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 provide unmatched instruction.

NMS Administration provides the framework for student success.

By enrolling at New Music School in any type of class, you are indicating you have read and agreed to the terms in the NMS Handbook and reviewed the policies below.

ENROLLMENT POLICIES

  • A non-refundable annual registration fee of $75 per student is due at the time of enrollment. This amount is deducted from your first automatic payment and each subsequent January. Enrollment is secured when you are given portal account access via email by NMS administration. Enrollment is ongoing and can only be discontinued by emailing billing@newmusicschool.com following the withdrawal policies.

  • House Fees are added to Fall, Spring and Summer 1 semesters. This fee allows students to participate in: Studio Classes, Theory, Recitals, Juries, Masterclass observations and Performance Classes. We encourage NMS families to take advantage of all programming provided at our school. The House fee is required to enroll at NMS and is nonrefundable. This fee falls under the group class policy.

  • NMS administration will register students based on the number of weeks in the semester. Requests to decrease lesson length must be made within 30 days of the semester start date. If it is past 30 days, a decrease in lesson length can be done for the following semester. An increase in lesson length and/or quantity can be done at any time throughout the semester. 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 communicated in advance at time of registration. Otherwise, tuition will reflect 16 lessons.

  • All group classes are non-refundable and will not be credited towards future semesters. There are no makeup class opportunities for missed group classes or chamber lessons. It is parents’ responsibility to ensure students attend required rehearsals and lessons. Group class information is located on the New Music School website and is emailed at the start of the semester.

TUITION POLICIES

  • Attendance is mandatory for all scheduled lessons to maintain quality of education. There will be no refunds 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.

  • The NMS year is broken into four semesters:

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

  • Students are allowed two make up lessons per fall and spring semesters with advanced notice. Students are not granted make up lessons for missed weeks during Summer 1 and Summer 2. Lessons missed and not made up by the start of the next academic year will be forfeited. It is not the responsibility of NMS administration to schedule or manage make up lesson requests. All lesson make up requests must be made through the instructor.
    Lessons canceled by your teacher will be made up at a mutually agreeable time. Teachers have until the start of the next academic year to make up missed lessons.
    All make up lessons that are scheduled and then missed (regardless of 24 hour notice), are considered forfeited.

  • Unexcused absences are non-refundable. An unexcused absence is any absence that does not follow the above guidelines.

  • Tardiness is not accepted at NMS. If a student is more than 15 minutes late to a private lesson, the student 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.

  • All students should be prepared 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 parents’ expense. Parents will be advised when a student is unprepared.

  • Once enrolled at NMS, we will automatically enroll you for the upcoming semesters. Should you wish to withdraw from the upcoming semester, please send an email to billing@newmusicschool.com prior to the start of the next semester to avoid billing commitment.

    If you withdraw after the start of the semester and have not taken physical lessons, you will be financially responsible for the number of “missed” lessons the teacher reserved for your lesson time. Should you need to withdraw after you have attended lessons, you may email billing@newmusicschool.com within 30 days of the semester start date.

    The request to withdraw is only active from the date the email notice is received. 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. The student is financially responsible for all lessons scheduled prior to their withdrawal. If the student withdraws after 30 days from the semester start, no refund will be given for the canceled class(es). The final payment of the semester tuition in full will be made upon administration receiving the withdrawal request. If enrolling 30 days after the start of the semester, the withdrawal time frame is forfeited.

  • 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 customer’s account to be used as credit towards the account balance or future lessons. The credit is held on the account for 6 months before being forfeited.

SCHOOL POLICIES

  • Students enrolled in lessons are required to jury before a faculty panel in the Fall and Spring Semesters. Private instructors are asked to evaluate their students at each semester's jury. Juries provide a valuable assessment of progress and achievement so that NMS may best address the specific needs of a student with focus and care. Jury performances will allow NMS faculty members to measure student progress in relation to curricular benchmarks to ensure that they are being instructed at the highest standard. Missing more than 2 consecutive juries is grounds for dismissal from the school.

  • The participation in one Departmental Recital per academic year is required of all NMS students. Missing 2 consecutive Departmental Recitals 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.

  • 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 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 harassment 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. NMS offers a 3 hour validation code at the front desk.

  • Periodically, photographs and videos will be taken of students engaged in private lessons, masterclasses, group classes, ensemble rehearsals, 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 a written notice to NMS administration at join@newmusicschool.com 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 Music, 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 join@newmusicschool.com. New Music School, LLC private financial information collected will not be sold or shared with any third party.

BILLING POLICIES

  • 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 a 1% handling fee on each payment made to New Music School, LLC.

    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.

    ZELLE

    Payment in full can be made through Zelle. This option does not incur a processing fee. Tuition must be paid in full by the 16th of January (Spring Semester), May (Summer 1), July (Summer 2) and September (Fall Semester). A second form of payment must still be linked to the parent profile. 

  • Payments will be processed in the first month of the semester. If the payment method fails and the invoice is more than 10 days past due, NMS Administration will instruct the instructor to discontinue lessons until payment has been made. The student’s lesson day/time will not be reserved.

  • Payments will be charged between the 14th and 16th of each month. If the payment method fails and the invoice is more than 10 days past due, NMS Administration will instruct the instructor to discontinue lessons until payment has been made. The student’s lesson day/time will not be reserved. The break down for monthly payments are as follows:

    • Fall - September, October, November and December

    • Spring - January, February, March and April

    • Summer I - May and June

    • Summer II - July and August

    *All payments are made automatically through our system processor. NMS does not offer for billing to be done manually by our customers.

  • 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. If an invoice is more than 10 days past due, NMS Administration will instruct the instructor to discontinue lessons until payment has been made. Failure to pay any outstanding balance will result in your account being sent to a collection agency within 3 months of missed payment.