Student/Parent Policies & Procedures

About

We are a community of professional musicians offering private lessons and group instruction for students of all ages and abilities. Our goal is to provide musical opportunities for the development of students and families of The Music Loft Online (TML Online) and our global community, through excellence in music, performance, and study.

TML Online does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or disability in admission to its programs and activities. Additionally, TML Online is committed to providing a safe environment that is free from all forms of harassment. TML Online will not tolerate any form of harassment including sexual harassment by faculty/staff, students, or third parties.

TML Online reserves the right to change or revise these policies at any time without prior notice.

Our Mission

Our program of classical music study develops the whole musician―intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally. TML Online provides expert instruction highlighting performance, technique, repertoire, theory, counterpoint, composition, improvisation, sight-reading, and music history. Our perfectly balanced combination of private lessons, performance classes, and annual recitals prepares students to be confident in their achievements and successes. As a premier music school, TML Online is a team of passionate, professional musicians who are dedicated to creating a nurturing, yet challenging environment that promotes a lifelong enjoyment of great music.

Child Safety Policy

The Music Loft Online is committed to providing a safe learning environment for our students. All of the faculty and staff complete an annual criminal background check.

Studio Policies & Procedures 

Absences & Makeups 

• Paid tuition reserves your scheduled day and time with your instructor. 
• Please reserve cancellations for emergencies only. 
• Rescheduling requests require 24 hours notice. 
• Student cancellations including late cancellations (less than 24 hours) are not guaranteed a  makeup lesson. 
• Students are allotted 1 makeup lesson for every 8 weeks. If they miss more than 1 lesson the  make up is at the teacher discretion so please reserve cancellations for emergencies only. • Instructors wait 10 minutes for a tardy student.  
• Any TML teacher cancellation will be offered makeup time with either the same teacher or  different teacher.  
• All makeup lessons must be scheduled within 6 weeks of the absence. If the teacher offers  you multiple days/times and you decline or do not respond to all dates available, your lesson  will be forfeited. Makeup lessons can be done in person or online.  

Communication 

• Personal account information, Master Class details, recital information, etc. can be found  online through our scheduling system clients.mindbodyonline.com Please create a log in for  yourself. 
• Check your SPAM FOLDER and allow notifications from TML. 
• Please address any administrative concerns with the front desk before contacting your  instructor. 
• Tuition is automatically charged on the first of the month. Please keep your account  information updated as you will be assessed a $25.00 fee for declined transactions after 5  business days.  
• Enrollment is ongoing. Should you need to discontinue lessons, we require 30-day  written notification via email to info@themusicloftonline.com. To discontinue lessons and  suspend automatic charges please notify the front desk in writing one full month before the  first of the month. Notice given to the instructor only (verbally or otherwise) and non attendance does not constitute withdrawal from lessons. For example, if you plan to  discontinue/suspend lessons in May, then we will need to receive your written notice by the  first lesson in April. If no notice is given by the first lesson of the month before lessons are  being discontinued/suspended, the student/parent will be responsible for the next full month’s  tuition.

Extended Absences/Travel: If you are traveling for longer than two weeks and you wish to  continue lessons we require a 30 day written notice for the absence. You will not be  charged the full tuition however if the length of the absence is over 30 days you will be charged  $100 for the month as a placeholder for the same day/time/teacher until you return.  

Snow Days 

In the event of inclement weather, TML makes decisions regarding closures independently of  local school districts. Information regarding closing will be placed on our voicemail, on the main  page of our website and in an e-mail. Please be sure that your e-mail is updated in the  customer portal and that you are subscribed to our e-mail reminders and notifications. Check  your spam folder and allow The Music Loft notifications. 

“Summer Flex” Program 

Over the summer we encourage you to keep your student playing! If you take a break over the  summer, progress is lost and students generally forget what they have mastered. That is why  we have created “summer flex lessons. You may take 4 or more lessons over the summer that  fit your schedule. For example, you may take 3- 1-hour lessons, 6- 30-minute lessons or any  combinations of days/times. 

Enrollment is ongoing so if you decide not to continue over the summer WE  MUST HAVE 30 DAY WRITTEN NOTICE or you will be billed for July. No exceptions. If you discontinue over the summer and return in the fall we will do our best to accommodate  your day/time request however we do not guarantee the same day/time with your current  instructor.  

Referral Rewards 

We appreciate your referrals to The Music Loft. When your referral registers for private lessons  and completes 8 weeks of lessons, we will give you 4 weeks of instruction for FREE as a thank  you for recommending us! 

FAQ’s 

What is MindBody? MindBody is The Music Loft’s business management system. The  platform has tools for scheduling lessons and classes, payment processing, sending  appointment reminders, and online booking. You can access your customer portal to make  changes to your information (including updating payment options, address changes) and view  the students lesson and payment schedule.  

How do I create a username and password on your online portal (MindBody)?  Go to https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/LoginLaunch?studioid=483566. Use the MindBody  launch page to find the Music Loft. After you have found The Music Loft, you may search  yourself under your email or your phone number. That will take you to either your profile or your  child’s profile. You may then complete the profile by filling out the blank fields which include your  billing information.  

How does The Music Loft communicate with me? The music loft sends only necessary  communications with its parents. It is your responsibility to read it in its entirety and respond if  appropriate in a timely fashion. Group E-mails from The Music Loft will come from Mailerlite.com and will be signed laura@themusicloftonline.com 

How do I register for recitals, ensembles and other classes? All of these offerings  can be found through your customer portal where you can register for all events. You are also  welcome to send an email to info@themusicloftonline.com 

Can you recommend piano and other services? 

1. Piano tuner Mattias Wandler 703-975-7249 matzemusic@aol.com 
2. Piano Mover Congressional Piano Movers- 888-956-5678 
3. Piano Dealer (new and used) – Rick Jones new and used pianos (301) 345-5425 4. Guitar and Strings repair technician – Illia Kulikov 571-682-6473 
4. String Luthier -Shauni Cullata (703) 828-5544 encorestrings.com

Instrument Rentals & Purchase Information

Orchestra & Band Instruments
We recommend consulting with your teacher prior to purchasing or renting an instrument. He/she will be most helpful in recommending quality orchestral instrument rentals. Quality orchestral instruments may also be rented through TML Online. Please visit our Instrument Rental page here to rent an instrument to be delivered to your front door with our Rent-From-Home program.

Pianos
It is essential to have an acoustic piano accessible for practicing on a daily basis. While an acoustic piano is best, this may not be a possibility for some. Digital keyboards with 88 weighted keys that imitate the touch of an acoustic piano are a reasonable alternative for beginners. There are many places where you can rent or buy either an acoustic piano or a weighted digital keyboard.

Calendar

See our TML Online Calendar here for our schedule of lessons, classes, and holidays.

Our online Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms are 16 sessions each. During the Summer Term, a minimum of 8 weeks’ study will reserve your place for the Fall Term. Lesson packages are available on a pro-rated basis. Additionally, there are no summer make-up lessons. Summer lesson schedules may be flexible with your teacher, choosing mutually convenient lesson dates over the course of the Summer Term.

Technology Requirements

Technology is paramount in creating an exceptional online learning experience for music studies. You will need a computer or mobile device with a microphone, camera, and stable Internet connection.

The following recommendations will allow for the most successful virtual lesson:

• Access to FaceTime or Zoom platform
• A stable Internet connection
  • Connection directly with an Ethernet cable will provide the best connection possible.
  • If connecting by Wi-Fi, your signal will be stronger if no one else is using Wi-Fi during your lesson.
• External Microphone such as Blue Snowball USB, Shure Motiv, or Blue Yeti USB (multi-pattern)

Additional options for online equipment include:

• Ring light
  • QIAYA Selfie Light Ring
  • 8″ Selfie Ring Light with Selfie Stick Tripod
• Video Camera or phone/iPad (for different angles on the piano keys)
  • Sony – Handycam CX405

Parental Guidance

Parental involvement is essential for young learners. A parent is required to be in attendance during the lesson for students ages 14 and younger. Additionally, this provides parents the ability to monitor student practice throughout the week, as well as encourage and assist as needed in the student’s practice time.

Please take the time to communicate and develop a good relationship with your students’ teacher.

Encourage your student in his/her daily practice time. Be sure that correct posture, hand position, fingering is being followed per the teacher’s instruction. Accuracy in these areas is extremely important, as failure of these developmental stages can cause bad habits and become extremely detrimental down the road.

Student Responsibilities

• Students are required to arrive on time for their scheduled lesson. Should a student arrive late, the lesson will still be concluded on time and any time missed by the student will be forfeited.
• Students are to be prepared in having all instructional materials present for their lesson (this includes their music books, scores, assignment and/or notebook, pencil, metronome, etc…).
• Students should be respectful and address their teacher professionally, such as, “Dr.,” “Miss,” “Mrs.,” or “Mr.”
• Please be sure that your scheduled lesson time is uninterrupted and free of background noise and/or distraction.
• Always ask questions! Your teacher is there to help guide you in your musical students and will be more than happy to help answer any questions you may have.
• Be sure to follow your teacher’s weekly assignments and/or practice recommendations to ensure that you come to your next lesson prepared.

Festivals, Competitions, and Performance Opportunities

Many of our Faculty are members of professional music organizations that provide opportunities for students to participate in festivals and competitions. Additionally, TML Online provides student performance opportunities through our various recitals, studio classes, group classes, performance classes, etc.

PERFORMANCE ATTIRE

Performance, for studio classes or group classes are welcoming events where school attire or business casual dress is appropriate.

Recitals, festivals, and/or competitions are considered formal events, and dress/performance attire is appropriate.

Classes & Group Sessions

In order for our Faculty to prepare the proper amount of materials, pre-registration is required for all Online Evening Classes and Group Sessions and can be completed here. Class fees will be collected upon registration. No refunds will be made except in the cases of insufficient enrollment, resulting in the cancellation of a class or group session.

Tuition & Billing

• All tuition runs on auto-pay and is charged on the first of the month. We only accept online payments. All payments are non-refundable.
• The tuition amount each month is the same, as it is calculated according to the number of sessions each term.
• Summer billing is pro-rated based on the amount of sessions taken.
• Tuition will be pro-rated for students enrolling mid-month or mid-semester.
• Please keep your billing information current, as a late fee of $25.00 will be incurred for declined or insufficient funds transactions after 5 business days.
• You may log into your Mindbody customer portal at any time to update billing information, view your auto-pay schedule, and/or view past payments.
• Tuition rates are assessed over the summer and adjusted each Fall Term, as necessary.
• Any changes in your enrollment must be submitted in writing 30 days prior to the next billing cycle.
• Should you need to speak directly to our staff regarding your account, please email Sharon Bernson directly (sharon@themusicloftonline.com), and she will be happy to assist you.

ADDITIONAL EXPENSES

Music books, scores, sheet music, and other instructional materials are not included in the monthly tuition.

Competition, Festival, and Online Class fees are not included in tuition, and will be billed as scheduled or as they occur.

Additional lessons (outside of the 16 sessions allotted each term) may be purchased and/or scheduled at the students’ request. Please discuss scheduling and availability with your teacher and then e-mail the office (info@themusicloftonline.com) the desired lessons you agreed upon between teacher and student. The additional lessons will be billed to your account accordingly.