ENROLLMENT: Students are enrolled for private lessons by term (See CALENDAR below Fall and Spring terms will include 18 lessons (one lesson per week) and a Masterclass (optional Summer term will include 9 lessons. Each term will include an additional makeup week.

We assume that a student will be continuing for the following term unless both the Director and Assistant Director are notified in writing with at least 2 weeks notice.

CALENDAR: Please note the following term dates and studio closures for the 2024-2025 year.

2024 Fall Term 8/5 - 12/13 (18 weeks)

9/2 Closed Labor Day

10/31 Closed Halloween

11/23 Holiday Masterclass

11/25-30 Closed Thanksgiving week

12/16 - 12/20 Makeup week

12/18 (selected students) Winter Showcase 

12/22 - 1/5 Closed Winter Break

 

2025 Spring Term 1/6 - 5/16 (18 weeks)

3/24 - 28 Closed (spring break) 

5/17 Spring Masterclass

5/19 - 5/24 Makeup week

 
2025 Summer Term 6/2 - 8/9 (9 weeks)

6/30- 7/5 Closed (July 4th)

8/11 - 8/15 Makeup week

 

TUITION: Tuition may be paid in full by the beginning of the term or as monthly installments. Please see New and Existing Student Tuition Rates. Tuition is discounted if paid in full or enrolled in AutoPay. Please see rate chart

2024 FALL TERM TUITION RATE: EXISTING STUDENTS

Lesson Length	Tuition paid by monthly installments	Tuition paid by monthly installments AUTOPAY (via MMS)	Tuition paid in full (Fall Term)
30 minutes	$105	$100	$500
45 minutes	$157.50	$150	$750
60 minutes	$210	$200	$1000

 

2025 SPRING TERM TUITION RATE: EXISTING STUDENTS (Takes effect billing period January 1, 2025)

Lesson Length	Tuition paid by monthly installments	Tuition paid by monthly installments AUTOPAY (via MMS)	Tuition paid in full (Spring Term)	Tuition paid in full (Summer Term)
30 minutes	$125	$120	$600	$300
45 minutes	$187.50	$180	$900	$450
60 minutes	$250	$240	$1200	$600

 

2024/2025 TUITION RATE: NEW STUDENTS (This will take effect for EXISTING students beginning Fall Term 2025) 

Lesson Length	Tuition paid by monthly installments	Tuition paid by monthly installments AUTOPAY (via MMS)	Tuition paid in full (Spring Term)	Tuition paid in full (Summer Term)
30 minutes	$150	$140	$700	$350
45 minutes	$175	$165	$825	$412.50
60 minutes	$300	$290	$1450	$725

 

PAYMENTS: Tuition is prepaid. Invoices will be sent out on the 15th of each month, and payments are due by the 25st of each month preceding the month of lessons. If payment is not received by the 25th, lessons will be suspended until account balance has been paid in full OR a payment plan has been set up. Missed lessons during a suspension will be treated as a "No-Show". You will not receive makeup credits for any lessons missed during a period of suspension nor will you receive invoice credits for lessons missed. If payment is not received and we haven't heard from you to set up a payment plan, we will assume you do not wish to continue with lessons at Gem City Music Studio and your lesson time may be forfeited. Fees are payable online through MyMusicStaff or can be made via PayPal (paypal.me/GemCityMusicStudio), by cash, or by check (payable to Gem City Music Studio, LLC If you are mailing in your payment, please do not send cash. Invoices will be sent via email with a link to PayPal and the amount due for the upcoming month.

INSTRUMENT/PRACTICE/MUSIC BOOKS: Students are expected to have a working instrument at home. Piano students may have an acoustic piano, digital piano, or keyboard. If using a keyboard that is not full size, there must be at least 61 keys. All students are expected to practice for a minimum of 5 days per week for a minimum of 10-15 minutes per day unless your teacher has instructed you to follow a different practice plan. Students will be responsible to purchase the method books that your teacher requests. In-person students will be given an assignment notebook at the second lesson unless the teacher prefers to send Lesson Notes through MyMusicStaff.

MY MUSIC STAFF ACCOUNTS: All families will be given a MyMusicStaff account. Each family account will have access to a parent portal as well as a student portal for each individual student. This account is needed to make changes to your existing lesson/class times. In addition, you will be able to access billing statements, invoices, lesson assignments, digital sheet music sharing, practice logs, and much more. All new families will meet with an administrator after your introductory lesson to set this up.

CANCELLATIONS/MAKEUPS: Should you need to miss a lesson for ANY reason, you must cancel your lesson on MyMusicStaff (MMS Please also notify your teacher directly as well as the Director and Assistant Director for any cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice. Failure to give a 24-hour notice may result in loss of lesson time without the option to reschedule, and may be considered a "No-Show". Students will be granted one (1) makeup credit to use by the end of the term for any number of absences that may have occurred during the term. It is up to teacher discretion and teacher availability to reschedule any missed lessons, but we do not guarantee more than one (1) makeup lesson for each term. Unused lesson make-up credits will expire at the end of the term.

Teacher Absence: In the event that your teacher must be absent for a lesson, you will have a substitute teacher. If a substitute is not available, your lesson will be rescheduled for another time during the 5-month term. Teachers may offer another time from their open time slots, weekends, weeks the studio is closed, or they may elect to use the additional makeup week at the end of the session.

Weather-related cancellations: The safety of Gem City Music Students and their families is extremely important, therefore, when weather conditions are unsafe, the decision to close the studio building will be announced on the Gem City Music Studio Facebook page, and you will also be contacted directly if you have a lesson that day. In-person lessons that would be canceled due to extreme weather will still take place virtually at the usual lesson time instead. If possible, please make every effort to have a virtual lesson. If you are unable to do so, it can be made up as your one (1) makeup during the makeup week at the end of the

Illness: In order to reduce the spread of illness among GCMS families and staff, if a student is showing ANY signs of illness (ie. severe cold, flu, COVID, strep, diarrhea, vomiting, fever etc), do not have an in-person lesson that day. We will follow CDC guidelines for all illnesses. If the student is feeling well enough to have a lesson, you may choose to have a virtual lesson instead. Otherwise, the parent/student may reschedule the lesson for any open time slot on your teacher's schedule in the MMS calendar. We understand that illness can have a sudden onset near or during lesson time, however, a blatant disregard for our illness policy may result in cancellation of that day's lesson.

Tardiness: Please let your teacher know if you are running late. Lesson times will not be extended due to tardiness. Your lesson that day will be canceled if you are more than 10 minutes late without contacting your teacher to let them know you're running late.

CHAPERONE POLICY: Students under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older. The chaperone must stay with them on the premises until their teacher begins the lesson, and they must be at the studio promptly at the end of the lesson time. Should any parent wish to leave the premises during lesson time regardless of student age, you must notify the teacher so they are aware of the parent leaving.

VIRTUAL LESSONS: Lessons may be taken virtually in place of in-person lessons at the studio. Virtual lessons will be done via Zoom or Google Meet. Please be signed on and ready to start a few minutes before your scheduled lesson time so that lessons can begin on time. Your teacher will initiate the call/meeting as he/she may be finishing up a lesson prior to yours. You may use whatever camera/device that you have as long as your teacher can see you AND your instrument. For piano students, it is best for the camera to be positioned above or to the side of the keyboard. At the end of every video lesson, your teacher will email your assignment for the week and make it available on the MyMusicStaff portal.

RECITALS/MASTERCLASSES: Gem City Music Studio does not currently offer formal recitals, however, a casual "masterclass" will be held at the end of fall and spring terms. Masterclass dates are on the calendar and other information will be made available at least 30 days in advance. Participation in each masterclass is completely optional, and student performance is voluntary, however, all students choosing to attend and/or perform must register on MyMusicStaff. Students who choose to attend the masterclass will never be forced to perform. Thisallows students to have a safe, stress free environment and allows a greater understanding for mistakes and "works in progress". Students will be encouraged to provide feedback to one another which improves students' critical thinking, performance skills, compassion, public speaking, and confidence while promoting a sense of friendship and support all while maintaining a respect for their craft and hard work. This performance opportunity is unique to Gem City Music Studio.

SHOWCASE: In December, GCMS hosts an additional "Showcase" at the Hidden Gem Music Club. Students will be hand selected by the teachers based on eligibility factors. Eligible private lesson students must be playing at an intermediate or above level, must have good lesson attendance, and must practice consistently.

DISCONTINUATION: Student commitment is for one term at a time, however, we do understand that unexpected issues may arise. In order to discontinue lessons permanently or temporarily, a written notice of withdrawal must be submitted to the director at gemcitymusicstudio@gmail.com with at least 2 weeks' notice. Otherwise, it is assumed you will be continuing your musical journey with Gem City Music Studio. No refunds will be given for early termination, and no further invoices will be sent.

If a student misses two or more consecutive lessons without notification, Gem City Music Studio reserves the right to terminate the student from the studio. No refunds will be given for the missed lessons.

DISMISSAL: At Gem City Music Studio, we want to provide a welcoming family-friendly environment. The following behaviors will not be tolerated while at GCMS or when participating in any of our events: bullying; extreme rudeness or display of disrespect; refusal to cooperate; profanity; vandalism/destruction of premises or GCMS instruments and/or equipment; or theft. These behaviors will not be tolerated under any condition, especially if directed toward any other students, family members, or instructors. Although rare, these behaviors may result in dismissal from enrollment at GCMS. Violation of policies stated in this handbook may also be grounds for dismissal from the studio. In the case of a student dismissal, no refunds will be issued, and any unpaid balances will remain due.

LOCATION: All GCMS lessons and classes will be held at 4017 Marshall Rd, Kettering OH, 45429 located in the Fairmont Plaza. Upon arrival, please enter the premises and sit in one of the waiting areas until your teacher comes to greet you and takes you to one of the practice rooms for your lesson. Please do not roam through the studio while you wait for your lesson to begin. The only exception to a change in location would be choosing to have lessons virtually.

HOURS: Lessons are scheduled by appointment only, and lesson times are reserved for that student each week. We may not answer the phone if we are in a lesson, so please leave a voicemail and/or email if your call is not answered. We check voicemail and email regularly and will respond as soon as possible. Please allow 1-2 business days.

 

ADMINISTRATION CONTACT INFORMATION:

DIRECTOR: Rebecca James gemcitymusicstudio@gmail.com

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Kathy Cooney kathycooney.gcms@gmail.com

STUDIO PHONE: (937) 985-2226

Thank you for choosing Gem City Music Studio! We look forward to working with you!

PHOTO RELEASE:

By granting permission, you are allowing Gem City Music Studio to photograph and take video recordings of your child. Your child's picture/video will never be sold or used for any purpose other than those listed below without obtaining additional consent. You may revoke this permission in writing at any time.

HANDBOOK AGREEMENT:

By enrolling your child(ren) in lessons at Gem City Music Studio, you acknowledge and accept your responsibilities to Gem City Music Studio, understand, and agree to all terms in the studio policy handbook including all fees, cancellations, illness, and makeup policies. Please digitally sign below to acknowledge and agree to the policies in the 2023-2024 Handbook.