The policy your family agreed to at enrollment. Questions go to the front office, not your teacher.
Welcome Traditional Strings students! Here is the information you need for a successful new year.
Lessons are held weekly throughout the year with the exception of H&S breaks or holidays. Lessons are taught in time slots of 45 minutes, 60 minutes, or 30 minutes (for students 7 and younger ONLY. H&S does not offer 30-min lessons for older students). Lesson length is determined by the teacher. Parents will be notified if the teacher thinks the student needs to increase lesson time.
H&S will communicate regularly through the email and/or phone number you provided on your registration form. Please do not block our emails or occasional text messages. Please email the front office at admin@hammerandstrings.com if you want to change that contact info or add a second guardian or student information.
You have chosen the Traditional Track for lessons. This track is a mid-level commitment track for the student and parent. You are required to attend 1 Masterclass per school year, and participate in at least 1 H&S recital and 1 outside event (like a competition, or festival, or service opportunity), but you are welcome to participate in all of it!! Your education is tailored to meet the needs of a committed student but flexible enough for a busy family.
Students are expected to be on time for lessons and bring all of the required materials. Please make sure the music bag is packed thoroughly before coming to each lesson.
*Students are required to record each lesson.* This can be an audio or video recording (a phone or
tablet works wonderfully). This eliminates confusion in the practice session, allows students to hear and assess their own playing, and encourages safe practices for all involved. This is especially important for students whose parents do not attend lessons.
music store, online, or you can purchase one from the front office for $40.
encouraged.
H&S does not provide make-up lessons for student scheduling conflicts or illnesses. There are no make-ups for missed studio classes or masterclasses. A studio calendar will be issued each semester listing the schedule for all lessons, studio classes, master classes, recitals, and vacation weeks throughout the year. Students arriving late to lessons will be given only the remaining duration of their lesson time. If you need to miss a lesson, there are 3 options available to you:
up the necessary electronics.
during your lesson time. These types of lessons can be extremely beneficial from time to time.
Student Illness: Please do not come to your lesson if you are ill. Students must be fever-free 24 hours prior to their lesson. If a student shows up to their lesson ill, the teacher will send them home without a lesson, and without a refund.These policies serve as a health protection for the H&S teachers and students, as they are interacting with several students/families each week. Please consider one of the above options if you need to miss a lesson.
The H&S teaching staff may have to cancel lessons occasionally due to illness or performances. Lessons canceled by the teacher can be made up in any one of the following ways:
Students may also be taught by a substitute teacher in the case of a teacher absence. All necessary effort will be made to notify parents about the change before the students arrive at the lesson, but there may be times where notice may not be possible. Substitute teachers may or may not be current faculty at H&S, but they will have the highest standard of teaching/performing abilities.
Parents are encouraged to attend each lesson, and may be asked to attend lessons, particularly with younger students. Parents of students 8 and younger should plan to attend each lesson. Parents should take detailed notes of the lesson, and see to it that all assignments are completed during the following week. Parents should not actively participate by speaking or disciplining during the lesson unless asked by the teacher.
Friends may not attend lessons. Parents who have multiple children taking lessons in consecutive time slots may have other siblings present during the lesson, provided they are not a distraction. Children under the age of 10 may not be left unattended outside the lesson. This includes the waiting area and restrooms.
Recitals are incredibly beneficial and imperative to the progress of a budding musician, and we have several each year! Your teacher will help you decide which recitals each student is ready to participate in. Traditional Track students must participate in at least 1 School Recital and 1 Masterclass each school year. The school calendar can be found at www.hammerandstrings.com/calendar, and your teacher will give you any additional dates you need to be aware of.
A Studioclass is a class that is led by the student’s teacher, and includes all of that teacher’s students. These are usually held twice a semester and they take the place of the private lesson for that week. Students perform for each other, and receive feedback on how to make their performances stronger. It is essentially a practice performance class. These classes are so important to each student learning about themselves as a performer. Students who miss a Studioclass forfeit that lesson.
A Masterclass is a class given by an outside Guest Artist whom H&S invites specifically to come give direction to our students. These classes are open to the entire school, and they are free of charge to H&S students and families. Most of the time, H&S teachers will select students who have a piece prepared at a high level to perform for these guest artists, who will then provide about 20 minutes of instruction to that student in front of those who attend. These are amazing opportunities to learn from master teachers, and should not be missed. These special masterclasses are held IN ADDITION to normal weekly lessons and will likely be held on a weekend. Traditional Track students are required to attend 1 masterclass each school year.
Based on each student’s progress, the teacher will recommend participation in additional events such as competitions or festivals. These performance opportunities are strongly encouraged, and will be introduced on an individual basis. The student or student’s parents are responsible to pay any registration fees for competitions or festivals. Traditional Track students are required to participate in 1 outside H&S event each year. This can include competitions, festivals, school performances where a student has a special role, and our H&S service performances at Assisted living facilities.
Students are expected to come to each lesson with all assignments completed. It is expected that students practice six days per week. A regular daily practice schedule will ensure long-lasting habits and steady progress. The teacher will suggest the amount that each student should practice depending on their level and capabilities. Parents should monitor practicing to see that all assignments are completed. If the student is obviously not prepared for a lesson, the teacher may excuse them from the lesson, or leave the remainder of the lesson for the student to practice.
The H&S Conservatory believes in maintaining mutual respect between the student and the teacher. Teachers will work hard to develop the type of relationship with each student that will make them feel encouraged, motivated, and inspired. Open and honest communication between the teacher and the parents is essential. If conflicts occur, please be honest and courteous. Administrators are here to facilitate any questions or disagreements that may arise. Individual teachers are not kept apprised of the financial information for each student. If you have questions regarding payments or school policy, please email us at admin@hammerandstrings.com
As mentioned in the H&S Philosophy, music education at the Hammer & Strings Conservatory is an investment of time and means that will positively impact your child for their entire lifetime. The skills of hard work, discipline, self-mastery, and focus that are taught at H&S are priceless and far-reaching, and will benefit them in every aspect of their lives and chosen career path.
Although students are assigned to an individual teacher, they are considered students/members of H&S, not any individual teacher. Circumstances occasionally arise where faculty at H&S change. When this occurs, we strive to seamlessly transition the student to a new H&S teacher who can continue the path and trajectory of each individual student. When a teacher leaves H&S, they do not “take students with them.”
Photos/video/audio recordings of student work and performances may be posted online and used by H&S for promotional material, to highlight student accomplishments, or to provide educational materials for other H&S students or teachers. Photos/video/audio recordings taken by H&S or that are shared with H&S by parents or students can be used at the discretion of H&S in regards to our Conservatory. Identifying information will be excluded or limited to the student’s first name only.
Parents wishing to exempt their students from any published media may do so by providing a written exclusion request. Please keep in mind, whether it be studio or public events, these same permissions will be granted to the organization (i.e., East Valley Music Teachers Association) running the event and there is a chance audience members may record other performances. If you choose to participate in a studio recital or public event, just like with any other extra-curricular activity, you accept that videos or recordings may be taken of your child and shared online.
Payment is considered a monthly tuition, and tuition covers the time spent with you/your child, as well as time spent preparing for lessons. Tuition payments are not on a per-lesson basis. Monthly tuition remains the same year-round regardless of scheduling conflicts, illnesses, holiday breaks, or vacations.
Tuition is billed monthly and is due by the 25th day of the preceding month (i.e. August tuition is due by July 25th, and so forth). Tuition is prorated during the first month of enrollment, and regular tuition remains the same for every month thereafter. If payment has not been received by the 7th day of the month, lessons for that student will be paused until payment has been made. H&S Conservatory is open year-round but has breaks that align closely to the Public School calendar. The only exception is summer (see below). If you would like the option to pay a full semester at a time, please email the front office at admin@hammerandstrings. There is a small discount, but tuition is non-refundable. All new students are required to pay a $35 interview and registration fee upon enrollment. Returning students must pay a $35 annual re-registration fee each year. For families with more than one student enrolled at H&S, the total annual re-registration fee is capped at $60 per family.
The months of June and July (our Summer Term) are the exception. During the Summer Term, students will pay for and attend 6 lessons total. These lessons can be scheduled directly with the private teacher, and can be arranged to fit travel schedules. If you have tuition related questions, please call or email the H&S Administrators at admin@hammerandstrings.com Private teachers are focused on teaching, and are not able to answer questions related to billing or finances.
It is expected that students will commit to lessons for the entire year. If for any reason the parent/student decides to terminate lessons, written notice (email) is required for a student to discontinue lessons. Any cancellations must be received in writing 14 days prior to the next billing cycle. For this reason when signing up for lessons, it is a minimum 2 month commitment. Emails must be sent to admin@hammerandstrings.com Informing your teacher is NOT sufficient notice of cancellation. They do not deal with tuition or with withdrawals.
Payments will be made with automatic withdrawal on the 25th of each month. Once a student is admitted into H&S, information will be given for how to set up automatic payments online through our Opus 1 system. Cash and personal checks are not accepted. If you would like to use a credit card or ESA funds for your recurring payments, a 3% transaction fee is required. H&S does not accept trades for services.
Each student and parent will have their own account in Opus 1. Opus 1 is an all-in-one platform for student, lesson and class management which includes billing, scheduling, communication, sms, email and more. Every student and parent will be required to use this platform. H&S will provide the credentials for logging in when onboarding is complete. Your credentials can be changed once you login for the first time.
Accompanists in Lessons
In instrumental and vocal lessons, it is often necessary to have an accompanist attend lessons. Accompanists/collaborators are wonderful musicians who need to be compensated fairly for their time and talents. As a musician, this is an important part of your musical journey, and will always be a part of your life. Being a part of H&S means that much of that cost is offset for the students, but not all. It is important to us that our students understand the importance and cost of a good accompanist/collaborator.
Each semester, vocal students and strings students will be charged a 1-time $10 accompanist fee. In addition, students/parents will be asked to compensate their accompanist at each lesson or rehearsal they attend. These are much reduced rates for the student, and H&S covers all other costs, including the cost for H&S performances/recitals. We are often able to hire our own talented piano students to take these jobs. For more advanced repertoire, a faculty pianist or other professional accompanist may be required.
The fee for a student accompanist in a lesson is $10.00 per 20 minutes of lesson time, and the fee for a faculty accompanist is $20.00 per 20 minutes of lesson time. This will be paid at the time of the rehearsal directly to the accompanist.
Teachers will ALWAYS let parents know when an accompanist is needed and when they will attend the lessons so that students can come prepared, not only with payment, but as prepared as they can be with their music to collaborate with another musician.
the events are to be paid by parents.
the Front Office.
H&S Tuition
the month will result in an immediate pause in lessons.
exceptions.
Accompanists