Alberto Puerto Guitar School Policies

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WELCOME!  PLEASE READ ALL POLICIES BEFORE REGISTERING FOR LESSONS

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These are a few things of note just to start:

• AP Guitar School is a year-round Music School.  We bill and schedule on a monthly basis, with a set schedule during the school year based on the Miami Dade County School District calendar dates and a flex schedule during the Summer term.  

• We hold two (2) recitals per year, in which students are encouraged, but not required to take part. These recitals will allow students to showcase their repertoire for the semester.

• We hold Master classes or performances by invitation at the end of the Spring semester to feature students of the highest caliber. These opportunities will be added to the school calendar by early Spring each year.

• Summer classes are offered on a teacher-availability basis. They may include Guitar Orchestra class, special summer topics, and invited artists. If these classes are offered, they are at an additional fee to regular tuition. Registration will be posted online and payment can be made through this website or with the instructor.

 

COMMUNICATION

• Emails are our main way of communicating with families about school announcements. Please make sure we have a current email for you on file. There are events we coordinate for our students throughout the year as well as other communications about recitals, billing, community outreach and more. Please check your email often to stay informed about make-up lessons, scheduling changes, school closures, billing due dates, etc.  Fliers may also be sent home with students.  If you have any questions or concerns, please stop by the Front Desk, give us a call, or send an email.  We want you to have a great experience at our school!  

• All communication information can be found here.

 

TUITION

• PRIVATE LESSONS (Age 3-Adult): Private lessons are based on a monthly commitment level and are offered on a weekly basis. You can enroll at any time during the year.

• ADULT LESSONS (College and Beyond): Adult lessons are available a-la-carte. We encourage adults to purchase lessons by the month to secure a consistent spot in your teacher's schedule.

• LESSON DURATION: We offer the following lessons: 30 or 60 minute based on the age, level, and needs of the student. Please contact the school for current lesson fees.

• Monthly Billing: Tuition is billed at a monthly rate, in 4 week or 5 week invoices.

  • Families have the following payment options:

    • Single class

    • Bi-weekly at single class rate

    • Monthly rate (best rate)

  • If you opt into monthly payment plan, we must set up a recurring payment and you will need to fill out and sign a recurring payment authorization form. We accept payment via credit card (Not American Express) online. We also accept personal checks and cash if you are paying in full.

  • Music and Theory books are not included in tuition and will be billed separately. A new book may be required at the discretion of the teacher. You will see a book charge applied to your account after the student has received the book. You will also be notified by the teacher or the manager that the student has received a new book. We ask that book invoices are paid as quickly as possible after receiving notice of the new book.

  • For current tuition costs, please contact the manager.

• Students can sign up at any time during the semester at a pro-rated amount. Contact the manager for details.

• DISCOUNTS: We offer multi-student discounts. For every child in your family that you sign up for lessons, you get a bigger discount. Contact the manager for details.

•  Holidays and planned breaks. Please see our website for our Holiday and break schedule.

 

SCHEDULING AND MAKE-UP POLICY

• PRIVATE LESSONS: When you enroll, you work with our schedule and will be assigned a lesson time. You are to attend lessons at your assigned time every week. Purchasing by the month is best to secure a time that works best for you on a consistent basis. 

• 24-HOUR NOTICE: We ask that if you cannot make it to your lesson time that you let us know 24 hours before your lesson. Failure to do so will result in a forfeited lesson that cannot be made up.

• MAKEUPS: There are no refunds for missed lessons with no 24 hour notice. Your lesson time is reserved exclusively for you. AP Guitar school does not assume any responsibility for missed lessons for any reason. You will only be eligible for make-up opportunities if the lesson qualifies for make-ups (see below). Make-up opportunities are provided on the terms of the school's availability and convenience. If you schedule a make-up class and then miss that make-up for any reason, without giving 24-hour notice, it still counts as your make-up lesson. Make-up lessons are a courtesy for registered/active students only. 

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LESSONS THAT QUALIFY FOR MAKE-UPS: 

 

• The following instances qualify for a lesson to be made-up. No exceptions will be made.

• Teacher Cancel: When a teacher is sick or cannot make it into the office for any reason. We will notify you as soon as possible if this happens. If you are unable to make-up a teacher cancel by the end of the school year, we will apply a credit for the lesson to your account for the next Fall tuition.  

• Emergency Student Cancel: We understand that life happens. We allow one emergency-cancel per term or COVID situation. An Emergency-cancel is considered such when you give us less than 24-hours notice. If you do not let us know of the absence until after the lesson, it will be considered a no-show and will not be able to be made-up.

• Cancel: Any time you need to cancel and give us 24-hour notice, you are able to makeup the lesson.

• Inclement Weather: AP Guitar School reserves the right to cancel classes in case of inclement weather. These lessons can be made up at another time. If we are able, and multiple days of the week are cancelled, we may extend the semester to makeup for class. You will be notified if this happens.

• REFUNDS:  No refunds will be made for missed lessons, including lessons that qualify for make-ups.

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PRACTICE GUIDELINES

• YOUNG CHILDREN AND BEGINNER STUDENTS:  Younger pupils will gradually work into a routine, with the help of their parents and guardians at home.  By the end of their first year of study, they should be practicing at least 15 minutes per day, 5 days a week. It is recommended to include practice time as part of your daily written schedule and find a time that is consistent day-to-day. Practicing should incorporate all assignments given by the teacher at their weekly lessons.  If you, as the parent, have questions about what or how your student should be practicing, please ask the teacher. It is important to instill good habits from the beginning.

• INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED PRIVATE LESSONS:  Depending the goals and level of the student, these students should be practicing 20-30 minutes minimum per day, 5 days a week. This amount of time is essential for progress. Some students may find they need more time per day as they advance through their repertoire.  

• We understand that playing a musical instrument is one activity of many, but in order to develop musical skills and obtain the most from a private or small group instruction experience, dedicated, regular practice at home is essential.  Positive parental support and consistency at home makes a big difference in achieving this goal.  If you have questions about what or how your student should be practicing, please ask your teacher. It is important to instill good practice habits from the beginning!

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DISCONTINUING LESSONS

• ALL PROGRAMS:  If you wish to stop lessons, please request a Withdrawal Form from our manager. 7-days written notice is required to discontinue any lessons/classes, preferably received by the 1st of the month that you wish to discontinue. This written notice also acts as your discontinuation of automatic payments if you are on the quarterly or monthly payment plans. 

• AP Guitar School reserves the right to terminate lessons for any student at any time for any reason, including but not limited to failure to abide by the School's etiquette policy. In such a case a refund for unused lessons will be given.

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ETIQUETTE

PARENT AND ADULT STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY: It is the parent's responsibility to be aware of dates and events, closures and changes of schedule.  We will communicate significant events via email, on our website, and occasionally send fliers home with students, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the parents or adult students to know about these events.

• It is parent's/adult student's responsibility to notify the school of any changes of address, telephone number or other contact information.

• No children, whether AP Guitar School students or otherwise, may be left unattended in the waiting area.

• Students and families shall refrain from disruptive behavior and/or lack common courtesy and respect for instructors, administration, fellow students; behavior that could be interpreted as sexual harassment; behavior that could be related to drug or alcohol use. 

• Parents agree not to interfere with lessons; they may participate at the direction of the instructor.

• Parents shall remain courteous at all times and direct concerns to the owners and managers and not to teachers, other students or parents.

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RELEASE OF LIABILITY

• As the legal parent or guardian, I understand that my child's participation in music lessons or off-site events with AP Guitar School may expose him/her to unforeseen risk of personal injury, death or property damage.  I hereby acknowledge that I am voluntarily allowing my child to participate in all lessons and events and agree to assume any such risks.

• I hereby release, discharge and agree not to sue AP Guitar School, its workers, directors, agents, faculty or employees for any injury, death or damage to or loss of personal property arising out of or in connection with my child's participation in any lessons or events from whatever cause, including the active or passive negligence of AP Guitar School owners, staff or any other participants of  AP Guitar School.  

• In consideration for being permitted to participate in the School, I hereby agree, for my child, my heirs, administrators, executors and assigns, that I shall indemnify and hold harmless AP Guitar School from any and all claims, demands, actions or suits arising out of our in connection with my child's participation in any of the School's events.

• I give AP Guitar School permission to authorize emergency medical personnel to carry out such emergency diagnostic and therapeutic procedure as may be necessary for my child, and also permit such treatment procedures to be carried out at, and by local hospitals for my child in the event of an emergency.  I understand that any medical expenses will be billed directly to me or my insurance company.

•  I agree to permit AP Guitar School instructors, agents and other guests to take photographs and/or video and audio recordings during School lessons and performance events without further recourse.  I understand that such photographic images, video, or audio recordings of my child may be used for promotional purposes. I further understand that I may opt-out of this release with respect to photographs, videos and audio only by filing out and signing a Media Opt-Out form available with the administration of the School.

• I affirm that I have read, understand and agree to be bound by the term and conditions of this contract for music instruction through AP Guitar School.  I fully understand that failure to abide by this contact will result in termination of this agreement and membership in the school will be revoked immediately. I understand that I can also review these policies any time online at albertopuerto.com

• I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS RELEASE, HOLD HARMLESS, AGREEMENT NOT TO SUE, AND MEDIA RELEASE, AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS CONTENTS. I AM AWARE THAT IT IS A FULL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY AND I SIGN IT FREELY. I agree that my e-signature is a full substitute for my wet signature on this form.