Registration, Rates & Policies

SCHOOL POLICIES

TRIAL LESSONS

Trial Lessons must be paid for during registration and scheduled in advance. They cannot be rescheduled in the event of a missed or cancelled class. Upon completion, students may choose to register for regular term lessons. 

REGULAR TERM WEEKLY LESSONS

Regular term lessons are a weekly commitment from the time of registration until the end of the term in June. Students must select a membership option when registering.

REGULAR TERM BIWEEKLY LESSONS

Biweekly lessons are offered exclusively to adult students and are scheduled at specific times during the day, either before 3:30 pm or at 8:00 pm on weekdays. Students must select a membership when registering. These lessons are a biweekly commitment from the time of registration until the end of June. 

LESSONS MISSED OR CANCELLED BY STUDENTS

• With at least 24 hours’ notice of cancellation, students may receive a makeup lesson, as outlined in our makeup lesson policy below.
• With less than 24 hours’ notice of cancellation, students have the option to receive an online session in place of the in-person session. If they cannot attend the online lesson either, then they will be marked as absent. We do not offer refunds or credits for lessons that are missed or cancelled under these circumstances.

Makeup Lesson Policy for Weekly and Biweekly Lessons

• Communication regarding cancellations and makeup classes should be conducted directly between the student and the teacher. All students will receive their teacher’s email at registration.
• Makeup lessons are offered in place of regularly scheduled lessons to make up for a cancelled lesson. The teacher and student can arrange a mutually convenient time for this lesson, and it can be conducted either in person or online.
• Students are permitted a maximum of 4 makeup lessons per year, or two per term. (Terms are September to December, January to March, April to June).
• Students who sign up for trial lessons are not eligible for makeup lessons.
• There are no makeups for makeup lessons. Once a makeup lesson has been scheduled with the teacher, it cannot be rescheduled. Missed makeup classes are forfeited, regardless of the notice given.
• Makeup lessons must be scheduled before the end of June. They cannot be carried forward to subsequent years.

Lessons Cancelled by Teachers

At On the Off Beat Music School, we hire teachers who are also professional musicians. We believe our students receive the very best musical education from individuals who are both performers and highly trained instructors. Periodically, teachers will need to adjust their lesson schedules for a performance schedule. In this event, they will provide you with at least 24 hours’ notice of a substitute teacher or a rescheduled lesson.

We will provide a substitute teacher if your instructor needs to cancel a lesson on short notice due to an illness or sudden emergency.

Pre-authorized Payment Memberships

Student membership includes 40 lessons per year. The amount for the full year will be divided into 10 equal payments, and automatically withdrawn from your credit card or bank account on the 1st of each month. The amounts will be prorated until the end of the year for students who sign up mid-year.

Fall Registration 

For students who sign up for the fall session prior to September of that year, $100 of your payment, plus admin fees, will be non-refundable should you decide not to commit to the lessons.

Ending or Suspending Lessons

Students wishing to end their regular music lessons must inform OTOB staff of the cancellation in writing and fill out the “Cancelling Membership” form at least four weeks before the final lesson day. Students will be billed for the four weeks of lessons after notice is given, whether those lessons are attended or not. All outstanding make-up lessons must be used within four weeks or be forfeited.

CODE OF CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE

The OTOB Code of Conduct sets out expectations of behaviour for everyone at OTOB, including both students and staff. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner, as befits themselves, their schools, their communities, and their families. Bullying, harassment, and inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated.

Our Faculty is comprised of professional musicians who are eager to share their expertise with OTOB students. In some cases, disciplinary action may be required for the safety and education of fellow students. Our Faculty will operate with the utmost discernment in handling individuals and situations.

Where action may be required by the course instructor, a Warning System will be in effect:

1^st Warning – the disruptive student will receive a warning regarding specific behaviour.

2^nd Warning – the disruptive student will receive a second warning regarding specific behaviour, and the parent will be called and informed of the disruptive behaviour the student has displayed. The parent will be notified that this is the student’s second warning; any further warning will require the student’s removal from OTOB.

3^rd Warning – If the student continues the behaviour after the first two warnings, they will be dismissed from lessons, classes, or camps and sent home immediately at their own expense. For those requiring parent supervision or transportation, the parent will be called to come to OTOB and pick up the student immediately. The student will not be allowed to return to classes and will forfeit all fees for their program.

SNOW DAYS

When the extreme weather conditions deem it unsafe to have in-person lessons (as determined by On the Off Beat Music School), students will be contacted by email, and all missed classes will be rescheduled or taught online. As snow days are an act of nature beyond our control, credits cannot be provided.

DROP OFF/PICK UP

OTOB staff are not responsible for unsupervised students outside of their lesson times. Please ensure parents or caregivers pick up and drop off children on time.

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT

All applicants must complete the registration form. During the registration process, you will be asked to agree to our school policies and to have the September payment, along with the yearly registration fee, billed to the payment method on file.