Policies
Thank you for taking the time to read our policy statements below.
As always, if you have any questions, you may contact us at 815-444-9444.
MISSED LESSONS AND MAKEUPS
Credits are not applied to lessons missed due to student illnesses or vacations. However, makeup lessons are encouraged and should be scheduled within 6 weeks of the absence.
Make-up lessons are only offered if the teacher has received at least 24-hour notice.
Fulfill makeup lessons by attending a separate session, time, or class. If you attend a class for makeup and no other students are present, you’ll receive a half-hour private lesson at the cost of a class for your makeup.
TARDINESS
Should student tardiness occur, we appreciate that all efforts are made to contact us. Your teacher is not required to wait longer than 10 minutes past your lesson’s start time.
TEACHER ABSENCE
If a lesson is missed due to the teacher’s absence, the student chooses a makeup or a credit. Makeups are not honored after students withdraw from lessons or if late payments have accrued.
DOWN PAYMENT
There is a required down payment of $40.00 that holds a place for the student.
The down payment is non-refundable, as it’s applied to the first month of lessons. Full payment for the first month of classes is due upon receipt of your first invoice.
TUITION PAYMENT OPTIONS
You can pay tuition in several ways:
Annual payment:
Just 1 payment for the entire year. Results in 5 free lessons — Save up to $200!
Monthly payment:
Invoices are sent early in the month for the upcoming month. They include all lessons for the month as well as books and any potential credits (given if requested due to a teacher’s absence).
The client’s credit card on file is charged on the due date (the last lesson of the month). If desired, the client may choose their autopayment date.
Early bird payment:
If the chosen date for automatic charge payment is before the 12th of the previous month being paid, we will apply a 4% discount to the lessons.
Automatic monthly payment:
Enroll in automatic payments to charge your card upon invoice processing, generally around the 8th of each month. You may opt-in for electronic receipts or obtain a hard copy at your subsequent lesson.
PAYMENT METHODS
Accepted forms of payment are cash, Intuit, Paypal, Visa, Discover, American Express, and money orders. Please keep invoices and receipts for your records.
LATE PAYMENTS
In order to keep administrative costs down, we automatically process charges on the invoice’s stated due date (this policy is to go into effect in April 2022). To incentivize, invoices paid prior to the 12th via Automatic Payments receive a 4% discount.
Late payments may result in forfeited discounts. We reserve the right to refuse service if accounts are delinquent.
TAKING TIME OFF
Lesson slot times are not to be reserved and may be filled if a student takes time off (for summer break, for example) for any 2 consecutive weeks or beyond.
REDUCED-SIZED CLASSES
In the event that a class diminishes to 1 student, the student is offered private lessons (30-minutes) at the class price until another student attends, at which time the 45-minute time slot is reestablished.
If the student decides to switch to private lessons, they thus agree to the cost of private lessons moving forward.
If no other students have joined after 6 weeks, students have the option to enter a different class or agree to a private lesson time slot and fee.
ADVANCED NOTICE UPON LEAVING
Our teachers want to maintain their schedules, and it takes time to fill empty time slots.
We appreciate at least 2 weeks’ notice if withdrawing from lessons at Music Makers. Otherwise, students agree to pay for those 2 weeks.
TEMPORARILY LEAVING A CLASS (BEYOND 2 WEEKS)
When a student leaves for a long time and then re-enters a class, it causes difficulty and additional work for teachers. Returning students may be asked to do a re-evaluation or take some private lessons to catch up with their class.
This is up to the teacher and may not apply. In either case, previous discounts and grandfathered privileges are forfeited and will no longer apply.
HOLIDAYS
Music Makers is closed on the following holidays:
July 3 and 4, 2023: Independence Day
September 4, 2023: Labor Day
October 9, 2023: Columbus Day
October 31, 2023: Halloween
November 22 -24, 2023: Thanksgiving Break
December 21, 2023 – January 1, 2024: Winter Break
February 19, 2024: President’s Day
March 25, 2024 – March 29, 2024: Spring Break
April 5, 2024: Good Friday
May 27, 2024: Memorial Day
STUDENT PRACTICE
Students are expected to practice their music assignment twice a day until their next lesson or complete practice assigned and approved by their teacher. Students who practice will love their lessons and be proud of their playing!
RECITALS
Students are encouraged to perform at our regular recitals. Recitals give students a guided opportunity to perform and experience the musician’s performance process.
A formal recital is held in the spring, and a winter program is held in December. Some students or student bands occasionally have additional performance opportunities at local venues, businesses, and events.
WAIVER OF LIABILITY
I hereby release, indemnify and hold harmless Music Makers..for Life, Inc., its owners, employees, and agents of these parties from all liabilities, suits claims, or demands of any kind or nature, legal or financial. Whether caused in any way by the negligence or not, arising from the participation in or observation of any Music Makers School activity for injuries to any person or property, whether on or off the premises. The student/participant named below does voluntarily participate in any and all Music Maker’s activities and that the student/participant and I, if different parties, understand that certain risks are inherent to and from participation and involvement with Music Maker’s school, activities, and performances. Music Makers…for Life, Inc. as a school is not responsible for any lost or stolen property at any time. I also hereby release, indemnify and hold harmless the property owners of Music Makers For life from liabilities, suits, claims, or demands of any kind of nature: legal or financial. I have read the policies, fees, and waivers of Music Makers…for Life, Inc., and I agree to adhere to all of them. In addition, I give Music Makers…for Life, Inc. the right to use and produce photographs, videos, movies, and voice recordings of any student in any legal manner for the internal and external promotional and informational activities at Music Makers…for Life, Inc. Photos and videos may be published on our website, in our newsletter, and on any of our social media sites, or shared with any media. Please inform us if you do not wish to have your child photographed or videotaped in performances, classes, or other venues where the media may be involved. (I agree (and pledge?) to inform Music Makers…for Life if I do not wish to have myself or my child photographed or videotaped in performances, classes, or other venues where media may be involved. (?) ) Music Makers…for Life will not publish a student’s full name unless given permission by a parent or guardian. Music Makers… for Life is not responsible for any other media outlets (separate from the operations of this business [or similar wording]?) taking pictures or videotaping during an event.
