School Policy

SCHOOL SESSIONS 

The school year consists of two semesters: Fall and Spring. When you register, you are committing to the entire school year, which includes both semesters. Your slot will be automatically secured for the whole academic year. Please notify us if you wish to make any changes. 

 

The Summer session, lasting 8-9 weeks from June to August, is separate from the Fall and Spring semesters.

 

FEES

• Annual Registration Fee (Non-refundable)

  • Fall and Spring Semester: $30 per individual / $50 per family
  • Spring Semester (for students enrolling on or after the first day of Spring Semester): $20 per individual / $35 per family
  • Summer Session: $15 per individual / $20 per family

• Recital Fee (Non-refundable)

  • A mandatory annual recital fee of $75 per student is billed at enrollment and re-enrollment. This fee covers venue rental, piano tuning, and studio performance class tuition.

PRIVATE LESSON DURATION

We offer private lessons in the following durations: 15 minutes (specific age), 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and 60 minutes.

Private lesson tuition includes unlimited access to workshops, masterclasses, and concerts hosted by EKS Music School, as well as ongoing communication between families and instructors between lessons.

TUITION

Tuition and fees can be paid by cash or check (payable to EKS Music School) or online through your student account. A $25 fee will be charged for all returned checks.

Tuition is due on September 7, 2024. A $10 late fee per student per week will be applied to past due accounts. If an account remains overdue for more than 3 weeks, we will charge your credit card on file, including the accumulated late fees. Lessons, classes, and performances will be suspended until the account is current if the credit card is invalid.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, we offer two payment options:

1. Pay in Full before the first lesson.
2. Monthly Payment via Credit Card from September 2024 to June 2025. A valid credit card must be on file, which will be automatically charged on the first day of each month (10 payments total). Automatic credit card payment is the only option for families opting for monthly payments. Cash or check payments are not accepted for this option.

For full-year tuition, payments can be made via cash, check, or credit card. Apart from the registration fee, recital fee, and monthly payment options, a 4% surcharge will be applied to any credit card transactions over $100. This surcharge will be automatically added to your account and charged upon processing (excluding the registration deposit and monthly payments).

A 4% surcharge also applies to any requested reversal of credit card transactions.

DEFERRAL PAYMENT

The previous Deferral Payment option has been discontinued since 2023.

DISCOUNTS

• Private Lesson Discount: Existing private students who enroll in additional private or group classes receive a 5% tuition discount per instrument.
• Group Class Discount: Existing group class students who enroll in private lessons within one month of completing their group session receive a one-time $25 tuition discount per instrument.
• Sibling Discount: Families with two or more students enrolled concurrently receive the following discounts:
  • Two students: 5% discount on the younger student’s tuition.
  • Three or more students: 5% discount on the second student’s tuition, and 10% discount on the third and additional students’ tuition.

Please note that no refunds are given for any paid installment. For more details, refer to the “Withdrawal, Refund, and Credits” section below.

MAKEUP POLICY

Students are responsible for attending lessons punctually. Since faculty members reserve a weekly slot for each student, they are not required to make up lessons missed due to student absence.

To cancel a lesson, please email info@eksmusicschool.com and notify the school.

One lesson per semester may be made up if the school or teacher is notified at least 6 hours in advance and if a time becomes available during the teacher’s regular hours. The makeup lesson may be conducted in person or virtually, depending on the availability of the teacher and studio space. If a lesson is canceled due to teacher absence, a substitute teacher will be assigned, or your teacher will arrange a makeup lesson during school hours. The lesson format originally chosen (in-person or online) will be honored in case of teacher absence.

EKS Music School reserves the right to assign substitute teachers for makeup lessons as needed.

There are no makeup lessons for group classes (including semi-private lessons) missed by the student.

If a student is required to stay home due to illness or COVID symptoms, a Zoom lesson will be conducted at the scheduled time.

All makeup lesson credits must be claimed by the last day of the Spring semester. No makeup lessons are available for summer session absences.

Makeup lessons due to illness (with notice) and inclement weather will be conducted via Zoom only. In-person makeup lessons are no longer available.

ABSENCE DUE TO ILLNESS

Students who are ill or may have been exposed to illness should stay home. Coming to lessons while sick increases the risk of exposure to others. We reserve the right to cancel lessons and send students home if they are unwell. Please refer to the cancellation and makeup policy above for more details.

INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELLATIONS

EKS Music School follows the Quincy Public Schools calendar for weather-related closures. Students and parents should check their email for updates.

 

Notifications will be sent by noon via email, the EKS Facebook page, and the school’s website.

 

Lessons canceled due to inclement weather will be conducted via Zoom only.

 

WITHDRAWAL, REFUND, AND CREDITS

If a student needs to withdraw from private lessons, the school will refund a percentage of the tuition if a withdrawal request is signed and returned to the Music Director.

• For families who pay in full prior to the first lesson:

  • Before the 1st lesson: 100% refund
  • Before the 2nd lesson: 80% refund
  • Before the 3rd lesson: 60% refund
  • Before the 4th lesson: 40% refund
  • Before the 5th lesson: 20% refund
  • After the 5th lesson: No refund

• For families on the monthly payment plan: To avoid being charged for the next month, submit a written withdrawal request to the Music Director by the 20th of the month. Once a monthly payment is charged, no refunds will be issued for unused lessons.

No refunds are given for group classes once they are in session.

• Registration fees, recital fees, and credit card surcharges are non-refundable. Discounts and credits (except overpaid credits) will be removed upon withdrawal. Families using a credit card for refunds will incur a 4% surcharge.

Credit balances are valid for one year from the date of issue.

REFERRAL CREDITS

Existing families with at least one completed semester of private lessons or one completed session of group lessons will receive:

• $20 tuition credit for referring a new student who enrolls in private lessons.
• $10 tuition credit for referring a new student who enrolls in a group class.

Credits are issued after the referred student completes a full semester of private lessons (minimum 17 weeks) or one session of group class.

There is no limit to the number of students a family can refer. However, only one tuition credit is given per referred student, regardless of the number of classes they enroll in.

TERMINATION

EKS Music School reserves the right to suspend or terminate services for any account at its discretion, with or without notice.