Studio Policy
Tuition And Registration
Tuition is based on enrollment, not attendance. It should be clearly understood that although the tuition is paid monthly, it is not calculated by the weekly lesson. Your monthly tuition rate is the same each month, even though some months will have 5 lessons and others as few as 3. Holiday closures have been calculated into the monthly tuition rate and are not eligible for make-up credits.
This studio offers open enrollment so that you may register for lessons at any time. Students that begin lessons mid-month will be charged only for the number of lessons remaining in that month, with no charges made for any lessons given prior to registration (i.e., trial lessons*). The first payment will be due on the first formal, non-trial day of lessons. All remaining payments are due on the 1st day of the month thereafter and for the full amount. Invoices will go out to all parties responsible for monthly payments via e-mail on the 1st day of each month.
If you have any questions about your invoice, it is your responsibility to contact us prior to the due date for resolution.
The tuition and other fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
*Before committing to continuing lessons, we offer one free trial lesson per student. The initial lesson will be considered a trial lesson, and the student will not be charged.
Forms of Payment
This studio currently requires monthly tuition to be submitted via Venmo, CashApp, Zelle, cash, or check. You may check your tuition and invoices before the 1st by logging into your "My Music Staff" portal account, the information for which will be sent to you after submitting the registration form.
Venmo: Rachel-Pickering-17
CashApp: rachelizabeth0494
Zelle: (205) 522-0458
Checks made out to Rachel Pickering
Lessons that begin mid-month are prorated and drafted after the first formal lesson. Any questions about your invoice must be sent to pickeringconservatory@gmail.com and resolved before the 1st of the month.
Late Fees & Declined Payments
We have a late payment fee policy of $25 per student. If tuition payments are not received by the 10th day of the month, it is considered late and the fee will automatically be applied--no exceptions. If your check is declined, you have until the 10th of the month to complete your payment and a service fee of $30 will be added to the current month’s tuition.
Delinquent Accounts
This studio reserves the right to suspend or discontinue instruction of any student who is delinquent in fulfilling his/her financial obligations at any time.
Dismissal
This studio reserves the right to dismiss any student due to frequent absences, disciplinary problems, overdue tuition payments and/or parental noncompliance with the studio policies.
Tardy Arrival
Students arriving late will not have their lesson time extended. Students arriving late by more than half of their lesson period (15 minutes) will be considered absent, and their instructor will be dismissed. Notification of late arrival or missed lesson is the responsibility of the student or their guardian. The instructor is not in any way obligated to contact the student or guardian to check and see if the student will be attending that day.
Student Absences and Make-Up Lessons
Students are allowed to accumulate twelve (12) make-up lessons in a calendar year. Students may accumulate up to two (2) make-up lesson credits per month. To be eligible for a make-up lesson, you must cancel your lesson in the My Music Staff Portal at least 8 hours before your scheduled lesson. The My Music Staff Portal will then automatically give you a make-up credit to use during any of your instructor's available make-up blocks within the next 180 days. Please be aware that make-up credits expire after 180 days of issuance. Make-up credits are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Every month, the instructor will have designated make-up lesson blocks from which their students can choose and book a make-up spot. The make-up blocks can be viewed and booked through the calendar in the My Music Staff Portal. We suggest that only two lessons be made up per month, and the remaining will be rolled over to the next month for booking at your convenience. Again, make-up credits roll over month-to-month and expire after 180 days of issuance. Make-up lessons may be booked for in person instruction or for FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom instruction.
Notification of late arrival or missed lesson is the responsibility of the student or their guardian. Instructors are not in any way obligated to contact the student or guardian to check and see if the student will be attending that day.
Prolonged Student Absences
In the event of a prolonged student absence of a full month (billing cycle) or more- students may elect to have their lesson time reserved with their instructor.
If requested and approved by the instructor, this studio will reserve the student’s lesson time for ONE MONTH at a rate of HALF of the regular month’s tuition rate- meaning if the student’s tuition is $100 per month and the student will be absent for 4 weeks or a full billing cycle, the studio will bill $50 (half tuition) for the month the student is absent to reserve their lesson time. After ONE FULL MONTH, this studio will charge the full monthly tuition rate to continue holding the student’s lesson time.
Student Illness
No students should attend lessons when sick (i.e. fever, nausea, vomiting, etc). This studio reserves the right to dismiss a student from a scheduled lesson if the student arrives at that lesson exhibiting possible symptoms of illness. In this case, a makeup lesson will not be offered.
Withdrawal Policy
There is no long-term contract. To discontinue lessons please notify the studio in writing one full month (30 days) prior to the first of the month. Notice given to the instructor only (verbally) and non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal from lessons. For example, if you plan to discontinue/suspend lessons in May, then we will need to receive your written notice by the first lesson in April. If no notice is given by the first lesson of the month before lessons are being discontinued/suspended, the student/parent will be responsible for the next full month's tuition.
Again, tuition and registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Instructor Absences
In the event of an instructor absence, the studio reserves the right to provide a qualified substitute or schedule a timely make-up session for lessons missed. A make-up lesson credit will be issued and will not be counted toward the twelve (12) yearly make-up credits per student.
The only instance in which a refund is issued by this studio is if an instructor is absent without notifying the student or their legal guardian, in which case a refund for that lesson will be issued along with a make-up credit for the missed lesson or make-up lesson.
Inclement Weather
If the studio is closed due to inclement weather, students will be invited for special make-up lessons which could include private, online, or group lessons. This make-up credit will not count toward the twelve (12) yearly make-up credits per student.
Holiday Closures
The studio holiday/break closures have already been calculated as part of the monthly lesson fees. No makeup lessons are given for holiday closures. You will be notified in advance of any exceptions.
Student Drop-off
When bringing your child to music lessons, make sure your child makes it to their lesson and the teacher is present. Do not drop your child off in the parking lot or leave them unattended in the waiting room. The instructor is not responsible for unattended students.
Child Safety
Unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor, unattended children will not be permitted to stay In the waiting area without their parent or guardian. The instructor will determine if an unaccompanied child will be permitted to continue with future lessons in the absence of their parent or guardian. It is expected that everyone waits quietly so as to not disturb ongoing lessons. Please do not drop off students more than 10 minutes prior to lesson time, and be sure to pick them up promptly. The instructor does not supervise children waiting in the designated waiting area before and/or after lessons. Behavior that is in any way unruly or disruptive to our students is unacceptable.
In any case where a family member or friend who is not on the student’s contact list is to bring or pick up a student, we must be given notice prior to the lesson by the student’s parent or legal guardian. For reasons of safety, we do not allow students to leave the premises with individuals who do not typically escort them to and from lessons.
Release
Any photographs, audio or videos of students or families at the studio’s facilities and/or events may be used in promotional publications, website or press releases. There will be no compensation for the release.
Non-Discrimination Policies
The studio complies with all laws prohibiting discrimination in the conduct of its operations and programs. The studio admits students of any religion, gender, race, color, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the studio. It does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies or programs.
Policy
The studio reserves the right to change policies, fees, or waivers at any time with or without notice. Please sign and date the policy. There will be one policy per family. In the event that lessons are terminated the policy will be nullified thereafter. Families that wish to register again for lessons will have to sign and date a new copy of the policy.
Communication and Notification
At this studio, we communicate primarily by e-mail. To keep up to date with notifications about invoicing, recital dates, changes in schedule, policy amendments and more, please check your inboxes regularly for emails from us, check our website, and log in to My Music Staff and visit the “News & Blog Posts” tab. You may also join the Facebook or Instagram pages to view additional studio related notifications and information, as well as to message us within Facebook Messenger with any quick questions regarding lessons, attendance, and scheduling. Subscribe to our Youtube channel for future media releases.
*E-mail: pickeringconservatory@gmail.com
*Website: Pickeringconservatory.com
*Facebook: Pickering Conservatory of Music and Drama
*Instagram: Pickering Conservatory of Music and Drama
*Youtube: @PickeringConservatory