Policies and Calendar

Policies and Calendar

Important Dates 

Fall Semester 2024 (15 weeks)

First Day of Fall Semester Classes Tuesday, September 3
Closed WSFC Fall Break Saturday, October 12 - Sunday, October 13
Closed for Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day Monday, October 14
Suzuki Violin Group Reictal Saturday, November 9 - TBD (Heritage Woods Senior Living Center)
Guitar Studios Recital

Sunday, November 24 @ 2:00 PM (Crawford Hall)

Winds and Brass Studios Recital Sunday, November 24 @ 4:00 PM (Crawford Hall)
Cello Studio Recital Sunday, November 24 @ 6:00 PM (Crawford Hall)
Closed for Thanksgiving Break Wednesday, November 27 - Sunday, December 1
Suzuki Violin Solo Recitals Saturday, December 7  @ 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (start times and groupings TBD)
Violin Studios Recital (Shafer, Heath) Sunday, December 8 @ 2:00 PM (Crawford Hall)
Piano Studios Recital (Hoang, Core, Chang) Sunday, December 8 @ 4:00 PM (Crawford Hall)
Adult Students Recital Saturday, December 14 @ 12:00 PM (Crawford Hall)
Choral Ensembles and Group Voice Recital Saturday, December 14 @ 2:00 PM (Crawford Hall)
Voice Studios Recitals Saturday, December 14 @ 2:00 and 4:30 PM (Watson Hall)
Piano Studios Recital (Bianchi, Bessinger, Neumann) Saturday, December 14 @ 4:00 PM (Crawford Hall)
Robert Chumbley Piano Studio Recital Sunday, December 15 @ 2:00 PM (Crawford Hall)
Yulia Roubtsova Piano Studio Recital Sunday, December 15 @ 4:00 PM (Watson Hall)
Last Day of Fall Semester Lessons and Group Classes Monday, December 16
Fall Semester Make-up Lessons December 17 - 21 and January 3 - 5 
First Day of Spring Semester Lessons Monday, January 6

Spring Semester 2025 (20 Weeks)

First Day of Spring Semester Classes Monday, January 6
Closed for MLK, Jr. Day* Monday, January 20
Closed WSFC Spring Break* Monday, March 10 - Sunday, March 16
Closed for Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day Monday, October 14
Suzuki Violin Group Reictal TBD
Guitar Studios Recital

TBD

Winds and Brass Studios Recital TBD
Cello Studio Recital TBD
Closed for Thanksgiving Break TBD
Suzuki Violin Solo Recitals TBD
Yulia Roubtsova Piano Studio Recital TBD
Violin Studios Recital (Shafer, Heath) TBD
Piano Studios Recital (Hoang, Core, Chang) TBD
Adult Students Recital TBD
Choral Ensembles and Group Voice Recital TBD
Voice Studios Recitals TBD
Piano Studios Recital (Saba, Bessinger, Neumann) TBD
Robert Chumbley Piano Studio Recital TBD
Closed for Memorial Day Saturday, May 24 - Monday, May 26
Last Day of Spring Semester Private Lessons  Sunday, June 8

Lesson Policies

Please carefully read the following information. These policies are in effect to foster and promote the pursuit of musical excellence at the UNCSA Community Music School. When you establish a lesson time, you have reserved the time of a highly trained professional. Make every effort to attend your lessons on a regular basis. Your musical progress and enjoyment increase with regular instruction and consistent practice routine at home.

Studio Assignments

  • Studio assignments are made based on the student’s preferred teacher and that teacher’s availability.
  • Students may begin lessons on a four week trial period before a permanent semester lesson time is set.
  • Students may transfer to another available teacher’s studio before the third lesson of their semester’s study, but are encouraged to do so only at the start of a new semester.
  • If a CMS faculty member is absent for more than three consecutive weeks, students have the option of transferring to another studio. If the CMS faculty member is unable to continue semester lessons for any reason, a substitute teacher will be provided, or the student is eligible for pro-rated tuition.

Lesson Attendance

  • Classes occur at the same day and time for the duration of the semester or trial period.
  • Students arriving late may not extend the lesson beyond the scheduled end time.
  • If a student is fifteen minutes late to a lesson and has not given notice, the teacher may consider the lesson forfeit.
  • Students are highly encouraged to attend applicable weekly group classes as their schedule allows, and are expected to participate in studio masterclasses and the semester-end recital.

Student Cancellations

  • Students may request one rescheduled lesson a semester with at least 24 hours’ notice, to take place with their teacher or a substitute teacher, within two weeks of the intended missed lesson. If a lesson cannot be made up within two weeks, the lesson is forfeit. Teachers are not required to make up subsequent lessons missed by the student, whether or not notice is given.
  • Student cancellations of regularly scheduled lessons with less than 24 hours’ notice result in forfeited tuition and are not eligible for rescheduling.
  • Students may arrange to exchange lesson times with another student within their studio. Such arrangements must be approved by the teacher, and notice given to the CMS office.
  • In the event of a family or medical emergency, the student may schedule a make-up lesson with the teacher to take place within two weeks of the missed lesson. If a lesson cannot be made up within two weeks, the lesson is forfeit.
  • If there are multiple students within one family, each student’s attendance is treated individually. Scheduling conflicts of one family member may not affect the lesson attendance of the other.
  • As a courtesy, students should inform both their teacher and the CMS office of an impending absence with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice, whether or not the lesson is eligible for rescheduling.

Teacher Cancellations

  • Teacher cancellations of regularly scheduled lessons are to be rescheduled within two weeks of the missed lesson, to take place with the teacher or a substitute teacher, within the student’s availability. Lessons that cannot be made up are eligible for pro-rated tuition.
  • If a teacher intends to take vacation during the semester, the student will receive notice at the beginning of the semester, and their tuition will be pro-rated to reflect the missed lesson(s).

Inclement Weather Policy

  • In the event of inclement weather or other conditions that result in school closings, CMS will follow both the Winston Salem/Forsyth County Public Schools and UNCSA. If either closes during lesson times, CMS will also close.  In the event of a delayed opening in Forsyth County Schools, CMS lessons will resume at the same time as the delayed opening.
  • Lessons cancelled due to school closure may be rescheduled within two weeks of the missed lesson, by the teacher or a substitute teacher. Lessons that cannot be made up are eligible for pro-rated tuition.
  • Group classes cancelled due to inclement weather are not eligible for rescheduling.  Teachers may elect to send materials for at-home study or offer an online class at the regularly-scheduled time on a case-by-case basis.

Payment and Refunds

  • Payments can be made online, over the phone, or by check mailed to 1533 S Main St, Winston Salem, NC 27127, with the attention made to “Community and Summer Programs.”  Write the student’s name and program in the memo line.
  • Payment should never be given to the teacher directly.
  • A $25 service fee will be charged for returned checks.
  • Payment for four-lesson trials must be made in full in advance of the first scheduled lesson.
  • Payment for the remainder of the semester is made at the beginning of the semester. 
  • No refunds are given to students who withdraw from lessons after the third lesson of the semester.
  • If due to a medical emergency or relocation, the student is unable to finish the semester, CMS may, at its discretion, offer a refund credit for unused lessons.
  • If a refund credit is ever due to a student, the student must provide information as to how the refund may be received. After the greater of 30 days and 3 attempts by CMS to contact the student using the contact information in the student’s registration, the refund credit is forfeit.

Requests for refunds/withdrawals must be made in writing to the director of the UNCSA Community Music School and the Community and Summer Programs Office.

Lesson Policies (Printable)