paid by semester or month depending on your payment choice. A $15 late fee will be charged to all accounts not paid by the 5th of each month.
· For Musikgarten classes (baby and toddler, family music classes), at enrollment you are committing to paying the entire semester regardless of your participation or decision to not attend classes. You may not "drop" this class mid-semester. Full payment is required.
· All clients are required to enroll in our auto bill program. If you have questions about the auto bill program, please contact us at info@heritagemusicstudio.com.
· We will automatically bill your card/account on the first day of each month.
· Tuition will be based on a total of 45 lessons and 3 performance opportunities per year. This is a total of 48 appointments and these appointments average 4 per month. Therefore, tuition will remain the same every month regardless of the number of lessons, socials, or recitals within the month, and regardless of your participation in each.
- We often have additional performing opportunities and events that our students are invited to. Many are free of charge to participate.
· Missed Lessons: If a student misses a lesson for any reason, the payment for that lesson is forfeited. However, students can schedule a make-up lesson if they wish. See policy below.
· There will be occasional fees to participate in festivals, theory tests, studio outings, camps or field trips that are above and beyond the 48 opportunities listed above. More information will be provided as the event approaches, and these items are optional.
· Each family will pay an annual $25 material fee charged on September 15th to contribute to studio materials used throughout the year. Examples of materials include sheet music, ink, stickers, theory pages, Zoom lesson access, sheetmusicdirect.com access, and more.
· If a student has a balance owed after 15 days, the studio will suspend lessons until payment has been made.
- Tuition paid by credit card will be charged a 3.25% transaction fee. You may set up auto-payment from your bank account (ACH) if you wish to avoid the fee.
Rescheduled Lessons / “Make-up Lessons” / “No Shows”
· As stated in the tuition policy, if a student misses a lesson for any reason, payment for that lesson is forfeited. Please remember that the student’s time has been reserved for them, and it is the time they are obligated to use.
· The student may sign up for a group make-up lesson if they miss a regularly scheduled lesson. Sign-up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b054aacab2ba2fd0-makeup
· If a teacher cannot attend a scheduled lesson for any reason, either a substitute teacher will teach the lesson, or a make-up lesson will be scheduled with the instructor at the student's preference.
· If a student is more than 15 minutes late to a lesson, they will be considered a no-show and teachers will not be required to stay for the remainder of the lesson time. (See “Late Arrivals” policy)
· As a general rule, students who are too sick to go to school are too sick to come to music lessons. Please keep sick children home so our instructors and other students do not also get sick. Zoom lessons are always available.
Lesson Termination
· All students are on a month-to-month contract. We require a 30-day notice by email or in writing to if you wish to discontinue lessons. Termination notice should be emailed to info@heritagemusicstudio.com.
· Unused tuition will not be refunded.
Late Arrivals/Pick Up
· The teacher will wait 15 minutes from the time your child’s lesson starts. After the 15 minutes, the lesson will be considered a “No Show” to which the lesson will be forfeited.
· If a student is late to the lesson, the teacher is only required to provide the lesson time that is left to that student.
· Please take into consideration that Heritage Music Studio faculty teach, perform, and accompany at other locations. Please pick up your child(ren) from our studio on time as the teacher may need to leave immediately to get to their next appointment.
· As stated in the “Expectations” section above, “Students left unattended by their parent/guardian before or after their lesson will not be supervised by Heritage Music Studio staff.”
Inclement Weather Policy
· If the studio is closed due to inclement weather, students or parents will make arrangements with their teacher for a make-up lesson. If the studio is not closed, students will come to their reserved lesson time as usual.
· We will communicate studio closure due to inclement weather by text, email, social media, and/or calls.
Summer Lesson Policy
· Students are expected to remain enrolled and continue lessons through summer. We understand that family vacations and travel may occur, so be sure to let our office or your instructor know so you can schedule the appropriate make-up lesson.
· By continuing lessons in the summer, you are ensuring your student does not severely regress in learning, and you are also supporting our studio by allowing us to teach and earn year-round.
· Students continuing through the summer months will have top priority in fall scheduling.
· If a student chooses not to continue lessons through the summer, they must withdraw from the studio and be placed on a waiting list for the fall semester, releasing their desired fall lesson time and preferred teacher.
· When a student re-enrolls in the fall, a new $35 enrollment fee will apply. If the student was previously receiving a "grandfathered" tuition rate, their tuition rate will be updated to the current, new-student tuition rate when they re-enroll.
· Students who will be gone for an extended amount of time but do not wish to withdraw, may reserve their fall spot by paying a "hold" or regular tuition for the summer months. Promotions are sometimes available.
· Students who enroll for the first time during the summer months understand that their lesson times and teacher may need to change in the fall semester based on the students' and our instructors’ availability in the fall semester (traditional school year).
Recitals
· We hold Spring, Summer, and Winter recitals annually; we also host occasional less-formal performance opportunities. Participation is highly encouraged but not required. We feel this is an incredible opportunity for students to challenge themselves and shine through performing. There is no extra cost to participate in recitals (included in monthly tuition).
· Students are encouraged to memorize a piece of music during practice time at home and learn about performance technique during their lessons.
· We understand performing can sometimes create anxiety. We will instruct your child how to practice effectively in order to reduce anxiety and channel it into positive energy for their performance.
· If a student would prefer to perform with their teacher for their recital, we would love to perform with them! Talk to your child’s instructor to discuss their readiness to participate in a recital.
· Students who study in private lessons for 30-minutes each week will be offered one solo opportunity per recital. 60-minute private students will have 2 solo opportunities per recital (if desired).
· Students in group lessons will have an opportunity to perform in their group or as a soloist for the recital.
Additional Lesson Incentive
Spread the word about our music lessons to family, friends, and neighbors. Be sure to let them know to mention your name as they begin the enrollment process with our studio so that we know that you referred them to us. Email info@heritagemusicstudio.com, noting which family(ies) you’ve referred to us, and if one of them formally enrolls, you’ll receive a $25.00 credit to your invoice for every family you refer. Thank you!
Media Release
· At Heritage Music Studio we are incredibly proud of our student’s progress! We often share your child’s accomplishments via Facebook and other media outlets. Please like, share, and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heritagemusicstudiotx or on Instagram @heritagemusicstudiotx.
· By enrolling yourself or your child into Heritage Music Studio, you are giving consent to publish photos and videos of yourself or your child via the studio’s Facebook page and website and other social media outlets. If you do not wish to have photos or videos posted, please email us at bkeller@heritagemusicstudio.com. with subject line "Opt-out of Media Release". We will confirm receipt and be sure no photographs or video is shared.
Emergencies
· In case of medical or any other emergency, staff members will always contact you first (when able) and use their best judgment in obtaining emergency medical care (if necessary) for your child.
· You will inform us of any major health concerns, allergies, or other important items relating to yourself or your child’s health and well-being.
Agreement
By enrolling myself or my child as a student of Heritage Music Studio, I hereby agree that Heritage Music Studio owners and staff are not responsible or liable for any injuries sustained on the studio premises or the premises surrounding. Furthermore, I understand Heritage Music Studio retains the right to terminate lessons with any student or guardian of student who displays inappropriate behavior or who fails to respect Studio policy or for any time for any reason. By enrolling I agree to all of the policies put forth in this agreement as well as any changes made to the policy, understanding that I will be notified of any policy updates when they occur.
Thank you for reviewing our policies. We are always here to answer any questions and thank you for the opportunity to work with your family!
Heritage Music Studio
info@heritagemusicstudio.com
817-993-9540