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
Parent/Guardian must notify both the teacher and the Music Program Manager by email a minimum of 24 hours prior to an absence. The Parent/Guardian can schedule a makeup with the teacher during the specified makeup weeks at the end of the semester (a maximum of 2 makeups permitted per semester).
If a student does not show up for a lesson and the teacher and Music Program Manager are not notified as specified above, no make-up will be offered for that missed lesson, and no refund or credit will be given for the missed lesson.
Lessons that are missed due to an unexpected school or facility closure will be made up and should be scheduled directly with your child’s teacher. Any lessons missed because of absence and/or facility closures and NOT made up will NOT be credited or carried over to the next semester.
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.
Lessons do NOT roll over from semester to 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
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.