2022-2023 School Year Studio Policy
Commitments of the teacher
- I will treat both parent and student with respect.
- I will prepare for each lesson.
- I will make you aware of competitions and performing opportunities.
- I will do my best to help you grow as a musician and as a person.
- I will provide a comfortable, safe and clean atmosphere for lessons.
- I will be a role model for the students, showing professionalism and expertise.
Commitments of the student
- I will wash my hands before each lesson.
- I will come to each lesson with a good attitude and an eagerness to learn.
- I will stay focused on learning music during my lesson.
- I will listen to my teacher’s coaching and always try to improve my skills.
- I will practice as my teacher requests and even more when possible.
- I will perform in the regularly scheduled studio recitals unless my teacher recommends differently.
Commitments of the parent
- I will watch over my child’s daily practice time.
- I will bring my child to the lesson on time.
- I will provide a supportive atmosphere at home.
- I will keep my child’s instrument in good repair.
Private Lesson Policies
General Policies
- We recommend parents attend at least the first month of lessons. As you attend your student’s lesson, please focus on the lesson and put away your phone. Plan on coming to the last five minutes of your lesson time at least to get your assignment from your teacher each week.
- Suzuki students are automatically enrolled in group classes. Monthly tuition includes group class fees. The group class schedule may be found at mattixmusic.com/suzuki-group-class.
- Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students: Mattix Music Studio admits and does not discriminate students of any race, color, gender, orientation, national and ethnic origin to the rights, privileges and activities made available to students.
- Safety: We request that you escort your student under age 10 to their lesson and then again escort them back to your car when the lesson is over.
Attendance Policy
- Lessons must be cancelled at least 24 hours in advance to qualify for a make-up lesson. Please notify your teacher directly with cancellations. Students may receive one make-up lesson per semester.
- If the student cancels after the deadline, no make-up class or refund are offered.
- Lessons will not be rescheduled during the semester.
- No refunds, credits or make-ups are issued for group class absences.
- One excused absence may be made up the last week of each semester at your regularly scheduled lesson time. Additional make-ups and reschedules are not available.
- If the student is tardy to a lesson, the teacher is not obligated to make the time up at that lesson or a later date.
- If the teacher is unable to attend a lesson, the parent will be notified as soon as possible and the lesson will be promptly rescheduled at a time convenient for the student.
- All of our teachers offer the opportunity to receive a lesson via Zoom or FaceTime if the student is unable to be present due to sickness or travel.
- If school is cancelled due to severe weather, for your safety, lessons are generally cancelled in-person, but will be offered via Zoom or FaceTime. Notification of changes will be sent by email or text as early in the day as possible. Announcements will also be posted at www.mattixmusic.com.
- In order to withdraw from lessons, parents must give written notice 30 days prior to the last scheduled lesson. Email [email protected] with your written notice. Please note that no refunds are given during the 30-day notification period.
- In order to protect teachers and other students from contagious diseases, we request that students who do not attend lessons if they have had a fever within 24 hours. Teachers reserve the right to send home students who are ill or appear to be suffering from illness. If you’re feeling alright but have recently had a fever, ask for a virtual lesson instead of in-person.
Ongoing Lesson Time Reservation
- Once you have reserved a lesson time, you will keep it in perpetuity, provided you continue paying for and attending lessons.
- If you need to change your reserved lesson time, we will provide you with available options upon request 30 days in advance of the change.
- During the summer, your normal lesson time will be continued unless you indicate otherwise. You will notify us which weeks to cancel during the summer and we will hold your usual lesson time for you with a minimum of six weeks booked.
- If students do not book a minimum of six summer lessons, they are not guaranteed their reserved lesson time the next fall.
Financial Policy
- During the school year (September through May), we will have weekly lessons. To facilitate household budgeting, the total for the school year’s lessons will be evenly divided into monthly payments. Note that the monthly rate stays the same regardless of the number of weeks in each month. If you begin lessons in the middle of the school year, your monthly tuition will be prorated based on how many lessons you will receive through the end of 2nd semester.
- You will agree to a contract for automatic monthly payments upon booking lessons. The automatic charge will be charged to your credit card, which will pay for the upcoming month. For example: The automatic charge will happen on September 24, to pay for October lessons. The automatic charge will happen on October 24, to pay for November lessons. If we see that no payment has occurred by the 1st of the month, then lessons will be cancelled that month, until a payment has been made. Your teacher will be notified of any cancelled lesson due to non-payment. In addition, failure to pay your tuition may result in your lesson time being open for other or new students to reserve.
- If you would like to pay for the entire school year up front by check, you will receive a 3% discount. A check is due to Mattix Music Studio by your first lesson.
- Families will pay an annual enrollment fee in order to be offered a lesson time each August, or when they first enroll.
- No refunds will be issued for student cancellations, including during the 30-day period after written lesson termination notice is received. Unscheduled or unattended make-up lessons/classes are not scheduled or credited past the last day of each semester.
- A bank fee of $25 will be assessed for any returned check.
- Student music books are not included in the tuition.
- Suzuki tuition includes Group Class fees and may not be separated.
- A student may borrow a music book for up to two weeks. If not returned, you will be charged for the replacement value of the book.
Health Policy
All our teachers are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and your health and safety are our priority.
Inside classrooms teachers may choose their own policies in accordance with Cook County mandates. In general, masks are not required for inside our classrooms. Please ask your teacher about his or her personal preferences and we are happy to accommodate your family’s preferences.
If you, a family member you live with, or someone with whom you had close contact shows symptoms, is being tested, or is positive for COVID-19, we ask that you change your lesson to virtual until you are cleared to go back to school and work. Notify us immediately if you think one of our teachers or students may have had exposure.
If the student has had a fever in the last 24 hours or has stayed home sick from school or work, please do not come to lessons in person. Notify your teacher and/or our office to switch your lesson to Zoom or FaceTime instead.
Suzuki Lessons
Suzuki Private Lesson Policy
- Suzuki parents are expected to attend all lessons, group classes, orientation meetings, and any requested observations.
- Suzuki parents are required to take diligent notes of the student’s lesson in provided practice binder.
- Students are required to listen to recordings of their Suzuki repertoire daily. We recommend listening to your repertoire an hour or more everyday for healthy progress.
- In the Suzuki Method, parents are respected as the “home teacher.” Parents are expected to help the student practice and take an equal part in their education from the beginning.
- Suzuki parents should give their full attention to the lesson. Please refrain from using your cell phone except to take pictures and videos of lesson material.
Suzuki Group Class Policy
- Students will be placed in a regular group class time. Because every class has been curated specifically for the level of the students in it, we are unable to offer alternate class times.
- Most Suzuki Group Classes have mandatory parent attendance. Plan on being your child’s “assistant” during class.
- Suzuki tuition includes Group Class fees and may not be separated.
Piano Play & Violin Friends Attendance Policy
- Excused absences are those which are cancelled 24 hours in advance. You may make up any excused absence as long as there is room in another class time during the semester. Class sizes may not exceed six students. Because we may have families wanting to make up classes, please notify us of cancellations as early as possible.
- Make-ups or excused absences will not be refunded and do no roll over into the next semester.
- Unexcused absences are those which are cancelled with fewer than 24 hours notice or no-shows the day of the class. Unexcused absences may not be refunded or made up at another time.
- If a student is unable to work independently or is a disruption to the others, a caregiver may be asked to attend class with them.
- The severe weather polices above apply to Piano Play & Violin Friends classes.
- Tuition is fully refundable until the start of a semester. After class has begun, a partial refund will be offered to cover your music books, materials, and any classes you have been enrolled in.
2022 Summer Studio Policy
Currently Enrolled Private Students:
Mattix Music Studio provides students ongoing enrollment and your lesson time will continue indefinitely unless you request to change times or we get 30-days notice of your withdrawal.
If you are currently on Mondays at 4pm, your summer lesson time will be Mondays at 4pm and your lesson time for the next school year will be Mondays at 4pm. If you need to change lesson times, simply contact our office for other options.
Students are automatically enrolled in recurring weekly lessons every week during the summer at their usually scheduled lesson time. Parents need to submit a summer schedule form indicating any weeks that should be taken off your student’s schedule by May 10th. On May 1oth, whatever lessons are on your schedule will be charged to the payment method on file. Summer tuition is refundable until June 7, 2022.
Students must purchase a minimum of 6 lessons (or the hourly equivalent) during the summer in order to retain their lesson time in the following school year. There will be no need to re-enroll for the fall and your lesson time will continue with your teacher in the fall. Your family will love being able to plan ahead and schedule your other activities around music lessons that stay the same!
If students purchase fewer than 6 lessons during the summer, they must re-enroll for a private lesson time on August 1st and your spot is not guaranteed.
If you will not purchase any summer lessons, you need to give us 30-days notice of your withdrawal by May 7, 2022. You will need to re-enroll for a lesson time on August 1st and your spot is not guaranteed.
New Students:
Once you book 6 or more summer lesson times, you will keep that lesson time through the summer and into the next school year. There will be no need to re-enroll in lessons for the fall as your lesson time is ongoing indefinitely. If you would like to withdraw at any time, submit a 30-days notice to our office.
If you purchase fewer than 6 summer lessons and want to continue in the fall, you will need to re-enroll on August 1st.
Financial:
Mattix Music Studio accepts credit card, ACH or check payments and lessons must be prepaid in order to reserve your lesson times.
Summer private lessons will take place between June 7 and August 13, 2022. Refunds for summer lesson tuition are offered until June 7, 2022. No make-ups for unused lessons will be given or credited past August 13, 2022.
A bank fee of $25 will be assessed for any returned check.
Music books are not included in the tuition.
Location & Health Precautions:
Families may choose lessons in-studio, in-home, virtual, or a combination of both. Teachers have the right to choose what they feel comfortable offering and lesson methods may change depending on state and health official mandates. Your safety and health are our top priority. We will continue to follow the local and state health guidelines for COVID.
Rescheduling:
Students may reschedule one lesson during the summer once the initial lesson times have been booked. Students must give the teacher at least 24 hours notice in advance in order to reschedule a lesson. Lessons canceled with less than 24-hours notice will not be rescheduled, refunded or made up at another time. Please contact our office or your teacher to cancel a lesson, especially a lesson canceled on short notice.
Group Classes:
Families may attend the same group class at a different class time, provided there is an available spot. If you would like to book a make-up class, please contact our office.
Group class tuition is refundable until your start date.