Registration Policies

Registration and Payment

Registration is available by requesting a lesson online, by calling the Main Office phone 603-881-7030 (Monday-Friday 2-8pm) or by submitting an email inquiry to info@nashuacms.org.

Registration for All Students is Now Open

NEW STUDENTS are encouraged to start with a Trial Pack of 3-30 Minute Lessons for $99.

RETURNING STUDENTS: An initial payment of $99 is required to book a weekly lesson time. Families will be placed on an automatic fixed monthly payment plan beginning on September 15th at the 2024/2025 tuition rates unless they opt to pay in full at the time of registration. Returning students starting mid-year will pay a pro-rated amount at time of registration, and then monthly payments will begin on the 15th of the month.

All payments should be made via automatic bank draft or credit card through our online registration system, FONS or by check or cash.

Scholarship Students: Students who have been awarded a financial aid scholarship should register directly with the Main Office. Please submit your scholarship application early to reserve your preferred time slot.

Private Lesson & Music Therapy Calendar

Private Lessons and Music Therapy Sessions will run September 9th, 2024- June 9th, 2025 according to the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar. Students who pay in full at the time of registration are committing to the full academic year of 34 lessons. All other students are enrolled on a monthly basis with a fixed monthly payment deducted automatically via bank draft or credit card. All lessons and monthly charges will continue based on the academic calendar unless written notice of withdrawal is received by the NCMS Office by the last day of the month.

Please note that students who make a permanent shift of lesson format will likely require changes to their lesson schedule.

Students who elect to take lessons remotely may make a permanent switch to an in-person lesson at any time if a timeslot is available. NCMS will closely monitor the health climate and CDC recommendations in NH.

Students who elect to take in person lessons may make a permanent switch to remote lessons at any time.

NCMS reserves the right to transfer all live lessons to a remote format temporarily or permanently depending on the associated risk factors at any given time.

Communication of Absences or Tardies

NCMS asks that all notification of absences or tardies for live or remote lessons are sent directly to the Main Office by e-mail, phone, or Fons message. This message will be relayed to the teacher by the Main Office in a timely manner.

Makeup Policy for Private Lessons & Music Therapy

●Regular and punctual attendance is expected at all scheduled lessons.

●NCMS allows only three make-up lessons per academic year, due to an excused student`s absence. An absence is considered excused if the NCMS office is notified by email, phone call, or via Fons messenger no later than 24 hours prior to the start time of the scheduled lesson. Only excused absences are eligible for a makeup lesson.

●Failure to provide cancellation notice less than 24 hours prior to the time of the scheduled lesson is considered a 'No Show' for the lesson and will not be eligible for a make up lesson.

●Students should NOT attend lessons when sick. In the event of illness, the instructor and the student may opt to use Zoom to complete their lesson.

●A make-up lesson shall be typically scheduled during the predetermined makeup weeks defined by the school calendar. In addition, the student and the instructor may schedule a makeup lesson at an alternate mutually convenient time.

●All lessons must be made-up by the last day of the academic year for which the student was registered.

●When private lessons are cancelled by the instructors, the office will notify all affected students immediately. A make-up lesson will be offered at the next available mutually convenient time. In addition, the school reserves the right to use a substitute instructor.”

Instrument Rental Policy

Students of the Nashua Community Music School may rent instruments either through the Bridges and Bows Violin Rental Program or directly from NCMS. NCMS House Instruments may be rented by current NCMS students for an additional fee of $20 per month. Students may rent instruments for the duration of their time at NCMS. Instruments must be returned to the NCMS Main Office once a student has completed their lessons. If the instrument is not returned within 30 days of the final lesson date, NCMS will charge the card on file an additional fee of $300.

Withdrawal or Refund Policy

Policy For Private Lessons & Music Therapy Sessions:

The initial $99 payment is nonrefundable in all cases. Students may withdraw less the initial payment up until the week before the start of any lesson program or class series. No refunds will be given to students for group lesson programs, regardless of the status of their payment plan. Students enrolled in the monthly plan may withdraw by submitting written notice 30 days prior to their last intended payment to the NCMS Main Office at info@nahsuacms.org.

We encourage students who experience recurring time conflicts to take advantage of our flexible scheduling and lesson share options. Any requests for exceptions due to medical or family emergencies to this policy should be addressed to the Executive Director and must be received in writing. Requests will be considered jointly by the Executive Director and the NCMS Executive Board of Directors, as necessary. A response to all requests will be received within 2 weeks of the submission.

Flexible Scheduling for All Students

NCMS now offers flexible scheduling for all students. This means that if a recurring conflict arises, students may switch their lesson time to an alternate available lesson time at any point throughout the academic year. This policy allows students to commit to taking lessons throughout the full academic year, but not necessarily to the time slot or lesson initially selected. Weekly adjustments for 1 time conflicts are not permitted, unless special exceptions are made by the individual instructor.

NCMS now offers the opportunity to share your lessons with another member in your immediate household. If a recurring time conflict arises and an alternate lesson time is not available or does not fit the student’s intended schedule, the remaining lessons may be permanently transferred to an alternate member of the same household for immediate use. All billing will continue as regularly scheduled, regardless of the transfer.

Policy for Group Classes, Ensembles, and Summer Camps

Refunds or make-ups are not given for withdrawals from group classes, ensembles or summer camps unless the course is cancelled due to insufficient enrollment or program cancellation by NCMS.

NOTE: No make-ups or refunds are given in the summer semester. Please plan your summer classes/camps carefully.

Pick-up/Drop-off Procedures for Your Safety

● All minors who wish to enter and exit the building without parental supervision must fill out a permission slip with the Main Office.

Inclement Weather Policy

Cancellation of classes or lessons due to weather will be posted on social meida, announced on WMUR channel 9 in NH and on the WMUR website, posted on the Home Page of the NCMS website and will be found on our voicemail. When the facility is closed due to inclement weather, all in person private lessons will be transferred to a remote format or offered an alternative makeup time, depending on the instructor.

Behavior Policy

All students and those accompanying them are expected to behave in an appropriate manner. Any individual who disrupts the peace, or causes any damage to property will be asked to leave at the discretion of the Executive Director or appropriate staff member present. They will be allowed to return at the discretion of the Executive Director. If it is decided that the person is not welcome back, no refund will be given.

Photography

We occasionally photograph students for promotional purposes. Please provide NCMS with a written statement if you or your family do not wish to be photographed. Unless NCMS receives written documentation stating that photos may not be taken of you or your family member, NCMS reserves the right to use all photographs and videos for promotional purposes. The majority of the photographs used on our website are provided by Mark Stern Photography or Chris Boncoddo.

Covid-19 Protocols

Necessary adjustments to all programming may occur at any time depending on recommendations by the CDC, the actions of the Nashua Public Schools, and the status of the overall health climate in NH

The Nashua Community Music School is "Mask Optional" in most cases.

NCMS will continue to respect the wishes of teachers and families who prefer to require masks in their individual lessons. Please check the sign on your lesson door upon entry to prepare appropriately.

NCMS strongly recommends masking in the following cases:

• If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness

• If you live with or have social contact with someone at high risk for severe illness

• If you have recently been exposed to someone diagnosed with Covid-19

• If you have recently traveled

Mask policies may change depending on the nature of each event or large group gathering. Please check the facility for signage or call ahead with questions.

NCMS reserves the right to adjust our mask policy at any time to best protect our students and teachers. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation.

● Students and Families will be asked to self-monitor for possible symptoms and/or increased temperature prior to entering the school. If you are feeling at all sick, please contact the school to arrange a remote lesson with your teacher.

● If you have Covid, you can return to the school a minimum of 5 days from the date you received a positive test result as long as you are symptom-free. You must remain masked for an additional 5 days while in the school or until you produce a negative test result. 10 days is still recommended for respiratory activities.

● If you are exposed to someone with Covid, fully vaccinated and up-to-date individuals who are symptom-free can attend masked in person lessons that day. Unvaccinated individuals’ next lesson must be remote. They may return to the school the following week if they are symptom-free and can produce a negative test.

● If you have symptoms and are waiting on a test result, your lessons will be remote until you are symptom-free and can produce a negative test.