Studio Policies & Expectations

  • Monthly Subscription (Private Pay Families)

    Tuition is billed through an automatic monthly subscription via Stripe and must be activated before the student’s first lesson.

    Payment Failures

    • Declined payments are automatically retried by Stripe.

    • If payment remains unpaid for more than 14 days, lessons/classes will be paused until payment is received.

    Charter School Payments

    For families using charter school funds:

    • The parent/guardian is responsible for requesting services through their charter school.

    • Sound Before Sight Studios must receive an approved voucher, purchase order (PO), or service authorization before lessons begin each month.

    • If authorization is not received before the start of the month, lessons will be paused until documentation is received.

    • If a charter school denies payment for any reason, the parent/guardian is financially responsible for the balance.

    Timely submission of charter paperwork ensures uninterrupted lessons.

    Cancellation Policy

    • Enrollment may be cancelled at the end of any 30-day billing cycle (based on the student’s start date).

    • For example, if lessons begin on July 15, cancellation may occur effective the 15th of any following month.

    • No refunds are issued for missed lessons or mid-cycle cancellations.

    Tuition Adjustments

    Any tuition increases will be communicated in advance.

  • Rescheduling (Private Lessons Only)

    • Students may request a reschedule within the same week, subject to availability.

    • Rescheduling is not guaranteed.

    • Make-up lessons do not carry over into future weeks.

    Time Slot Changes

    Students may request a permanent time change, subject to availability.

    Group Classes

    • Pre-registration may be required.

    • Alternate time slots are not guaranteed.

    Annual Calendar

    Monthly tuition includes participation in all scheduled lessons, workshops, recitals, jam sessions, recording weeks, and special events listed on the SBS Annual Calendar.

    Calendar changes will be communicated at least one month in advance when possible.

    • Students should arrive within 5 minutes of class start time.

    • In-person classes are 45 minutes with a 10-minute pickup window.

    • A $25 late pickup fee applies beyond that window.

    Behavior Policy

    SBS reserves the right to remove a student from a class if their behavior disrupts the learning environment.

    Holidays

    If a class falls on a holiday, it may be rescheduled within the same week.

  • Private lesson students must bring:

    • Notebook/folder (or shared Google Doc)

    • Assigned materials

    • Any required accessories (sticks, picks, etc.)

    In-person lessons include the use of teacher-provided instruments.

    Students are expected to have access to their own instrument for home practice.

  • Students are expected to practice at least 150 minutes per week, or more as needed to meet performance goals.

    Practice should focus on the material assigned during the previous lesson.

    If a student consistently:

    • Does not practice

    • Disregards instruction

    • Shows a lack of engagement

    SBS reserves the right to discontinue lessons.

  • Performance is a core part of growth at SBS.

    Students are expected to perform at least once per month. This may include:

    • Church or youth services

    • Family gatherings or prayer

    • School events

    • Recitals

    • Studio workshops

    • Informal performances for friends

    SBS hosts regular recital and performance opportunities (in-person and virtual).

    We believe students grow faster when they play music in real settings — not just in lessons.