All new students must be auditioned/interviewed before the first lesson. There is a $25 one-time registration fee for new students. Students are not guaranteed immediate placement with a teacher; if teachers have a full load, then students may be added to our waiting list.
Requests for specific private teachers are honored whenever possible. If a change of teachers is desired, this must be discussed with the current teacher.
Fees for lessons are determined by the individual instructor. However, all students will pay tuition, in advance, for lessons on a monthly basis and the tuition will be the same each month for that teacher. The tuition is due at the 1st lesson of each month, payable to the instructor. A late fee of $10 will be charged any student not paying by the 10th of any given month. In general, lessons will extend from late August through May. Some months may have two lessons and some may have five; the payment due each month is the same, as the number of total lessons for the year is divided equally by the number of teaching months in the year.
If a student must miss a lesson, the teacher must be notified as far in advance as possible. Faculty members are not required to reschedule lessons cancelled by students; however, lessons or classes cancelled by faculty members will be rescheduled. A teacher may optionally elect to reschedule a lesson missed by a student, time permitting. If a student must miss, it is also possible that the student may be able to exchange a lesson time with another student that week so that no one gets behind. Each teacher may elect to distribute a teaching schedule with phone numbers of all students in his/her studio to help implement that plan.
Evaluation by outside sources is considered beneficial and all students enrolled at the Academy are required to participate in auditions (such as those sponsored by the Alabama Music Teachers Association) appropriate to their instrument or voice. If no such audition exists in your performance area, an evaluator will be brought in to the school to give a written adjudication (jury). All such auditions will involve a nominal fee, which the student must pay.
Each teacher is encouraged to have students perform in annual or semi-annual recitals. The use of the recital hall and piano tuning is free, but must be scheduled long in advance.
Students of advanced levels who wish to compete are encouraged to participate in the Music Teachers National Association competition, area concerto competitions, and other events that you and your teacher deem appropriate.