Reading Suzuki Music Academy

Policy Statement

1) Enrollment and Tuition

Reading Suzuki Music Academy is a semester based program. The Fall and Spring semesters meet for 17 weeks.

Program: Tuition includes weekly private lessons, bi-weekly group classes, rehearsals, and performances. Suzuki books and CDs are included in the tuition. Additional materials required for instruction will be billed separately (ie: County Orchestra audition music, replacement copies of Suzuki materials, etc). An accompanist will be provided for all RSMA performances. Students are expected to attend all classes and rehearsals.

Refunds: Refunds will not be made for missed lessons or classes. Students withdrawing from RSMA before the first scheduled class of the semester will receive 100% refund. Refunds will not be made for withdrawals after the first scheduled class of the semester. The registration fee is nonrefundable.

Tuition Payment: Payment must be made by the first lesson of each semester (September 7, 2010 and January 24, 2011). Checks and cash are accepted for payment. A $35 fee will be charged for returned checks due to insufficient funds. The $30 annual registration fee will be waived if tuition for the academic year is paid in full at the time of registration. Tuition for students enrolling after the first week of each semester will be prorated. Instruction will be suspended until any late payment is received.

Installments: Families may choose to make tuition payments in 2 installments as follow:

Fall Semester – September 7 and November 1              Spring Semester – January 24 and March 21

Summer Lessons: Students may schedule private lessons during the summer. The fee is $52.50 per hour, payable at the first lesson of each month. Lessons may be scheduled for 30 minutes, 45 minutes or 60 minutes. There are no group classes over the summer.

2) Student Absence

Parents must notify RSMA of (via phone or email) of rescheduling requests at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled lesson. Every effort will be made to reschedule the missed lesson during that same week. If a lesson cannot be made up during the week in which it was cancelled, it will be made-up on the last Saturday of the month or during the official make-up period at the end of the semester (see current calendar for exact dates).

All lessons not made up by the end of each semester’s make-up week will be forfeited.

Lessons for students not providing 24 hours advance notice of an absence will not be made up (exceptions will be made for emergencies and extreme illness).

Students with more than 3 absences without 24 hours notice will be dropped from the program.

Group lessons and rehearsals cannot be made up.

3) Teacher Absence

Students and parents should expect that the teacher will request rescheduling due to professional commitments. The teacher is required to give students and parents one week notice and to schedule make-up lessons for those professional commitments.

4) Holidays and Snow Days

RSMA will close officially on all Wyomissing Area School District snow days. Please tune to local news channels for WASD closings. Lessons cancelled due to snow days will be made up during the official make-up period at the end of the semester or may be rescheduled at the request of the student, parent or teacher. Please see current RSMA calendar for all holiday closings.

5) Parent Participation

Parents must assist their child with home practice for adequate progress to be made. During the lessons, parents should take detailed notes and write down the home work for that week. At the end of each lesson, parents should ask the teacher about any questions they have regarding the homework assignment. Communication between the teacher and parent is crucial to success for each child.

All children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. When students have completed Suzuki Book 3 and have reached the age of 13, parents may opt out of attending lessons. Continued monitoring of home practice and communication with the teacher, however, remains and important part of each student’s music education.

Parents who drop off and pick up students over the age of 12 must do so in a timely manner. RSMA is not responsible for students before, during or after the assigned lesson time.

6) Performance Dress

Students are required to wear black skirts or slacks with white blouses or shirts for their performances. This will help the audience focus on your child’s musical performance rather than their attire. This type of dress will also help your child identify with his or her peer musicians and provide a sense of unity and professional pride when performing in public venues.

7) Publicity

Student pictures may be taken occasionally and published on the RSMA website, Reading Eagle, brochures, etc. Parents who prefer not to have their child’s picture published may indicate so on the registration form.