Sign-up Fee

All new students and returning former students are required to pay a $59 sign-up fee. The sign-up fee is non-refundable. Books, accessories, and recital fees are charged separately.

Annual Enrollment Fee

An annual enrollment fee of $39 will be charged every year (12 months). This fee is non-refundable.

Payments

EVSM requires tuition payments to be collected automatically. Tuition payment must be received in full before the first lesson in the new month, and EVSM reserves the right to report unpaid tuition payments to a collection agency. Clients are required to fill out the Payment Method Form attached to this contract in order to enroll in lessons. Payment methods are listed below:

• • Bank Account: This is the preferred payment method due to stability and lower processing fees. Client provides a bank account and routing number. There is a $5 fee for returned ACH payments and EVSM will attempt to charge the account again 2 days following notice of the returned payment.
  • Credit/Debit Card: Customer maintains current credit or debit card information on file. If a card is declined, invalid, or expired, EVSM will contact customer to update this information.

Late Fees & Late Tuition Collection

Tuition is due on the 20th day of each month. A $25 late fee will be added if tuition is not received by the last day of the month. If payment is not received by the last day of the month, then tuition will need to be collected prior to student’s next lesson. If payment is not received by the 7th day of the next month, student will be dismissed from the school due to non-payment.

Ongoing Enrollment Requirement

EVSM is primarily a service-based business, which operates by holding timeslots for instructors to provide lessons for students. Students are expected to attend lessons regularly, and EVSM cannot put a hold or pause on lessons for family vacations, business trips, or any other reason besides serious illness/injury or other extenuating circumstances (see “Missed Lessons” below for more detail).

Policies

LESSON SCHEDULING

Lessons may not be given by instructor at any location other than EVSM or online (as needed). Contact your instructor if you need to change your scheduled timeslot.

My Music Staff Portal: EVSM uses a cloud-based scheduling system called My Music Staff (mymusicstaff.com). Upon enrollment, client is encouraged to log in to the My Music Staff portal. The portal features a lesson calendar, practice log, attendance & lesson notes, news, messages, instructor contact information and more.

Online Music Lessons: Clients are permitted to enroll in online lessons exclusively, however, unless otherwise agreed upon between instructor and student, lessons will be taught on location at EVSM. Occasionally under special circumstances, it may be requested that a student participates in an online lesson instead of in person. Some examples include make-up lessons, instructor or student sickness (such as contagious cold or flu symptoms), or temporary instructor or student transportation issues.

Missed Lessons & Make-Up Lessons: EVSM does not give refunds for missed lessons. If you need to cancel a lesson, you may cancel in the Calendar section on the My Music Staff portal. Students who miss a lesson for any reason will have a maximum of 3 private make-up lessons per calendar year (January through December), and each make-up lesson will expire within 90 days of student absence. Furthermore, to qualify for a make-up credit, instructor must be notified of a cancelled lesson at least 24 hours in advance (except for sickness or emergency). Contact your instructor to schedule a make-up lesson. Instructor may make up a lesson in person at the school or require an online lesson for scheduling reasons. Occasionally, instructor may need to cancel a lesson or teach a lesson online. Lessons canceled by instructor will be rescheduled or taught by a substitute instructor.

Lesson Rescheduling: Student is expected to stay committed to the same weekly timeslot (a minimum of 1 month at a time). Please be respectful of your instructor’s schedule. Be advised that asking your instructor to reschedule your lesson to a different day/time in a given week is considered using one of the 3 private make-up lessons per calendar year. Instructors can only hold timeslots for students who are able to attend the same weekly timeslot consistently.

Extenuating Circumstances: EVSM allows a maximum of one skipped monthly tuition payment per calendar year (4 weeks) if a student is impacted by extenuating circumstances that significantly affect their ability to practice or play the instrument. This includes, but is not limited to: bereavement, a traumatic event, a serious illness or injury. In the case of serious illness or injury, if student is still recovering by the 5th or 6th week of missed lessons, instructor will privately make up as many as two lessons (not counting towards the maximum of 3 private make-up lessons per calendar year). Documentation of extenuating circumstances is required.

COMMUNICATION

EVSM sends out periodic emails with important announcements and updates. Please read these emails to stay informed, and do not unsubscribe from our email list. Upon enrollment, you can find your instructor’s contact information, including phone number and email address by logging in to the My Music Staff portal.

INSTRUMENT/MATERIALS REQUIREMENT

Upon enrolling in lessons at EVSM, student is required to have an instrument as well as other necessary accessories. Student will also need to purchase music as requested by instructor.

Instrument Requirements:

• Piano: Student is required to have an acoustic piano or a full size 88-key digital piano with a music stand, bench, and pedal. It is strongly recommended to upgrade to an acoustic piano within two years of beginning piano lessons. EVSM partners with My First Piano to help students affordably rent, rent-to-own, or purchase a piano or digital piano (visit myfirstpiano.net or ask the office for a flyer).
• Voice: Student is recommended to have a piano or keyboard. Student may need to purchase additional materials upon instructor’s request.
• Guitar/Ukulele/Bass: Student is required to have a working instrument. Student must also have a music stand, tuner, extra strings, and guitar picks (for guitar only).
• Strings: Student is required to have a working instrument with bow, rosin, and cleaning cloth. Cello students must have a rock stop for performances. Student must also have a music stand, and tuner. EVSM offers rentals for violin, viola, and cello.
• Woodwinds: Student is required to have a working instrument. Reed players are required to have a minimum of 2 working reeds at all times. Student must also have a music stand and a tuner. EVSM offers rentals for flute, clarinet, and saxophone. Student may need to purchase additional materials upon instructor’s request.
• Brass: Student is required to have a working instrument. Valved brass students must have valve oil, and trombone students must have slide oil. All students must have tuning slide grease and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Student must also have a music stand and a tuner. EVSM offers rentals for trumpet and trombone. Student may need to purchase additional materials upon instructor’s request.
• Percussion: Student is required to have an acoustic snare drum and/or practice pad to begin, as well as sticks and a music stand. It is also recommended to have a drum kit. Student may need to purchase additional materials upon instructor’s request.

WAITING AREA & LESSON OBSERVATION

Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Please keep children in the waiting area and do not leave children unattended in the hallways. While in the waiting area, please keep noise to a minimum. Parents are welcome to sit in on lessons at any time, but siblings, infants, and friends of students are not permitted to sit in on lessons as it is a distraction to both the student and the instructor and compromises the learning environment. Anyone other than parents or the student taking the lesson will be asked to leave the room.

LITTLE PIANIST PROGRAM COMPLETION

Students ages 4-6 are eligible to enroll in the Little Pianists Program. Students will work through a primer level curriculum, usually the My First Piano Adventure series. Upon instructor recommendation or upon completion of the primer level curriculum, students are required to enroll in 45-minute lessons in order to continue piano lessons at EVSM.

PRACTICE REQUIREMENT & PROBATION

Student is required to attend lessons regularly and practice consistently. Student is responsible to practice the minimum minutes assigned by instructor, and parent is strongly encouraged to assist younger children in practice at home. Music lessons are a serious commitment, and EVSM cannot hold timeslots for students who are unable to attend and/or practice on a regular basis. Instructor will notify parent if student is consistently absent, not practicing, not completing theory assignments, or misbehaving during lessons. If issues are not resolved, student will be placed on a 4-week probationary period, after which they may be dismissed from EVSM. Students who miss 3 consecutive lessons without communicating with their instructor or the office will be dismissed with no refund.

RECITAL PARTICIPATION, PREPARATION, AND GUIDELINES

EVSM offers two formal recitals for students throughout the year, and instructors may also offer additional performance opportunities.

Formal Recitals

Formal recitals include our Holiday Recital and Spring Recital, which are held in our performance hall.

• Student is expected to have recital repertoire performance-ready in advance. Memorization of repertoire is expected. Students who are not prepared will not be allowed to perform.
• Student is required to arrive at least 10 minutes early. Depending on the instrument, student may be required to arrive up to 30 minutes early to prepare and warm-up per instructor’s request.
• Student is required to follow recital dress code, which is formal. Boys: dress pants, dress shirt, dress shoes. Girls: dress length past the knees, no spaghetti strap or bare shoulders, dress shoes.
• Student is required to stay for their entire performance set as a courtesy to the other performers.
• Instructor will go over performance etiquette with each student prior to recital. Student is required to announce their name and piece and bow or curtsy after performing.

30-DAY NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL

EVSM requires a 30-day notice of withdrawal from lessons at any time. For this reason, an initial 2-month commitment is expected. In order to officially withdraw, Client must inform the EVSM office and complete a Notice of Withdrawal Form, which is available in person at the front desk, or the office can email a link to fill out online. (It is not sufficient to only inform your instructor.) EVSM will continue normal billing until the Notice of Withdrawal Form is received. The final lesson date will be confirmed once the form is processed, and tuition will be prorated for the number of lessons received in the final month.

* Extra Lessons Accrued: Extra (5th) lessons that may occur during some months are financially balanced by billing the same rate each month, even during months with a one-week break. This helps EVSM to keep the billing as simple as possible. If a student discontinues lessons prior to a one-week break, they may need to be billed for an extra (5th) lesson if one has accrued.

* Outstanding Make-Up Lessons & No New Make-Up Lessons: EVSM does not give refunds for missed lessons. Upon submitting a 30-day notice of withdrawal, instructor will make a good faith effort to make up only one outstanding missed lesson from student cancelation and one outstanding missed lesson from instructor cancelation. If there is more than one make-up lesson outstanding, it is forfeit. Furthermore, during the 30 days, no new make-up lessons will be given if student is unable to attend the prescheduled lesson dates.

INSTRUCTOR REASSIGNMENT

Due to the nature of coordinating the schedules of instructors and students, it may be necessary to reassign a student to another instructor. Students assigned to an instructor who leaves EVSM will be reassigned to another EVSM instructor (the 30-day notice of withdrawal policy will be strictly enforced).

Furthermore, in accordance with the instructor contract with EVSM, current instructors and former instructors are NOT permitted to teach EVSM students privately apart from EVSM. The instructor contract with EVSM states: “During the term of this Agreement and for a period of one year following termination of this Agreement, Contractor agrees that he or she will not, by himself or herself or with or through others, directly or indirectly solicit any business from any prospective, current, or former EVSM Client.” Legal action may be taken by EVSM if there are any breaches of contract by Instructor or Client.