Policies and Procedures

PAYMENT AND LESSONS

Enrollment Fee

A one-time, non-refundable enrollment fee of $45 per family is required upon enrollment. This fee is due after a student completes up to two trial lessons and decides to proceed with floater or recurring lessons. A valid credit or debit card must be on file at the time of enrollment to secure your spot and facilitate future monthly tuition payments.

Trial Lessons

Considering lessons but not ready to commit? Our trial lessons are the perfect, low-pressure way to explore an instrument or teaching style. They are ideal for first-time students or those looking to try a new instrument.

• 30-minute Trial Lesson: $40

Students are welcome to take up to two (2) trial lessons before the enrollment fee is due.

Floater Lessons

Floater lessons offer ultimate flexibility for students with unpredictable schedules. These lessons allow you to book sessions based on your availability without the commitment of a recurring schedule. Scheduling is subject to teacher availability.

• 30-minute Floater Lesson: $45

• 60-minute Floater Lesson: $85

Recurring Lessons (Monthly Tuition)

Our recurring lesson plans provide consistent instruction and dedicated time slots with your chosen instructor. Tuition is charged per student on a monthly flat-rate basis.

• 30-minute Private Lessons: $170 per month (taken once per week). Most students begin with 30-minute lessons, with longer durations suggested by the instructor as needed.

• 60-minute Private Lessons: $340 per month (taken once per week).

• 30-minute Music Intervention Sessions: $180 per month (taken once per week).

• 60-minute Music Intervention Sessions: $360 per month (taken once per week).

• 60-minute Find Your Voice Sessions: $340 per month (taken once per week).

Prorated First Month

If your first recurring lesson begins mid-month, your tuition for that initial month will be prorated to reflect only the lessons you receive. After the first month, a consistent monthly flat rate will be charged, regardless of the number of weeks in a given month. This consistent rate accounts for months with five lessons, balancing out any shorter months due to holidays, as detailed in our “Fifth Lesson Advantage” and “Holiday Closures” policies.

Monthly Billing and Due Dates

Your monthly tuition will be automatically charged to the valid credit or debit card on file (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) by the 25th of each month for the upcoming month’s lessons. Billing statements for the upcoming month are posted on the 20th.

If an automatic payment fails and your account becomes 5 days past due, a $25 late fee will be applied, and lessons will be suspended until the outstanding balance is paid in full. We do not accept cash or personal checks for recurring tuition payments.

The “Fifth Lesson” Advantage

Our monthly tuition is structured to provide exceptional value. Some months naturally have five weeks that fall on your scheduled lesson day. Unlike many other studios that might charge extra or skip these lessons, Garrett Music Academy includes these “fifth lessons” at no additional charge. These extra lessons throughout the year help balance out the occasional months where major holidays might lead to fewer scheduled lessons, ensuring consistent progress without any unexpected costs.

ATTENDENCE AND SCHEDULING

 Holiday Closures

Garrett Music Academy observes the following major holidays, and the studio will be closed on these days:

• New Year’s Day

• Memorial Day

• Independence Day

• Labor Day

• Thanksgiving Day

• The Friday after Thanksgiving

• Christmas Eve

• Christmas Day

• New Year’s Eve

Please note: We do not offer tuition adjustments or make-up lessons for lessons that fall on the holidays listed above. This is because all students receive additional lessons at no extra cost during months that have an extra (fifth) week, which balances out any holiday-related missed lessons.

Public School Schedules: We do not follow public school system schedules for staff preparation days (e.g., “teacher in-service” days) or other non-holiday closures. If public schools are closed for reasons other than a major holiday, your lessons at Garrett Music Academy will still be held as scheduled. If you are ever in doubt, please contact us by phone or email to avoid forfeiting your lesson.

Cancellation Policy

Your reserved lesson time is exclusively for you or your child. This means your specific time slot is unavailable to other students, and our instructors have committed their time to you. Consistent attendance is crucial for continuous progress. We kindly ask you to prioritize your lessons and avoid scheduling other activities during this time.

If you need to change your recurring lesson day or time, please contact the front office directly. They will work with you to find a suitable alternative based on availability.

If You Must Cancel or Reschedule a Lesson:

• A minimum of 12 hours’ notice is required to be eligible for a make-up lesson. Make-up lesson days and times are very limited and are subject to instructor availability. Please inquire with the front office about availability.

• We request that you limit cancellations eligible for a make-up lesson to no more than one (1) per month. Additional cancellations within the same month, even with 12 hours’ notice, may not be eligible for a make-up lesson, and tuition for that lesson may be forfeited. Please discuss any exceptional circumstances with the front office.

• Tuition fees for lessons canceled with less than 12 hours’ notice are forfeited. No make-up lesson will be offered in this instance.

• “No-shows” (lessons missed without any prior notification) will not be offered a make-up lesson, and the tuition for that lesson will be forfeited.

• Cancellations of existing make-up lessons will not result in another make-up lesson being offered.

• No “credit” or refunds will be given for missed or canceled lessons to reduce subsequent month’s tuition. The monthly tuition remains the same regardless of attendance.

We strongly encourage you to attend your lesson even if you haven’t had time to practice. Your instructor can still provide valuable guidance, review material, and help you stay on track, preventing delays in your progress.

Sick/Illness Policy

To protect the health and safety of everyone at Garrett Music Academy, we adhere to the following illness policy.

Any teacher reserves the right to stop or end a lesson early if a student is exhibiting clear signs of illness, especially if symptoms indicate a potential viral or bacterial infection. These symptoms may include, but are not limited to (based on current CDC guidelines):

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills within the last 24 hours

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Muscle or body aches

• Headaches

• Fatigue (tiredness)

• Vomiting/diarrhea

If a student exhibits one or more of these symptoms during a lesson and the teacher determines it is necessary to stop, the lesson will be canceled as a late notice, and no make-up lesson will be offered.

To avoid this situation, we offer two alternatives for when a student is sick:

• Reschedule: If you anticipate an illness and notify us at least 12 hours before your scheduled lesson, you may request to reschedule to an available make-up time.

• Switch to Virtual: To avoid forfeiture for a last-minute illness (less than 12 hours’ notice), you may request to switch your in-person lesson to a virtual format at the original lesson time.

Late Arrival

Please understand that lessons will not be extended for students who arrive late. Our teachers often have back-to-back lessons and cannot impose on another student’s scheduled time.

If you arrive late and your teacher is not in the waiting area, please proceed directly to their room to minimize any further loss of lesson time. If you anticipate being more than 5-10 minutes late, it’s helpful to call ahead and inform us of your estimated arrival time.

STUDENT AND FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Responsibilities

To maximize progress and enjoyment, students are encouraged to:

• Practice Regularly: Consistent daily practice is essential for skill development. Your instructor will provide guidance on effective practice routines.

• Bring Necessary Materials: Students should arrive at each lesson with their instrument (if applicable and portable), lesson books, a notebook, and any other materials requested by their instructor.

• Prepare for Lessons: Students are expected to review previous material and complete any assigned practice before each lesson.

Care of Young Children

Garrett Music Academy is dedicated to providing a safe and focused learning environment.

• The school is not responsible for providing supervision before or after class.

• Parents of very young students are asked to remain in the school during lessons.

• Students should not be left at the school for an excessive amount of time before or after their class. Please plan to pick up your child promptly as soon as their lesson concludes. Your child’s safety is our priority.

Additionally, siblings of students are welcome to wait quietly in our lobby during a lesson, provided they are under adult supervision. For the benefit of all students and instructors, who require attention and concentration during lessons, we kindly request that children not participating in lessons remain with their parent/guardian and refrain from playing or running in the hallways. Noisy activities are discouraged as they can be distracting to lessons in progress.

ACADEMY PROCEDURES

 Withdrawal from Lessons

Should you need to withdraw from lessons, students and/or parents are required to provide the office manager (not your teacher) with fifteen (15) days’ advance notice to stop tuition charges.

• Withdrawal requests made with less than 15 days’ notice will incur a $70.00 cancellation fee.

• To ensure clear communication, all withdrawal notifications must be sent via email to info@garrettmusicacademy.com or by calling us at 410-286-5505.

We do not accept withdrawal notifications through communication with your instructor or messages left on our voicemail. Teachers do not handle billing or withdrawals. Please direct all such inquiries to the office manager.

Switching Teachers or Instruments

As a courtesy to our dedicated teachers, we require two full business weeks’ notice if you wish to switch teachers or instruments. This advance notice allows us sufficient time to find a replacement student for the teacher and facilitates communication between instructors to ensure a smooth transition and continuity in your lessons.

Substitute Teachers

Occasionally, an instructor may be unable to teach due to illness, a family emergency, or other unforeseen circumstances. In such cases, Garrett Music Academy will make every effort to arrange for a qualified substitute teacher or, if a substitute is unavailable, attempt to reschedule your lesson.

Many students enjoy the experience of learning from different instructors. However, if your child is uncomfortable with a chosen substitute teacher, please inform us in advance, and we will make alternative arrangements with another teacher or work with you to reschedule with your regular instructor.

Leave of Absence

If a student needs to temporarily discontinue lessons (e.g., for summer vacation or an extended trip), a minimum of fifteen (15) days’ advance notice is required to pause tuition charges. Without this notice, tuition charges will continue. For absences exceeding three weeks, students will be removed from their regular schedule. While we will do our best to accommodate returning students, we cannot guarantee or “hold” a student’s old time slot without tuition payment during their absence. Re-enrollment will be subject to current availability.

Inclement Weather Policy

In the event of inclement weather (e.g., snow, ice, severe storms), all in-person lessons will automatically transition to virtual lessons.

• You will receive communication from the Academy as a reminder of this policy.

• Your teacher will contact you directly on the day of your lesson with the virtual meeting method and link.

All lessons will proceed as scheduled virtually unless there is a loss of power or internet services at either the student’s or teacher’s location. In such cases, the lesson will be rescheduled.

Virtual Lesson Technology Requirements

For all virtual lessons, students are responsible for ensuring they have:

• A reliable internet connection.

• A device with a camera and microphone (e.g., computer, tablet, smartphone).

• The necessary software or application installed (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet).

• An appropriate setup that allows the instructor to see and hear the student clearly and observe their instrument. Technical issues on the student’s end (e.g., internet outage, device malfunction) may result in a forfeited lesson if the issue cannot be resolved promptly.

Communication with Instructors

While our instructors are dedicated to your musical journey, their primary focus is teaching during scheduled lesson times. For general questions, scheduling inquiries, payment concerns, or to request a teacher change, please always contact the office manager at info@garrettmusicacademy.com or 410-286-5505. Instructors are generally not available for extensive communication outside of lessons, and direct communication regarding administrative matters may not be responded to.

Termination of Enrollment by Garrett Music Academy

Garrett Music Academy reserves the right to terminate a student’s enrollment at any time due to:

• Repeated violations of academy policies.

• Disruptive or disrespectful behavior by the student or their family.

• Consistent non-payment or excessive late payments of tuition fees.

• Circumstances that create an unsafe or unproductive learning environment for other students or staff.

In such cases, the academy will provide written notice of termination. Any outstanding balances will be due immediately.

PERFORMANCE AND MEDIA

Recitals

Recitals are a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their progress and share their musical talents. We host one annual recital in the spring, typically in or around March.

• Participation is optional but highly encouraged!

• Signs announcing our upcoming recital are posted throughout the academy well in advance.

• Students interested in performing should sign up with their teacher and begin working on their recital piece approximately 4-6 weeks before the recital date.

• Subject to space availability, non-performing students and their families are welcome to attend and support their peers.

Photography and Videography Waiver

At Garrett Music Academy, we love to celebrate the musical journey and achievements of our students! From time to time, we may take photos or videos during lessons, classes, recitals, and other academy events. This media may be used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Promotional Materials: On our website, social media channels (like Facebook, Instagram), brochures, flyers, and advertisements.

• Internal Displays: On bulletin boards within the academy, digital picture frames, or in presentations.

• Educational Content: To highlight teaching methods or student progress (always anonymized unless specific permission is obtained).

By enrolling at Garrett Music Academy, you grant us permission to use photographs and videos of you or your child for the purposes described above, without compensation or further approval. This helps us share the vibrant atmosphere and successes of our musical community.

Opt-Out Policy: We understand that some families may prefer not to have photos or videos of themselves or their children used for promotional purposes. If you wish to opt out of this waiver, please notify the office manager in writing (via email to info@garrettmusicacademy.com) at the time of enrollment or at any point thereafter. We respect your privacy and will make every effort to honor your request, though we cannot guarantee the removal of media published prior to receiving your written opt-out notification.