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Policies and Procedures

Lesson Calendar

The year is divided into two semesters consisting of 16 lessons each. The first semester runs from September through mid-January and the second semester runs from February through mid-June. Each semester includes two make-up weeks. We teach lessons on early dismissal days and on teacher conference days. There are no lessons when school is not in session. If our physical spaces are unavailable for any reason, lessons will be conducted online.

Our summer session takes place in July and August. We offer flexible lesson packages (4-, 6-, or 8-lesson packages) for this session.


Payment

Registration and full payment are due before the first lesson of each semester. For scholarship students, the family portion payment is due within two weeks of notification of your award and prior to the start of your first lesson. Teachers will not start lessons until they have received confirmation from the Music Program Manager that tuition is paid.

Missed Lessons, Makeup Lessons, Rescheduling Lessons

If you need to miss a lesson, you must let your teacher know at least 36 hours in advance. With this notice, teachers will work with you to schedule make-up lessons. However, if the teacher offers several make-up options and you are not able to accommodate any of them, these lessons will not be credited. Teachers are not required to offer a make-up lesson if they are not given 36 hours’ notice.If the need is sudden and unexpected (such as an illness) the 36 hours’ notice is waived, but you must notify your teacher. If a student does not appear for a lesson and the teacher is not notified, that lesson will be charged as a regular lesson.

If a lesson is canceled due to the teacher’s absence, a scheduled school holiday, or a snow day, the teacher is responsible for scheduling a make-up. In all these instances, if a make-up lesson proves too difficult to set up, a credit of a maximum of two lessons will be given at the end of the semester. These make up lessons must be taken before the semester ends and will not carry over to the following semester.

Make-up lessons cannot be scheduled for group lessons.


Teacher Compatibility

All of our faculty are highly qualified musicians and teachers, and we take great care to try and match each student with a faculty member who will provide them with an engaging and educational experience. The relationship between student and teacher is highly individual. If you would like to make any adjustments to your instruction, please contact Claudia Knafo, Music Program Manager at musicprogram@riverarts.org.


Cancelation Policy

Refunds will be offered up to and including the 2nd lesson of the semester. If, after two lessons, you would like a refund, you must request this refund by emailing both you child’s teacher AND Claudia Knafo at cknafo@riverarts.org. You will be refunded the cost of the lessons remaining in your semester package only. You will not be refunded tuition for the number of classes already taken or the $35 Registration Fee. If you do not notify us as outlined above and your child does not show up to the next scheduled lesson, you will not be refunded for that lesson.


Scholarships

Through the generous support of The RiverArts Kristeen Nelson Memorial Scholarship Fund, Arts Westchester, and individual donations at recitals and other events, RiverArts offers need-based scholarships. The Scholarship Committee meets to approve awards three weeks before the start of the next semester. If you plan on applying for a scholarship, please do so at least six weeks PRIOR to the start of the next semester. The application can be filled out when you register for lessons. If you have submitted an application for a scholarship and are awaiting a decision, payment is not due until those decisions have been made.


Parents’ Responsibilities

Parents are responsible for getting their children to lessons on time, ensuring their children come prepared to each lesson with their sheet music and any other curricular items, supporting practice between lessons, notifying teachers of cancellations at least 36 hours in advance, and for completing registration and payment before the first lesson.

We welcome you to the RiverArts Music Program! If you have any questions, please contact the Music Program Director, Claudia Knafo at: musicprogram@riverarts.org.