MUSIC for YOUNG CHILDREN CLASS POLICIES
The School Year
Music for Young Children® (MYC) runs all year from September to end of May or early June. We will have 34 weeks of classes and at least one formal recital (June) and one special event-activity-fun day or class party (Dec).
Registration / Materials Fee
Families register for MYC by paying for the cost of materials. Materials your child will receive will be: a high-quality nylon carrying bag for all the materials, a music book which includes all the music needed for the year, a magnet board with a keyboard on one side, and a staff on the other and magnets, a castanet (small rhythm instrument), a sticker and homework book, for keeping track of all homework and for collecting practice stickers, and a parent handbook. The cost of the materials vary by age level. You are not “registered” until the materials fee is paid. For first year students (level 1 classes), there is now an option to pay this registration/materials fee in three installments.
Monthly Lesson Fees
The tuition for the entire year is $850. We take that as 10 payments of $85 from September to June. Note that each month’s fee is the same, whether or not the month is a shorter or longer month. Payment is made by Pre-Authorized Debit, or by 10 post-dated cheques, or by lump sum paid at the start of the year
Insufficient Funds
In the event that a Pre-Authorized payment is declined, you will be billed a $25 NSF service charge.
Parent Involvement & Practice
Music for Young Children® is a family commitment, as one parent will accompany their child to class each week for the hour-long class. As well, we need that parent to practice with their child at home. Each week in class, we award reward stickers for practicing and for playing pieces, and we will try to encourage you in your practice efforts at home. In their first year, Sunshines (ages 3 1/2 to 4) will be aiming for 5 minutes of practice per day for 5 days a week. Sunbeams (ages 5 and 6) will be aiming for 5 to 10 minutes of practice per day for 5 days a week. And Moonbeams (ages 7 to 8) will be aiming for 10 minutes to start, going up to 15 to 20 minutes of practice per day for 5 days a week. Non-piano practice, that is, rhythm bags, magnet board or homework pages, are also considered practice time, particularly for the younger Level 1 classes.
Withdrawing from Lessons before the Start of Class
If you must withdraw from the class before the first class even starts, your Start Up cost (registration and materials) will be returned to you minus $15 for our shipping and handling costs of ordering and then returning your unused materials.
Withdrawing from Classes during the year
We want to make sure that your experience here is the best possible. If you or your child are having difficulty, please speak with us. Together, we would develop a plan to address motivation, practice, or other problems and to help you to have a successful and enjoyable year. However, we understand that there may be circumstances where lessons may need to be terminated. If you withdraw from class, we would like a 30-day notice, and we will still collect the monthly fee of $85 for the month in which you made the decision to withdraw.
Missed Lessons
There are no refunds or credits for classes which students miss.
Lessons Missed by the Teacher
In the event that your teacher must miss a lesson, we will either: arrange with parents in advance to reschedule the class, or will arrange to have a certified MYC teacher fill in as substitute, or will schedule a make-up class at a different date, or will add an extra class to the end of the year in June. In any case, we will endeavor to keep you fully informed so that you are aware of what was missed, and how it will be made up.
Video Lessons
Due to our experience with teaching group classes online due to COVID-19, it is possible that your teacher include you in the class digitally if you cannot attend physically. We will use this as a secondary option on days when inclement weather would otherwise keep families from attending class.
No Cell Phones in Class
Class works best when parents are able to focus on their child. We ask all parents to refrain from texting and using their cell phones in class!