Westlake Music Academy Policies
Students Under the Age of 18
1. Tuition
Monthly payments are processed automatically by credit card or electronic check on the first of the month for that month’s lessons. If using a credit card, there is a $3 monthly fee. There is no fee for electronic check. Lessons are a flat fee of $144 per month ($36 per half-hour lesson). The first month is prorated if there are fewer than 4 remaining lesson days in the month at the start of lessons. If a student elects to do weekly hour-long lessons, the cost is for exactly two half-hours, that is, $288 per month ($72 per hour).
2. Average of Four Lessons Per Month
There are 48 lessons per year, and therefore an average of four lessons per month, hence a flat fee of $144 per month. Most months will have four lessons, but a few months will have either three or five lessons. WMA does not charge less when there are three lessons in a month nor more when there are five lessons in a month.
3. Cancellations and Make-Up Lessons
If you need to cancel a lesson, call or text the front desk at 440-558-6876. Do not contact your teacher. WMA offers one-hour group make-up lessons for students who cancel any scheduled lesson. Visit TheWestlakeMusicAcademy.com/general-makeup-lessons to request a make-up lesson. Group make-ups are age and level appropriate and grouped according to one’s instrument. There are not normally private make-up lessons at WMA for lessons missed/canceled by the student.
If there are not enough sign-ups for a group class, the class is divided up into half-hour private lessons. Adult classes, especially, often end up being half-hour private lessons. Group make-up lessons can take place each week Fridays from 6-7 pm, and Saturdays 10-11 am, 3-4 pm, and 4-5 pm. This schedule is subject to change. The classes could be with any faculty member of the instrument that the student takes. There is no deadline for canceling to take advantage of group make-up lessons, however, we ask that out of respect for your teacher’s time you give as much advance notice as possible. If you no-show a make-up lesson or cancel the day of, “a make-up for the make-up” will not be offered.
4. Scheduling
Refer all communications about scheduling to the academy, not your teacher. If you need to cancel a lesson, or you need to explore new days or times, that is a matter handled by the school, not the teacher. You can contact the academy by texting or calling 440-558-6876.
5. Teacher Cancellation
If the student’s teacher cannot attend a scheduled lesson, WMA will arrange for a substitute teacher. If WMA is unable to schedule a substitute in time for the student’s lesson, we will reschedule the lesson for a time that works for both the student and their teacher.
6. Safety
To best ensure safety at WMA:
1) All WMA teachers have passed the National Criminal Background Check.
2) We have an open-door policy. Parents or guardians are always welcome to sit in on lessons.
3) All studios contain a video camera (with no audio).
4) All studios have windows in the doors.
7. Molding of Hand Position
Many of the teachers at WMA consider it important to at times make contact with the student’s hands and/or wrists to mold hand positioning. The teacher will ask permission of the student and/or parent on the first instance of seeing the need to do so. Contact would be limited to hands and wrists only.
8. Parents Encouraged to Sit in on Lessons
At WMA, we highly encourage parents to sit in on lessons. For younger children, ages 4 to 8, this is really a must. In general, children do better when a parent is “in the loop” and understands what the child is supposed to be doing at home. As a child gets older it may become less necessary, but it is still highly encouraged.
9. Practice Time
In order to learn music effectively and improve steadily, students should schedule a regular practice time. Practice should be done in a quiet, distraction-free area. It is very important for parents to supervise children from the age of 4-8 during their practice time. Just as children these ages are not usually independent with doing their homework and need some supervision, the same goes for practicing.
10. Care of Students
WMA is not responsible for providing before or after care for students. Students are not to be left at the school for excessive periods before or after lessons.
11. Illness
If a “mess” is left behind in the facility due to a stomach virus (it has happened), there will be a $35 clean-up fee.
12. Injury
Parents, legal guardians of minors, and students waive the right to any legal action for any injury sustained on school property resulting from normal lesson activity or any other activity conducted by the students or their siblings or friends before, during, or after lesson time, including hearing loss or hearing damage. The Westlake Music Academy is not responsible for any damage done to vehicles or items stolen from vehicles.
13. Retrieving Student
Children must wait for their parents to pick them up inside the academy. Please do not ask them to meet you elsewhere. WMA assumes no responsibility for children who leave unaccompanied.
14. Withdrawal
If withdrawing from lessons, please directly notify the front desk by the 25th of the month. (Telling your teacher that you are stopping lessons does not constitute a withdrawal.) You will receive an email from us confirming your cancellation of lessons. WMA does not prorate for the last month of lessons if wishing to stop lessons in the middle of a month. Lessons canceled after they have been paid for on the first of the month are non-refundable. Students will be responsible for their last month of lessons whether they attend them or not. Lessons not attended can be made up with our Saturday make-up lessons and group classes at WMA even after a student has un-enrolled. “Temporarily” stopping lessons with the intention of returning after a month or two still constitutes a withdrawal. We do not hold slots when a student withdraws with the intention of returning after some determined period of time. The slot may not be available when you return.