Download the detailed 2023-24 GSoM Schedule.
A. Our regular program year includes fall, winter, spring and summer terms. The school year terms (fall, spring, and winter) assume a minimum of 11 lessons and tuition is set accordingly.
B. Each term includes regular lesson weeks, designated makeup weeks, and a recital, and takes into cosideration holidays, school breaks, and other factors.
C. The fall, winter, and spring terms follow the same regular breaks as the Grinnell-Newburg School District (GNSD)– Thanksgiving break, winter break, and March break - and statutory holidays.
D. GSoM is open on most GNSD professional development days, parent-teacher conference days, and other GNSD-specific closures. Regularly scheduled lessons that fall on these days are subject to the regular Makeup and Cancellation Policies.
Summer term details will be posted in Spring 2024.
Current students: please download the 2023-24 GSoM Schedule for full details.
A. Tuition is based on an average number of lessons over the course of the term, accounting for makeup lessons, holidays, your instructor's preparation time, and administration. It is not a per-lesson fee. Think of it like a college course - you don't pay per class you attend, you pay for the course.
B. The total tuition for each term is divided into equal monthly installmants and payment is due at the beginning of the month. In some months you may have five lessons while in others you may have only three (and, in the case of December, two!); the tuition amount does not vary.
C. 2023-24 Private Lesson Tuition:
D. A one-time annual Books and Music Fee of $75 due at the first lesson.
E. Tuition may be pro-rated only for new students who join mid-term. Please speak to us if there are extenuating circumstances impacting your ability to commit to a full term. See Term Dates.
F. Scholarshps and Financial Aid Thanks to the Vosburg Music Fund, scholarships may be available to students on a "pay-what-you-can" basis, to a maximum of $500 per student, per year. Please contact us to request a scholarship.
A. Tuition payment is due on the first of each month. Your invoice will be emailed directly to you one week prior.
B. We accept payment by personal check or credit card.
C. If you prefer to pay your tuition in-full at the beginning of the term, you qualify for a 5% discount. Please email Erin to arrange full-term payment.
D. Only in extenuating circumstances will we issue reimbursement. Please review our Makeup and Cancellation Policy.
Unless otherwise specified, regular lessons are taught in-person. There may be instances (for example, weather, planned travel, illness, or public health precautions) which require us to switch from an in-person to an online format, on a lesson-by-lesson or longer-term basis. Any in-person lesson may be replaced with an online lesson at the discretion of the teacher or the student, with as much notice given as possible.
Lessons are considered a standing commitment, for both student and teacher. Your lesson time, once you have booked it, is yours.
That said, students, families, and teachers face different challenges and realities that may impact availability. Some of these are predictable, and others may arise unexpectedly. Our Cancellation & Make-up policy is designed to be inclusive, fair, and compassionate. It has been developed to help make Studio E more accessible, to protect your confidentiality, and in consideration of a variety of factors that may impact your attendance, including family time, wellness (mental or physical), and the general unpredictability of life.
Associate Teachers work as self-employed contractors, without regular benefits such as vacation days or sick time. They have numerous other commitments and their own families, too. Scheduling multiple makeup lessons around different schedules is unsustainable, and often impossible.
A. 11 Lessons: Tuition is based on 11 lessons, but most terms have 12 weeks! This is because sometimes, it's impossible to schedule a makeup. We will ensure that you receive at least 11 lessons but will not schedule make-up lessons beyond that. Therefore, no makeup credit will be issued for the first missed lesson of the term, whether it was cancelled by the teacher or student, for weather, illness, or any reason.
B. Teacher Cancellation: If a teacher needs to cancel your lesson, the teacher or GSoM will contact you as soon as possible. At the teacher's discretion, we will do one of the following:
C. Student Cancellation: If for any reason you need to miss a lesson, please notify your teacher as soon as possible. We respect your privacy: you do not need to disclose the reason for your absence unless you wish to. However, please respect your teacher's time by giving us as much notice as you can.
D. Makeup Credits: Every term, there are allotted makeup weeks. If for any reason (including illness) you miss more than one lesson per term (see A - 11 Lessons), you will be issued a makeup credit - no questions asked - for one missed lesson. It is your responsibility to book your makeup lesson with your instructor.
E. Illness: If you have a potentially contagious virus or infection, please do not come to an in-person lesson. If you are feeling well enough (for example, a mild stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, or other symptom that isn’t making you miserable), please arrange an online lesson. Your online lesson might be a regular lesson, a “No-Singing Singing Lesson”, or, if your symptoms require you to simply rest, you can opt for a Non-Synchronous Lesson. Alternatively, you may receive one makeup credit per term, for illness or any other reason, as outlined in 7b.
F. Makeup Lesson Formats: Makeup lessons come in many formats. Before canceling your lesson altoghether, you or your teacher may suggest one of the following:
G. Weather-Related Cancellations: The Grinnell School of Music will follow the discretion of the Grinnell-Newburg School District and/or Grinnell College. If either of these institutions closes beause of a weather event the Grinnell School of Music will also close. Missed lessons as a result of weather cancellations will not be issued makeup credits.
The heath and safety of students, famiies, and teachers is our top priority. The Grinnell School of Music will observe all federal or state-recommended public health guidances, including cessation of in-person activities.
A. Grinnell School of Music reserves the right to implement a mask mandate at any point.
B. Our current location at 819 Broad Street has a high ceiling and ceiling fans to circulate air, a window that is open whenever possible, and is equipped with a HEPA filter.
C. We encourage all students who are eligible to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, influenza, and other common illnesses. Please consider notifying your teacher if there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from being vaccinated. Your teacher may request that you wear a mask or take other precautions.
All 2023-24 in-person lessons are held at 819 Broad Street. There are two teaching spaces and we reserve the right to designate which of these we use for your lesson.
Accessibility: Unfortunately, the main entrance to 819 Broad Street is not wheelchair accessible. Once inside, there is an ADA-compliant restroom. If you would like in-person lessons but are unable to access the studio, we will work with you to find an accessible alternative venue.
Please make every effort to arrive on time. If you arrive early and weather permits, please consider waiting outside. Unfortunately, we do not have a separate waiting room. If you need to wait inside, please enter quietly and sit in the provided area until your teacher is finished with the lesson prior to yours.
We do not make up lesson time that is missed due to late arrivals.
Depending on the age and needs of young students, parents may drop off and pick up students, or stay to observe lessons. Please discuss with your student and their teacher(s) any concerns you have about your students’ learning style, and whether you plan to observe, regularly or occasionally.
A. Practicing At Home: Your teacher will discuss at-home practice expectations and goals during lessons. While 15 minutes may be enough for beginning or younger students, older and more advanced students might be expected to practice 30-60 minutes a day. Parent guidance during practice is essential for young students.
B. Practice Notes are uploaded to the Student Portal and emailed to you. We aim to distribute practice notes within 48 hours of your lesson. If new notes are not provided, continue to work on tasks or techniques outlined in prior weeks' notes. Please use the Portal to access lesson notes, log practice time, and record observations or questions that arise between lessons.
Parents and students have access to a password-protected, secure online portal where you can access your lesson notes and schedule, sign up for makeup lessons, track practice time, contact your teacher, view your invoice or account balance, access online resources, and more. You will receive an email with instructions on how to set up your account. If you need a new login ID, please email us to request one.
A once-annual $75 fee due at your first lesson of the year. This fee covers workbooks, repertoire books, pedagogical resources, reproducible copyrighted materials, MP3 tracks for at-home practice, recitals (including accompaniment fees), and more – everything you will need for one year of lessons. Because we can access bulk-order discounts and subscription services, this fee is far below retail value for the same materials.
2023-24 GSoM Schedule (pdf)
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