Policies & Procedures
Enrollment and Fees
For Private and Semi-private classes, we offer one free 30 minute trial lesson (first lesson) for the students and family to see the school and meet the teacher. After this first lesson, the student may be withdrawn from the school with no further charges. For detail regarding the first lesson withdrawal policy, please see the "Termination of Lessons by Parents, Legal Guardians and Adult" policy language below. If additional trial lessons are desired, the family may pay for each additional trial lesson. The cost for additional trials is 50% of the regular class tuition fees per trial.
Tuition for private music lessons is calculated based on the amount of classes per session (ex: Fall Session (Sep - Nov) and divided into monthly payments. Tuition may vary month to month depending on the number of lesson days (ex: sometimes a month has 5 Tuesdays, and sometimes 4). You will receive email from us with the exact amount of your monthly payments based on your enrollment. Please refer to our current pricings page for the current pricing of all private, semi-private, group classes, and other fees (kramersmusic.com/prices/). A one time annual registration fee is charged to the student based on the month of enrollment.
Payments: Online registration and automatic tuition payments are set up via a secure 3rd party vendor on the Kramer's School of Music website (kramersmusic.com). Tuition payments are made via automatic pre-authorized bank account debit or credit card. Tuition will be debited from your bank account on the 1st day of each month. A charge will be applied in case of non-sufficient funds or returned check charge. A late fee will be applied if the tuition cannot be collected via automatic deduction on the 1st or 1st business day of each month.
Student Behavior/Attitude
The behavior of students at Kramer's School of Music should be the same as in school. Students are expected to come to lessons with a positive attitude and willingness to learn. There should be no running or yelling in the classrooms or the common area, as there are often multiple lessons and classes happening at the same time. Parents are expected to be responsible for the behavior of children before and after the lessons. We want all students to feel safe and enjoy the experience of learning music. Parents and students should not enter the room while another lesson is going on. Please wait outside the room for your class to begin.
Care of Students
The safety and security of your children while on Kramer's School of Music premises is of great importance and we are committed to providing a safe environment for your children. Kramer's School of Music is not responsible for providing before or after class care for students. Parents with students under the age of 5 years old are asked to remain at the school during classes. Students are not to be left at the school for excessive time before or after lessons.
Release of Liability
Parents, legal guardians and adult students release and hold harmless Kramer's School of Music, its owners, operators and teachers from any and all liability, claims, demands, and causes of action whatsoever, arising out of or related to any loss, damage, or any injury sustained on school property resulting from normal lesson activity or any other activity conducted by the students, parents or legal guardians before, during or after lesson time.
Exam/Contest Preparation
Kramer's School of Music instructors prepare students for exams, recitals, contests, competitions etc. For certain levels of examination preparation, contests, or competitions, a minimum lesson duration is suggested by the school to adequately prepare the student for the event. Students are NOT required to participate in any events, but in case of desire to do so by the students or parents,, a minimum lesson duration is suggested to be registered for the event (a few examples are provided below):
MMTA Piano Examinations Level 3-6: A minimum of 45 minute weekly lessons suggested
MMTA Piano Examinations Level 7-8: A minimum of 60 minute weekly lesson suggested
MMTA Piano Examinations Level 9: A minimum of 75 minute weekly lesson suggested
MMTA Piano Examinations Level 10-12: A minimum of 90 minute weekly lesson suggested
Make-up Policy
Each student is allowed one make-up lesson per session (see dates below) for any reason. Spring Session (March 1-May 31) Summer Session (June 1 - August 31) Fall Session (September 1 - November 31) Winter Session (December 1 - February 28 or 29) A 24 hour notice is required for the absence to be eligible for a make-up. In case of emergency on the day of a lesson, a 2 hour notice is required for the lesson to be eligible for a make-up. No refunds or credits are given for missed lessons. If a scheduled make-up lesson is missed for any reason, there will be no make-up lesson, credit or refund issued. Group Classes: There are no make-up lessons for group classes. Religious Holidays: With one week(7 day) notice to the school management, a regularly scheduled private or semi-private lesson that is missed because of a religious holiday will be rescheduled. This policy does not apply to group classes and ensembles. If a rescheduled lesson is missed for any reason, there will be no make-up lesson, credit or refund issued. Student Vacations or extended leaves: Once any session begins, lessons missed due to vacation or leaves outside of Kramer's School of Music scheduled vacation dates will not be made up (see school calendar on kramersmusic.com). The family/student(s) can notify the school in writing (email) of an anticipated extended, consecutive (2 or more weeks) vacation or leave 2 weeks PRIOR to the start of a session. In such a case, the school will allow the students to receive make-up lessons or credits for the missed classes. The school must be notified 2 weeks PRIOR TO THE START of the next session. Once the session starts, the one make-up policy (as stated above) applies, and the extended absences/vacations do not qualify for additional make-ups or credits.
Tardy Policy
Students who are late for a lesson are not guaranteed their full lesson time. The scheduled lesson will not be extended. The school reserves the right to have students who come late to group classes or ensembles sit out the class. If half of the lesson's duration time passes, the teacher has the right to leave and the lesson will be forfeited.
Teacher Cancellation and Substitute Teachers
In the event the instructor cancels a lesson, a makeup lesson will be offered at a mutually convenient time. A substitute teacher may be assigned to teach a regularly scheduled private lesson or group class. The school reserves the right to provide a substitute teacher if the regularly scheduled teacher is ill or otherwise unable to attend a lesson. If a teacher is ill or otherwise unable to attend a lesson and the school cannot arrange a substitute, any missed lessons will be made up.
Termination of Lessons by Parents, Legal Guardians and Adult
All withdrawals from Kramer's School of Music must be done via written email note to Kramer’s School of Music. Withdrawals will not be accepted over the phone, voicemail or text. In order to withdraw from the school, the parent, legal guardian or adult student must inform the school administrators via written communication. Lessons cannot be discontinued through the lesson instructor, an email must be written to the administrative team. Once a student begins lessons, he/she is committed for the entire session (3 months). A 14 day notice prior to the start of the next session is required to terminate lessons for the next session. The only exception is the first lesson refund policy as stated below. First lesson refund policy: We want Kramer's School of Music to be a good fit for every student. The student may be withdrawn from Kramer's School of Music after the first lesson. A 100% refund (minus the cost of first lesson) will be given for individual and group classes if written (or email) notice is received by the school administrators within two business days following the first class. The 100% refund policy after the first class is applicable only upon initial enrollment into Kramer's School of Music, and not for subsequent sessions.
Termination of Lessons by Kramer’s School of Music
Kramer's School of Music reserves the right to terminate lessons to any students without notice. In such a case a refund for unused lessons will be given. Kramer's School of Music reserves the right to suspend instruction when parents/students do not meet their financial obligations; parents/legal guardians or adult students are still liable for the full cost of instruction.
Switching Teachers
Changes in instructors are usually not made once lessons have begun. Should the instructor, student, and parent/legal guardian mutually decide that a change is necessary and in the best interest of the student, the school administrators must be informed in writing (or via email) before the change is made. A two week period, starting on the date of written notice, is required for the transition from one instructor to another. During this period, lessons shall be conducted by the original instructor.
Weather Policy
The decision to close Kramer's School of Music due to weather conditions is based on Eden Prairie School District 272 closures or district after-school activities cancellations (For Eden Prairie location) and Wayzata School District closures or district after-school activities cancellation (for Plymouth location). Kramer's School of Music is committed to remaining open whenever possible. If Kramer's School of Music remains open, lessons missed due to weather or driving conditions will not be made-up. As always, use your own judgment in making a final decision regarding severe weather. Your safety and the safety of your children are valuable and not worth risking for the cost of a missed lesson! If Kramer's School of Music closes due to weather conditions, the lessons can be made-up at agreed-upon time (for student and teacher/ substitute teacher). No credit will be offered for lessons missed due to school closure as a result of weather conditions. Also, when the weather is poor, teachers and students can choose to transition to online lessons for that particular day to avoid lesson cancellation or make-up. We strongly encourage utilizing this option in case of bad weather and difficult driving conditions.
Photo Release
The school is hereby granted permission to take photographs or video of the students to use in brochures, web sites, posters, advertisements and other promotional materials the school creates. Permission is also hereby granted for the school to copyright such photographs or videos in its name. Parents, legal guardians, and adult students shall notify the school in writing prior to the session start if the student should be omitted from such opportunities.