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Policies

Enrollment

  • Payment must be received to ensure a place in class.

  • RSM admits students of any race, religion, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students of the school.

Payment

  • Tuition and Fees: Your registration fee, session processing fee, registration form submission and tuition payment is due 3 days prior to your first scheduled lesson/class. Tuition is prorated for new students entering after the session has started. Please note: The registration fee and session processing fee is non-refundable. 

  • Payment Methods: Students/Families can include a debit/credit card or ACH Bank Information on file upon registration. One-time card transactions, personal checks and cash payments are accepted.  There is a $10 session processing fee applied to debit/credit card or ACH Bank Information payments, applied once each session. Check, money order, or cash payments do not include a processing fee.
     

  • For continuing students, payments are due by or before the Session payment due date. Please refer to the Session payment due date calendar. 
     

  • RSM reserves the right to cancel any class due to insufficient enrollment. In such cases, all unused tuition fees will be refunded. 
     

  • Online Payments: It is optional to include a debit/credit card or ACH Bank Information in your registration or RSM portal account. If added, the Richardson School of Music reserves the right to process your balance with your online payment method once your registration for an Intro Package or session is confirmed. Future session balances will be processed automatically unless we receive a written notice of intent to cancel lessons (see our Withdrawal/Refunds policy for more information).
     

  • Payment Plans: Payment plans are available, and each payment includes a $10 payment plan fee per installment. All students enrolled in a payment plan with RSM must have a valid credit card or bank information on file. Payments for this option will be processed on the agreed payment due dates set up by the administration.
     

  • Payment Issues: A $15 late fee will be applied to statement balances not received by the payment due date. A $15 fee is applied for declined payments. A $35 fee is applied for returned checks.
     

Missed Lessons

  • The school office must be notified at least 24 hours in advance of any absence. Informing a teacher of intent to cancel or make-up a lesson does not constitute notice to RSM.

  • "Day of" cancellations for any reason are not subject to receive a make-up lesson and will be charged.

  • Richardson School of Music is not obligated to make-up lessons or classes due to inclement weather, student non-attendance, illness, vacation, etc.

  • Credits or refunds are not issued for missed lessons.

Tardiness

  • Students are expected to attend and be punctual to all classes. Students who are late for a lesson cannot be guaranteed their full lesson time. Students arriving late by more than half of their lesson period will be considered absent, and their instructor will be dismissed.

Student Sickness

  • No students should attend lessons when sick (ie fever, nausea, vomiting, constant runny nose, etc.) out of respect for our teachers and other music students.  
     

  • Richardson School of Music reserves the right to dismiss a student from a scheduled lessons if the student arrives at their lesson exhibiting possible symptoms of illness.  We do not offer make-ups for sick-related absences.

Make-up Lessons

  • Each student is allotted ONE make-up lesson per session (the office must be notified at least 24 hours in advance of your absence in order to use your one allotted make-up lesson for the session).

  • A sub is provided for teacher absences. If we are unable to provide a sub for your lesson, the office will contact you to schedule a make-up lesson.

  • If your make-up availability does not match your instructor's schedule, additional lesson time may be added to your lesson(s)/classes in order to make-up the missed lesson/class. You may also be scheduled for a make-up lesson with another instructor that matches your make-up availability.  

  • The Richardson School of Music reserves the right to substitute faculty when necessary.

  • In the event you miss a group class, you may attend a comparable class (please ask the office for assistance if you're interested in this make-up option) or you may attend the designated session make-up day. If your instructor is absent and a sub is not available, additional class time may be added to several classes in order to make-up the class time missed. 

  • All make-up lessons and classes are held the Session they are missed.

  • Credits or refunds are not issued for missed lessons.

Change of
Instructor

  • RSM assigns private instructors in order to make the best possible match before studies begin. If a change is desired please contact or call office at 301-660-4455

  • Richardson School of Music reserves the right to substitute faculty when necessary.

Withdrawal/
Refunds

  • Two-weeks' notice must be given for withdrawal of a student.

  • Cancellation/withdrawal must be made in writing.

  • There is a withdrawal fee equal to two weeks of tuition. If a student has given RSM the proper notification and all tuition payments are up-to-date, the School will issue a refund for any lessons remaining beyond the 2-week notification period.

  • Registration and material fees are not refundable.

Inclement
Weather/
School
Closings

  • In the event of inclement weather, The Richardson School of Music makes decisions regarding closures independently of local school districts.

  • RSM reserves the right to cancel classes due to inclement weather and holidays.

  • RSM is not obligated to make-up lessons or classes due to inclement weather.

  • School Closing Announcement: An official announcement will be placed on RSM’s voicemail greeting at 301-660-4455 and on our website by 7:00 AM for morning lessons and classes, and by 1:00 PM for afternoon lessons and classes. If inclement weather conditions occur later in the day, RSM  reserves the right to make a decision at a later time.

  • Sunday events: An official announcement will be placed on RSM’s  voicemail greeting by 12:00 PM.

Child Safety

  • To ensure your child’s safety, please be sure to pick him/her up promptly after each class/lesson time.

  • Faculty and staff do not supervise children waiting before or after classes.

  • Children are under supervision during their instruction time only. Neither instructors or administrators are responsible for supervising children outside of teaching time.

  • Students are not allowed in classrooms other than instruction or scheduled lab time.

Photo/Video

Release Policy

  • Photographs and video of students may be taken for Richardson School of Music publications and/or news releases.

  • No compensation is provided to individuals who appear in the publications.

  • If you do not wish for you or your child to appear in our publications, please e-mail us directly to let us know of your preference or write your preference in the comment section below.

Conduct

  • No food or drinks are permitted in RSM. Please be respectful of others at all times.

 

Acceptance of

Policies

  • Payment of class fees/Beginning lessons implies acceptance of all policies stated.

 

*Please note that policies are subject to change. Official announcements will be made if such changes occur.*

Now Open for Virtual & In-Person Lessons for All Ages!

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