COMPANY POLICIES (updated as of June 8, 2017)

*for a copy of last years policies send an email to [email protected]

GROUP CLASS POLICIES

ADD/DROP, REFUNDS:

Add: Students may join the class as late as the second lesson. After that, in order to join, the student must schedule and pay for a private lesson (in the studio) in order to be caught up to the group.  The fee for the lesson will be the standard private lesson fee. (catch up lessons are NOT available “in home”). After the 4th group lesson has passed, we will not be able to add any more students to the group.

Drop: If you drop the class 2 weeks or less before the first lesson you will only be refunded 75% of the tuition for the course that you are registered for.   Once the course has begun, there are no refunds; with the exception of special circumstances, to be discussed and evaluated on an individual basis.  Refunds will be processed within 90 days.  Registration and Payment plan fees are non refundable.

CANCELLATION POLICY

There are NO make up lessons for group classes unless the class has been canceled by EzraGuitar. If classes are canceled due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, EzraGuitar will make every effort to find a convenient date for the majority of the group to make up the lesson.  Classes cannot be made up or refunded if an individual misses a lesson.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is a very important part of our course and studying any musical instrument. Because class only meets one time per week, each class is critical to our curriculum, in order for students to be able to successfully achieve the goals of the course. If a student has 2 or more absences, he/she will be asked to schedule a private lesson in order to be caught up with the class. If the student refuses to schedule this lesson, then it will be at the discretion of the teacher if the student will be allowed to perform at the final concert. The concerts are a very important part of our curriculum and they should be a positive experience for the students. If the student is unprepared because of poor attendance, the performance will not be a good experience for them, and we want to minimize bad experiences as much as possible; our goal is that music should be associated with fun and joy.

PRIVATE LESSON POLICIES

ADD/DROP, PRORATING, REFUNDS:

Add: Students may begin private lessons at anytime, space permitting. Please contact Management directly to set up a customized payment plan.  Per diem payments are not available.

Lesson packages will be prorated to fit into the Academic or Annual Year plans (32 or 40 lessons)  For example if you decide to begin lessons on week 12 of the Academic year schedule; then we will schedule your lesson package for either 20 or 28 lessons to fit into the schedule.  In staying true to our pedagogical goals; we cannot register a new student for less than 10 lessons; except during the summer session where we offer a shorter session.

Drop: *For those registered for the Academic or Annual year plans: Students may discontinue lessons at anytime; however there will be a 4 lesson withdraw fee held from your refund if you have prepaid.  If you are on a payment plan, then a 4 lesson non refundable security deposit will be collected at the start of your plan to ensure a 4 lesson severance paid to EzraGuitar faculty, while management attempts to find a student to replace your spot. Upon cancellation, the plan will be adjusted so that your final payment will be for the balance (if any) owed for all lessons taken as well as the 4 lesson withdraw fee.  Any missed lessons that were not canceled according to the EzraGuitar cancellation policy will be counted as lessons to be paid for upon withdrawing from the program.  Registration fees and Payment plan fees are non refundable.

*For those registered for ½ year plans (16 lessons) or less: There are no refunds once lessons have begun.  Any drops 2 weeks or less before classes begin will receive a 75% refund.

How to Drop: If you decide to drop from private lessons; you must speak directly with management to do so and we will send you a drop form to fill in and sign electronically. Lessons will not be considered officially canceled until this form is received.  Refunds will be processed within 90 days of the drop form receipt.  If circumstances allow, please give us as much notice as possible if you plan to withdraw from the program. ie: by the 1st of the month if possible, to have time to adjust your payment plan prior to the 15th.

Prorating: If you join the semester late, we will customize your payment plan, so that you will only be charged for the remaining lessons, NOT for the ones that you did not take.

Summer Private Lessons/ 10 class packages:  Due to the short session/commitment; there are no refunds given for these packages.  Lessons must be used within the time limit of the package, any unused lessons will be forfeited; with the exception of special circumstances, to be discussed and evaluated on an individual basis.

Summer Private Lessons: Must be used between July 1- August 31 of the year purchased.

10 Private Lesson Package: Must be used within 4 months of the first lesson taken.

Gift Certificates: Must be started within 6 months of purchase.

CANCELLATION & MAKE UP POLICY

Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance in order to reschedule the lesson. If a lesson is canceled less than 24 hours in advance, then the lesson will be forfeited. The teacher is in no way obligated to make up or refund lessons that are canceled less than 24 hours in advance. Students are entitled to 3 make up lessons if enrolled in an Annual lesson plan, 2 make up lessons if enrolled in an Academic Year lesson plan or ONE make up lesson if enrolled in a 16 week semester lesson plan (as long as the lesson was canceled according to the EzraGuitar policy).  There are NO make up lessons for Summer Sessions or 10 lesson package plans.

HOW TO CANCEL A LESSON:

Please call your teacher for all cancellations or make ups or any alterations you need to make in your lesson scheduling.  If you leave a message, send a text or an email to your teacher; you must receive a response back from them to confirm that the lesson is officially cancelled.  The best way is always to call them; not everyone has the ability to check emails on their personal devises; so discuss with your teacher what their preferred method of communication is.

To contact the office:

Please call us at 718-434-2103 between the hours of 10am-6pm Mon- Friday.  The Studio is open on weekends by appointment only, however the office is CLOSED.  Any messages left over the weekend will be answered the following business day.

If we do not answer PLEASE leave a message or send an email to: [email protected]

Please do not rely solely on email to communicate with us; the volume of emails is very high and we cannot guarantee the speed in which you will receive a response.  If you need to get in touch with us quickly please call.

TARDINESS:

In Studio Lessons:  If the student arrives late to a lesson, the teacher will only be responsible to teach the student until the end of their scheduled time.  The teacher will only be responsible to wait for a student until the half way point of their scheduled lesson; after which they may leave and the lesson will be forfeited.  IF the Teacher is late to a lesson, the teacher will either extend the lesson to make up for the time the same day, if possible, OR will schedule a make up to give back the time at another date.  If you know that you will be running late, please use common courtesy and call the studio to let us know of your situation, so that if it is possible we can adjust schedules to accommodate you, the teacher and/or other students.

In Home Lessons:  If the student is not home at the scheduled lesson time, the teacher will only be responsible to wait 15 min into the lesson time; after which they may leave and the lesson will be forfeited.  In the rare instance that the teacher arrives to the home to teach a lesson and is asked not to teach the lesson that day, the lesson will be forfeited; exceptions will be made for extenuating circumstances to be discussed and evaluated on an individual basis.  IF the Teacher is late to a lesson, the teacher will either extend the lesson to make up for the time the same day, if possible, OR will schedule a make up to give back the time at another date.  If you know that you will be running late, please use common courtesy and call the teacher immediately to let them know of your situation, so that if it is possible, they can adjust schedules to accommodate you, the teacher and/or other students.  Please know that “in home lessons” are a specialty service as they require the teacher to travel from home to home and thus deal with all of the uncertainties of the public transportation system and spend a great deal of additional time in transit rather than teaching; thus the policies are a bit firmer for these lessons.

ATTENDANCE:

Attendance is a very important part of studying a musical instrument. By skipping lessons the integrity of the course of study is interrupted and makes it very difficult for the student to truly progress at a good rate. If a student misses more than 2 lessons in a semester it will be at the discretion of the teacher if he/she believes that the student is prepared well enough to perform in the end of semester concert. The concerts are a very important part of our curriculum and they should be a positive experience for the students. If the student is unprepared because of poor attendance, the performance will not be a good experience for them, and we want to minimize bad experiences as much as possible; our goal is that music should be associated with fun and joy.

SIBLING DISCOUNTS and Parent/Child Discounts:

For Private Lessons:

In Studio: Families will receive 5% off additional sibling’s tuition and only 1 registration fee per family.

**In Home: Families will receive 5% off additional sibling’s tuition who are enrolled in 45 min to 60 min lessons.  For families with one child taking 45 min or 60 min lessons and a younger sibling, 2nd grade and under, who would like to take a 30 min lesson, we will offer the 30 min lesson at a reduced rate of $55 per lesson.  Only 1 registration fee per family.

For Group Lessons in Studio: Families will receive 5% off additional sibling’s tuition and only 1 registration fee per family.

One in Group Lessons, One in Private lessons?  You will receive a 5% discount for the Group Lessons and only 1 registration fee per family.

FOR GUITARS:

REFUND & UPGRADE POLICIES

FOR CORDOBA, STRUNAL & ANTONIO HERMOSA GUITARS

UPGRADE SERVICE

If you purchase a Cordoba, Strunal or Antonio Hermosa guitar you are eligible for an upgrade. Instead of buying a brand new guitar every time your child changes sizes we will take back your guitar and give you a credit towards the next size.  You will never pay full price for a guitar again!

For Cordoba C1M Protege models you will receive a $50 credit towards your next guitar.

For Strunal, Antonio Hermosa and Cordoba C1 Protege models you will receive a $75 credit towards your next guitar.

For Cordoba: Requinto & Cadete Models you will receive $90 credit towards your next guitar.

For Cordoba: C3M: $80 Credit, C5: $100 Credit

For other higher end models credit will be determined on a case by case basis.

The only conditions for upgrades are that your guitar should be in *good condition, i.e.: no structural damages or deep scratches beyond normal wear & tear.  EzraGuitar is not responsible for damages incurred by improper storage or handling of the instrument or damages caused by changes in climate.  If the guitar is damaged, we will not be able to offer this service.  Please do not allow your child to place any stickers or decals on the body of the guitar; as they leave residue and require special cleaning or can ruin the finish of the instrument.  For damages such as these or others which are considered borderline; EzraGuitar reserves the right to deduct any other fees required to repair the instrument to a “Gently USED” status from the trade in credit.

RETURN POLICY FOR Cordoba, STRUNAL & ANTONIO HERMOSA GUITARS

If you purchase a Cordoba, Strunal or Antonio Hermosa guitar and for whatever reason decide that you would like to RETURN the instrument, we have a special return policy for EzraGuitar STUDENTS ONLY. We understand that sometimes 4 year olds (and older children as well as adults) change their minds; one day guitar is the coolest and the next day tuba rocks! So, our policy is that you have 1 full session (determined by the school that you are registered in; essentially until the 1st concert) to decide if you want to return the instrument. If you decide to return the guitar, we will refund you 50% of your purchase. The conditions of this return policy are:

– The guitar must be returned by the last day of class (usually at the end of semester concert or last day of class for that session) of the session it was purchased in.

– The guitar should be in *good condition, i.e.: no structural damages or deep scratches beyond normal wear & tear.  EzraGuitar is not responsible for damages incurred by improper storage or handling of the instrument or damages caused by changes in climate.  If the guitar is damaged, we will not be able to offer this service.  Please do not allow your child to place any stickers or decals on the body of the guitar; as they leave residue and require special cleaning or can ruin the finish of the instrument.  For damages such as this or others which are considered borderline; EzraGuitar reserves the right to deduct any other fees required to repair the instrument to a “Gently USED” status from the trade in credit.

FOR LUCIDA GUITARS

If you for whatever reason wish to return your Lucida guitar, you must return it to EzraGuitar, 785 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY (Q or B train to Cortelyou Rd) within 30 days of the date of purchase for a full refund. The guitar must be in the same condition as when you received it, no scratches or structural damages. EzraGuitar is not responsible for damages incurred by improper storage or handling of the instrument or damages caused by changes in climate.  If the guitar is damaged, we will not be able to offer this service.  We do NOT offer the upgrade service for Lucida guitars.

RETURN POLICY FOR ALL OTHER RETAIL ITEMS & GUITARS purchased by those NOT enrolled in the EzraGuitar Conservatory:

All other retail items can be returned for a full refund as long as:

– They must be returned within 15 days of purchase.
&
– They must be unopened, unused and still in original packaging.

LOST LESSON BOOKS

All Kids Group Guitar classes are provided with a lesson book which is included in your tuition.  If the book is lost, you must contact the studio for a replacement book.  The cost for a replacement book is $15 and it will be either delivered to class or mailed depending on your location.