Policies
Enrollment:
- Lake Country Strings enrolls any student above the age of three. Acceptance of three-year-olds will be based on the parent and teacher's discretion of whether or not the student is ready for lessons.
- Older students are encouraged to take lessons even if they have no previous string experience.
Materials Needed:
- Correctly sized instrument and bow in good working order (check out the Instruments tab shops to obtain a good quality instrument).
- Rosin and cleaning cloth
- Music books and materials chosen by the teacher
Registration:
- Prospective students receive a 30-minute complimentary lesson to see how they work with the teacher as well as to allow the teacher to access the prospective family's potential ability in working with Lake Country Strings. This is a trial lesson and does not mean automatic admittance into the studio.
- New students have until the start date of the current semester to register for private lessons.
- Current students are automatically enrolled for lessons unless a written notice of termination has been received.
Scheduling:
- Lesson times will be assigned no later than one-week prior to the start of lessons based on the lesson availability information received via email communication..
- Preferred lesson times are not guaranteed but assigned whenever possible.
Finances:
Making a Payment:
- Check: Payments may be made by check. Checks should be made out to Lake Country Strings and handed to the teacher or mailed to Lake Country StringsW305 N7153 County Rd. E Hartland, WI 53029.
- Cash: Payments may be made by cash. Cash should be handed to the teacher or mailed to Lake Country Strings W305N7153 County Rd. E Hartland, WI 53029
Payment Amounts/Due Dates:
- Invoices will be emailed at the beginning of each semester. Please contact Lake Country Strings via email with any billing questions.
- Students are required to pay for the entire semester upfront. Students desiring to pay by month, must sign and turn in the payment waiver by the second week of lessons.
- If the payment is not received within three weeks of the due date, future lessons will be canceled, and the lesson time will be open for other students.
Attendance:
Attendance Policy:
- Tuition is for enrollment, not attendance. Students will not receive refunds or tuition credits for absences. Make-up lessons will be offered at the availability and discretion of the instructor.
- As a courtesy, students need to notify Lake Country Strings if they are unable to attend a private lesson.
- In the case of the teacher's absence, students either will receive credit for the lesson or a make-up lesson.
Inclement Weather Days:
- If the Lake Country School District closes due to inclement weather, Lake Country Strings will offer all scheduled lessons virtually. An email will be sent with the necessary information for accessing the virtual platform and lesson.
- Credit will not be given for students who opt to not participate in the virtual lesson.
Make-Up Lessons:
- Understanding that conflicts arise that may cause students to occasionally miss a lesson, Lake Country Strings will take the student's usual lesson time and create instructional practice videos with the student's weekly assignments. These videos will be sent to the student's family.
- For limited cases, Lake Country Strings may make-up lessons in-person, however, this option is only available based on the teacher's availability.
Lesson Termination:
- Students must complete the semester before terminating lessons.
- Students wishing to terminate lessons must notify Lake Country Strings 4 weeks in advance.
- No refund of semester tuition or semester tuition forgiveness will be made for students choosing to terminate lessons before the semester is completed.
Studio Expectations:
Practice Effectively:
- Practice daily
- Set a specific time to practice each day
- When desired, break practice into smaller segments of time
- While practicing, avoid distractions such as the phone, TV, or pets
- Continually review assignment sheet from the week
- Listen to good recording each week
Proper Grooming, Proper Studio Use, and Proper Dress:
- Keep
fingernails short, as long nails hinder good hand shape and position
- Wash hands before the lesson
- Remove shoes upon arrival
Permission Waiver:
- Parents or guardians are required to sign a waiver, included in the registration form, giving permission or not for the studio to use photographs, videos, or computer files in which the student may be included in.
Responsibilities of the Parent, Student, and Teacher
The Parent/Guardian:
- Parents/guardians are responsible for bringing their students to their lessons on time and picking them up on time. Students are only allowed to stay a maximum of fifteen minutes after the lesson unless the teacher is previously notified.
- Parents/guardians are responsible to actively listen and encourage their students.
- Parents/guardians are responsible to attend their students' private lesson and take notes if the students are under the age of twelve.
- Parents/guardians are expected to practice with their students if the students are under the age of nine.
- Parents/guardians should also provide good, quality instruments for their students to use for practice and lessons.
- Parents/guardians should make sure their students' instruments are properly up kept. This includes new strings and bow rehairs at least once a year.
- Parents/guardians are responsible for attending their students' lesson if the students are under the age of eighteen.
The Student:
- Students are required to practice the assignment the teacher gives in the lesson.
- Students are required to practice the set time that the teacher gives.
- Students are expected to show up to lessons on time.
- Students are expected to bring all of their necessary items - books, violin accessories, etc. - to each lesson.
- Sign a "Music Learning Readiness Agreement" each year.
The Teacher:
- The
teacher is expected to be prepared for private lessons.
- The teacher is not responsible for supervision of the students before or after the lesson.