SCHOOL YEAR (September-June)
New private lesson students are enrolled in an initial 4-week introductory period. If the new student decides to continue with their lessons, they will automatically be enrolled for the remainder of the school year. If the new student does not wish to continue, they must inform the school in writing by the 4th lesson (see Withdrawals below for further details.)
Continuing private lesson students:
Students who start at the beginning of the school year are enrolled for 32 weeks of private instruction. Students may add additional lessons if time and schedules allow. Students who begin at any other point in the school year will be enrolled for the maximum number of lessons possible between the start date and the end of the school year in June, allowing time for make-up lessons as needed.
Private lesson times confirmed at the time of enrollment are considered permanent for the school year. Students can submit time change requests in writing to the Registrar’s office at any time, but revised lesson times are not guaranteed and are subject to availability. No refunds will be given in the event that lesson time change requests cannot be processed due to lack of availability on the part of the instructor.
SUMMER TERM (July-August)
New or Continuing private lesson students who sign up for the Summer Term may choose a flexible schedule based on student and teacher availability. Students have the option of choosing the specific, non-consecutive weeks (a minimum of three) during the summer term. Once the summer lesson schedule is confirmed, there are no changes permitted. Students adding lessons to their existing summer schedules must allow 3 business days between their inquiry and any new lessons; new summer students must allow 5 business days.
PRIORITY RE-ENROLLMENT
Priority Re-enrollment is an opportunity for continuing private lesson students to reserve their current lesson times, or request a change of day, time, or teacher for the next school year. The Priority Re-enrollment form will be sent to all enrolled private lesson students in late May, and students will be asked to complete the form and pay a deposit to hold their lesson time by a June deadline. For those students who request a change,their change request will be placed at a higher priority than new student enrollments upon completion of the form and deposit payment. Students who do not submit the form and pay the deposit by the June deadline may forfeit their existing lesson time.
SCHOOL YEAR
Tuition and Fees
Private Lessons:
An annual, non-refundable registration fee of $35 ($70 maximum per family) is due upon enrollment for private lessons.
New private lesson students are obligated to pay for their registration fee and their first four lessons upon receipt of their invoice. If payment is not received, their lesson start date will be delayed. All further lessons must be paid according to the agreed upon payment schedule or lessons may be suspended.
Continuing private lesson students who sign up through the annual Priority Re-enrollment period must pay the annual registration fee and deposit by the assigned deadline in order to reserve their existing lesson times. The remaining tuition balance must be paid according to the agreed upon payment schedule or lessons may be suspended. Continuing private lesson students who enroll after the Priority Re-enrollment deadline are obligated to pay their annual registration fee and tuition according to the agreed upon payment schedule or lessons may be suspended.
Payment Plans
Private Lessons:
For continuing private lesson tuition, we offer two payment options: full year payment and 4-payment plan (auto-debit required, 4 consecutive months). For the 4-payment auto-debit plan, you will be required to save your credit card on file and will be automatically charged for each payment on the due dates.
New students will initially be billed in two payments (first 4 lessons plus registration fee, and the tuition balance). New students may then elect to divide their balance into a payment plan, for which they will be asked to save a credit card on file for auto-debit. If a card is not saved on the account, the lessons will be automatically suspended after the fourth lesson until the full balance has been paid.
Classes and Ensembles:
Classes and Ensembles that are scheduled for the full school year and with tuition amounts over $500 may be paid in full at time of registration, or in two installments (one at registration and one in November, or no later than one month after the student’s start date if they join the program later in the school year). If you choose to pay in installments, a credit must be put on file in your account for auto-debit. All other Classes and Ensembles must be paid in full at the time of registration. All students are required to pay their tuition according to the agreed upon payment schedule, or their program participation may be suspended.
SUMMER TERM
Tuition and Fees
Private Lessons:
A non-refundable registration fee of $10 ($20 maximum per family) is due upon enrollment for summer private lessons. After receiving the placement and scheduling confirmation, payment in full is due upon receipt of invoice. Lessons may begin once the summer term balance is fully paid. There are no payment plans offered during the Summer Term.
Classes and Ensembles:
For Summer Classes and Ensembles, payment in full is due upon registration. For Summer Programs, if the tuition amount is over $600, students may pay in full or request a payment plan. A non-refundable deposit of $200 is required for those programs.
PAYMENT METHODS
Groton Hill Music accepts cash, checks, and Visa, MasterCard or Discover. Notes: Cash payments are accepted for the exact amount only; change is not available. There is a $25 fee for returned checks.
FAMILY DISCOUNT
If one family member registers for Private Lessons, immediate family members (defined as parent, guardian, or minor sibling of a student under age 21 who is living in the same household) receive a 10% discount on their Private Lessons. Students enrolling for more than one set of Private Lessons receive a 10% discount on the additional set of Private Lessons. The discount is taken on the least expensive lesson(s). This discount is for Private Lessons only during the school year, and is not applicable to Classes, Ensembles, vacation programs, or summer Private Lessons.
Groton Hill Music reserves the right to suspend or discontinue instruction of any student who is delinquent in fulfilling their financial obligation. In addition, student benefits such as recital performance may also be withheld, and new enrollments will not be processed until past due balances are paid in full.
For students on a payment plan, if more than one payment transaction is declined, Groton Hill Music has the right to cancel the payment plan and require that the remaining balance be paid in full before further music instruction may continue.
If a student whose account is delinquent does not respond to three or more requests to reconcile their account, Groton Hill Music has the right to cancel the payment plan and require that the remaining balance be paid in full before further music instruction may continue.
New Private Lesson students: If a new private lesson student does not plan to continue after the four-lesson introductory period, the student/family must inform the Music School Registrar (not the teacher) in writing at any time during the introductory period (before the fourth lesson). After the fourth lesson, the placement becomes a commitment for the remainder of the school year and there are no refunds.
All Private Lesson students: Groton Hill Music offers an opt-out period prior to the start of the second half of the school year for private lesson students. If you wish to withdraw from the second half of the school year, written notification must be made to the Music School registrar (not the teacher) during the opt-out period (January 4-16) in order to release you from your future financial obligations.
If you wish to withdraw at any other time, formal notification must be made in writing to the Music School registrar (not the teacher), and is subject to approval by the Director of Education & Programs. A refund or credit may be granted due to special circumstances only. Teacher notification or non-attendance are not considered formal notices of withdrawal.
Notice of withdrawal from currently running group classes or ensembles and all requests for refunds must be made to the Class & Ensemble Manager via email. Verbal notice or requests to faculty or other staff cannot be accepted. Registration fees and material fees are not refundable.
To receive a full refund, a written withdrawal request must be submitted at least 7 days prior to the first class meeting. Partial refunds are not offered for group classes.
Exceptions are:
Course Cancellation: If Groton Hill cancels a course for insufficient enrollment, a full refund will be issued to those who have already registered. Groton Hill reserves the right to adjust tuition, duration, or meeting frequency in order to run a class with low enrollment.
Inappropriate Placement: If a teacher, student, or student family determines that a class is inappropriate for the student or not a good fit, the student or family must send a written withdrawal request before the second class meeting in order to be considered by school administration for a full refund.
Exceptions for medical issues, relocation, or other emergencies are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you feel that your situation merits an exception, please include the specific details in your written request.
Prorated refund amounts for full-year ensembles with weekly rehearsals are as follows:
*Refunds for full-year ensembles are calculated after deducting non-refundable fees.
Exceptions for medical issues, relocation, or other emergencies are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you feel that your situation merits an exception, please include the specific details in your written request.
Refunds for February and April vacation programs and Summer Programs are granted on a case-by-case basis.
Groton Hill Music is committed to providing music education to as many students as possible regardless of financial circumstances. Need-based scholarships are available for all of our programs.
If you are applying for a scholarship, please visit our Scholarships page to complete our online scholarship form, and include a copy of your most recent 1040 form. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Please contact the music school office for assistance.
ABSENCES
SCHOOL YEAR
Private Lessons: Private Lesson students are allowed two excused absences per school year if the student begins lessons before January 15, or one excused absence if the student begins lessons on or after January 15. Twenty-four (24) hours advance notice must be given to qualify for an excused absence. Discretion may or may not be granted by the teacher for cancellations for reasons of illness within 24 hours of a lesson.
If a teacher is absent, the lesson will be made up or the student will receive a credit at the end of the year. If a student misses a make-up lesson, there is no credit and no additional make-up lesson (unless the missed make-up lesson qualifies as an excused absence). Student families and teachers are expected to work together to schedule make-ups. If a teacher offers a number of opportunities to schedule a make-up lesson but the student is unavailable for any of those times, the lesson will be considered a student absence.
Substitute teachers may be scheduled occasionally when a teacher is going to be absent for a number of weeks. Please inform the Music School placement staff if you prefer not to work with a substitute.
Online Lessons: Students will be allowed to request online lessons if they prefer. Faculty may also offer an online make-up lesson when no in-person options are available; student families are welcome to accept or decline this option.
Classes and Ensembles: Individual absences for a Class or Ensemble cannot be made up. If a teacher is absent, the Class or Ensemble will be made up at the regular class day and time if the schedule allows. Because large ensembles (orchestras, wind ensembles, choral ensembles, etc.) operate on a pre-set rehearsal and concert schedule, we cannot offer make-up sessions for weather closings or emergencies. Substitutes will be enlisted whenever possible for a director’s absence.
SUMMER
Private Lessons: Once scheduled and confirmed, there are no make-up lessons, refunds, or credits for Private Lessons cancelled or missed by the student during the summer term. If an instructor is absent, the lesson will be rescheduled, credited, or refunded.
Classes and Ensembles: Individual absences for a Class or Ensemble cannot be made up. If a teacher is absent, the Class or Ensemble will be made up at the regular class day and time, or will be credited or refunded.
TARDINESS
Students who are late for a lesson cannot be guaranteed their full lesson time. Faculty will wait for a student for one third of the lesson time before starting another lesson or leaving. Missed lesson time due to faculty tardiness will be made up at a mutually convenient time.
Students who arrive late for a group class or ensemble rehearsal will not receive additional make-up time or credit.
Information about weather-related closures will be announced via email as well as social media. Note: During inclement weather, Groton Hill Music School closings do not necessarily follow the public school closings or decisions related to Groton Hill professional concerts.
Private lesson students: Your teacher may offer optional online private lessons during weather closures. A maximum of two make-up lessons per year will be offered for weather-related closures. There are no credits or refunds for subsequent closings.
Classes and small ensembles: For classes or small ensemble rehearsals cancelled due to weather closure, meetings will be made up as the calendar allows, with a maximum of two make-ups per session for school closings. There are no credits or refunds for subsequent closings.
ACCESSIBILITY
Our facility at 122 Old Ayer Road in Groton is fully handicapped accessible. Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, only trained service animals (not pets or emotional support animals) are allowed inside the building or on the grounds.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
Groton Hill Music does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, veteran status, or any other category protected under applicable law in its admissions, education programs, activities, or employment policies.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Student accommodations may be made on a case-by-case basis within the capabilities of the Music School. The final decision as to whether or not an accommodation can be provided will be determined by the Groton Hill Music School staff.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND OTHER MEDIA
Groton Hill Music may photograph or record lessons, classes, ensembles, performances, or other group activities. These materials may appear in print as well as digital media, including our website, social platforms, and livestreams.
Photographs or recordings created during Groton Hill music school activities are eligible for the above uses unless the school receives prior written notification from the student or parent/guardian requesting an exemption, as well as a photograph of the student (for internal identification purposes only).
Groton Hill Music may use a student’s full name for public recognition purposes in internal communications only, such as our Student Newsletter or school-wide emails. We will use only the student’s first name and last initial when acknowledging their achievements in any external communications including social media, emails, or press coverage.
GENERAL CONDUCT:
Groton Hill Music maintains a code of conduct for all students and family members in order to create a safe, respectful, and supportive environment. Students and family members are responsible for adhering to the following guidelines:
Failure to follow these standards, including disruptive actions or the misuse of equipment, may lead to a disciplinary process or dismissal from the school without a refund.
FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG STUDENTS: SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN
To ensure your child’s safety, please be sure to pick them up promptly after their music instruction. Children are under supervision during their instruction time only. Neither teachers nor administrative staff are responsible for supervising children outside of teaching times. We also ask that young children wait quietly while in our common areas. Parents and guardians retain sole responsibility for their child’s safety, supervision, and conduct outside of scheduled rehearsal hours.
STUDENT ILLNESS
Groton Hill Music Center is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all of our patrons and staff. For everyone’s safety, students and family members may not enter the facility if they are sick. In order to maintain this environment, we reserve the right to ask any patron who is ill to leave the facility if they are exhibiting symptoms of contagious illness.
FACILITY & EQUIPMENT
No food or drink is allowed in any of the teaching studios, rehearsal rooms, or performance spaces, except for water bottles.
All Groton Hill Music equipment must remain in the building. Any student equipment, including musical instruments, and other personal possessions are the sole responsibility of the owner. Groton Hill Music is not responsible for any loss or damage to student equipment at any time.
Smoking is prohibited inside or on the grounds of our building.
PRIVACY STATEMENT
Groton Hill Music School securely maintains personal information and does not release or sell student information to third parties. Our registration site is hosted and maintained by ASAP (Administrative Software Applications), Inc., which uses the highest level encryption security to protect your data.
By registering for any of our programs, you authorize and give consent to Groton Hill Music to use your information for school operations, financial transactions, and essential communications. Contact details (email, phone, mailing address) are only shared with necessary faculty and staff of Groton Hill Music. Please note that students under 18 must have a parent or guardian complete the registration process. Providing us with your contact information authorizes us to contact you and/or the student.