Policies

Our top priority at Belmont Academy is the student. The goals of the Academy are to guide our students in attaining a high level of music education and to help each student realize his or her individual potential. Policies were developed to enable our Academy Instructors to focus on their students in an effective manner. Please read these carefully, and file them for future reference.

 

Belmont Academy Handbook 2024-2025

 

Attendance/Make-Up Lessons

All lessons will begin promptly. A student arriving late will only receive instruction for the remaining portion of the allotted lesson time.

A notice of 24-hours must be given to the Instructor for absences due to illness or emergency for the lesson to be excused. Any absence by a student without a notice of 24 hours, even if due to illness or emergency, is unexcused and will not be made up. Forgotten lessons or missed lessons due to conflicting activities are not considered emergencies and are not required to be made up by the instructor.

A maximum of 2 make-up lessons per semester may be scheduled during the semester of study for excused absences. NO REFUNDS ARE ISSUED FOR LESSONS MISSED.

Inclement Weather

If schools are closed but the University is open, lessons can occur on campus, however, instructors/students should always use their best judgment when travelling to campus during times of inclement weather. If instructors/students decide it is unsafe to travel to campus, absences may be made up if a mutually agreed upon make-up time can be scheduled. If the student has already exceeded their 2 allowed make-ups for the semester, these lessons will only be made up/given at the teacher’s discretion. Teachers are not required to do such make-ups. Lessons can also be moved to an online format, depending on instructor/student availability and preference.

If the University closes for any reason, including inclement weather, in-person/on campus lessons will be cancelled, and those lessons will be made up or moved to an online format, depending on instructor/student availability and preference.

All absences made by the instructor for any reason will be made up. 

Refund Policy

Tuition will not be refunded after the third week of classes except due to illness or injury with written documentation from a physician. Refunds will also not include lessons already received. All refund requests must be requested directly to the office. Tuition will be refunded for the number of weeks remaining in the semester.

Minors Safety

Belmont University wishes to protect both our minors who visit our campus and avoid any uncomfortable and harmful situations. Therefore, as of Fall 2012, Belmont University developed a policy to aid in this endeavor, particularly for minors 12 years of age and under. Some requirements of this policy include:

  • All students 12 years of age and under must be accompanied to and from their lesson by a parent or guardian. This obligation can be waived by the parent/legal guardian as indicated on the registration form.  Without this waiver, it is required that students be directly escorted to and from the studio by the approved adult.
  • Any person who is not a legal guardian, but is approved to drop off or pick up a student 12 years old or younger, must be registered in our office.  Approved individuals should be listed on the registration form.  This list can be updated or changed per a parent’s request at any time.
  • No pictures of any student will be posted online by the University, Academy or our Instructors without parental permission. This permission can be given by the parent/legal guardian signing a photo/video release form.

Follow the link below for information on Belmont’s policy on Protecting Minors on Campus: https://www.belmont.edu/risk-management/protecting-minors.html

Parking

Belmont is a busy college campus, so families are encouraged to arrive early for lessons. At the beginning of each semester families will need to pick up a Belmont Academy parking permit from the office. Instructors can also request a permit(s) for families through the Academy office.

Academy families/students are authorized to park in visitors’ parking after 3pm with a valid parking permit placed visibly on the dashboard. Visitors’ spaces include street parking along West Belmont Blvd and also in the Hitch lot. Do not park in disabled parking spaces, without the appropriate tag/signage. Do not park in illegal spaces. Contact the Academy office for assistance or with questions.

Practice

Students are expected to practice daily. Please discuss practice requirements with your teacher.

Performances

Performing is a strongly encouraged and often required discipline of music study. Students who learn to perform develop many character traits that distinguish them from those who have not had such an opportunity. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in Belmont Academy recitals, which are offered at the end of the fall and spring semesters. There is no recital experience in the summer. Information regarding other performance opportunities (auditions, competitions, festivals, etc.) will be made available through the individual instructors.

Recital Etiquette

We strive to provide a respectful setting in which our performers can offer the best of their skills and talents. We want all of our students to enjoy the performances of other students, and provide a positive environment for them to showcase their own talents.

Consider the following carefully:

  • Please arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of the recital and report to the Greenroom to meet with Director. The meeting will promptly begin 10 min prior to the recital.
  • Remain seated throughout the entire performance. Late comers will NOT be able to play in recitals. Recitals are scheduled well in advance in order to allow to students time to re-arrange their schedules. Do not exit a recital after your performance, and stay for the remainder of the performances. Show your peers the same respect they offer you.
  • If a young child needs to leave to avoid distracting the performance, please do so as quickly and quietly as possible.
  • No flash photography allowed during the performance. Video photography will be permitted only if the video recorder is held quietly by one person who remains seated.
  • Please turn off all phones completely (no texting, internet searching, or accepting calls).
  • Appropriate dress is expected for each recital. For information on what to wear and not to wear, please consult the office or your instructor.