• The 2009-10 registration form applies to the full school year. The fall payment is due with the registration form. Parents will be billed in December for the spring payment unless they have notified the Music Conservatory that the student wishes to quit private lessons for the spring semester. Lesson days and times will remain intact for the full school year unless the student, parent, and teacher arrange a change.
• Most students should be able to attend 30 lessons out of the 36-week school year, beginning the week of Monday, August 31, 2009. This number is determined by counting the weeks in the school year and omitting school holidays and field trips. In case of holidays, lessons will be re-scheduled if necessary.
• If the student or teacher is ill, a lesson will be rescheduled.
• Unexcused absences ("no-shows") will not be made up and the missed session will count for one of the 30 lessons.
• Each student receives one excused absence per year due to a reason other than illness of the student or absence of the teacher (including but not limited to family trips, vacations, athletic or other events). In this case, it is the student and parent's responsibility to inform the teacher at least 7 days in advance for the absence to be excused and the lesson rescheduled.
• Students may swap lesson times in a given week when conflicts are anticipated and unavoidable.
• The Music Conservatory Faculty and Staff will make an effort to stay informed of special Holy Name School schedule days due to early dismissal, field trips, assemblies or other school activities. However, parents must notify the music teacher in advance if a field trip or special school schedule will interfere with the student's ability to attend a regular lesson time.
Selecting Lesson Length
We recommend that beginning students should take 30-minute lessons in nearly all cases. Teachers may require a certain lesson length based upon a student's playing level or for those in the intermediate and advanced levels.
Lesson Payment and Scheduling
Payments will be made twice a year. The first payment is due with the registration form. Parents will be billed for the second payment in December. As the experience of lessons is cumulative, it is our aim to make the private-lesson experience as regular as possible given the constraints of the school calendar and schedule. Early responses will receive priority for scheduling.
Registration Commitment and Refund Policy
Submitting the 2009-10 Registration Form indicates a commitment to lessons for the full 2009-2010 school year.
• Should a student decide before August 31, 2009 not to take lessons, the entire Fall Lesson Fee is refundable before the first lesson.
• For returning Conservatory students, the remainder of the Fall Lesson Fee is refundable with notification before October 15, 2009. The remainder of the Spring Lesson Fee is refundable with notification before February 4, 2010.
• In order to qualify for a refund after lessons have begun, the parent must notify the teacher and complete a Lesson Termination Form before October 15 in the fall and before February 4 in the spring. A refund will be given for the remainder of the payment, less two lessons. Once the parent notifies the teacher that the student will be dropping lessons, the parent will be accountable for two more lessons, regardless of whether the student attends those lessons.
• Refunds will not be given if the teacher is notified after October 15 in the fall semester and after February 4 in the spring semester.
• Once again, if a student decides to terminate lessons, two weeks notice must be given to the teacher and the parent must complete a "Lesson Termination Form" available in the Conservatory Office.
Lesson Preparation and Sheet Music
Students are expected to arrive on time for lessons with all necessary materials. The teacher may order sheet music and lesson books for the student, and the parent will be billed accordingly, or the teacher may give a list of books for the parents to purchase.
All students need to own or rent an instrument before lessons begin.
Electric keyboards are not acceptable for piano students.
Students are expected to complete all assignments and fulfill the expectations for practice outlined by their private teacher. Consistent failure to fulfill these obligations may result in the dismissal of a student from the music program.
Lesson Policies
