Policies

Our School is proud of our reputation for preserving a strong classical tradition. Please review our policies with your child to be sure that the Fine Arts Academy Music School is the right school for you. To offer all our students and their families an organized and friendly experience, we will strictly enforce our policies. There is a non-refundable registration fee of $100 for all students payable at the time of registration. A hard copy registration form and waiver must be filled out and returned to the studio for students to be enrolled. The Director has the final say on book levels. 

There is No Refunds on Tuition. We Accept payments made by credit card (automatically drafted), and Auto Draft (Auto Draft has No FEE). There is a $2.00 processing fee for all credit cards and debit card transactions.

There is an annual Fee due at sign up and on the anniversary of enrollment of $50.00 which will be added to tuition fee automatically each year per student. Online students will have NO Annual Fees.

Tuition is automatically billed the third week of the month for the following month. It remains the same whether it is a 5-week, 4-week, or (short) 3-week month. There is no deduction in tuition for absences or holidays. 

There is a $35 NSF fee for any payment that is returned for non-sufficient funds. Credit/Debit card payments will be drafted on the 25th of each month, Auto Drafts will be drafted on the first of the month so long as it is a banking day, if the first falls on a weekend or holiday it will be drafted the business day prior. 

Please be on time to drop off and pick up students. The music school is not responsible for your child before or beyond their scheduled class time. Students who are not picked up from the studio at the conclusion of their class time (without prior arrangements with the instructor) will be charged $10 for every instance the student is not picked up on time. This Fee is per student and will automatically be added to the following month tuition. Students who arrive 10 min late or more will forfeit their lesson. 

Students should enter the Academy dressed MODESTLY. Students’ names should be on all materials. Students who are not adequately prepared will forfeit their lesson with no refund or make-up and will be asked to leave class.  We are not responsible for lost or stolen items. 

It is not mandatory for students to participate in concerts. If your child is selected to participate in a concert there will be no Fee for the student or guest attending performance. Each student will be required to stay at the concert through the duration of the performance for FINALE. This is mandatory. If you cannot meet this requirement, then you will not perform in a concert. No Exceptions. Students who choose not to participate in concerts will be required to attend and evaluate the concert as their lesson for that week. 

The Academy follows the Killeen Independent School District calendar and will not conduct lessons during holiday closures. Follow the Fine Arts Academy Music School calendar that was given to each student. If there are any school cancellations due to bad weather, you will be notified by Mrs. Nancy via Text.

Expectations of the Student:

• Students will greet the teacher when beginning their lesson and on completion of their lesson. A student is to arrive punctually on the predetermined lesson day, well prepared and with all necessary materials, including but not limited to books and record keeping notebook. 
• Parents/siblings are asked to wait outside. The school is for students only. There are no waiting rooms or restrooms. 
• Students and parents who are going to dedicate the time and expense of taking lessons should plan to practice daily. A MINIMUM level of practice is at least five days a week. Though there are busy periods in all lives, failing to practice regularly, and the consequent lack of progress, may result in dismissal from the Academy.   
• Students are responsible for the purchase of lesson books, corresponding books and sheet music and other materials as needed and requested 
• No food or drinks are allowed in the academy. The only exception is water. 
• Students should wash their hands and use the restroom prior to coming to lesson. Please make sure that your child’s fingernails are trimmed before the lesson. There are no restrooms unless for an emergency for Students only. Students are here for either 30 minutes or an hour. Please do not waste lesson time going to the bathroom. The bathroom is primarily for staff only and students will have to be escorted by an instructor. 
• Chewing gum is not permitted during the lesson.
• ALL long hair or bangs should be pulled back from the face when playing. Keep an extra barrette or hair elastic in your book bag. 
• There should be no playing while teacher is giving instruction. 
• Cell phones must be turned off or on silent (not on vibrate)
• If a student becomes disrespectful or talks back to an instructor, the student will be dismissed from our program with NO REFUND immediately and key card will be collected. 

Expectations of the Parent:

• The parent is responsible for getting the student to the lesson on time and with all necessary materials as listed above on the student expectation list. 
• Private lessons provide a focused environment necessary to the success of your child’s musical education. I ask for your assistance in allowing me to give 100% of my energy to your child, free of distractions or undesired sounds. 
• In many situations (particularly with young children) the parent is the home teacher, and it is crucial that they take an active role in the student’s daily practice. Please ensure your child practices daily what has been covered in the weekly lesson. Do not pick and choose what or what not to practice from what was covered in that weekly lesson. 
• The parent should help the student organize his/her day to include the required practice time. A MINIMUM level of practice is at least five days a week.
• At times, a student may require behavioral correction. If correction should occur, please respect my methods of redirection. Should I have a question for you, I will ensure to address you directly in their lesson as part of their lesson. 
• If I contact you via call, email, or text, please respond in a timely manner as soon as possible. 
• Once or twice per month you may choose to use 10-15mins of your child’s lesson to talk to me about any aspect of your child’s musical education, including possible concerns you may have. 
• The private lessons you have chosen to invest in should be referred to as ‘lessons’; just as the child’s school rehearsals are ‘rehearsals’, and practice time is ‘practice’, please call our weekly lesson ‘a lesson’. 
• A thirty-day notice must be given to disenroll in lessons and keycard must be surrendered at time of notice given. 
• All balances for tuition, property, books owned by Fine Arts Academy of outstanding balances must be paid when discontinuing services from our program. If you are Auto draft - your account will be charged in full for money owed until written notice is given.

Expectations of the Teacher:

• I will work with each student on goals that have been set by me and the student. These goals will vary from student to student. 
• I will communicate at the lesson what is to be practiced and it will also be written in the student’s record keeping book. 
• I am committed to furthering my own education and want to see all my students succeed. 
• My ultimate goals are to help produce a love of music in your child and to show them how their hard work (practice) pays off from beginner to professional level. 

• Piano lessons once per week for 30mins duration ($160).

• Lessons consist of many components including music theory, piano technique, ear training skills, sight-reading, and playing repertoire.)
• If the payment should come back as non-sufficient funds then a $35 dollar fee will be added and the student will be removed from the schedule until the payment and any acquired fee are rectified. 

• If someone fails to show up for their lesson, that same portion of my day is still spent preparing and waiting for their scheduled arrival, and thus deserves the normal compensation. Also, that portion of my schedule is contracted out to that individual in lieu of other students on my waiting list who are eagerly awaiting and available for any possible openings. 
• Your tuition payment and due date is never affected in the case of an absence on the student’s part.
• There is no make-up for lessons missed or canceled on the day of the lesson, and tuition is still due as normal. Your tuition payment is a purchase of my instruction and time. 
• Should a makeup lesson be scheduled, and you do not show or cancel, that lesson will not be made up again. Again, regular tuition is not affected in any way.
• Classes that are missed due to illness may be made up by correspondence with the instructor online. You must text me in advance 24-48 hrs. and I will make up lesson. If the parents do not text in advance there will be NO MAKE-UP LESSON

To discontinue lessons at this Academy a written notification must be given 30 days prior to the cancellation and key card turned in. Moreover, the parent is responsible for tuition payments until 30 days after turning in the notification. All property of the Academy must be returned or paid for when discontinuing lessons. In the event of irregular attendance, repeated failure to prepare assigned material, or disruptive/disrespectful behavior, the teacher may terminate lessons. 

Once the written notice is turned in and your outstanding balance is paid you will be taken off Auto Draft and rosters along with turning in your key card. Failure to turn in key card will also be included in balanced owed of $35.00 and will be deducted from account via office payment or auto draft.

These policies protect the integrity and structure of the Academy. As in any educational service, the most valuable resources are the clients and the patronage they provide. To provide the best service, these policies must be enforced and adhered to be fair to all my clients.

By signing below, you acknowledge all policies and rules for the Fine Arts Academy Music School to include registration, monthly tuition payments, and annual Fees. Also, you accept policies and school closures and have been provided with them to take home for future references.