Studio Policies
Policies
COMMUNICATION:
All communication between students and Accent Music Studios must be sent to accentmusicstudios@gmail.com. Unfortunately, there is no ‘on-site’ office, therefore, email is the quickest and best method of communicating with the administrator.
In emergency situations only, call or text 604.351.7727.
Any and all questions relating to fees and policies should be directed to the office only.
Instructors should be contacted for matters relating to scheduling and instruction only. The instructor’s contact information will be shared once the initial lesson has been scheduled and lesson fees paid for. N.B. It is understood that a teacher’s personal contact information cannot be shared with anyone for any purpose other than scheduling lessons.
Accent Music Studios will automatically send a monthly newsletter. If you decide not to receive these emails, please follow the instructions on how to unsubscribe on the initial newsletter you receive.
TERM DATES:
There are three ‘terms’ which correlate with the school academic year and calendar.
September 5th ‘23 - December 22nd ‘23 (inclusive)
No lessons Dec 19 - Jan 1, unless make up lessons are arranged with the instructor.January 8th ‘24 - March 15th ‘24 (inclusive)
No lessons scheduled during spring break unless make up lessons are arranged with the instructor.April 2nd ‘24 - June 27th ‘24 (inclusive)
Students wishing summer lessons will follow a different schedule - TBA
Note: Lessons within the holiday periods will not be accounted for unless specifically requested.
LESSON DEFINITION & SCHEDULING:
A lesson is defined as ‘time spent receiving tuition’. This accounts for individual instruction and assistance with an accompanist.
Trial Lesson
Trial lessons are limited to one lesson, per instructor, per student with no obligation to commit to lessons thereafter. The lesson must be paid for in advance (e-transfer) and lesson cancellation policies apply – see below. The office will connect you with an instructor who will arrange a day and time for the lesson. No refunds will be issued on missed or unused trial lessons.
Regular Weekly Lessons
The current academic school year runs from September 6th, 2022 to June 29th, 2023. Once a start date has been selected, and time agreed upon, it is expected that lessons be ongoing from week to week. A student’s lesson quota will be completed within the academic year. Lessons are not accounted for during Winter and Spring break.
Note: Lessons scheduled on Mondays, when the majority of public holidays occur, are expected to go ahead as usual.
Lessons are paid for either on a monthly basis or in lesson packs by pre-authorized e-transfer, direct debit (using void cheque) or post-dated cheques. Once the instructor has confirmed a day and time with you, an invoice will be sent for your first monthly payment. This payment guarantees your chosen lesson time. Lessons will only go ahead only once payment has been received - no exceptions.
LESSON FEES
Fees are charged at the following rates: 30 minutes $37.00, 45 minutes $55.50 and 60 minutes $74.00 if lessons are paid for in advance and are ongoing from week to week within the academic year.
39 lessons (piano, voice, strings, guitar) are scheduled per academic year between September and June.
Some instructors may offer a slightly shorter year of between 32 - 35 lessons owing to availability. This will be discussed upon registration.
Drop-in lessons and lesson packs are priced differently - see below.
A one-time, non-refundable, registration fee of $20 is charged per family.
For the 2022 – 2023 academic year (September – June) lessons must be paid in advance by means of post-dated cheques or pre-authorized monthly e-transfers. Invoices will be sent in the last week of each month and will be due on the 1st of each subsequent month. For example, fees for October will be invoiced in the last week of September and will be due on October 1st.
Lesson Packs
Lesson packs can be purchased as 4 Lessons, 8 Lessons or 12 lessons. Each lesson pack has an expiration date and all lesson packs must be used before the end of the 2022/2023 academic school year.
4 Pack expires after 3 months (or by June 29th 2023 if purchased on or after March 27th 2023)
8 Pack expires after 6 months (or by June 29th 2023 if purchased on or after January 31st 2023)
12 Pack expires on June 29th, 2022
There are no refunds on Lesson Packs and cancellation policies apply – see below.
All lesson packs must be pre-paid in full (e-transfer or cheque) and scheduling lessons with the instructor is the sole responsibility of the student. A minimum of 7 days’ advance notice must be given to your instructor and lessons will be arranged around their regular schedule. Lessons must be arranged directly with the instructor and not through the office.
A reminder will be emailed to you one week before your lesson pack is due to expire.
Lesson Packs are ideal for students who are unable to schedule regular weekly lessons. Lesson Packs are priced differently. The fees are:
4-pack - 30 minutes $40, 45 minutes $57 and 60 minutes $80.00.
8-pack - 30 minutes $39, 45 minutes $58.50 and 60 minutes $78.00.
12-pack - 30 minutes $38, 45 minutes $57 and 60 minutes $76.00.
No registration fees are charged for lesson packs. Please refer to Lesson Fees and Payment Options for fee amounts and schedules.
All cheques and e-transfers made payable to Accent Music Studios. Payments must be made in advance of all lessons. For pre-authorized e-transfers, banking information and instructions will be sent via email. Accent Music Studios is a subsidiary of JAG Media Group Inc. This company name will show on your banking statements.
MISSED AND MAKE-UP LESSONS
As our instructors have reserved time for your lesson, and prepared in advance for your session, missed lessons are not refunded and make ups are not guaranteed.
If you have an upcoming conflict, please give your instructor 7 days’ notice to allow them to reschedule, if possible. If sufficient notice is given and agreed upon by your instructor the lesson will be rearranged at the instructor’s convenience.
If a student is sick on the day of their lesson, please notify your instructor before noon, by email and by phone/text message. If an online lesson is possible, that will be arranged by your instructor. If a student does not show up, either in studio or for an online lesson, and the instructor is unaware of their condition, the lesson will be forfeited. Please recognize that our instructors have set aside their time and have accounted for each lesson.
If a student has a minor ailment rendering them physically unable to play (ex. mouth infection, cut finger, dental work), their regular lesson will remain scheduled with ear training and theory, important elements of music education, as the focus. For students who are sick, incapacitated as a result and unable to attend a lesson without giving sufficient notice, a make-up lesson may be offered later in the year, at your instructor’s discretion.
If a lesson is unable to be taken, and sufficient advance notice is given, the instructor will arrange a make-up lesson.
Any lessons missed by your instructor will be made up at a mutually convenient time.
If a student’s lesson quota has not been met within the academic year by their instructor, make-up times will be offered during school vacations (winter, spring and summer breaks). Your instructor will email suggestions for lessons times at the beginning of the holiday period and give notice when these lessons terminate.
LESSON CANCELLATION
To cancel lessons permanently, four weeks’ notice must be given in writing to the office (email). For students under the age of 19 notification must be given by a parent/guardian. Upon receiving notice, all remaining post-dated cheques will be returned (if applicable), adjustments made, balances paid or refunds issued, whichever the case may be.
General Schedule Policies:
All of our instructors are professional freelance musicians and must occasionally adjust or change their schedule to accommodate workshops, rehearsals and/or performances. Your instructor will give you as much notice as possible and will reschedule all missed lessons due to their schedule conflicts.
A comprehensive attendance record is kept detailing how much tuition time each student has been given and for which purpose.
If a student has enrolled in additional chamber music classes, tuition time is not taken from their private lesson time unless agreed upon in writing.
IMPORTANT: Lessons will not be given if payment has not been received in advance – no exceptions. A student’s preferred time can only be guaranteed when monthly payments for the full academic year, are arranged/supplied
IN STUDIO RULES
If the building is locked upon your arrival, please call your instructor first and if you fail to reach them call the office at 604.351.7727. An emergency caretaker is usually on hand to help with students who are locked out of the building.
When possible, students should arrive at least 5 minutes early. This time should be spent setting up their instrument and preparing music. Time lost due to student tardiness will not be made up.
On the off chance that your instructor is not in the studio at the commencement time of your lesson please set up and wait for them to arrive. Unless notification was sent informing you of their absence, your lesson will go ahead, as planned. Any missed lesson time due to unavoidable detainment on your instructor’s part will be made up.
Please be respectful of your instructor’s breaks. It is asked that students neither stay late or arrive early.
When in the drum room, please do not touch the drums unless having instruction on this instrument.
If you are experiencing ANY signs of sickness, please do not, under any circumstance, attend your lesson. Online tuition is available and can be arranged with your instructor. Please be respectful of others and mitigate the transmission of viral infections by staying at home.
Your instructor will afford the same courtesy if they feel unwell.
Accent Music Studios reserves the right to adapt and change policies at any given time.