Policies
Updated 8/1/23
Tuition and Payment Plans
Tuition may be paid in full or by electing a payment plan and is due in advance of the first lesson or class. If electing a payment plan, a credit card number must be held on file at UVMC. The credit card will be automatically charged on the payment plan’s due date.
Registrations that are not paid partially or in full before the first lesson or class will be charged a late fee of $35.
Families with multiple members enrolled, or a student registering for more than one program, receive a discount of 10% off their total bill. Family and multiple class discounts cannot be combined. This discount does not apply to Music Together programs. Music Theory classes do not count as ‘second’ classes for students in individual lessons or the Suzuki Program.
Enrollment in individual and Suzuki lessons is on a semester basis and includes sixteen weekly lesson times that are reserved by the teacher for the student. Lessons less than once per week are only available in limited circumstances, and all dates must be agreed upon before registration.
Tuition fees for individual lessons will be pro-rated for new students who enroll after the term has started. Tuition for group classes and ensembles cannot be pro-rated.
Absence/Attendance Policies
UVMC is providing a relationship created through in-person, online, and asynchronous activities. Teaching in-person is our default context to help build community. Online lessons and asynchronous feedback and teaching content help provide continuity. In some studios, in extenuating circumstances, an online lesson may be available at a student’s regular lesson time.
Individual Lessons: Lessons canceled or missed by students for any reason are not eligible for make up, regardless of whether or not the student notifies the teacher or UVMC in advance. If a student is unable to attend their regular lesson time in-person, faculty may be able to offer an online lesson, recorded content, assignments, or response to video at the faculty member’s discretion. Teachers are not required to wait more than 15 minutes for students late for their lesson. UVMC will not refund lessons missed by students.
Lessons canceled by UVMC (e.g. for weather, faculty illness, etc.) will be made up during make-up week at the student’s regular lesson time or at a mutually convenient time for both student and faculty.
Group Classes: Student absences in group classes or ensembles will not be refunded. Make-ups may be available for some classes, and some teachers may be able to provide assignments, notes, or recordings.
For UVMC closures, each class and ensemble will have a policy that may include online classes, make-ups, or asynchronous content. Please check on the cancellation policy for your class or ensemble and contact the office with any questions before registration.
Withdrawal/Refunds
Notice of withdrawal and all requests for refunds must be made to the Administrative Director in writing or via email at info@uvmusic.org. Verbal notice or requests from students and parents must be accompanied by a written request. Families who choose to use our payment plan are still obligated to pay any remaining tuition due at time of withdrawal.
Refunds can be made on the following basis:
Refunds for Individual Lessons – Fall & Spring Terms
One week before the first lesson: 100% of tuition payment. Before the sixth lesson: 50% of tuition payment. After the sixth lesson: no refund.
UVMC will not refund lessons missed by students.
Refunds for Individual Lessons – Summer Term
Before the first day of summer term: 100% of tuition payment. On/after the first day of Summer Term: no refund.
Refunds for Group Lessons and Ensembles
Before the first scheduled class: 100% of tuition payment. After first scheduled class: no refund. Students can attend the first class of the semester as a trial at no cost with prior approval from the office and if space allows.
Refunds for Summer Camps
More than 6 weeks before start date: 100% of tuition payment. Between 3-6 weeks before start date: 50% of tuition payment. Less than 3 weeks before program start date: no refund.
Workshops and Masterclasses
No refunds.
If a group class or ensemble is not run due to low enrollment, a full refund will be made. UVMC does not refund the annual registration fee. Refunds may be made on request in extenuating circumstances. Such requests must be made in writing to the Registrar (info@uvmusic.org).
Minimum Registration for Classes and Ensembles
Group classes and ensembles run based on meeting minimum registration. All group classes and ensembles meet for the first scheduled class regardless of pre-registration. Registration must meet minimum requirements by the second class in order for a class to run. If a class does not run, notification will be made to enrolled members before the second class, and a full refund will be made.
Tuition Assistance
The Upper Valley Music Center believes that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, should have access to quality music education. Tuition assistance is given to a student on the basis of need, availability of funds, and commitment to music study. In order to apply, please complete the tuition assistance application available at www.uvmusic.org/ta.
Tuition Assistance applications must be completed during the registration process in order to be considered. A new application needs to be resubmitted every semester.
If you are applying for tuition assistance for individual lessons or the Suzuki program, as part of your application you must submit a copy of your most recently completed federal tax Form 1040 (first two pages), or other verification of income.
All information is held in strict confidence. You will be notified of your tuition assistance award, if any, within 14 business days of your application. The remaining balance must be paid in full or by electing a payment plan before classes begin.
Emergency Closings
For cancellation days, the UVMC typically follows the Lebanon School District snow day cancellation schedule, regardless of which district your child is in. If there are other reasons the district closes, such as facility issues, UVMC programs will continue as normal. If the Lebanon School District delays opening or closes early, UVMC may choose to stay open depending on conditions and programming needs. On a 2-hour delay schedule, UVMC will cancel programs that begin before 9:30 am. If there are any questions, please call UVMC.
Closing information will be posted on UVMC’s website, outgoing phone message, and emailed to enrolled students. To ensure you receive closing notices, please add info@uvmusic.org to your address book and remain subscribed to our newsletter. Lessons canceled by UVMC due toweather will be made up if schedules allow, or may be offered online.
Communications
All students who register for a UVMC program (or their parent) will be added to UVMC’s mailing list to ensure that they receive critical office updates and weather closing notices. Please add info@uvmusic.org to your contact list to ensure that you receive these updates. Please note that if you unsubscribe from our mailing list, we cannot guarantee that you will receive emergency closing information.
Trial Lessons
Individual Lessons – Students may take a trial lesson in order for the student and faculty member to determine a mutually good fit for further instruction. A trial lesson is a one-time, paid lesson with no further commitment. A registration fee is not charged for a trial lesson.
Suzuki program – The Suzuki program encourages prospective students to observe lessons and group classes, but does not offer trial lessons. Observations may be arranged by contacting the Suzuki Program Coordinator.
Group classes – Students may attend the first class free of charge with advanced approval from the office, as space allows.
Lesson Etiquette
In order to start on time, please come at least 5 minutes prior to your lesson time. Be sure all students have clean hands and faces, and have time to use the restroom, if needed. If the student has siblings, please check with your teacher before bringing them along. In many lessons, they are welcome to come and observe, providing they are not a disturbance to the learning environment.
During lessons, classes, and special events (concerts and recitals), we ask that students and families turn off all electronic devices and observe courteous and respectful behavior (e.g. staying seated during recitals while a student is playing and refraining from talking during instruction).
Parents and caregivers are responsible for picking up their child promptly at the end of the lesson. If a teacher or staff member is required to wait with your child, you will be billed at the regular lesson rate for any extra time.
Changing Instructors
If a student would like to change instructors (including to non-UVMC teachers), please discuss it with both teachers. If you have specific concerns that you are unable to discuss with your current teacher, please contact the office at info@uvmusic.org.
Permission for Use of Photographs and Video
Photographs and videos of registered students taken during UVMC classes and events are considered eligible for publication and public use, unless the student’s family submits a written request to the contrary at the time of registration. All such student requests will be honored.
Parking
Parking is available in UVMC’s unpaved parking lot behind the building and in public street parking.
Please do not park at any time (including evenings and weekends) in the paved Carriage House parking lot behind the UVMC building, which belongs to our neighbors. There is a good chance that you will be towed!
During our busiest hours, 2-7 pm, please use Lebanon street parking. This will ensure that the UVMC lot is available for students with limited mobility and faculty, who must park for long hours. Please follow all posted parking time limits and restrictions in street parking spaces.
You can find detailed information about parking in downtown Lebanon, including a map online:
City of Lebanon Parking Map.
Summer Registration Policies
This policy refers to summer camps hosted at UVMC facilities. For partnership programs that use another organization’s registration system, we defer to their posted registration policies.
Summer Camps
A full tuition payment is required to register and save a space in a summer camp. Summer camp tuition includes a non-refundable $35 registration fee. Families applying for tuition assistance for summer camp must submit their complete tuition assistance application along with the $35 registration fee to reserve a spot. Full payment of adjusted tuition is required within two weeks of the tuition assistance notification.
Withdrawal/Refunds
Notice of withdrawal and all requests for refunds must be made to the Registrar in writing or via email. Verbal notice or requests from students and parents cannot be accepted. Refunds can be made on the following basis:
(updated 12/20/19)
More than 6 weeks before program start, 100% of tuition payment (less $35 registration fee)
Between 3-6 weeks before program start, 50% of tuition payment (less $35 registration fee)
Less than 3 weeks before program start, no refund
Summer Lessons
All payment for summer lessons and programs are due in full when you schedule your lesson(s). When you schedule your lessons, your teacher reserves that time in their schedule for you. There are no refunds after the last day of Spring Semester, June 19, for scheduled summer lessons.
All additional policies stated above also apply to Summer Camps.
COVID-19 Liability Waiver and Assumption of Risk
You may not visit UVMC or partake in any in-person UVMC activity unless you have agreed to this waiver. Upper Valley Music Center (UVMC) has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, UVMC cannot guarantee that you or your child(ren) will not become infected with COVID-19. Further, visiting UVMC in-person could increase your risk and your child(ren)’s risk of contracting COVID-19.
By agreeing, you acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and voluntarily assume the risk that your child(ren) and you may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 by attending or visiting UVMC and that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and death. You understand that you, as an adult student, or you, as parent, or your designated caregiver, may not visit UVMC or any of its satellite locations with any additional guest beyond direct family member/caregiver, student and siblings within your care. You understand that the risk of becoming exposed to or infected by COVID-19 at UVMC may result from the actions, omissions, or negligence of yourself and others, including, but not limited to, UVMC employees, volunteers, and program participants and their families.
You voluntarily agree to assume all of the foregoing risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury to your child(ren) or yourself (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense, of any kind, that you or your child(ren) may experience or incur in connection with your child(ren)’s attendance at UVMC or participation in UVMC programming (“Claims”).
On your behalf, and on behalf of your children, you hereby release, covenant not to sue, discharge, and hold harmless UVMC, its employees, agents, and representatives, of and from the Claims, including all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating thereto.
