Tuition and Policies

First, a quick note about online lessons

You don’t need to have the latest state of the art equipment to start online lessons, but here’s what works best:

A laptop (if that’s not available, next best is a tablet and finally a phone), set up a few feet away from the student.  Piano students should set up the laptop so that their hands at the keyboard can be seen.  Guitar students should set up so that both hands (on the fretboard and strumming the strings) can be viewed at the same time.  Laptops and tablets are preferred for the bigger screen – your child will just be able to see their instructor better.

For voice students (and others, depending on your device), headphones can help to cut down on feedback.  You don’t have to get a fancy headset – Miss Anna uses headphones from 5 Below!

We hold all of our online lessons with Skype.  You will need to register for a free Skype account and let us know your Skype Name (it could be something like pianoman2020 or live:.cid.gjefgidfjgj49840wirgjldkfghw4ghljkhg).  If you are having a hard time figuring out your Skype Name, please just let us know the email address you have used to register to sign up for Skype and we’ll figure out the rest.

Any other questions about online lessons, feel free to email us: missannasmusicschool@gmail.com

Tuition

Our rates for the 2022-2023 school year are as follows

In-Studio Lessons – Fords, NJ / Online lessons

1 30 minute lesson – $37.25 a lesson  / $149 per average month
1 45 minute lesson – $55.87 a lesson / $223.48 per average month

In-Studio Classes

Lab Lessons
1 hour – $33 a lesson / $132 per average month

Group Classes (Group Guitar, Rockstar, Kidzrock, etc)
30 minutes – $14,75 a lesson / $59 per average month

Payment

Invoices for the upcoming month are sent out on the first of each month.  You can review your invoice and pay online with a credit card, or you can drop off payment when you come in for your lesson and pay with cash or a check.  Any payment received after the 7th of each month will be charged a late fee of $25.

Parents may also save their credit card information securely with us to enroll in auto-pay.  The automatic payment will get charged to your account when the invoices are sent at the beginning of the month.  If you need help setting this up, we would be happy to guide you through the process.

Studio Policies

If you are a current student at MAMS, please visit this page to acknowledge our most important studio policies and also to sign our media release form.  The release form is the most important part!  Please let us know if we do or do not have your permission to share pictures of your children on our social media presence.

What you can expect from our Studio

  • All students and families will be treated with care and respect.  When your children are in the studio, they become “our” children, and we will treat them like they are our own.
  • We will always listen if you have a concern, and work with you to come to an agreeable solution.
  • We will always give our best when it comes to instruction.
  • We will always return your calls or emails in a timely and professional manner.
  • We will always be on time.
  • We will always own up to our mistakes (we are human, after all, and mistakes may happen).

Expectations of Students

  • Be on time for all lessons, classes, recitals and other events.
  • Consider the rest of your family’s and your child’s schedule before committing to a lesson time and to attending studio events.
  • Communicate with us (either through your teacher or through our office) if you are having any sort of problem, or see a way we can improve our service to you.
  • Create and maintain a quiet space during online lesson times so students can focus on their playing.

Books and Fees

When you sign up, and then every September you are enrolled as a student, you will be charged a $30 materials fee (per family).  This fee covers the cost of any books or sheet music needed for lessons, recitals or competitions, in addition to helping us cover the cost of many of the incidentals around the studio – paper and toner for studio handouts, and snacks and drinks at our refueling station.

In general, most of the small events our studio holds throughout the year are free for students to attend and participate in.  Our Spring Recitals have a fee to cover the cost of venue rental and reception afterwards.

Cancellations

Cancellations by Management or Instructors

If we have to cancel a lesson for any reason, we will make up the time either by rescheduling the lesson or inviting the student to a comparable class being held at the studio.  If we cannot make up the lesson due to scheduling, the fee for the lesson will be refunded.

By default, we are closed on most bank holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, etc).  As a studio, we will be closed on most Monday holidays (for example, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc), however, individual teachers may decide to use that time for makeup lessons.  When in doubt, check the schedule or drop us a line!

We will follow the Woodbridge Township and Perth Amboy school districts when it comes to closing the building due to inclement weather of any kind. However, most of our teachers can still teach from home via Skype, so your lesson may still be on!  We will be in touch the morning of a weather-related closing to let you know what the plan is for the day.  In the event that your lesson cannot happen, your account will simply be credited.

Cancellations by the Student

We require at least 8 hours notice if you must cancel a lesson – if your child is too sick to go to school, they are also too sick to attend their lessons, so please remember to let us know in the event that your child is sick.  If you know in advance that you will be missing a lesson for a major event or vacation, please discuss the schedule with your teacher as soon as possible so that the lesson can be rescheduled.

If you cancel with less than 8 hours advance notice or if you simply do not show up for your lesson, you will still be charged for that lesson.

Sometimes a student is too sick to go to school but might be well enough that they can still focus for their lesson.  If this is the case, your child can attend their class virtually.  Our online lessons are held via Skype, so if you have not already given us your Skype contact info, please do so ahead of time so we can seamlessly switch to an online lesson instead.

If we do not schedule a makeup lesson within a calendar month, you will be credited for that lesson on the following month’s invoice.

Leaving the Studio

We’re sorry to see you leave!  Before you go, please consider discussing any problems you may be having with someone from our office. We would hate to see you leave over something that could have been easily worked out.  If you must go, there will be no refund given for pre-paid lessons, and all balances must be paid up before you go.

Electronic Communication

We use Mailchimp to send out a newsletter from time to time with important studio news.  All families must be on this email list.  We won’t spam you, we promise!   We typically send out an email once every month.  If you have a gmail account, these emails will end up in your “Promotions” folder.  Please double check that you are getting them.  Even if for whatever reason you are not…

Major announcements will also be broadcast to our Facebook page and our Facebook parents group (not in the group? you have to request to join, so please do!).  A “major announcement” includes closings due to inclement weather.  Weather cancellations will also be communicated to the day’s students through an email or text message blast (so be sure we have your cell phone on file!).

If you need to communicate with us, feel free to call us at 732-860-5846 between the hours of 8am and 8pm.  You can also email us at anytime. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions, comments, concerns or suggestions.

Child Safety

In order to create a safe environment for children, we are committed to putting these measures in place.

During a private music lesson with a student under the age of 18 years, the instructor is required to teach in a room with a window, an open door, or a large room or open area which can be accessed from a main hallway.

Our staff members are required to periodically (and without notice) check in on any private music lesson, being taught to a person under the age of 18, when they are not in the process of teaching or are in between lessons. This may be done by looking into the window, or checking an open door, being sure not to disturb the lesson and sacrifice the quality of instruction.

Parents are always welcome to stay in a waiting area within earshot of a private lesson. If they find it necessary, a parent is welcome to check the window or open door at any time without disturbing the lesson.

In situations where a group class (two or more students) is being taught, there will always be at least one adult in charge.

Liability Waiver

Damage to our stuff or property:

If a member of your family damages our property or equipment, out of respect for what we are trying to do, please offer to make it right.  We are friends here!

Liability:

There is very little risk involved with music and; however we know that people have accidents and bad things can happen. Please understand that we work hard to plan all of our events so that everyone is as safe as possible. In the event something bad happens, We will be there to provide support to the best of our ability.