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TCSM Information and Policies 2016-2017

TCSM1 MONTHLY TUITION DETAILS Monthly Tuition Lessons Include:

• One weekly reserved lesson time slot per lesson registration • Teacher feedback and practice notes • Opportunity to audition and perform in or attend the TCSM Showcase Recital • Group and community performance opportunities when available • Two TCSM Recitals per school year at a local event facility 2 Church recitals: Performers and up to 3 family/friend members are included. Additional family guests/friends: $10 for adults, $5 for children.

Recitals held at Professional Theatre Venues will result in additional ticket costs. Monthly Tuition Restrictions:

• Strict cancellation and refund policy. See Cancellation and Refund section. • Strict policy on make-up classes. See Attendance and Missed Lessons section.

TCSM 12 WEEK PACKAGE DETAILS 12 Week Packages Include:

• One weekly reserved lesson time slot for the registered 12 weeks only. • One recital, if the recital occurs during the 12 week period and the student is prepared. • Teacher feedback and practice notes.

12 Week Package Restrictions: • Scheduled day and time slots are not guaranteed past the 12 week registration.

INSTRUMENT GROUP CLASS PACKAGE DETAILS WINTER SESSION September – December (15 classes) SPRING SESSION January – June (22 classes)

• One weekly reserved class time spot for each student within the group setting. • One recital option per session. • Teacher feedback, course preparation, and feedback about student performance in the group.

Group Class Restrictions: • Besides the one opt out date per session, group classes are subject to the per semester cancellation policy

and there are absolutely no make up lessons granted for group classes. GROUP THEORY/ RHYTHM CLASSES

• Based on 25 or 28 classes, beginning the last week of September until May/June. • No make up lessons granted for group classes. • Monday group theory does not run on Thanksgiving Monday or Halloween. Please see school

Calendar for other dates where classes are not in session.

TCSM 2016-2017 SESSION SCHEDULE Summer Session 2016 July 4th, 2016 September 2nd 2016 Winter Session September 6th 2016 January 31st 2017 Spring Session February 1st 2017 June 30th 2017 Summer Session 2017 July 3rd 2017 August 31st 2017

• The TCSM Winter Session begins on the first Tuesday in September for School District 43, or the Tuesday after Labour Day. • In the Spring Session, the final TCSM lesson day is up to and including the last day of June. • The Summer Session is a package containing only 6 or 8 lesson packages. Please refer to the TCSM Fee Schedule for financial details.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 The Tri-City School of Music will be referred to as TCSM in this document herein.!2 Excludes Summer Session !

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TCSM CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY Monthly Tuition Registrations are subject to a per session cancellation policy. All pre-authorized credit card and debit payments and post-dated cheques will be processed until the end of the session in which the written cancellation notice is received. There is one opt out date per session: Winter Session: notice must be submitted in writing before or on October 1st. The final lesson will take place the last week of October. (30 day cancellation notice) Spring Session: notice must be submitted in writing before or on March 1st. The final lesson will take place the last week of March. (30 day cancellation notice) 12 Week Package Registrations have no option for cancellation. Semi-Private lessons and Group Classes are not subject to cancellation and are not refundable because they are subject to minimum enrollment at the time of registration. In special circumstances, refunds for private Monthly Tuition Registrations and 12 Week Registrations will be considered in the following situations:

• A death in the immediate family • A move outside of the Greater Vancouver

Regional District • A prolonged illness or injury to the student (with

a doctor’s note) Refunds in these cases will be subject to a one-month cancellation policy from the date written notice is received by TCSM.

TCSM ATTENDANCE & MISSED LESSONS Students are expected to commit to and attend their lessons on a weekly basis. If a student gives notice of the inability to attend a lesson or fails to attend, we regret that there will be no refund or reduction in fees. Further to this point, there will be no obligation by TCSM or the teacher to make-up the missed lesson. All Make-Up lessons will be subject to the sole discretion of the teacher except in the following circumstances:

• The lesson cannot be conducted due to a problem with the facility.

• The teacher must cancel the lesson due to an irresolvable conflict.

TCSM reserves the right to substitute an alternate instructor for any lesson or class in order to preserve the lesson schedule. Lessons missed due to teacher unavailability will be made up at a mutually agreed upon date or taught by an equally qualified substitute as decided by TCSM. If a Teacher cancels a lesson and a make-up cannot be arranged by the end of the session, a refund will be credited to the family upon request. Make-up lessons

for any other reason may be given out of no obligation to TCSM at the sole discretion of the teacher. If a Teacher agrees to a make-up lesson it must be made up by the end of the session otherwise the time is forfeited. Consult your teacher for their policy on missed lessons and make-up days. Missed lessons for group or semi private registrations will not be made up under any circumstances. Class materials, if any, will be provided to the student and the next class.

TCSM PAYMENT METHODS & PROCEDURES TCSM accepts Cheque, Visa, and Mastercard for all payments. Cash is not accepted. Please make all cheques payable to The Tri-City School of Music. 12 Week Package Payments

• One cheque for the full 12 Week Package posted dated for either the 1st or the 15th of the month in which the first lesson takes place.

• One credit card payment for the full 12 Week Package processed on either the 1st or the 15th of the month in which the first lesson takes place.

• One Debit transaction at the time of in-person registration for the full 12 Week Package tuition.

Per Session Tuition Payments • Two cheques for each full five month session

post-dated for either September 1st or 15th 2015 and February 1st or 15th 2016.

• Two pre-authorized credit card payments processed on either the 1st or the 15th of each Session beginning in September 2015 and February 2016.

• One Debit transaction at the time of in-person registration for the full ten months of session tuition.

• There is a one-time incentive discount applied to all per session/full year payments. Please see the fee schedule for financial details.

Monthly Tuition Payments • Ten cheques for each full month of the Winter

and Spring Sessions post-dated for the 1st or the 15th of each month.

• Ten pre-authorized credit card payments processed on either the 1st or the 15th of the month.

• Pre-Authorized Debit for monthly tuitions amounts can be arranged with a void cheque at the time of registration.

! 3!TCSM REGISTRATION Pre-Registration for the Winter and Spring Sessions begins in June. Families wishing to keep their current lesson time(s) or be given priority preference for a day or time change must submit their updated registration form, signed policy sheet, and complete method of payment by June 20th to secure their request for September. All requests for schedule changes will be processed in order of receipt of the requested forms and chosen payment. After June 20th, all new and returning student registrations will be considered equal and will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

TCSM FEES AND SERVICE CHARGES

• There is a one-time registration fee of $25.00 per family for students new to TCSM.

• Performance fees will be due or processed via credit card on August 25th, prior to the commencement of the school year.

• There is a $35.00 Non-Sufficient Funds Fee for dishonored payments. It is the responsibility of the payee to inform TCSM of a new account number or expiry date.

• A $10.00 administrative fee will be applied to overdue accounts.

• A $10.00 administrative fee will be applied for rescheduling weekly lesson times when requested by the student/family.

• A $10.00 administrative fee plus additional delivery fees will be applied for the completion of any external forms beyond standard TCSM receipts and invoicing.

• All music books, festival fees, and equipment are an additional cost. Please consult your teacher or assistance before purchasing equipment, books, or festival registration.

• Piano Accompanying fees through TCSM may apply for performances and competitions. Families will be notified in advance should these services be necessary.

• Fees for Recitals, Performances, Workshops and Masterclasses will apply. See Fee Schedule.

OTHER TCSM POLICIES

• Performances outside of TCSM must be approved by the student’s teacher.

• Participation in the TCSM Showcase is by audition. Attendance is mandatory for all students.

• Recital participation is mandatory for semi-private, group classes, or elective commitments to duets and trios with another student.

• Students are expected to practice regularly. • Parents are expected to monitor and

encourage their children to practice. • Students in Grades 4 and above must take a

group theory/history course. A written examination is taken in May of each year and is subject to an examination fee through the chosen method.

• Students who consistently show up for their lessons unprepared resolve the issues with a parent, teacher, and student meeting during class time to discuss the issues.

• Please ensure that your child arrives to their class on time with their instrument & materials.

• If a student is working towards a graded performance examination, it is imperative that they participate in at least one music festival prior to the exam to help them prepare for their examination. Please anticipate festival fees if you are supporting a student taking a formal examination.

• Students are expected to participate in rehearsals/masterclasses and to honor their commitments to group performances. However, performance with a group is not guaranteed if the student fails to meet minimum attendance and performance standards.

• TCSM Students are expected to make music training high on their priority list.

TCSM AGREEMENT 2016-2017 I, ______________________________, have read and understand the information in the TCSM Information and Policies document above or have had this information translated for me by a trusted third party. I understand the financial implications of the policies stated above and I agree to their terms and conditions as they pertain to my registration(s) with TCSM. Signed: Date:_____________________________ (Parents or Students aged 18 and above) Student’s name(s) for reference:_________________________________________________!