POLICIES
Contract Terms & Conditions
SCHEDULING
Scheduling is done through your teacher directly. Upon registering with Blue Feather Music you and your teacher will choose a set day and time for your weekly lessons. This helps ensure a consistent and smooth lesson experience to best facilitate your musical journey. This date and time will be reserved for you for the entire package length. Your teacher or the Blue Feather Team will schedule in My Music Staff on your behalf to ensure you get the days and times you have mutually agreed upon.
Please note: all teachers are independent contractors and are with us select days of the week. When initially deciding upon a day and time with your teacher, be aware they may not be able to accommodate you if you wish to change your lesson time. All teachers are required to be as upfront with their clients as possible but we cannot make any guarantees if you wish to make changes. If a new time can not be coordinated with your existing teacher, Blue Feather can connect you with a new teacher!
You have the option to Receive Email and/or text reminders in advance of your appointment. To stop notifications, log into the Parent Portal or Student Portal on My Music Staff.
All packages are "use it or lose it" and Blue Feather nor the instructor are not responsible if you do not use your lessons before the expiration date of your contract. The expiration date for all 9-Month “School Year” packages is May 31st.
If your primary instructor is unavailable to deliver all the lessons we will be happy to connect you with a substitute.
Flex weeks and holidays are to be mutually decided on between teacher and student. To learn more, see the “Flex Weeks” section.
MONTHLY LESSONS: To be guaranteed your weekly spot, those taking monthly lessons must take a minimum of 3 lessons per month. If you wish to take less than 3 a month, scheduling will be at the discretion of your instructor.
MISSED LESSONS, FLEX WEEKS, & CANCELLATIONS
Blue Feather teachers invest a great deal of time and energy preparing and traveling to your lesson, therefore a minimum of 24-hours notice is required for a student absence unless in the case of illness or family emergency.
Like other professional services, we reserve designated lesson time especially for you or your child, that your instructor cannot fill in your absence with another student.
Because of this, Blue Feather cannot offer refunds for absences and/or missed lessons that occur because students have conflicts, i.e. games, rehearsals, family travel, etc. Instead, all lesson packages contain fewer lessons than weeks to allow for reschedules (33 lessons over 39 weeks). These extra weeks are called “Flex Weeks” and are described below. In addition, these Flex Weeks can account for Winter/Spring Break, holidays, etc.
Flex Weeks will be tracked by using Make-Up Credits in My Music Staff. In the event of a lesson not used, a Make-Up Credit will be issued to your account by your teacher. This Make-Up Credit will be redeemed at a later time and proves that the lesson has already been paid for. There is a maximum of 6 Make-Up Credits during your 9-month school year package.
If you need to reschedule more lessons than there are flex weeks (more than 6 lessons), then we ask that you work with your teacher to find creative scheduling solutions, such as two a week or extending lesson times, otherwise you will then forfeit those lessons with no refund when the package expires.
Reschedules are always at the availability of the instructor(s).
NO SHOWS
“No Shows”, meaning there was a lesson scheduled but the student was not present with no advanced notice, are forfeited and will count toward a lesson in your package and that lesson will not be rescheduled.
STUDIO CLOSURE DATES
The studio does not have universal closure dates. Any holidays, vacation, travel, winter/summer breaks will be determined directly between each instructor and the student. Pre-Planned School Breaks are a good time to use Flex Weeks.
ILLNESS
We take illness very seriously, as our teachers rely on their health to work and perform.
If you or your student is sick, please call your teacher directly to reschedule as soon as possible. Under absolutely NO circumstances should you attend your lesson sick! (e.g. fever, or been on antibiotics for less than 24 hours). Flex weeks are built to accommodate occasional sickness.
If the student is well enough (not contagious and does not have a fever) to attend school or work, you may attend your lesson. Although we might not be singing or using the instrument, there are plenty of other activities related to musicianship, theory, history, listening exercises, and more. The non-instrument lesson is very productive and yet allows the student to rest their instrument.
We also encourage Virtual Lessons in place of a face to face lesson when the student feels well enough.
If you have multiple students in one household, it’s possible to use the sick student’s time with the other siblings if, and ONLY if, your teacher feels comfortable.
Please discuss this with your teacher directly as each instructor will feel differently about the options.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
Blue Feather Music is a safety-first company. In the case of inclement weather, lessons will be held or cancelled at the discretion of the teacher. If the teacher feels unsafe or roads are unfit for travel, the teacher reserves the right to cancel lessons.
If a lesson or class is cancelled because of inclement weather you will receive a make-up credit.
Virtual Lessons are a PERFECT option for Bad Weather Days!
TEACHER CANCELLATION
Your teacher will adhere to the same 24-hour notice policy, and will reschedule the missed lesson per their availability. If the teacher cancels, you are entitled to a substitute, reschedule or in rare cases a refund.
SUBSTITUTES
In the instance of a teacher absence, your teacher may attempt to secure a substitute teacher in lieu of rescheduling.
All substitutes are exceptional professionals and musicians who can step in seamlessly to provide the same quality lesson you have come to expect from Blue Feather Music.
Substitutes are current teachers and have been personally and extensively interviewed and vetted by the administrative team, background-checked, and have excellent references from their colleagues.
RUNNING LATE?
Instructors will wait up to 10 minutes after which point the lesson is considered forfeited. If you are running late for your appointment, please communicate with your instructor as soon as you think you will be late.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE & DETAILS
All payments are invoiced and paid online; we will accept checks on a case by case basis. Blue Feather Music is proud to accept credit card payments and direct bank transfers via Stripe. You will receive a 2% discount if you pay with direct bank transfer!
Our two 9-month package payment options are “Paid In-Full” or quarterly installments. The Paid In-Full payment is due by September 1st, and the quarterly installments are due on September 1st, December 1st, and March 1st.
Monthly students will be required to have a payment account on file with autopay turned on. We will be charging you at the END of the month for all lessons taken that month. This allows teachers to complete attendance and confirm the calendar so erroneous or extra lessons are not being charged. This charge will occur between the 1st and the 10th of the following month.
Your choice of payment method is selected at registration and an invoice will be sent prior to charges being made. By agreeing to these policies, you agree to allow Blue Feather to charge the payment method on file at the times listed above and the amount selected at registration.
Declined payments due to information changes or other reasons will be charged a $30 late fee after 5 days of delinquency.
Blue Feather reserves the right to pause or terminate lessons for delinquent accounts.
EXCLUSIONS
Tuition for lessons does not include: materials needed for lessons, i.e. books, lesson notebooks, supplemental music, additional performance opportunities or auditions, or any other incidental fees. Accompanist fees, or competition fees the student may choose to enter are also excluded.
UN-ENROLLMENT
If you are unsatisfied with your lessons for any reason or if you are contemplating ending your lessons, please speak freely to your teacher or Holly about your concerns.
Music should always be a source of joy! To ensure respect and honor for your investment, the student’s interests and the teacher’s time and expertise, we want to work with you to best serve your students’ needs. This may mean recommending a different instructor, alternative instruments or a pause in lessons.
Music is a lifelong pursuit, but lessons are not always possible for a multitude of reasons. Whatever the reason, we will never take discontinuation of lessons personally.
If you feel un-enrollment is the best option for your family, we require a 30-days written notice in the form of an email sent to holly@bluefeathermusic.org regarding your un-enrollment.
This will give your teacher time to wrap up any musical projects, discuss how your student(s) can continue to pursue their musical goals and inform prospective students there is an opening available.
You are financially responsible for any scheduled lessons within the 30-days, regardless of whether you choose to take advantage of those lessons or not. A refund will be issued for the remaining balance of your tuition after the 4 lessons notice.
Refunds are for lessons only. Registration fees, performance fees and other fees are non-refundable.
Referrals
We consider referrals the nicest compliment you can give us! So to reward you, if you refer another family who signs up for a package, we will gift you ONE FREE LESSON per student who signs up!
CHANGING LESSON LENGTH
If you ever wish to change your lesson length please contact holly@bluefeathermusic.org. It will depend on teacher availability and you will be charged automatically for the difference in tuition cost.
SIBLING DISCOUNT
A siblings discount can be made if siblings are taking lessons back-to-back ONLY. Please let the administration know during the registration process if this is how your lessons arrangement will be and a discount can be applied to your tuition.
If at any time the siblings lessons are separated and need different days and times, the difference in tuition will be applied and automatically charged using your payment method on file.
WHERE DOES MY TUITION GO?
Teachers spend a great deal of time outside of lessons choosing and purchasing repertoire, planning, scouting auditions and opportunities for their students, participating in continuing ed courses and professional development for themselves, and more.
Blue Feather Music kindly reminds all students and families that you receive more of our professional time that you actually pay for.
BEHAVIOR AND CONDUCT
Students are expected to behave in a nature that is conducive to a nurturing, positive learning environment. Blue Feather Music has the right to refuse service to any student who is being disruptive, disrespectful or displaying any other type of inappropriate behavior. The teacher or administration has the right to decide what constitutes disruptive or inappropriate behavior.
SOCIAL MEDIA
We use social media to promote and encourage our students. Students' image and likeness (picture and video) may be featured on BlueFeatherMusic.org and Blue Feather Music Social Media account.
IDEAL LOCATION & SAFETY
When considering the location of the lessons, please pick a location in your home that is quiet, and encourages focus and learning. Lessons at home, while convenient, are subject to higher levels of distraction. We highly recommend removing any distractions like siblings or friends, turn off close-by televisions and radios, etc.
While the location should be quiet and removed of any distraction, please stay close by. For the protection of our instructors and your family: keep doors open, avoid basements, bedrooms or other closed-off locations.
A parent or guardian MUST be on location at all times during the lesson. Blue Feather Music does not have the legal licenses to be caregivers or childcare service and cannot be responsible for your child should you leave the home during your appointment.
If you must leave due to an emergency, please consult with your instructor before leaving. They are not obligated to say yes, and may choose to end the lesson early, without penalty, so as not to be home alone with your child without a guardians’ supervision.
PRIVACY & DATA HANDLING
We value your privacy and will never disclose your personal information without consent. Blue Feather Music does not retain any hard copies of your valuable data. All client data is stored online in secure, HIPPA approved software and programming. All payment information is stored securely in the Stripe Payment Processing System.
PERIODIC RATE INCREASE
Blue Feather Reserves the right to a periodic rate increase. Rate increases will always be communicated with you in advance and not affect prepaid packages. Rest assured you will always be receiving the highest value possible for your investment.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Client acknowledges that while receiving Services it will have access to certain proprietary information of BFM and its contracting organizations, affiliates, funders and participants. Client shall not disclose to any individual, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, firm or organization or its assigns or agents outside of BFM, either during or after the term of this Agreement, any Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined), except as required in performance of the Services or pursuant to a lawful order of a court or government agency, and client acknowledges that the Confidential Information is and shall remain BFM Property.
“Confidential Information” shall not include any information that is in the public domain or becomes public knowledge without the fault of Teacher or its agents or employees. Teacher shall cause and be responsible for the compliance with this Section by the Teacher’s agents and employees, if any, that are utilized to provide the Services.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Client acknowledges and agrees that all rights, title, and interest of any nature, worldwide, including copyright and patent rights (including, without limitation, rights in any media and medium, such as electronic and digital), in the ideas, tangible expression of ideas, designs, drawings, templates, software, firmware, and related documents, works of authorship, methodologies, strategies, systems, research results, and works of invention created by or on behalf of Client in, or otherwise resulting from, the performance of Services or the use of BFM Property (collectively “Intellectual Property”) shall belong solely and exclusively to BFM.
Client hereby assigns all of its rights, including copyright and patent rights, in the Intellectual Property to BFM (and shall ensure that its agents do the same). Client agrees to take any actions and execute any documents reasonably required to evidence and protect BFM’s ownership in the Intellectual Property, at BFM’s expense.