CALENDAR
Sharon Music Academy Academic year consists of Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. Fall and Spring semester each consists of 20 weeks of private instructions. For students, enrolling after the start of the semester the number of lessons will be prorated. For summer semester students can choose the number of lessons and dates of the lessons. Group programs usually run in 8, 12 or18 lessons sessions, which can cross semester boundaries.
ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE
There is an annual registration fee of $35 per student or $50 per family (more than one person) per year. Annual Registration fee is non-refundable. This fee is due at the time of registration with a completed registration form for each new and returning student.
PAYMENTS AND PAYMENT OPTIONS
Payment Options for Private Lessons:
1. Payment in Full for semester: We accept cash or check.
2. Post-Dated Checks Payment plan: To pay tuition in installments you must use post-dated checks. Tuition will be divided into 4 equal monthly payments. Each installment is equal to ¼ (5 lessons) of the total payment for semester.
For Fall Semester the 1st check must be dated September 1st, 2nd check must be dated October 1st, 3rd check must be dated November 1st and 4th check must be dated December 1st.
For Spring Semester the 1st check must be dated February 1st, 2nd check must be dated March 1st, 3rd check must be dated April 1st and 4th check must be dated May 1st.
The checks will be deposited on or after the date posted on the check.
Payment in full or all 4 checks for the Payment Plan for a semester must be received at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the semester to guarantee the time slot. Incidental fees such as accompaniment fees or course materials must be made by check or cash. Fees for additional lessons in excess of 20 regular lessons per semester will be billed separately.
Tuition for a group course or a program must be paid in full prior to the start of the course or the program.
WITHDRAWAL AND REFUNDS
Private Instructions: One month notice (4 lessons) is required to discontinue any private instructions. Withdrawal notification must be done in writing (email or mail) and will not be accepted over the phone. There are no refunds on private lessons for withdrawal in the last month of the semester (January and June). Withdrawal must be done with the Administration and not with the teacher. Students are financially responsible for 4 more lessons after sending a notification of withdrawal even if they don’t attend the lessons. Any balance of unused lessons after one month notice period will be refunded.
Sharon Music Academy reserves the right to terminate lessons to any student with one month notice. In such a case a refund for unused lessons will be issued.
Group classes: There are no refunds for group classes.
Sharon Music Academy reserves the right to cancel courses if enrollment is below an acceptable minimum. In this case, ALL fees will be refunded.
DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS AND RETURNED CHECKS
Accounts with outstanding balances of over 10 working days will be charged a late payment fee of $25. Delinquent accounts referred for collection will be liable for all collection fees and costs. Sharon Music Academy reserves the right to stop a student's instructional activities if there is an unpaid account balance.
The Administration will notify you if your check is returned for any reason (e.g., insufficient funds, stop payment, or account closed). You must pay in cash or with certified funds the original check amount plus a $25 returned check charge within 5 working days.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Unless you notify Academy in writing by email or mail, the Academy is granted the right to take photographs or videos of the students to use in brochures, web sites, posters, advertisements and other promotional materials the Academy creates. Permission is also hereby granted for the Academy to copyright such photographs in its name. These images and videos will not be distributed, sold, or used beyond Sharon Music Academy's promotional activities.
The Academy is not responsible for providing care for students before and after scheduled student activities.
ABSENCES AND CANCELATIONS
Students are charged for all lessons for which they register, including those missed through student’s absence. SMA allows only one make-up lesson per semester, due to the student’s absence, and only if the student attends the full semester. To be eligible for a make-up, a lesson should be cancelled no later than 10 am on the day of the lesson for an evening lesson and 7 pm of the day before a morning lesson. Failure to give a cancellation notice is considered a “No Show” for the lesson and is charged as a regular lesson.
A make-up lesson can be scheduled during the last week of a semester or on any day agreed on by a student and instructor. SMA reserves the right to provide a make-up lesson with an instructor, other than a regular student’s instructor. All lessons must be made-up by the last day of the semester for which they were registered. After that, no make-up lessons will be given. In the event the SMA cancels a lesson, a makeup lesson will be offered at a mutually convenient time.
There are no make-ups for group classes, workshops and ensembles.
HOLIDAYS AND VACATIONS
Private lessons missed during the public schools holidays and vacations, as defined in Academic Calendar, or religious holidays will be made up, the payment will be carried over to the next semester or refunded at the end of the semester only if the cancellation notification is given no later than 7 days in advance of the first day of the vacation. Cancellation has to be reported by e-mail. Verbal notice will not be accepted. Failure to give an advanced notice for lesson cancellation is considered a “No Show” for the lesson and is charged as a regular lesson.
EMERGENCY CLOSINGS
In case of snow or emergency, cancellations will be announced on Sharon Music Academy's website on the News & Events page. The students can also call Academy to check on the weather related closings. Sharon Music Academy does not call individual students about snow days. Maximum two snow days will be made-up per semester.
TEACHER ABSENCE
For Teacher absences students will receive a personal notification of teacher absences. The school reserves the right to provide a substitute teacher if the regularly scheduled teacher is ill or otherwise unable to attend a lesson. If the school cannot arrange a substitute the missed lessons will be made up or refunded.