Policies and Terms

Tuition:
For lessons, tuition is charged by the semester of 17 lessons (or, for new students starting mid-semester, for the prorated number of lessons remaining in the semester), or, for summer term, according to the number of lessons a student schedules with their teacher(s). Tuition is not prorated for absences; rather, absences may be made up according to “Make-Up Policies & Weather” below. Students ages 16 and up may be eligible to purchase a “flex pass” for lessons, subject to teacher and administrative approval; contact the office or your instructor for details. For classes, camps, and workshops, tuition is charged according to the details provided in each program’s registration materials on the school website and/or in the Pike13 registration portal. Class, camp, and workshop tuition will be prorated only with administrative approval; contact the office to inquire.

Registration Fee:
A nonrefundable registration fee is charged once per school year, due with your first tuition payment of the school year. For the first student in a family, the registration fee is $35. For each additional family member, the registration fee is $10. New students starting during the summer session pay a $10 summer registration fee, due with their first tuition payment of the summer term. Continuing students do not pay a summer registration fee.

Other Fees:
A $20 late fee may be added to invoices which remain unpaid two weeks (14 days) after the due date. A $20 fee may be charged to cover the cost of a returned check or failed ACH payment. All card payments (credit and debit) are assessed a nonrefundable card processing fee of 3%. No additional fees are charged for cash, check, or ACH payments. Withdrawal fees are detailed in “Withdrawals” below.

Payment Methods:
Tuition and fees may be paid by check, cash, card, or ACH. Checks and cash can be mailed to the school or delivered to the office or the drop-box in the front reception area. Card payments can be made online or in person at the office during administration hours, and incur a 3% card processing fee. Contact the office to set up automatic payments via ACH or card. If a payment due date falls on a weekend/holiday, ACH payments may be processed on the next business day. Bills will be sent via email at least two weeks (14 days) prior to the first payment due date. If there are any adjustments required for your bill (e.g. switching lesson length, adding another student to the family, adding another instrument/genre/class)), please contact the office as soon as possible.

Payment Due Dates:
Semester Payments: First day of the semester/term
Monthly Payments: First day of the school year, Sep 15, Oct 15, Nov 15, Dec 15 (5 installments for Semester I); Jan 15, Feb 15, Mar 15, Apr 15, May 15 (5 installments for Semester II); June, Jul 15 (2 installments for Summer Term)

Registration and Enrollment:
When registering, students are committing to the full semester (or, for new students starting mid-semester, for the remainder of the semester). Once enrolled, students do not need to re-register from semester to semester or year to year; students are enrolled until we receive written notice of discontinuation. Please see “Withdrawals” below.

Calendar:
The school calendar is provided to all students prior to the beginning of the school year (or upon registration), and is available on the school website. The school calendar includes 17 lesson weeks and one “flex week” per semester, with additional make-up days available. Teachers may use “flex weeks” as make-up weeks or breaks; please check with your teacher for details. Additional make-up days (e.g. “flex days” in the school calendar, Sundays) are determined by your teacher. Summer term calendars/schedules vary by studio and are determined by individual teachers.

Location of Lessons:
It is the school’s intention that all lessons take place on-site where we provide lesson space, administrative support, parking, and liability insurance. If the teacher and parent/student agree to hold lesson(s) off-site, tuition is still paid to the school, and the teacher and parent/student will release the school and teacher of all liability.

Virtual Lessons:
Teachers who have the equipment necessary for online lessons may choose to offer this as a regular option to their students, and/or online lessons may substitute for in-person, on-site lessons in the case of bad weather, illness, or another mutually agreed upon reason. Consult your teacher for details on their plan for online, in-person, or hybrid lessons. Plans may be subject to change as developments occur. See Make-Up Policies and Weather below. Above all, the health and safety of our students, faculty & staff, and broader community leads our decision-making process. If you feel ill, please notify your instructor and stay home. Thank you for your understanding.

Minnesota Data Privacy Act:
In accordance with the Minnesota Data Privacy Act, personal information requested by the school is never shared with the public. Information is only given to the staff and faculty who need it in order to perform their duties.

Make-Up Policies and Weather:
Teacher cancellations: If a teacher must cancel a lesson for any reason, including bad weather or illness, he/she/they will notify the student, and the student will be entitled to a make-up lesson. If a teacher is teaching at the school on a given day, his/her/their lessons/classes are held even in bad weather.

Student cancellations: If a student and/or their parent/guardian cancels a lesson with prior notice of at least 24 hours, they may receive one (1) make-up lesson per semester/term. Student “no shows” or cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will not be made up. As a courtesy, please notify your teacher and the office if you will be late or absent.

Make-up lessons: Your teacher may offer make-up lessons in-person on their make-up day(s); online at the same time as originally scheduled lessons; or online at another mutually agreed upon time. You agree to attend online lessons at the same time as your originally scheduled lessons if your teacher cancels in-person lessons and offers online lessons as an alternative; or if your teacher is teaching at the school, offers online lessons, and you are not able to attend an in-person lesson but are able to attend an online lesson (e.g. in the event of a communicable illness during which you still feel well enough to play, in the event of bad weather that makes it impossible for you to make it to the school). You agree to be communicative and to operate in good faith when scheduling make-up lessons with your teacher. Please contact your teacher if you have any questions regarding their make-up day(s) or ways in which they offer make-up lessons.

Communication:
The school communicates with students and/or their parents/guardians via email. It is the student’s and/or their parent/guardian’s responsibility to ensure that they are able to receive school emails. If emails go to your spam folder or are otherwise blocked or filtered, please “mark not spam” or otherwise ensure that you are able to receive school communication. Additional methods of communication may include: posted signage at the school, school website, school voicemail message, and school social media accounts.

Withdrawals & Transfers:
An enrolled student who plans to discontinue lessons at the end of the semester must notify the office* in writing at least two weeks (14 days) prior to the end of the semester, or pay a withdrawal fee equal to one lesson’s tuition. A student who withdraws with written notice to the office* within the first four weeks (28 days) of the semester will receive a full refund of any remaining lesson tuition paid. A student who withdraws with written notice to the office* after the first four weeks of the semester, but within the first eight weeks (56 days) of the semester will receive a refund of 50% of any remaining lesson tuition paid. After the first eight weeks of the semester, no refunds are available. The registration fee is nonrefundable. Card processing fees are nonrefundable. Flex pass tuition is nonrefundable.

With written request to the office*, a student may change teachers within the first four weeks (28 days) of study, or at the end of a semester, or a teacher may ask that a student be placed with another teacher; in such cases, all tuition payments are transferable to lesson tuition with a student’s new teacher.

*Please note that notifying your teacher is not sufficient to process your withdrawal or transfer. As a courtesy, we ask that you notify your teacher of your intent to withdraw or transfer; however, you must also provide written notice to the office.

Care of our School and the Community:
Food and beverages other than water are not allowed in our studios; the cafe area where we provide tables and chairs and the adjacent kitchenette are available for meals or snacks. Students and families agree to behave in a respectful manner in all areas of the school, and when attending school events and activities held at other locations, including but not limited to: Following posted rules and regulations; maintaining a clean and welcoming environment by keeping their belongings neat and discarding all garbage/compost/recycling in designated locations; keeping the volume of conversations and activities in waiting areas low enough to avoid disruption to lessons, classes, or performances in progress; and notifying the office of any maintenance or housekeeping issues.

Notice of Non-Harassment:
The school is a welcoming and caring community. Faculty, staff, students, and parents/guardians agree to treat all people with respect. Harassment or offensive behavior will not be tolerated, and may result in a student’s or family’s dismissal from the school.

Photography, Videography, and Audio Recordings:
The school uses photography, videography, and audio recordings to document activities and promote opportunities. Participation in an activity serves as your consent to the capture and use of such photographs, video, and audio recordings, and your release of your rights to your and/or your child’s image, unless you indicate otherwise in writing, either emailed or brought to our office. If at any time you would like to make changes, please contact the office. Names and identifying information of students are not included with published photographs unless express written permission is sought and granted from the student and/or their parent/guardian.

Student Contract:
By signing the policies document and paying tuition, the student and/or their parent/guardian agree(s) to the terms outlined on the policy document. The school will notify students and/or their parent(s)/guardian(s) promptly of any updates to school policies.