Welcome to New Music School. We appreciate your trust in developing a well-rounded musician through the curriculum and premier education provided at NMS. The level of instruction from the faculty alongside the support from the administration establishes the groundwork for you and your student’s musical journey.

Please read through the following policies to be well informed of our aim to support you and everyone involved in this journey.

Francisco Ybarra
Founder of New Music School

NMS
STUDENT
POLICIES

The New Music School policies set forth are governed by fairness and transparency to all three parties:

NMS Parents & Students invest in their music education.

NMS Faculty provides unmatched instruction

NMS Administration provides the framework for student success

By enrolling into the semester at New Music School in any type of class, you are indicating you have read and agree to the terms in the NMS Handbook and Parent Portal.

  • A non-refundable annual registration fee of $75 per student is due at the time of enrollment (once a student has completed an initial lesson). The amount is deducted on your first automatic payment and each subsequent January. Expressing intent to enroll or attending private lessons or classes does not constitute registering for a course. Timely registration secures placement.

  • NMS administration will follow the registration of enrolled weeks for tuition due. Decreasing your lesson length can be made within 30 days of the start of the semester. If past the 30 days, a decrease in lesson length can be done in the next registration period. An increase in lesson length and/or quantity can be done at any time.

    If enrolling past the 30 day start of the semester, decrease in lesson time is forfeited.

    *Adults wishing to take less than the full semester of lessons, may do so Monday - Friday prior to 3pm. The number of lessons must be told in advance at time of registration. Otherwise, your tuition will reflect 16 lessons. There will be no adjusting number of lessons once the first payment of the semester is made.

  • All group class and classroom instruction is non-refundable and will not be credited per missed class or prorated. Group classes or missed scheduled chamber lessons will not be made up. It is the parents responsibility to ensure weekly attendance is happening. All group class information is located on the New Music School website and is emailed at the start of the semester and multiple times during the semester.

  • NMS requires two forms of payment on file.

    Checking Account

    This option permits New Music School, LLC. to securely store a checking account as your primary method of payment. If you choose this option, there will be no processing fees.

    If, at time of collection, your payment is rejected because of insufficient funds or the checking account is no longer in use, New Music School, LLC. will charge a $25 statement fee. NMS will then take payment from the second form of payment on file.

    Credit Card - with Handling Fee

    This option permits New Music School, LLC. to securely store a Credit Card Account as your primary method of payment. If you choose this option, there will be a 4% handling fee on each payment made to New Music School, LLC.

    If, at time of collection, your payment is rejected because of insufficient funds or the credit card is no longer in use, NMS will charge a $25 statement fee.

  • If you choose either option and at time of collection, your payment is rejected for any reason, New Music School, LLC. will charge a $25 statement fee. NMS will then take payment from the second form of payment on file. No adjustments to the payment form will be made if a backup payment is used. Should both forms of payment fail, NMS Administration will instruct the instructor to halt lessons until both forms of payment are updated. Failure to pay on any outstanding balance will result in your account being sent to a collection agency within 3 months of missed payment.

  • Single Payments will be taken in the first month of the semester. A late fee of $25 will be added to the account for each month the account is unpaid until the semester payment is made. This fee will apply, regardless of account status. Lessons will halt for any student whose account is unpaid by the 1st of the second month of the semester. Options for single tuition payment include: credit card and checking account.

  • Monthly Installment Payments will be charged between the 14th and 16th of each month. If the account payment options fail, lessons will halt for the student. The break down for monthly payments are as follows:

    • Spring -  January, February, March & April

    • Summer I - May & June

    • Summer II  - July & August

    • Fall - September, October, November & December

  • The NMS year is broken into four semesters:

    · Fall — Sixteen weeks
    · Spring — Sixteen weeks
    · Summer I — Eight weeks
    · Summer II — Eight weeks

  • Attendance is mandatory at all scheduled lessons. Regular lesson attendance is required to maintain the quality of your education. There will be no refunds in any form given for missed lessons.

  • Cancellations made for any reason within 24 hours of your lesson or no call no show are not eligible for a make up lesson.

    Students are allowed up to two make-up lessons per semester at the discretion of the instructor. Lessons missed and not made up within the semester are forfeited. It is not the administration’s responsibility to ensure your make-up lessons are accounted for or all registered lessons have taken place. Your instructor keeps track of your lessons and all make-up requests must go directly to them.

    Lessons canceled by your teacher will be made up at a mutually agreed upon time within the enrolled semester from the missed lesson.

  • Unexcused absences are non-refundable. An unexcused absence is any absence that does not follow the above guidelines. Three unexcused absences, constitute grounds for immediate dismissal from NMS without reimbursement for any remaining lessons in the term at the discretion of the director. Following dismissal a student may petition for reinstatement to NMS and such reinstatement will be at the sole discretion of the administration and the instructor.

  • Tardiness is not accepted at NMS. If a student is more than 15 minutes late to a private lesson, he or she will be given an unexcused absence. If the lesson is given, the teacher will stop at the predetermined time so as to not inconvenience fellow students and parents schedules.

    If a teacher travels for an in-home lesson and nobody is home and the teacher waits ten (10) minutes after the lesson time, the teacher is not required to stay for the remainder of the time and will result in lost lesson fees.

    Students must have the required materials for lessons. In the event materials are not present and there is not a copy of the music, the NMS faculty member reserves the right to not teach the lesson.

  • All students should prepare for their lessons. In the event that a student is unprepared or refusing to learn
    the material, it is at the discretion of the NMS faculty member to give the lesson or a partial lesson at the parent’s expense. Parents will be advised when a student is unprepared.

  • If enrolled prior to the start of the semester a request to withdraw must be made in writing via email to billing@newmusicschool.com and submitted to the NMS administration within 30 days after the semester start date. The request to withdraw is only active from the date the written or email notice is received. If sent by email, a return email from the NMS administration must be received to verify receipt. Verbal notification of withdrawal, informing one’s instructor of withdrawal, stopping or withholding payment, or not attending private lessons, rehearsal, or class does not constitute withdrawing from NMS programs. Once a student withdraws within our policy timeline, (a refund for private lessons that were not had will be refunded upon agreement with the instructor). If you withdraw after 30 days from the semester start, no refund of any kind will be given for the canceled class(es). The final payment in full will be made on the day of the last lesson to close out the account. If enrolling 30 days after the start of the semester, the withdrawal time frame is forfeited.

    If you decide to transfer to a partner location, remaining tuition can be transferred to the new program.

  • NMS maintains the right to cancel any program at any time for any reason. If the program is canceled, paid fees or prorated portions thereof will be placed onto the customers account to be used as credit towards the account balance.

  • Minority owned, female run, and ready to empower the best in you! Our faculty comes from all over the world, each with unique lifestyles, traditions, and backgrounds. Our student base is a beautiful representation of Chicago’s demography.  At New Music School, we will continue to give equal opportunities to everyone at all times.

  • Students enrolled in lessons are required to perform juries in front of a panel of faculty members and advisors in the Fall and Spring Semester. Due to our curriculum approach, private instructors are asked to perform evaluations of their 18 and under students each semester at semester juries. Juries provide valuable assessment of progress and achievement so that NMS may best address the specific needs of a student with focus and care. Student’s general progress on their instruments, and specific progress in relation to the curriculum will serve as the basis for determining assignments in ensembles and in establishing ongoing individual goals for each student.The performances will allow NMS to measure student progress in relation to curricular benchmarks to ensure that they are being instructed at the highest standard. Missing more than two consecutive juries is grounds for dismissal from the school.

  • Attending professional musical events is vitally important in growing musical artistry. It is encouraged that all NMS students attend at least two such musical events during an academic year. The participation in one departmental recital per academic year is required of all NMS students. Missing two consecutive departmental recitals is grounds for dismissal from the school.

  • Private and classroom instruction at 900 N. Michigan Ave is not affected by inclement weather. If private or classroom instruction is given at a satellite location, NMS respects the closings of that particular institutional partner. If there is any question about whether instruction will be given on any day, phone and email your instructor immediately. If a private lesson or class session must be missed due to extenuating circumstances, all efforts will be made to make up for the missed instruction at a mutually agreed upon time.

  • NMS is not responsible for any damage or loss of property while on NMS premises, during NMS events on or off campus, or at partnering institutional locations. It is encouraged that parents supervise their small children at all times and arrive early to pick them up from their scheduled activities.

  • NMS is committed to providing an environment free of unlawful harassment. Sexual harassment and other forms of workplace harassment are prohibited, including harass- ment based on race, color, gender, national origin, ancestry, religion, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected factor.

  • The 900 Self Park Garage is easily accessible for all students. Our location is easily accessible by subway or bus. Visit the Chicago Transit Authority website, www.transitchicago.com. NMS

    administration is not liable for parking reimbursement for any reason. We offer a 3 hour validation for $11.

  • Periodically, photographs and videos will be taken of students engaged in private lessons, master classes, group classes, ensemble rehearsals, other class sessions, recruitment events and concert performance. NMS reserves the right to use these photographs and videos and relevant student names to best advertise NMS in magazines, local newspapers, concert programs, other NMS marketing materials, audio and video recordings, and electronic media for use online at www.newmusicschool.com and other websites such as Facebook® Instagram® and YouTube®. If you wish to opt out of this publicity agreement, send written notice to NMS administration upon the first initial enrollment.

  • We may share your information within New Music School, LLC. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (including, but not limited to Chicago Music Lessons Coulsons, Modern Strings). We may also share your information with third parties with whom we have a relationship (to opt-out of third party sharing please notify New Music School at joining@newmusicschool. com). New Music School, LLC private financial information collected will not be sold or shared with any 3rd party.