Dear Chamber Music participants and families,
Thank you for joining us for this unique musical experience, we are delighted to have you in our program. Playing in a chamber group is in many ways more rewarding and demanding than playing as a soloist or member of a larger group. By playing chamber repertoire, we learn so much about our instruments, our musical interactions, and ourselves. Because of musical and logistic complexity, we are asking that you read this message carefully and acknowledge that you are willing to follow the expectations stated here.
Missed rehearsal and make-up policy:
Students are charged for all lessons and classes for which they register, including those missed due to student absence. As a courtesy, students are expected to notify their teachers directly of any impending absences. Instructors may offer make-up lessons, but they are not obligated to do so. If a teacher is absent for a class, a make-up will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time, or a substitute may work with the group.
It is essential that all players attend Chamber Music coachings. If one person is missing, the coaching will not be automatically cancelled. Your instructor has right to cancel the rehearsal if the effect of the missing part would make the coaching unproductive. Coachings that are cancelled because of missing students will not be refunded, and there is no expectation for faculty to provide a make-up or find an alternate time for coaching.
Group formation:
For new students, we offer two opportunities for placement in an ensemble: at the end of Spring semester and on the first weekend after Labor Day (Open House). We need to hear each person to find the best match for each group. Although we try hard to be creative and find a place for everyone in the program, we cannot guarantee placements for all students who register and are unable to cater to individual wishes. Whether it is a trio or a quartet, each ensemble has its own rewards and challenges.
Communications:
As we are creating groups, the Chamber Music Coordinator will work with families to learn about their schedule and assign an ECMS Instructor to coach the group. Students are welcome to request a particular coach, but availability will vary based on individual teachers’ availability. Once assigned to a group, it is essential that students make contact with their coach quickly to begin learning the repertoire ahead of the first rehearsal.
There are many ways we communicate these days (phone, text, social media, email), and preferences vary from one person to another. In order to keep communication efficient, we request that any official communication regarding availability, scheduling rehearsals, discussing performances etc., be done via email and include the coach and all members of the ensemble (including parents/caretakers). Although this might not be your favorite way of communicating, we ask that you use it to contact other participants in the group, your coach, and the Chamber Music Coordinator.
Please keep in mind that the University of Rochester Child Safety Guidelines recommends that for children under the age of 18, any electronic communications that are distributed to a group of program participants should include parent’s emails as well.
Drop/Withdrawal policies:
Students who withdraw from a class or ensemble during the first three weeks of a semester will receive a 100% refund or tuition credit. Those who withdraw from a class or ensemble during the fourth to sixth week of classes will receive a 50% credit or refund. Students receive no refund if they drop after the sixth week of classes.
Emergency/Weather Policy:
In the case of an emergency closure, ECMS lessons and classes will be held online. Cancelled ensembles will not be made up.
If ECMS remains open during inclement weather, individual teachers may opt to reschedule their activities at their discretion.
Registrations:
The Community Music School reserves the right to cancel sections of classes with insufficient enrollment. In the event that a class is cancelled, students will be given the opportunity to transfer into another section of the same class, into a different class, or to receive a full refund. Late registrations, when permitted by the instructor, will be billed for the full semester.