School Policies
School Year
The school year is divided into Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. Students enrolled in our regular lesson program receive 44 sessions per school year: 42 private lessons plus two recital performances. Students who are not yet performing or opted not to perform receive a regular lesson in place of the recital.
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Trial Lessons
Every new student begins with a complimentary trial lesson, one per instrument. Families who would like to meet more than one teacher on the same instrument may schedule additional trial lessons at $35 each, up to a maximum of three per instrument. Additional trial lessons are payable at the time of scheduling and are non-refundable.
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Enrollment
Enrollment is required for all students taking regular lessons. An enrollment fee is charged upon registration and renews annually on the student's enrollment anniversary. Enrollment fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Enrollment remains active until a signed withdrawal notice is received. Students who withdraw and later return must complete a new enrollment.
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Tuition
Tuition is based on the annual cost of instruction and is divided into 11.5 equal monthly installments. Monthly tuition reflects the annual installment plan rather than the exact number of lessons in a given month. As a result, the number of sessions may vary from month to month, while the monthly tuition remains the same. Tuition rates may be adjusted periodically. Enrolled families will receive at least 45 days' written notice before any tuition adjustment takes effect.
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Payments
Monthly tuition is automatically charged on the 1st of each month using the payment method on file.
If a payment is declined, our billing system will automatically make one additional attempt to process the payment within 48 hours, when possible. If the payment cannot be retried, or if the second attempt is unsuccessful, the outstanding balance will remain on the account and a $15 declined payment fee will be added. Outstanding balances are automatically reprocessed on the 15th of the month using the payment method on file. Accounts that remain unpaid after the 15th may have lessons suspended until the balance is settled. All tuition and fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Parent / Guardian Supervision
Children may not be left unattended at the school before, during, or after lessons.
Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising children while they are on the premises, including the use of the waiting area, library, toys, restrooms, and other school amenities. Students should be picked up promptly at the end of their lesson and may not leave the school unaccompanied. Our administrative staff are on site during office hours, and parents are always welcome to remain in the waiting area or observe lessons. Supervision of children outside of scheduled lesson time remains the responsibility of the parent or guardian.
Late Arrivals
Students arriving late will receive instruction for the remaining scheduled lesson time. Lessons cannot be extended beyond the scheduled end time, and missed lesson time due to tardiness is not eligible for a make-up lesson or refund. Teachers will wait up to 15 minutes for a scheduled lesson. After that time, the lesson is considered forfeited.
Make-up Lessons
Each student is eligible for one make-up lesson per term for a lesson cancelled with at least 24 hours' notice. Make-up lessons are available in the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. Lessons cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice, or missed without notice, are not eligible for a make-up lesson. Make-up lessons must be completed within the same term and are subject to teacher availability. Missed make-up lessons cannot be rescheduled.
Teacher Assignment
Every student is matched with the teacher best suited to their age, level, and goals. If a family would prefer a different instructor at any time, they may request a reassignment by contacting the school office. We will work to match the student with another qualified teacher, subject to availability, and the lesson day and time may need to change. From time to time a teacher may become unavailable due to other professional obligations, illness, or travel. In those cases we will offer a substitute teacher for the affected lesson or reschedule when possible. If a teacher leaves the school, students will be matched with another qualified instructor and the lesson schedule may need to be adjusted.
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School Closures and Inclement Weather
Holidays and scheduled breaks are built into the school calendar, and tuition installments already account for them. No lesson is owed and no credit is issued for these scheduled closures. If the school closes unexpectedly due to severe weather or other circumstances, lessons continue virtually whenever possible so that students stay on schedule. Your teacher will send a link for the scheduled lesson time. If a virtual lesson is not possible, the lesson will be rescheduled during the weather make-up week reserved in May on the school calendar, or at another time by arrangement with your teacher. We follow weather-related closure decisions of the nearby schools. Closures are announced by email.
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Withdrawal
A 30-day written notice is required to discontinue lessons. A withdrawal is effective only after a signed withdrawal form has been received by the school. Students remain financially responsible for the next four scheduled lessons from the date the withdrawal notice is received and are welcome to attend those lessons. Unused lessons are non-refundable. Withdrawal removes the student from the lesson schedule. Returning students must complete a new enrollment. Previous lesson times, teacher assignments, effective tuition rate, and any applicable discounts are forfeited and cannot be guaranteed upon re-enrollment.
Discounts
Eligible discounts are subject to the terms and conditions as outlined in the Ways to Save section on the Tuition page. A maximum of two tuition discounts may be applied to a single billing account. Enrollment fee discounts and referral credits are applied separately and do not count toward this limit.
Photo & Video Release
Preston Harmony School of Music may photograph or record students during lessons, recitals, and school events. These images and recordings may be used for educational, promotional, and marketing purposes, including our website, social media, and printed materials. For students under 18, a parent or guardian indicates their photo and video preference on the enrollment form. Consent may be granted or withdrawn at any time by contacting hello@prestonharmonymusic.com, and we will remove published material on request as promptly as we are able. Students are identified by first name and last initial only, and never by full name, school, or lesson time.
School Communications
Families will periodically receive email communications regarding lessons, school news, recitals, upcoming events, and other important announcements. Recipients may unsubscribe from promotional newsletters at any time. Transactional emails relating to lessons, billing, enrollment, and school operations will continue to be sent as needed.