AMI Policies
Recommended Lesson Length by Age
3-5yrs (30min) – 5-6yrs (45min) – 6+yrs (60min)
Attendance – Private Lessons
Lessons are scheduled weekly on the same day and time, consecutively. Missed Lessons – Every Quarter (3 months – ie Jan-March, April-June, July-Sept, Oct-Dec)
Student Absence: Each student is eligible for up to 2 excused make-up lessons per quarter with a week or more’s notice. Make-ups are not guaranteed beyond the 2 per quarter and should be scheduled in accordance with faculty availability during designated make-up days that are scheduled by the teacher. During the last month of each quarter, faculty members will designate and schedule make-up day(s) outside of their regular teaching days. If a student is unable to attend a scheduled make-up, the student then revokes the make-up.
Teacher Absence: If a teacher must cancel a lesson, the missed lesson will be scheduled during the same month that the lesson was missed. In some cases, if a teacher is absent, a substitute might also be provided; the subbed scheduled lesson counts as the student’s lesson. If a student/parent declines to attend a subbed lesson, the student forfeits that lesson and does not receive a make-up lesson in its place from the permanent teacher, and also does not receive a credit on their AMI account for the missed lesson.
No make-ups for cancellations within 24 hours prior to the lesson. Unused make-up lessons do not carry over into the next quarter. I understand that if I suspend lessons for any reason, but wish to continue lessons at a later date, AMI administration must be informed, resulting in suspension of account until returning; this does not guarantee the same day/time/instructor.
On-campus lessons at AMI: Any student under the age of eight (8) years must be accompanied on AMI premises by a parent or legal guardian, or by a sibling who is at least fourteen (14) years of age. The accompanying adult or sibling must remain on campus for the full duration of the student’s lesson. AMI faculty and staff are responsible for the care and supervision of students only during the student’s scheduled lesson time; AMI does not assume responsibility for students before their lesson begins or after their lesson concludes, and parents or guardians remain responsible for timely drop-off and pick-up.
In-home lessons: Conducted by AMI faculty, a parent or legal guardian, or a sibling who is at least eighteen (18) years of age must be physically present at the property for the entire duration of the student’s lesson. AMI and AMI faculty assume no responsibility for student(s) outside the scheduled lesson period.
Attendance – Group Classes & Package Lessons
There are no make-ups or reimbursements for missed group classes, package lessons, and summer music camp days.
In-Home Lesson Policy
No in-home lesson can take place unless a parent or guardian is present.
Tuition
Private Lesson (in-school or online)
1/2hr – $50 // 45min – $75 // 1hr – $100
Private Lessons (in-home – 5mi radius of campus)
1/2hr – $55 // 45min – $82.50 // 1hr – $110
College & Harp Faculty Lessons (in-school)
1hr – $150 or specific rate per college faculty member
Friends & Family (in-school only)
2 Stud (per stud) – 1/2hr – $40 // 3 Stud (per stud) – 1/2hr – $35 // 4 Stud (per stud) – 1/2hr – $30
Group Classes – Ask for specific class rates
Registration Fee Per Student: $50 // Re-registration Fee Per Student: $25
Tuition Payments
The initial tuition payment contains the following: 1st month pro-rated, plus the next full month and registration fee (per student). Every tuition payment thereafter will be processed in the first week of every month for the following month’s tuition, until I withdraw from American Music Institute. I agree that in the event my credit card becomes invalid, I will provide American Music Institute with a new valid credit card upon request, to be charged for the payment of any outstanding balances owed to American Music Institute for services rendered, including future monthly payments as outlined by this agreement. If the credit card is not updated and tuition is not paid up to 14 days after the due date, a late fee of 5% will be automatically added.
After 15 days of unpaid tuition, the student will be removed from the schedule, and their reserved lesson time will be forfeited until the outstanding balance is paid in full. Please note that removal from the schedule may result in the permanent loss of the student’s designated day, time, and instructor. I understand that tuition is subject to increase to offset inflation and operational costs, which AMI will announce by email. I understand that tuition payments are nonrefundable.
Change in Lessons
I understand that if I wish to change a monthly billing fee to reflect new or discontinued AMI services, I must inform AMI administration via email or through the AMI Break or Withdrawal Form, and those changes will reflect on my monthly billing moving forward.
Student Recital / Performance Class
Participation in AMI Performance Class incurs a fee of $15 per student, which is applied to tuition prior to the performance class. There are two AMI Student Recitals held annually for active/current students, in December and June. The AMI Recital fee is $95 per student for the school year (August to July) and is applied to tuition upon registration or at the start of the academic year (August tuition or if registering between August and December). For registrations between January and April, a pro-rated recital fee of $47.50 is applied to tuition. If applicable, an additional accompanist fee will be added to tuition after the recital. Accompanist Fees… Beginner – $35 with 5min scheduled rehearsal prior to recital; Intermediate – $60 with 10min scheduled rehearsal prior to recital; and Advanced – $85 with 15-20min scheduled rehearsal prior to recital. Pictures and Videos read below. There are no refunds or credits offered for performance class, recital, and accompanist fees.
AMI Faculty
AMI is well known for its Award-Winning Faculty! Faculty typically teach at AMI for a very long period of time, and even though, on average, AMI teachers have long tenure positions at AMI, on occasion, a teacher will leave. If a teacher decides to leave AMI, students/parents will be given as much notice as possible of the teacher’s departure, at which point AMI will provide several other AMI teachers’ availability. Student/parent will then be able to choose from that list of AMI teachers to continue lessons with another amazing AMI faculty member. AMI does not guarantee any specific teacher.
Pictures & Videos
AMI occasionally uses photographs and videos of AMI students at lessons or events for website, social media and promotional purposes. Therefore, I understand and authorize AMI’s use of photographic or video recordings of AMI students for educational purposes on promotional material, the internet, and social media.
Break From Lessons
To qualify for a break from lessons, a student must be absent for three or more consecutive weeks. The student must notify AMI administration via email of their intention to take a break and submit the AMI Break Form on or before the 25th of the month (to not incur any more tuition charges), specifying the date of their last lesson and the anticipated return date. Any remaining tuition at the start of the break will be held in the student’s AMI account for up to one year. Upon return, the student may resume lessons with their previous teacher if available or with another available teacher. No specific lesson day or time will be reserved during the break period.
Withdrawing
Private Lessons: To withdraw from private lessons, you must cancel your account by the 25th of the month from American Music Institute in order to stop payments. Cancelling your account on or before the 25th of the month will end your lessons at the end of the following month, and any unattended lessons or lack of attendance at classes at AMI does not constitute a reason for not paying tuition or requesting a refund. I understand that failure to attend a weekly scheduled lesson does not constitute a lack of receiving services.
Any chargeback processed will incur a $50 fee and suspension from lessons effective immediately, plus a 5% fee of the amount of the chargeback charged to the AMI student account. Program tuition that has been processed for educational services rendered at AMI, and that if I do not attend lessons, I will be rightfully charged until a withdrawal form is received by AMI. I further understand and agree that a change of teacher due to a teacher’s departure does not constitute a chargeback or refund. In the event that I should withdraw in the proper timeline outlined above and I am still charged, I understand that if a charge is disputed by a student/parent, triggering a chargeback, the student/parent AMI account will immediately be suspended, and lessons will be paused until the dispute is settled with the credit card company.
Group Classes: After classes start, there are no refunds for group classes.
AMI Programs: there are no refunds for any AMI Programs / Classes. (AMI Programs: Summer Music Camp, Chicago Youth Chamber Orchestra, Mini Campus, Chicago Violin Competition, etc.)