SOUNDS OF CAROLINA
Private Lessons Policies 2024-25
Terms and Conditions
(864) 844-8120 (call/text)
To ensure a smooth and successful musical journey at Sounds of Carolina, please take a moment to review the policies above. Once you've familiarized yourself with the terms, click the link below to officially agree. Enrolling your family requires yearly acceptance of the terms and conditions, so please review them carefully. We look forward to a fantastic year making music together!
CLICK HERE to agree to our 2024-25 Studio Policies
2024-25 STUDIO POLICIES
PRIVATE LESSON OVERVIEW
Sounds of Carolina teachers are expected to provide reservations based on available time in their schedules, be prepared for your lessons, and work to invest in the long-term development of each student.
To deliver consistent, high-quality lessons, all participants must adhere to the following policies:
MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM
Our Membership Program consists of regular weekly private lessons between the months of August-May.
The Membership Program offers 36 lessons per school year, ensuring consistent learning progress even with scheduled studio closures. (See our calendar for specific closure dates.)
Siblings and/or Members enrolled with more than one subscription receive a 10% discount on Memberships of equal or lesser value.
Included in the membership:
Regular weekly private lesson with a highly qualified teacher. (Exceptions are made when the studio is closed for holidays. Please refer to our calendar for specific dates.)
There are three (3) core yearly performance opportunities, including the Fall Fest Open Mic, Winter Recitals, and Spring Spectacular, at no additional cost. Students should make all reasonable efforts to participate in performance opportunities.
Other performance opportunities at no additional cost (based upon teacher selection, unless otherwise specified).
Educational material, music books, instrument rental and other books or accessories are not included and will need to be provided by the Member at an additional cost.
Members may purchase additional lessons as Single Lessons.
Tuition and Fees:
Membership Tuition
Tuition is a flat monthly fee. There are two (2), three (3), four (4), or five (5) lessons, depending upon the month.
Level 1 Teachers
30-minute private lesson per week: $108 per month
45-minute private lesson per week: $162 per month
60-minute private lesson per week: $216 per month
Level 2 Teachers
30-minute private lesson per week: $144 per month
45-minute private lesson per week: $216 per month
60-minute private lesson per week: $288 per month
Tuition is due on the 1st of each month and will be billed automatically to your card on file. (“Auto-pay”). Payment must be made by card and will be automatically charged when due.
Registration Fees
A one-time registration fee of $40 is required for each new Membership Program student. This fee covers administrative costs as well as registration within the Student and Parent Portal.
Other Fees
A late fee of $25 will be charged for any tuition payments made after the 1st of each month. It is the responsibility of the Member to ensure that a valid payment method is on file to avoid incurring late fees.
INSTRUMENT RENTAL / PURCHASE EXPECTATIONS:
Educational material, music books, instrument rental, and other accessories are not included in your membership. Please consult with your teacher for specific requirements as materials vary based on student level and instrument.
MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM CANCELLATION
Membership may be canceled by submitting our online cancellation form at: https://www.soundsofcarolina.com/membershipcancellation.
Cancellation Form must be completed and submitted by the 15th of the month to take effect at the end of that month.
(Example: Cancellation Form received on February 16th is billed for March and
takes effect at the end of March.)You may withdraw the cancellation at any time before it takes effect, but the teacher and/or time slot can not be held or guaranteed.
An active membership is mandatory to participate in our performance opportunities. All registrations will be withdrawn at the time of membership cancellation.
Membership is non-transferable.
All Make-up Lesson Credits on your account expire 30 days from the cancellation effective date.
Sounds of Carolina reserves the right to terminate membership. Upon termination, tuition may be refunded at a prorated rate.
STUDENT PORTAL
Members are expected to use the Student Portal to keep track of lesson and event schedules. The Student Portal Calendar may be synced to your device of choice for convenience. (https://soundsofcarolina.opus1.io/login)
Members should know how to cancel and rebook lessons in the Student Portal. Teachers are not responsible for lesson scheduling.
If help is needed, contact us via the studio phone number and/or email:
(864) 844-8120 or info@soundsofcarolina.comTeachers are automatically notified when Members self-cancel or book lessons in the Student Portal.
Members are responsible for keeping their billing and personal information up-to-date to ensure clear communication and seamless billing.
ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to be on time to their weekly lessons.
Students who are late for a lesson cannot be guaranteed the full lesson time for that lesson.
MISSED LESSONS
Maintaining consistent lesson attendance is crucial for musical progress. However, we understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise.
We do not offer refunds or credits for missed lessons, regardless of the reason (including illness).
In the rare case that your teacher is unavailable, we will strive to provide a substitute. If no substitute is available, you will receive a monetary credit issued to your Student Portal account in the amount of the lesson missed.
We offer three options for missed lessons: Make-up Lesson Credits, LessonMate Lesson Plan, and Online Lessons.
Make-up Lesson Credits:
This option requires 24 hours’ notice.
To reschedule your lesson and receive a Make-up Lesson Credit, you must cancel with at least 24 hours' advance notice through the Student Portal.
Cancellations made within 24 hours of your lesson, including those due to same-day illness, will not qualify for a Make-up Lesson Credit.
A maximum of two (2) Make-up Lesson Credits can be held per membership at any given time.
Credits expire 30 days after the original lesson cancellation date (except for Trial Lesson Credits, which expire in 7 days).
Credits can be used to schedule a Make-up Lesson with your teacher or another available instructor through the Student Portal.
Make-up Lessons cannot be rescheduled, and any unused credits will expire 30 days after membership termination.
LessonMate Lesson Plan:
This option can be requested at any time leading up to a lesson.
LessonMate is our online tool (through the Student Portal) that provides personalized makeup lessons when you have to miss a scheduled in-studio music lesson.
To receive a LessonMate in place of a live lesson, you must make a request through the Student Portal. For best results, please submit a request 24 hours in advance so your teacher has time to prepare.
A LessonMate may be requested at any time leading up to a lesson.
LessonMate requests cannot be accepted after a missed lesson.
LessonMate will be delivered to Members via email.
Online Lesson:
This option requires at least four hours notice via text/call to (864) 844-8120). This option is not guaranteed.
Instead of missing your lesson completely, you can request an online lesson with your teacher at the same scheduled time.
Clients must give at least 4 hours notice (via text/call to (864) 844-8120) to request an online lesson.
If you've received confirmation for an online lesson you can join via the Student Portal. Click "Join Lesson Online".
Online Lessons are not guaranteed. If we cannot accommodate your Online Lesson request you will be provided with a LessonMate.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Members may decide to change teacher or instrument, provided they provide 14-day advance notice prior to the 1st day of the month you wish to have the change take effect.
The lesson cancellation policy applies to substitute teachers. No Make-up Credit will be issued for last-minute substitutions.
If your teacher becomes unavailable for regular lessons, you will be provided with a new teacher with a similar teaching style, or the opportunity to choose a new teacher.
ILLNESS
Students who are sick are expected to stay home. If a student comes to their lesson ill they may be dismissed, and the lesson will be forfeited.
Illnesses include but are not limited to the Common Cold, Stomach Flu, Strep Throat, Hand Foot and Mouth Disease, Pink Eye, Head Lice, Influenza, COVID-19, Chickenpox, Mononucleosis, etc.
SUMMER LESSONS (June, July)
Members will not have their regular 36-lesson schedule in June or July. During these months, we will automatically put all memberships on “Summer Hold.” Members will not be billed for regular lessons during these months.
The Membership Program lesson schedule will resume on August 1st. Your scheduled times and teachers will remain the same unless a change is requested or there is an availability issue with a teacher.
While on summer hold, members may purchase Single Lessons if they wish to continue lessons.
GROUP CLASSES
We do not offer refunds or credits for missed group classes, regardless of the reason (including illness).
We do not offer Make-up Credits for canceled or missed classes.
In the rare case that your teacher is unavailable, we will strive to provide a substitute. If no substitute is available, a full refund will be issued for the missed class.
SINGLE LESSONS (A LA CARTE)
Single Lessons are individual lessons that can be purchased and booked on a first-come, first-served basis.
Single Lessons booking is dependent on teacher availability and a regular weekly lesson time is not guaranteed.
Single Lesson students are not eligible for a Trial Lesson.
Single Lesson students are not eligible to participate in our Performance Opportunities unless otherwise specified.
Purchasing Single Lessons does not grant access to our Membership Program.
Students who only enroll in Single Lessons are not required to pay the Membership Program registration fee.
TRIAL LESSONS
Prospective Membership students are welcome to schedule a paid single 30-minute Trial Lesson before committing to ongoing lessons..
This Trial Lesson is a paid 30-minute Single Lesson.
Due to scheduling considerations, the time and day of the week the Trial Lesson takes place cannot be guaranteed for future lessons. The Trial Lesson day and time are not guaranteed for future lessons at the time of enrollment.
CARE OF STUDENTS
Sounds of Carolina is not responsible for providing before or after class care for students or siblings.
Parents are always welcome to attend lessons; teachers may request that parents attend every week.
Young Children
Sounds of Carolina strives to provide a focused and positive learning environment for all students. To ensure this, we kindly ask for your cooperation in the following:
Siblings or young children accompanying students to lessons should be supervised to minimize disruptions. We understand that sometimes parents are juggling multiple children who cannot be left unattended. If this is the case, we have a designated waiting area with books and toys to keep children occupied.
If a sibling becomes disruptive during a lesson, the parent/guardian may be asked to step outside the lesson room momentarily with the child. This allows the student to maintain focus and continue their learning uninterrupted.
INJURIES
By taking lessons, Members and patrons assume all risk of injury or harm to the child(ren) or adult(s) associated with participation in musical activities at Sounds of Carolina and agree to release, indemnify, defend, and forever discharge Sounds of Carolina and its officers and staff from all liability, claims, demands, damages, costs, and expenses in the unlikely event of injury sustained by your child(ren) or adult student during the course or as a result of their participation in Sounds of Carolina musical activities.
MEDIA RELEASE
Unless requested in writing prior to documented events, Sounds of Carolina is granted permission to take photographs/videos of the students to use in brochures, websites, posters, advertisements, and other promotional materials Sounds of Carolina creates. Permission is also hereby granted for Sounds of Carolina to copyright such photographs in its name or the name of its contracted workers.
DISCLAIMER
Sounds of Carolina reserves the right to refuse service to any person at any time for any reason.
These terms and policies are effective upon enrollment. Policies & terms are subject to change.
DEFINITIONS:
LessonMate: Our online tool (through the Portal) that provides personalized makeup lessons when you have to miss a scheduled in-studio music lesson.
Make-up Lesson Credit: A credit that can be used to book a Make-up Lesson.
Membership Program: Weekly private lessons; access to all our Performance Opportunities and Events.
Single Lessons: Lessons that can be purchased individually and are scheduled based upon teacher availability.
Trial Lesson: A paid single 30-minute Single Lesson scheduled before committing to ongoing lessons.