PRIVATE LESSON POLICIES - NEW STUDENTS  

• In-person Private music lessons are offered at Valley Music Academy studios at 500 S. Wayne Ave., Waynesboro, VA 22980.*

• All lessons are held weekly for 30, 45, or 60 minutes.  Longer lessons may be available upon request.

• Private lessons can be started at any time throughout the year--usually within one week of your registration.

• All students must complete a new student registration, agree to VMA policies, and provide a method of payment prior to the start of lessons. 

• VMA requires a four (4) lesson minimum for new students.  

• Payment for the initial 4 lessons must be pre-paid by credit card prior to the first lesson.

• During registration, all students consent to automatic payment by credit or debit card for any future charges for tuition or materials.

• VMA's online registration form processes a charge for four 30 minute lessons at registration.  If longer lesson times are chosen (i.e. 45 minutes), the credit card on file will be charged the additional amount prior to the completion of the 4 initial lessons.

• No refunds will be issued for early cancellation before receiving the initial 4 lessons.

• Upon completion of the initial 4 lessons, students will automatically be placed in our regular monthly billing cycle unless the student notifies VMA in writing (email) that they do not wish to continue lessons.  Email notification is preferred.

• Students who cancel after the initial 4 lessons, before the 5th lesson, will receive no further charges for tuition.

• All lessons will continue on a month-to-month basis after the initial 4 lessons are completed.  

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PRIVATE LESSON POLICIES - MONTHLY LESSONS

• All lessons will continue on a month-to-month basis after the initial 4 lessons are completed.

• All private lesson accounts are required to use automatic payments with a valid Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or Amex.  

• Automatic payment consent is provided during the online registration process.

• Students who do not have a valid credit or debit card on file and have opted out of automatic payments will be charged a $5 monthly convenience fee.

• All lessons will continue automatically on a monthly basis until VMA is notified otherwise in writing.

• Lessons can be discontinued for any reason with a 30-day notice in writing by email to the Program Director and private teacher.  Payment for lessons during this 30 day period is required.  Email notification is preferred.

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PRIVATE LESSON ATTENDANCE POLICIES (See updated COVID-19 policies above regarding cancellations)

• Lessons are scheduled on a weekly basis, usually at the same time and day each week, for 30, 45 or 60 minutes each.

• Students reserve a lesson time with a specific teacher and students are expected to attend the scheduled lessons.

• If a student needs to cancel lessons:

  • All lesson cancellations by students must be submitted online in the student/parent portal portion of the VMA website.  

  • Students may cancel lessons with 2 weeks (336+ hours) advance notice to the teacher and VMA.  This would be considered an excused absence.

  • Student cancellations with less than 2 weeks (336 hours) notice are considered unexcused absences.

  • Lessons may be rescheduled in lieu of cancellation.  Rescheduled lessons are at the discretion of the teacher if the time is mutually agreed upon between the teacher and student.

  • Rescheduled lessons are not considered absences.

  • A maximum of 2 excused student absences is allowed during each fall and spring semester.  Any student absences beyond 2 will be considered unexcused.

  • Payment is expected for all unexcused absences.

  • Excused absences will be issued a monetary credit to be applied toward the next month's invoice.  

• "Student Excused Absences" are allowed with teacher approval and require advance notice of at least 2 weeks (336 hours).  Students/Parents should submit notifications online through the VMA student/parent portal. 

• Excused absences submitted prior to a monthly billing cycle will not be billed.

• Excused absences submitted after a monthly billing cycle will receive monetary credit to be applied toward the next month's invoice.

• Pre-arranged student absences of more than two weeks in a row may result in the loss of the scheduled lesson time and may have to be rescheduled at the teacher’s discretion.

• Teacher cancellations or cancellations due to inclement weather are not billable events.

• Rescheduling Lessons - In the event of a student excused absence, teachers may choose to reschedule a lesson to a different day or time rather than miss the lesson.  This policy varies by teacher.  Please discuss this with your teacher.

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PRIVATE LESSON BILLING POLICIES

• All private lessons are on a month-to-month basis and are billed monthly on or about the 1st of each month.

• All lessons are billed in advance for lessons scheduled for the upcoming month.

• The number of lessons billed may vary due to the number of specific days in the month, holidays, or pre-arranged student or teacher absences.  Most monthly billing will be for 3-5 lessons per month.

• Payment will automatically be charged to the credit/debit card on file on or about the 1st of each month.  If payment is processed successfully, you will receive an email with a receipt of payment.

• The card will be charged for the total due on the account including tuition, fees, service charges, and any materials that may have been received. 

• If your credit or debit card payment declines, or VMA does not have a valid credit or debit card on file, payment is due by the 10th of the month.  

• A late fee of $5.00 will be added to any account with an outstanding balance after the 10th of the month.

• If payment is not received by the 15th of the month, the student account will be placed on hold or suspended until payment is received.

• Checks returned to VMA for insufficient funds will be charged a $30.00 service charge.

• Monthly billing will continue for lesson tuition until VMA receives 30-day notification in writing (email) that lessons have been discontinued.

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ADDITIONAL TEACHER STUDIO POLICIES

• Individual teachers will have additional policies regarding required lesson materials, practice requirements, lesson expectations, lesson goals, and parent involvement. Speak with the teacher directly regarding their individual policies.

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STUDENT/PARENT PORTAL - ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

• Students and Parents will be issued a login and password for the VMA student portal.  Students and parents are strongly encouraged to use this tool to manage their accounts, record practice time, cancel lessons, communicate with faculty and staff, and much more.  

• Student absences should always be submitted through the student portal to guarantee proper notification is given to VMA administrators and faculty.

 

PRIVATE LESSON SCHOLARSHIPS​ -  Limit one scholarship award per student. 

• Home School Student Scholarship​

  • Available to students who are being homeschooled.
  • Available to students up to age 18 during the months of September - May only.​
  • Lessons must be scheduled and completed before 3 PM, Monday - Friday.
  • The scholarship award is $2.00 per 30-minute lesson, $3.00 per 45 minutes lesson, and $4.00 per 60-minute lesson.
  • Scholarship must be requested and proof of home school status may be required.
  • Scholarship recipients are required to attend all VMA sponsored programs and participate in one student recital per year.
  • VMA does not guarantee teacher availability for all instruments or lessons during the times required for the home school discount to apply.
• Family or Sibling Scholarship
  • Available to families with more than one student enrolled in Private Music Lessons at VMA.
  • Available to students who are enrolled in and receiving more than one private lesson each week.
  • Scholarship awards will be applied to the second, and subsequent, lessons each week.
  • Scholarship awards will be applied to the lesser priced lesson if applicable.
  • On weeks when only one lesson is received, the scholarship will not be awarded.
  • The scholarship is applied prior to the monthly billing cycle.  If lessons are canceled during the month where the scholarship does not apply, adjustments will be made prior to the next bill cycle.
  • The scholarship is available to students of all ages.
  • The scholarship is available all year.
  • The scholarship is automatically applied to students who meet the requirements.
  • The scholarship award is 5 percent of the lesson tuition.
• Financial Aid Scholarship​

  • Financial Aid in the form of need-based scholarships may be available to students (up to age 18).

  • Students awarded scholarships must demonstrate consistent progress, attend all scheduled lessons and/or rehearsals, and keep all account balances current. 

  • Scholarship amounts are based on funding available to VMA and are subject to change.

  • Scholarships are awarded during the fall and spring semesters only.  The fall semester is mid to late August through December.  The Spring semester is January through May.

  • Scholarships do not automatically renew and must be reapplied for annually.

  • A full list of requirements is listed on the application.

  • To apply for financial aid, visit the VMA website to download an application.

 

VMA PHOTO POLICY

• Valley Music Academy may use unnamed photographs, videos, or portraits of students, participants, or attendees of classes, recitals, programs or other events, and any parts, reproductions, or likeness thereof in any form for promotional use online or in printed materials.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• After registering for lessons, you will receive an email confirmation.

• Once your lesson schedule has been confirmed, you will receive another email with lesson time confirmation.  If there are special circumstances regarding your schedule, a representative may contact you to work out any scheduling conflict by phone.

• After registration is complete and lessons have begun, any scheduling changes can be made through the student portal and directly with the teacher.

• You have full access to your account, billing, attendance, and payment information online at the student portal.  All billing and payment inquiries should be directed to the VMA office only.  Teachers do not have access to your payment or account information.

• As a non-profit organization, VMA sponsors a variety of fundraising activities each year.  Your support of these events, while not required for participation in VMA services, is greatly appreciated and helps to keep tuition affordable for all.

• FINANCIAL AID is offered through scholarships from September through May. Applications are due the first Friday in August of each year. Click here to download an application.   

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