2024-25 Policies
COVID
COVID-19 Information
Faculty, staff, and students can return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without the use of a fever-reducing medication.
Once people resume normal activities, Brookline Music School requires that for the next next 5 days they wear a well-fitting mask while at the Music School.
FINANCIAL
Fees and Discounts
Registration and payment are required prior to any lessons or classes taking place.
Lessons and classes will be delivered either in person or remote, as conditions permit.
Registration Fee: There is a once per school year non-refundable $45 registration fee per family.
Payment Plan Fee: There is a non-refundable $20 fee per term for payment plans.
- Discounts:
Multiple lesson discount: If there are 3 or more full-term (16) private lesson or class enrollments in the same term in a family account, a discount of 5% will be applied to the lesser priced registrations.
Early childhood sibling discount: A discount of 35% will be given to a sibling attending the same Music Play or Musical Adventure class. Prior teacher approval is required, and sibling seats are limited.
Senior citizen discount: For students 65 years and older, a discount of 5% will be given for any private lesson, class or ensemble.
Enrollment, Withdrawals, & Refunds
Private Lessons – Term I and Term II – New Students
Withdrawal before the fourth scheduled lesson: There will be a prorated refund or credit less registration and payment plan fees.
Withdrawal on or after fourth scheduled lesson: There is no refund or credit.
Withdrawal requests must be made to the office. Absence after the third scheduled lesson with or without notification does not release students from the obligation to pay for the term. Once registered, the student is committed to the day, time and teacher for the term. Registration is non-transferrable.
Private Lessons – Term II – Returning Students
Students registered for private lessons and shared lessons in Term I are given priority re-registration status to keep the same day, time and teacher into Term II. Payment is required by payment deadline to confirm the registration.
Once payment is received, registration is non-transferrable and the following withdrawal policies apply:
Withdrawal three weeks before Term II start date: There will be a full refund or credit.
Withdrawal less than 3 weeks before Term II start date: There will be a 50% refund or credit. No switching day, time or teacher will be allowed.
Withdrawal on or after Term II start date: There is no refund or credit.
Group Classes, Shared Lessons & Ensembles – Terms I and II
Students registered for group classes and ensembles in Term I are given priority re-registration status to continue into Term II with the same day, time and class. Payment is required by payment deadline to confirm the registration. Once payment is received, registration is non-transferrable and the following policies apply:
Withdrawal three weeks before Term start date: There will be a full refund or credit less registration fee and payment plan fees.
Withdrawal less than 3 weeks before Term start date: There will be a 50% refund or credit less registration fee and payment plan fees. No switching classes will be allowed.
Withdrawal on or after Term start date: There is no refund or credit.
Summer
Payment in full is required at time of registration. There is a $30 withdrawal fee per class until the withdrawal deadline, which is three weeks before the start date of each class, after which there will be no refund or credits for summer programs or classes. There is no registration fee for the Summer term. Registration is non-transferrable.Delinquent Accounts
Brookline Music School reserves the right to suspend or discontinue instruction of any student who is delinquent in fulfilling financial obligations. An additional billing charge of $25 will be added to overdue accounts, which includes declined installments for payment plans. Delinquent accounts referred for collection will be liable for all collection fees and costs. There is a fee of $25 for any returned checks.ATTENDANCE
Student Absences
Private Lessons – Terms I and II
Students taking private lessons are permitted one excused absence per term.
For lessons scheduled at or after 2:00pm: an absence is excused if the teacher or office is notified no later than 10:00am on the day of the missed lesson.
For lessons scheduled before 2:00pm: the teacher must be directly notified of the absence by 9:00pm the previous night.
The excused student absence will be made up at the end of the term on designated make-up dates. All private lesson teacher absences will be made up or a refund will be issued. In addition, one inclement weather day per term will be made up for private lesson students. Missed make-up lessons will not be made up. In all cases, if a student withdraws prior to the end of the term, he/she forfeits any missed lesson make-ups owed due to student absences.
Private Lessons – Terms I and II
Students taking private lessons are permitted one excused absence per term.
For lessons scheduled at or after 2:00pm: an absence is excused if the teacher or office is notified no later than 10:00am on the day of the missed lesson.
For lessons scheduled before 2:00pm: the teacher must be directly notified of the absence by 9:00pm the previous night.
The excused student absence will be made up at the end of the term on designated make-up dates. All private lesson teacher absences will be made up or a refund will be issued. In addition, one inclement weather day per term will be made up for private lesson students. Missed make-up lessons will not be made up. In all cases, if a student withdraws prior to the end of the term, he/she forfeits any missed lesson make-ups owed due to student absences.
Group Classes – Terms I and II
For group classes, shared lessons, and ensembles, students should notify the teacher or office as soon as possible if they will be absent. Missed sessions will not be made up unless due to teacher absences. If a teacher absence cannot be made up, a refund will be issued. In addition, one inclement weather day per term will be made up for group classes, shared lessons, and ensembles. Missed make-up classes will not be made up. In all cases, if a student withdraws prior to the end of the term, he/she forfeits any make-ups owed.Summer
There are no make-ups for classes or ensembles unless the cancellation is due to a teacher absence. For private lessons, excused absences may be made up at a time mutually convenient to the teacher and the student.
For lessons scheduled at or after 2:00pm: an absence is excused if the teacher or office is notified no later than 10:00am on the day of the missed lesson.
For lessons scheduled before 2:00pm: the teacher must be directly notified of the absence by 9:00pm the previous night.
Any lesson missed due to teacher absence will be made up or a refund will be issued.
In general, students and family members who stayed home sick from school or work should not attend in-person lessons/classes. Any person who is sick will be sent home. Please also refer to BMS COVID policy for additional information.
Tardiness
Prolonged Illness or Injury
Cancellation of Group Classes/Ensembles
Inclement Weather Policy
School Closure
If there is a school-wide closing or an event cancellation, information will be posted on the website (BMSmusic.org), on BMS social media, and on TV Channels 5, 7, and 25. You may also call the school and listen to our automated message which will be updated in the event of a school closing.
Storms during office hours: Please call the office for information or check the website.
Storms after the office has closed: Your teacher will contact you directly regarding lesson status.
Inclement Weather Day Make-ups
ONE inclement weather day per private lesson student, per semester will be made up at the end of the term. If a group class or ensemble is canceled due to inclement weather, one make-up group class or ensemble will be offered at the end of the term. Inclement weather day make-ups are only offered for days when BMS has officially closed or canceled lessons or classes due to inclement weather. If mutually agreed upon by faculty and student, a remote/virtual lesson may take place on an inclement weather day to avoid a missed lesson.GENERAL
Contact With Faculty
All BMS faculty members can be reached via their @bmsmusic.org email address. Faculty and teaching artists will not directly call or text students who are under the age of 18 without receiving consent from a parent or guardian. Faculty personal contact information (personal phone number, personal email, etc.) will not be shared directly with students who are under the age of 18 without receiving consent from a parent or guardian.
Expectations For Student Conduct
Parking
Photo/Video Policy
Brookline Music School may photograph/videotape lessons, group classes or events for educational purposes or to share BMS music online or in print. We are very proud of the accomplishments and talents of our faculty and students, however if you do not wish your child or yourself to be photographed or videotaped, please select “no” to photo/video consent under your account profile in your online registration account.
For virtual events, if you or your child(ren) are to be part of a school-wide recital or other event, by agreeing to participate and/or submitting a video, you are providing permission for Brookline Music School to use your image, video, and audio for public broadcast (website, social media, etc.). For departmental events or studio recitals, in advance of the online performance, the Department Coordinator and/or your teacher will provide the plan for the video recording. If you do not wish your child or yourself to be photographed or videotaped, please select “no” to photo/video consent under your account profile in your online registration account.
For private lessons, the BMS faculty member must give written consent before you or your child record any part of a lesson. For group classes, BMS must give prior written consent before you or your child may record any part of a lesson or group class, so that BMS may advise the faculty member, alert other students, and ensure that appropriate permissions and rules are in place for compliance with BMS policies and applicable laws. Please contact the office at [email protected] to obtain recording permission for group classes. Similarly, BMS faculty will not record any part of a lesson or class without receiving consent from students and/or parents or guardians.