DAWSON MUSIC ACADEMY POLICY

For printable version CLICK

• FALL SEMESTER: Monday, August 23, 2010-Friday, December 17, 2010
• SPRING SEMESTER: Monday, January 17, 2011-Friday, May 20, 2011
• SUMMER SESSION: Monday, June 13, 2011-Friday, August 5, 2011
• Summer Music Camp June 20-24, 2011

Registration:

1. You must complete the registration form. For printable form CLICK

2. Read the student-parent policy and sign the bottom of the registration form. 

3. Pay the annual registration fee.  The DMA year runs from August to August.  You must pay the first payment of tuition before your first lesson.  All lessons must be pre-paid. 

4. Turn in registration card, registration annual fee and first payment to the DMA office or church office. 

After the DMA office receives your information and payment, the instructor will contact the student to set up a lesson time.  If another time is needed for lessons, please let the director know and another instructor will be assigned.  If you do not have a preference for a particular instructor, the director will assign an instructor for the student.  The director of the music classes will contact the students before the first class.  If you have a time or day preference for your lesson or class, please write this on the back of the registration form.  These requests will be considered as we place you with the best instructor for your needs. 

Each student will pay the annual non-refundable fee registration fee of $40.00 ($60.00 maximum per family.) The registration fee will be the same for all students, regardless of the number of lessons or classes a student actually takes.  This fee will be collected only once a year, and will help pay administrative expenses not covered by tuition alone.  This fee also covers monthly workshops and recital expenses. 

Missed lessons

Make-up lessons will be arranged only if six hours notice is given to the instructor prior to regular lesson time.  It is the student’s responsibility to notify the teacher if a lesson is to be missed for any reason.  Like most school policies, if the student is sick with a fever or a possible contagious illness, please contact the instructor and cancel his or her lesson.  Failure to notify the teacher within six hours will result in no make-up lesson, and the student will be charged for the lesson that is missed.  The instructor is not required to provide a make-up lesson if the student does not notify the instructor of the absence.  Make-up lessons are scheduled at a mutually agreeable time between the student and the instructor.  Instructors are not required to extend the lesson if the student arrives late.  The director cannot be responsible for relaying messages regarding lesson cancellations to instructors.  Communication should be made directly between student and instructor. 

Sick Policy--We follow a similar policy to most pre-school and school programs.  Your child must be “fever-free” without the aid of Tylenol.  Please be considerate of our instructors and students.  Do not bring siblings or students with a contagious illness (i.e.  chicken pox, stomach bug) We have expectant mothers that do not need exposure.  We also share instruments that can be “germ-magnets” to pass viruses around. 

Payment Plans -– Private Lessons

Each semester consists of a total of fourteen (14) lessons.  Rates are as follows:
15-minute lessons . . . . . . . . $10 per lesson/$140 per semester
30-minute lessons . . . . . . . . $20 per lesson/$280 per semester
45-minute lessons . . . . . . . . $30 per lesson/$420 per semester
60-minute lessons . . . . . . . . $40 per lesson/$560 per semester

Option #1:  One Payment
Full tuition may be paid at the beginning of the semester.  See full semester tuition above. 
Fall Semester: Payment due at registration
Spring Semester: Payment due by January 17 (first day of Spring Semester)

Option #2:  Monthly Payments
Full tuition amount may be divided into three payments, due once a month.  Please note that the monthly amount is not directly related to the number of lessons received in a particular month. 

1st and 2nd payments (4 lessons)
15 minute lessons=$ 40.00 for 4 lessons
30 minute lessons=$ 80.00 for 4 lessons
45 minute lessons=$120.00 for 4 lessons
60 minute lessons=$160.00 for 4 lessons

3rd payment (6 lessons)
15 minute lessons=$ 60.00 for 6 lessons
30 minute lessons=$120.00 for 6 lessons
45 minute lessons=$180.00 for 6 lessons
60 minute lessons=$240.00 for 6 lessons

Fall Semester:
1st payment due at registration (4 lessons)
2nd payment due by September 15 (4 lessons)
3rd payment due by October 15 (6 lessons)
*No payment due in November or December

Spring Semester:
1st payment due by January 17
2nd payment due by February 15
3rd payment due by March 15
*No payment due in April or May

Payments are required to be paid on time.  You will not receive a bill for your lessons.  If payment is not received (postmarked) on or before the due date, a late fee of $10.00 will be applied.  If payments are consistently late (30 days overdue), the student will lose his or her lesson time, until payment is received.  Please contact the director personally to discuss any special payment arrangements.  If there are any lessons that were paid for and not received by the end of the semester, you will receive a credit to your account for the next semester.

Payment Plan –- Youth String Orchestra

The Dawson Music Academy Youth String Orchestra (Amanda Igo, conductor) begins Thursday, September 9, 2010 from 6:15-7:30 p.m.  Open to string players entering 4th-9th grade.  Payment is due upon registration.  Each orchestra member must also pay the DMA annual registration fee($40.00), but the student does not have to be enrolled in DMA private lessons to participate in the youth string orchestra.  Fall rehearsals are in September, October, and November.  Spring rehearsals are in January, February, March, and April. 

DMA String Youth Orchestra Tuition:  $75.00/semester
Fall Semester:  Tuition due at registration
Spring Semester:  Tuition due by January 15

How to Register and turn in a Payment

1. ALL CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO DAWSON MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH.

2. Mail payments and/or registration forms to Dawson Music Academy
c/o Layla Humphries
Dawson Memorial Baptist Church
1114 Oxmoor Road
Birmingham, AL 35209

3. Payments may be mailed or dropped off at Dawson’s main church office on the 1st floor or the third floor music office. 

Books are not included in tuition. The instructor may request that the student purchase certain books for his or her lesson.  If the instructor chooses to purchase the books for the students, the student is responsible for paying the instructor for the supplies.  Often, instructors can buy music books in bulk and at a teacher’s discount which is cheaper than the student purchasing the books.  Ask your instructor about how to best purchase your books.