STUDIO POLICIES

Registration and Online Accounts

All students and guardians will have an online family account. You can login to your portal at musiconthewestside.opus1.io/login. Schedules, bills, past visits, payment methods, and more can be viewed in each account.

All students in ongoing lessons or classes will be charged a registration fee. There are three tiers of the registration fee, as outlined below. Registration includes binder and rst lesson book, or program materials.

INDIVIDUAL REGULAR MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION: One-time registration fee for one student, for one class. This is the best option if there is only one student in a family dedicated to learning one instrument, or is only interested in one of the classes offered. Price is $49, plus tax.

INDIVIDUAL LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION: One-time registration fee for one student, for all classes the student takes during their tenure at Music on the Westside. This is the best option if a family has one student that is interested in many instruments and wants to be involved in many classes throughout their instruction. Price is $89, plus tax.

FAMILY LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION: One-time registration fee for multiple students sharing a family billing account, and interested in one or many classes per student. This is the best option for families of more than two students, who will be taking one or more classes. This membership registration is applied through the administrative staff only. Price is $199, plus tax. This membership is limited to a maximum of 3 students.

*PLEASE NOTE* KidzRock classes and the Intro to Instruments classes will only be given a $20, plus tax registration fee. These classes will receive folders and printed materials, only.

Expectations

Performance and Practicing

Please encourage your child to practice regularly. There is a parent log in the student binder that is not required, but an optional tool for parents who would like more accountability for their students’ practice. Students will be rewarded for consistent practice.

Participation in Gig Nights, video productions, and other performance opportunities is encouraged, but optional. Parent/family involvement is strongly encouraged on Gig Nights, as well.

The membership includes the option to come and practice during open studio hours when rooms are available. Classes will always take priority. Practice can occur during our in-ofce hours which should be conrmed with that front desk immediately prior to leaving for the studio. As these are not reserved rooms, it is a rst come- rst served basis.

If you want to reserve a room/instrument for band practice/non-student practice, please, discuss with the ofce for pricing information.

Student Binder/Lesson Book

Students will receive a binder at their rst ongoing lesson, whether private or a medley group class. This binder will have a Welcome Letter with key highlights, a copy of this Student Policy & Handbook, our Prize Wall explanation and Sticker Sheet, as well as our Holiday Schedule and Practice Log with Parent Signature. The binder will also come equipped with loose leaf paper, and music staff sheets for instructional purposes and notes from and for instructors. A three-hole punch is made available for all students to utilize for any extra sheets an instructor may hand out.

There is room in the binders for lesson books and other printed materials. The rst lesson book or printed materials is/are included in the registration fee for the student. All lesson books after the rst will be discussed with parents and placed on the student's account for payment. These student binders must be brought to each lesson. Replacement of the binder and all materials will be at the student’s expense.

KidzRock classes and Intro to Instruments classes will receive a folder with printed materials. There will be no lesson books. These lesson folders must be brought to each lesson. Replacement of the folder and all materials will be at the student's expense.

Conduct

Students must always be polite and respectful to both the instructors and other students.

Participation is required by all students. Parents may choose to be in the lesson with their child, but not in a group class unless the teacher approves.

Fighting, bad mouthing, and indifference will not be tolerated and are grounds for dismissal. We reserve the right to discontinue lessons with any student that acts out or is disrespectful.

There are no refunds for lessons discontinued due to conduct issues.

Attendance

Online Class Options

As of June 17, 2020 all students will have the option of online lessons as part of the monthly membership. Pricing will remain the same as in studio lessons. Policies are the same for in studio and online lessons.

Student must notify the studio by 5:00 pm the day before their scheduled lesson, if they will be switching from in-person to online lesson, due to student illness when still feeling well enough to participate, or student travel. This needs to be arranged by either emailing customermotw@gmail.com or by calling (505) 312-6960.

Missed Lesson Policy

IF THE STUDENT MUST CANCEL:
A lesson must be canceled via the Opus1 student portal.

Login here https://musiconthewestside.opus1.io/login. Lessons canceled with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice will be eligible for a reschedule credit. All reminders for weekly lessons will be sent out 26 hours in advance; make sure you have a preferred notication method in the student account. Cancellations due to illness are still subject to the same requirements as any canceled lesson.
*PLEASE NOTE* Other forms of communication for cancellation will not be accepted. A reschedule credit and/or refund will not be offered for lessons canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice.

IF THE STUDIO MUST CANCEL:
The studio may cancel lessons for a number of reasons, as listed below. All efforts will be made to alert family to a studio cancellation as soon as is known.

INSTRUCTOR ILLNESS: In the instance of instructor illness, a substitute may be provided. When a substitute is provided, there will be no rescheduling credit, make-up credit, or refund offered.

If no substitute is available, a make-up credit will be offered to the ongoing private instruction student, and a rescheduling credit will be offered to a medley group class student or buddy lesson student.

INCLEMENT WEATHER/POWER OUTAGE: Monday - Friday we will closely follow Rio Rancho Public School decision on declaring school closure or early dismissal due to inclement weather, while Saturdays will be the call of the studio. For declared school closures and if experiencing power outage, the studio will close and offer either a make-up credit or give the option of an online lesson.

*PLEASE NOTE* If Rio Rancho Public School decides to declare a school closure, the studio may still opt to continue lessons for the day, if weather permits.

Contact the studio ASAP if you prefer to arrange for an online lesson. This is dependent on each teacher's capability during weather closures.

Tardiness

Students arriving late will still end their lesson at the scheduled time.

Rescheduling Credit /Rescheduling Credit Group Class

These credits will be offered only when the student cancels their lesson through the online portal and with appropriate 24 hour notice, or for a studio canceled medley group class.

These credits can be used to attend our rescheduling credit group class options: Drum, Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, Voice, Violin, Intro to Instruments and Jam Session. The student will have the option of scheduling their own Rescheduling Credit Group Class through their online portal, or can ask the ofce to schedule. Rescheduling credits will not be able to be used in an ongoing medley group lesson.

The student does not need to attend a Rescheduling Credit Group Class in the instrument of their ongoing lesson, nor is any knowledge of the instrument needed. Instruments will be provided if the student does not have an instrument for the Rescheduling Credit Group Class chosen.

Each student may accumulate up to 4 rescheduling credits at any one time. Rescheduling credits should be used for one of the rescheduling credit group class options within 60 days, or they will be lost. There is a maximum of 2 rescheduling credits allowed in a 30 day period per student account.

KIDZROCK & KEYNOTES EXCEPTION:
Any cancellation by the student with appropriate notice, will result in a credit that will be available for only another KidzRock group lesson, or Keynotes (Little Keynotes, Keynote Storytellers, Keynote Connections) group lesson. Students in these programs must choose the program in which they are already enrolled. For example, a Keynotes Storytellers student may only use a credit for another Keynotes Storytellers group lesson. Only 4 credits will be valid per student account at any one time. These credits will only be valid for 60 days. There is a limit of 2 student cancellations per month with these programs.

Make-up Credit /Scheduling Make-up Class

These credits will be offered only when the studio must cancel a student’s ongoing private lesson, due to either instructor illness, inclement weather or other unforeseen anomaly that affects the studio’s ability to remain open. The studio will inform families as soon as possible of a studio cancellation.

These credits are to be utilized for scheduling a make-up class, or a rescheduling group credit class, by the student through their online portal. These credits will expire in 6 months. A substitute instructor may be provided for a make-up credit lesson.

If an instructor is unavailable, due to illness or vacation, the student may be given a substitute. When a substitute is provided, there will be no rescheduling credit, make- up credit, or refund offered.

Drop Off & Pickup 

Parents may stay for each lesson or drop off the student inside our studio during their lesson time. The monthly membership entitles families to use our waiting area, where there are toys and books for siblings, as well as complimentary coffee and water. Young children shall not be left unattended in the studio. Due to space limitation, please do not drop off and pick up more than 20 minutes before and after, respectively, the scheduled lesson.

Holiday & Vacations

Our holiday schedule is located at: http://www.musiconthewestside.com/holiday- schedule and in every student binder, as well as placed around our studio. No lessons or classes will be held on these days. While the studio tries to send reminders to every student regarding holidays, it is still the account manager's responsibility to know these dates and exceptions will not be made.

Monthly membership pricing is based on an average monthly attendance throughout the year. We have included the average number of lessons missed due to holidays and a few additional missed days. Therefore, no credits or refunds are given for monthly membership-based payment plans during studio holiday closure.

All monthly membership fees will be automatically billed and processed on the day of the account holder’s initial choice set-up, between the 1st and 10th of the month, utilizing either the credit card or ACH debit account listed on file. Once this date is chosen, it cannot be changed. A $25 late fee will be applied to any account with an outstanding balance on the 5th day after the membership due date.

Payment is required in full prior to the student's first lesson or class each month or no lesson will be given. Lessons missed due to non-payment are not eligible for a reschedule credit. Students will be removed from the ongoing schedule without notice if payment has not been received by the 25th day after the month and the $50 cancellation fee will be added to the outstanding balance. 

If a payment is declined, we retain the right to use a different card on file on your account for the payment due. 

Monthly Membership Plans 

The monthly membership plan guarantees students a weekly lesson time with a Music On The Westside instructor. Students will have scheduling priority, signing up for gigs, and a 10% discount for occasional single, additional lessons. 

Monthly membership pricing is based on an average monthly attendance throughout a year. We have included the average number of lessons missed due to holidays and a few additional missed days to account for illness or unexpected absences. 

In the event an Instrument Medley or Buddy Lesson drops to an enrollment of a single student, the student will receive a private lesson for the same length of time as their current membership plan for the remainder of that calendar month.  The following calendar month, the student will be given the option to either change to a 30 or 45 minute private lesson membership plan until such time as another student has enrolled.

Pricing Adjustments: Monthly Membership Increases

On March 1st, of each year, all prices will increase between 2 - 5%. Anything above a 5% increase will require prior authorization from the account holder. Notice of change will be sent in a studio email from customerMOTW@gmail.com (please, make sure this address is added as a contact, and not blocked) and posted in the studio. Price increase is non-negotiable.

Monthly Membership on Hold

Music on the Westside understands that sometimes families have other obligations and must put their monthly membership on hold. The studio will allow a one month’s hold to be placed on a student’s account. The monthly membership for the returning month will be prepaid before the hold goes into effect. This ensures that the student’s choice of day, time, and instructor will be kept for the student’s return.

The one-month hold may only be used once in a calendar year. For example, if the one month hold is used for June, it cannot be used again in December.

If more than one month is needed, the student must cancel their account and abide by the cancellation rules, and will not have a guarantee on their time or instructor when they return.

Commitment Period

Music on the Westside does not require contracts and all lessons are on an ongoing basis, with few exceptions. The initial commitment is the first two monthly membership payments. Cancellations will not be accepted when less than two full monthly membership payments have been made. For example, if your account’s first month is prorated, two additional months must be paid.

Cancellations

Cancellation policy is applicable after the initial commitment period. Cancellations require a 30 day notice from the membership due date. Failure to provide this notice will result in a $50, plus tax late notice cancellation fee. 

Send notification by email to customerMOTW@gmail.com or from the student portal. Notification will not be accepted by any other method; do not inform instructors and expect them to be able to cancel the monthly membership. 

No refunds will be given for partial months.

There is no cancellation fee if notice is given with more than 30 days of the monthly membership due date.

Example: If your monthly membership is paid on the 8th of the month, and you want to cancel for July, you must complete the notification on the 8th of June.

If cancellation is given with less than 30 day notice, either of the following options will apply:

1. A $50, plus tax cancellation fee will be charged and lessons are discontinued immediately.
2. Monthly Membership is extended to the following month and the student may attend remaining lessons during the currently scheduled lesson times.

For the safety and security of our students, staff, and visitors, Music On The Westside employs video and audio surveillance. The video feed may or may not be monitored at any time.