Terms & Conditions + Privacy Policy
Lesson Payment, Cancellation and Makeup Policies
At Bucks County School of Music, we understand that life can get complicated. We also know that successful and fulfilling musical studies depend on regular commitment. That’s why we’ve designed our policies to give you as much flexibility as possible while still promoting consistency.
Our teachers reserve time on their schedules, plan for your lessons, and invest in the long-term development of each student. To provide regular, quality lessons, the following policies need to be observed. If you have any questions regarding our policies, please contact us at lessons@buckscountyschoolofmusic.com
Membership Tuition
1. Tuition is a flat monthly fee. Most months have four (4) or five (5) lessons, and on rare occasions, three (3) lessons when in observance of major national holidays, school breaks or BCSM inservice days. This membership is not calculated per lesson, rather to the average calculation of how many lessons occur per year. The only exception is of a new student beginning after the 1st of the month resulting in proration.
· 30 min lessons: $160/month
· 60 min lessons: $280/month
Exception: Students enrolled in 45 min lessons prior to January 1, 2024 may remain 45 minutes, however, we encourage you to move to either 30 min or 60 min lessons.
2. Membership guarantees a regular weekly lesson time with your teacher.
3. Tuition payments are billed monthly in advance of scheduled lessons and are due by the 1st lesson or class of the month.
4. Membership tuition is billed automatically to your credit card on the 1st of the following month.
5. All payments are automated using recurring Credit Card billing. Billing can be set up by logging into your account through the Bucks County School of Music portal called Opus.
6. Credit card payment instantly reserves enrollment, otherwise your space is not reserved until payment is received.
7. A $10 late fee will be charged for payment received after the 15th of each month.
8. Lesson spots may be forfeited if tuition is over 2 weeks late. Since all payments are automated, lateness occurs when a payment is declined. Notification of a declined payment will be sent and billing information must be updated promptly through the BCSM’s web portal.
9. Partial month tuition will be adjusted or prorated.
10. Credit card payments are accepted online through CardConnect secure SSL server.
11. No refunds, credits or discounts will be given once tuition is paid.
12. Students are responsible for additional costs associated with educational materials, music books, sheet music, etc.
13. If you should choose to pay by cash or check, tuition for the entire month is due at the first lesson of each month.
14. There is a 5% discount for each additional instrument and or family member to the monthly membership.
15. There is a $35 registration fee for new students.
Adult 5-lesson pass:
1. Students over the age of 18 are permitted to purchase a 5-lesson pass to be scheduled within 90 days of purchase:
· 30-minute package: $200
· 60-minute package: $350
Gift Certificate and/or Holiday Gift Certificate pass:
1. Students over the age of 18 are permitted to purchase a 5-lesson pass to be scheduled within 90 days of purchase:
· 30-minute package: $200
· 60-minute package: $350
Attendance & Lateness
1. Students are expected to be punctual to their weekly lessons.
2. Students who are late for a lesson cannot be guaranteed their full lesson time.
3. Students more than 5 minutes late for their lesson will not get the full allotted lesson time. Since lessons are scheduled back-to-back, lessons will end at the time the next student's lesson is scheduled to begin.
4. If your lesson starts late because the instructor’s schedule is running behind, you WILL receive your full lesson or a makeup credit.
5. For 30-minute lessons, the instructor is permitted to leave after 15 minutes of tardiness.
6. For 60-minute lessons, the instructor is permitted to leave after 25 minutes of tardiness.
Missed Lessons & Makeup Credits
1. NO tuition credit or refund will be provided for missed lessons.
2. Makeup lesson credits will be issued when a lesson is canceled before the start of the lesson by canceling through the school portal for any reason at any time. Here is the link to the portal: https://buckscountyschoolofmusic.opus1.io/login
3. Please cancel via the portal on your own or you will not receive a makeup credit.
4. You may not cancel or reschedule lessons with your teacher privately through their cell phone or social media accounts.
5. Teachers are not accountable for canceling or rescheduling lessons.
6. You must schedule makeup credits through the portal by clicking “use” and you will see the calendar for your teacher or other teachers' availability.
7. For any makeup credits that you hold, they must be made up within 30 days of cancellation with any teacher on any instrument.
8. If you fail to attend the lesson without prior notice, your lesson is forfeited.
9. If you fail to schedule makeups within the 30 day time period, the makeup lessons will be forfeited.
10. If you ever choose to end your membership, makeup lesson credits expire 30 days after membership ends and you must be enrolled in lessons again to use them.
11. If there are no makeup times available with your teacher, you have the option to schedule with another BCSM teacher.
12. Makeup credits have no cash value.
Substitutions
1. You may decide to change teacher or instrument with a 7-day advance email notice before the next lesson.
2. If your current teacher is unable to teach a lesson, a substitute teacher will be arranged.
3. If a substitute cannot be arranged, a makeup credit will be issued to your account.
4. Regular lesson cancellation policy applies for lessons with substitute teachers. No makeup credits are issued for last minute substitutions.
5. If you choose to forego a lesson when the school provides a substitute teacher, your lesson will be forfeited.
6. If your regular teacher becomes unavailable, you will be provided a new teacher with a similar teaching style, or the opportunity to try and choose a new teacher.
School Holidays and Inclement Weather Cancellations
1. The studio is closed between Christmas Day and New Years Day, Spring Break (dependent on the Central Bucks School District’s schedule), Memorial Day, July 4th (Independence Day), Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
2. We do not follow the school calendar for days off (M.L.K. Day, Columbus Day, Presidents Day, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, etc…)
3. In the event of an inclement weather cancellation, you will be notified of a studio closure. Lessons canceled due to inclement weather will be held virtually.
4. We do not follow the school districts for inclement weather cancellations.
Illnesses
At BCSM, we are committed to fostering a healthy and supportive environment. In lieu of this, we encourage school staff and students alike, to be mindful of the importance of personal responsibility, especially when it comes to the well-being of our BCSM family.
If you or your child is feeling unwell or displaying symptoms of illness, we as the school ask that you prioritize your health and refrain from attending upcoming lessons. Virtual lessons are an option if the student is well enough to attend. Your well-being is paramount, and taking preventative measures not only ensures your speedy recovery but also contributes to the overall health of our musical community.
We advise that in the event that you or your child have been exposed to someone who contracts an illness, that both you and the child wear a mask when present in the building. We have masks available should you not have one. If you need to reschedule or opt for a virtual lesson during such circumstances, please feel free to reach out to our school administrative team via text or call (267) 614-5688 or at lessons@buckscountyschoolofmusic.com. We strive to maintain a safe and positive learning environment for all with the well-being of our community at the forefront.
Performance Event Fees
At BCSM we host 2 formal recitals per year (one in the winter and one in the spring). Additionally, the school hosts informal events which will be announced by the school administrative team at least one month before the event date.
Please note that event details are shared primarily through email and are subject to change. We strongly advise that parents and students are attentive to BCSM School emails regularly so they are well informed of any and all school announcements.
Formal Recitals: $50 per performer (10% discount for additional family members who are performing)
Informal Performance Events: $35 per performer (additional admission may apply)
These costs are reflective of the rent of the venue, compensation of school staff participation, accompanist fees (when applicable), as well as reception costs.
Summer Term (June, July, August)
1. You may put a membership on “Summer Hold” for up to three (3) months with a 14-day advanced email notice before the 1st lesson of the month.
2. Your lesson time and teacher will be reserved only by pre-paying half of the lesson’s tuition cost for the month following a Summer hold (latest resume date is September 1st) 7 days before your hold begins.
3. While on Summer hold, members may purchase individual lesson passes by contacting lessons@buckscountyschoolofmusic.com.
Membership Cancellation
1. Membership may be canceled with 30-days notice by emailing lessons@buckscountyschoolofmusic.com. There must be written notice or your card on file will be charged for the following month’s tuition.
2. Cancellation will be effective as of the month next tuition is due. You may withdraw the cancellation at any time before it takes effect, but your teacher and/or time slot cannot be guaranteed.
3. All makeup lesson credit(s) on your account expire after 30 days from cancellation effective date.
4. Membership is not transferable.
5. Bucks County School of Music does not provide tuition refund under any circumstances.
6. Bucks County School of Music reserves the right to terminate membership, in which case prorated tuition will be refunded. Care of Students at BCSM is not responsible for providing before or after class care for students.
Injuries: You assume all risk of injury or harm to the child(ren) or adult(s) associated with participation in musical activities at BCSM and agree to release, indemnify, defend and forever discharge BCSM and its officers and staff from all liability, claims, demands, damages, costs, and expenses in the unlikely event of injury sustained by your child(ren) or adult student during the course or as a result of their participation in related musical activities.
Photo/Video Release: Unless requested in writing, BCSM is granted permission to take photographs/videos of the students to use in brochures, websites, posters, advertisements, and other promotional materials BCSM creates. Permission is also hereby granted for BCSM to copyright such photographs in its name.
Text Communication:
You agree to receive informational messages (appointment reminders, account notifications, etc.) from Bucks County School of Music (Kara Smith Music Studio, LLC). Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. For help, reply HELP or email us at lessons@buckscountyschoolofmusic. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP.
Disclaimer: Bucks County School of Music (Kara Smith Music Studio, LLC) reserves the right to refuse service to any person(s) at any time. Policy effective upon enrollment. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Policies & terms are subject to change.
*policies are subject to change at any time*
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy describes and governs the information collection, use and sharing practices with respect to this website. Our Privacy Policy reflects our uncompromising standard of customer service and the value we place on our customer’ trust. We are committed to protecting our customers’ right to privacy and to the ethical and responsible use of your information online.
This Privacy Policy will notify you of the following: What personally identifiable information is collected from you through the website and with whom, if at all applicable, it may be shared; what choices are available to you regarding the use of your data; the security procedures in place to protect the misuse of your information; and how you can correct any inaccuracies in the information.
What information we collect:
We are the sole owners of information collected on this site. We only have access to collect information that you voluntarily submit via email or other direct contact from you. We collect both personal and non-personal information. For the purpose of this policy, when we use the term “personal information” we mean information that is collected in conjunction with a name. For individuals who sign up for an account on our site, this may include your email address, telephone number and physical address. Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about specials, new products or services, newsletters, or changes to this privacy policy. For individuals who make a purchase arising from or via our website, this may also include payment information, such as credit or debit card number and billing address. When we use the term “non personal information” we mean information that is not collected in conjunction with your name.
Additionally, we may match information collected from you through different means or at different times, including both Personal Information and Web Site usage information, and use such information along with information obtained from other sources, including third parties.
We also use certain information to: (i) present tailored ads, including banner ads and splash ads that appear as you log in or out of your online accounts via our site; (ii) recognize returning visitors; (iii) advertise on other websites and mobile applications not affiliated with us; (iv) better understand our audience customers, or other site visitors; and (v) determine whether you might be interested in new products or services.
How we collect information:
By Asking: We may collect some information from you by asking that you provide it to us. For instance, when you create an account on our site, we may ask you for your name and email address. When you make a purchase on our site, we may ask you to provide us with certain information, such as your payment card information, billing address and physical address.
Cookies: A “cookie” is a small data text file that is placed in your browser and allows us to recognize you each time you visit our site. We may use cookies on our website to allow us to, among other things, measure activity and to personalize your experience. If you choose, you can set your browser to reject cookies or you can manually delete individual or all of the cookies on your computer by following your browser’s help file directions. However, if your browser is set to reject cookies or you manually delete cookies, you may have some trouble accessing and using some of the pages and features that are currently on our website or that we may put on our website in the future.
Our server automatically collects data about your server’s Internet address when you visit our website. This information, known as an IP Address, is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer by your Internet service provider whenever you’re on the Internet. When you request pages from our site, our servers may log your IP Address and sometimes your domain name. Our server may also record the referring page that linked you to us (e.g. another website or search engine); the pages you visit on this site or before or after visiting this site and other information about the type of web browser, computer, platform, related software, and settings you are using. Our server may also record any search terms you have entered on this web site or a referral site and other web usage activity and data logged by our web servers. We use this information for internal system administration, to help diagnose problems with our server, and to administer our site. Such information may also be used to gather broad demographic information, such as country origin and ISP. We may also link this information with your Personal Information. Any or all of these activities with regard to website usage information may be performed on our behalf by our services providers such as Google Analytics and/or others.
Your access to and control over information:
You may opt out of any future communications from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting us via our physical address or email, in writing, or via the phone number given on our website: See what data we have about you, if any; Change/correct any data we have about you; Have us delete any data we have about you; Express any concern you have about our use of your data.
Security:
We take precautions to protect your information. When you submit secure information via the Website, your information is protected both online and offline. To the extent applicable, any time we collect sensitive information, that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for the lock icon at the bottom of your web browser, or looking for “https” at the beginning of the address of the webpage.
Occasionally, we may engage third parties to perform services in connection with the operation of our business. Examples of these services may include payment processing and authorization, fraud protection and credit risk reduction, product customization, order fulfillment and shipping, marketing and promotional material distribution, website evaluation, data analysis and where applicable, data cleansing. We provide personal information to these third parties but we authorize them to use this information only in connection with the services they perform.
We may use third parties to partially host portions of our website. Personal information hosted by or through any other third party we may work with on our website will be subject to the third party’s privacy policies, which may or may not contain terms as protective as this privacy policy. Additionally, our social media pages e.g. Facebook and Instagram will be subject to the terms of service and privacy policies of those third parties. As to our engagement of any third parties, plug-ins and applications, please note that clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. As indicated elsewhere herein, we do not control these third party websites and are not responsible for their privacy practices so when you leave our website, we encourage you to review the privacy notices of every website you visit.
You should also be aware that we may disclose specific information about you if required to do so by law, governmental request, process or court order or based on our good faith belief that it is necessary to conform or comply with such law, request or court order or to protect the users of our website or the public.
We do not share with others, or sell or rent to others, any personal information that you provide to us through this website except with your consent or as described in the Privacy Policy.
Text Communication:
Mobile information will not be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
If you wish to be removed from receiving future communications, you can opt out by texting STOP.
Updates:
Our Privacy Policy may change from time to time and all updates will be posted. If you feel that we are not abiding by this Privacy Policy, you should contact us immediately via telephone or email.