POLICIES/PROCEDURES  2024/2025

PRIVATE LESSON POLICIES

Effective 9/1/24

1- What is the fee for lessons? ​

Pro Instructor Rate

30 minute lesson= $35

45 minute lesson=$50       

60 minute lesson =$65    

15 minute lesson=$20  

Introductory (Trial) Lesson =$17.50

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We offer a 5% discount for families with more than one student enrolled. 

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Travel Fee There is a $15 travel fee per week for student's who take lessons at their homes.

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​Tuition is charged monthly based on the number of weeks in the month. If there are 5 weeks in the month. We invoice for 5 lessons. If there are 3 weeks in the month due to a holiday, we invoice for 3. etc. 

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DAMA accepts tuition payments by:  

• Credit card through the emailed invoice. There is a 3.2% processing fee added if paying by this method. 

• Venmo (ID: Denver Academy of Musical Arts @DenverAma),  

• Zelle (ID: admin@denverama.org)

• Cash or Check

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Invoices are emailed the first week of the month and payments are due within 7 days of the invoice.  A $10 late fee will be added to invoices not paid by the end of the month.  

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​Unpaid invoices may result in the student forfeiting their lesson day/time.  

Please communicate any hardships that prevent timely payment in order continue participation in the program.  

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2- Why isn't there a monthly materials/prize/recital fee anymore? 

In the past we charged a monthly fee to cover materials, recital expenses and prizes such as our monthly raffle, the loot in the treasure box and treat box, and the student of the month cash prize.  The amount came out to be between $72-$100 per school year, depending on whether it was an individual student or a family. 

 

This year, we decided to do away with the monthly fee and charge a one-time registration fee of $50  per student or $80 per family. This covers assignment notebooks, prizes, incentives and materials.  If you choose not to participate in any of our incentive programs, the registration fee is $25 per student or $40 per family.  Current students will need to register at each new school year

in September. 

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.The registration fee does not cover method books.  If a specific book is recommended,  we can order it and add it to you next invoice, or you may purchase it on your own. 

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Tickets will be sold for recitals to cover the cost of the venue. 

Adults =$5

Children under 10 =$3

Students who perform =free 

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3-How do cancellations/missed Lessons work?

Once you register for lessons, we reserve a specific day and time with your teacher for your lessons.  You will be billed for your specific reserved days/times each month regardless whether you take a lesson or not.    Lessons missed or cancelled by the student are not refunded, banked, credited, carried forward, or owed to the student in any manner regardless of reason or advance notice of the cancellation or withdrawal from the program.  

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In the event you must cancel your lesson,  there are 6 options:

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1) You may book a make-up lesson yourself through our website. Availability is updated daily.  Teachers are not allowed to make changes to the schedule so make-ups must be done by you through our website. 

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2) You may coordinate with another student to trade your reserved day/time for their reserved day/time. Please inform Ms. Michele of any trades so your teachers can prepare properly for your lesson. ​

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3). You may choose to take a video lesson during your reserved day/time or request a pre-recorded video lesson that you can watch at your convenience. 

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4) You may attend a fun and informative 1 hour class at no charge that is offered twice per month.  Group classes never expire so you can take however long you need to sign up for as many makeups that you need. You can even make up lessons before you miss!  You can register for a group lesson on our website calendar.

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5) You may send a family member or friend to take a lesson during your reserved day/time.  Please inform Ms. Michele so that your teacher can properly prepare for your family member or friend's lesson. 

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6) You may do nothing. 

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We appreciate as much notice as possible when canceling your lesson; however,  we understand that students get sick without warning and we appreciate you not attending lessons if you or your child is sick. 

 

As a courtesy to your teacher, we ask that you please email, text or call Ms. Michele if you need to cancel your lesson, This will allow us to open up your day/time to other students who would like to book a  make-up a lesson.  "No shows" prevent us from giving other students the opportunity to schedule make up lessons.  Teachers do not have access to post the schedule  on our website so please make sure to contact Ms. Michele with cancellations.  

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​If your teacher must cancel, we will do our best to provide a qualified guest teacher. Please note, if you choose not to take your lesson during your reserved day/time when a guest teacher is scheduled, there will be no refund and it will be considered a cancelled lesson.  However, there will be a credit on the following invoice for teacher cancellations if there is no guest teacher available.

 

​In the event of inclement weather, power outages, school closings  or COVID quarantine, lessons will be offered through a video call system such as Zoom or FaceTime. If a teacher does not feel the student would benefit from a video lesson due to their age, or inability to stay focused,  students may choose to either reschedule or credit the next invoice for lessons already paid. 

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4-Why don't we get 2 free cancellations in the summer anymore?

​DAMA continues lessons even after school is out for the summer. We feel it is important to keep learning during the summer so that the material students work on throughout the year will stay committed to their memory. Students who stop lessons for an extended period of time, especially young students, may not remember even the basic concepts when they return to lessons and they may get out of the habit and routine of practicing.  So just be aware that the first few lessons back may involve re-learning and re-adjusting.  

 

During the summer, adjustments may be made to the schedule to accommodate students who wish to attend lessons during the morning/afternoon while still reserving their regular day/time and teacher for the Fall.  

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Students who cancel lessons in the summer for vacation have the same options as mentioned above. See number 3. 

 

Students who wish to withdraw from lessons during the summer with plans to return in the Fall will forfeit their teacher and day/time of their lesson.  In the Fall, they will be able to choose whatever is available at the time or be put on their teacher's waiting list.  Students who withdraw will be considered a new student when they return and they must re-register. 

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Students interested in lessons only during the summer (but not in the Fall) can choose a temporary day/time each week that stays the same, or they can schedule lessons on different days/times each week based on availability.  (Must be scheduled at least one week in advance). 

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 5-Are there any days that DAMA is closed?

Sundays and...​

• Labor Day

• Halloween 

• Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.

• December 23rd through January 1st

• Memorial Day

• July 4th

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6- Does DAMA host recitals and other peformance opportunities?

DAMA offers two formal recital opportunities each year and various informal occasions to perform throughout the year.

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The recitals in May and December are formal in nature, with songs selected to certain criteria that ensure the opportunity for development of technique.   ​Participation in recitals is not mandatory, however, part of learning to play music is also learning how to share it with others and so we highly recommend it. We offer recital rehearsals so that students can practice the art of performing in front of their peers.

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Student Showcases are mini concerts performed by 3-4 students who have chosen 3-4 songs to play for their family and friends.  It is more informal and gives students the chance to work on building a repertoire.

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Occasionally, students may volunteer to perform at local retirement centers. 

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Three times per year we host a concert/party. This is an informal way for students to play in front of an audience without the formality of a recital setting.  Students perform "background music" while the party is in full swing. October is our Costume Concert/Pizza Party, March is PJ Concert/Pizza Party, August is our End-of-Summer Concert/BBQ Party.

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Select students will be offered the opportunity to participate in regional and/or state competitions. These students should take advantage of every opportunity to perform prior to the competition. 

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7- What incentives does DAMA offer for students?

We offer several incentives to reward students who put forth extra effort to learn.   ​

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THE MUSICAL LADDER SYSTEM:  NEW THIS YEAR!! 

DAMA joined up with a national music lesson award system call the Musical Ladder System®  This is a proven system that helps students get excited about music and helps keep parents informed as to how they are doing.  Similar to karate belt tests, approximately every 3 months,  teachers will test their students based on the material that they've been working on.  If the students pass their test they will receive wristbands for their level. They also get a certificate of achievement and, at certain levels, they also get trophies engraved with their name.  This program has been proven for years to help keep students motivated and excited to earn rewards.  It has also proven to be a great tool for teachers and parents to communicate. 
 

COINS: During lessons, if students do well focusing, follow directions and have a good attitude, they are given a coin. Once they collect 5 coins they may shop in The Treasure Box (toys) or The Treat Box (candy or food items) with parents' permission.

 

RAFFLE: Students 8 and older may earn a raffle ticket for every 30 minutes that they practice during the week. Students younger than 8 earn a raffle ticket for every 15 minutes that they practice during the week. Students also earn a ticket for their lesson time each week. We do not round up minutes and minutes can not be carried over from a previous week. (except if the student is absent the previous week.). Parents must verify the practice time either verbally with the teacher or they may sign the student’s assignment sheet.  Tickets will not be awarded without confirmation from a parent.   On the last day of the month, 3 tickets are drawn for prizes: $25, $15, $5 in cash. Note: there are no raffles during June, July and August.

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PRACTICE DERBY: After the raffle tickets are chosen, all of the tickets are counted.  The number of tickets each students earned is displayed as a horse race chart.  Each student's horse travels a distance based on the number of tickets they earned during that month. The winning horse wins an award.  Students who earn at least 40 tickets in a month receive a special award. ​

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STUDENT OF THE MONTH:

• Students who have put forth extra effort practicing and

• Have a good attitude about learning and

• Have attended at least 4 lessons during the month and who

• Have a song ready to perform

may be awarded the title of “Student of the Month”.

The prize is $50 cash, a trophy and an interview featured in our monthly newsletter on our website.

Note: there is one "Student of the Month" awarded at the end of August for the summer.

 

Exclusion from any incentive program should be requested by emailing: admin@denverama.org

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8- Does DAMA require lesson plans and practicing?

The only way to become proficient at any skill is by practicing.  Instructors will plan lessons each week in order for students to gain new skills and reinforce previously learned skills. Weekly assignments will be stated clearly either on an Assignment Sheet or in a book to help guide students during practice sessions at home.  Young students need a parent to sit with them during practice sessions. Relying on a child to WANT to practice usually causes the child a lot of stress.  If the child has a structured time to practice and is expected to  adhere to the schedule then it will eventually become a habit.   Young children simply do not have the ability to develop this type of structure on their own. 

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Students must expect to practice if they want to advance. We understand that not every student wants to be a professional musician and dedicate the time and effort it takes to achieve that level of proficiency. DAMA teachers will encourage practicing by providing fun, engaging and challenging lessons but it is up to you whether you choose to put in the time and effort in order to get better.  Parents may want to check their child's assignments each week. If the assignments are identical, or close to the same as the previous week, that means that the student did not practice and if they did practice, then it was not done effectively. Progress will be VERY slow if there's very little practicing between lessons. 

 

Different teachers have different expectations of their students.  It can be frustrating for both the student and the teacher if the student doesn't come prepared for their lessons. Students who continually come to lessons unprepared may benefit from changing teachers or trying a different instrument in order to stay motivated to continue their musical journey.    Our mission is help our students reach their highest potential. 

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9- What is DAMA's protocol for withdrawing from lessons?

We do not require contracts to secure lesson days/times because once a student decides to quit taking lessons, any lessons they are forced to take because of a contract are usually ineffectual.  Since lessons are billed at the first of the month,  students can continue to take lessons until the end of the month or cancel the rest of the lessons for the month without a refund.   If we are not informed of the students intent to withdraw from lessons by the fifteenth of the current month,  students and/or parent/guardians will be invoiced for the following month and they are responsible for paying the invoice that month regardless if the student takes any lessons that month.   

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There may be circumstances when a student and their Instructor are just not a good fit. Not all personalities mesh. Before quitting lessons altogether,  we hope that students will try lessons with a different teacher or a different instrument.  Instructors also have the option to request that a student try another teacher.  In these cases, it is based on the student's behavior that would suggest that he/she would better suited to a different teacher in order to reach their full potential. 

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GENERAL SCHOOL POLICIES

Conduct

Respectful and courteous conduct is required at all times of all DAMA instructors, students parents, and their guests.  Any use of profanity, verbally abusive communication, inappropriate physical contact, aggressive or threatening behavior, damage to DAMA’s facility or equipment, or conduct which could be upsetting to others may result in dismissal from the school without refund of tuition.

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Photography, video, and audio recordings of students

Denver Academy of Musical Arts’ school staff routinely photographs and makes audio and video recordings of student performances and group activities which we may publish in brochures, posters, in-school displays, DAMA‘s website and newsletters, and on DAMA’s social networking websites such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.  

 

As a condition of enrollment at DAMA, you grant DAMA the right to utilize photos, video, and audio of student performances and group activities such as classes and camps.  

 

Student’s last names will not be identified in photo, video, and audio use of public websites unless permission is granted by the student (or by the parent if the student is a minor).  Last names may be added to our e-Newsletters because circulation is limited to our group. 

 

Exclusion of a student’s photos or recordings may be requested by emailing admin@denverama.org. 

 

DAMA will make best efforts to comply with exclusion requests when possible, however exclusion requests will not be granted with regard to group photos or video that include other students or staff.

 

Privacy Policy

Denver Academy of Musical Arts  does not disclose the identity or contact information of our students to outside parties. except for the printing company who mails our newsletters (Apex Graphics in South Carolina). DAMA has an agreement with this company that they will not disclose any of our client's names and addresses.  Denver Academy of Musical Arts  is hosted on the Wix.com platform.  Your data may be stored through Wix.com’s data storage, databases and the general Wix.com applications. They store your data on secure servers behind a firewall. All direct payment gateways offered by Wix.com and used by our company adhere to the standards set by PCI-DSS as managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which is a joint effort of brands like Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. PCI-DSS requirements help ensure the secure handling of credit card information by our store and its service providers. Our host uses cookies to monitor and analyze the performance, operation and effectiveness of Wix's platform and to ensure our platform is secure and safe to use. 

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Liability Policy

Denver Academy of Musical Arts is not responsible for damages that may be caused by any act, or failure to act, by Denver Academy of Musical Arts or that may otherwise arise in any way in connection with any services received from Denver Academy of Musical Arts with respect to any bodily injury, illness, death, medical treatment, or property damage that may arise from, or in connection to, any services received from Denver Academy of Musical Arts. This Liability policy extends to Denver Academy of Musical Arts,  with all owners, partners, independent contractors and employees.

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Pandemic/Illness Protocol Policy

• DAMA follows mask mandates regulated by the state.

• Do not enter the facility if you have had a fever within 24 hours or have been exposed to someone with COVID.

• If you have an illness that is contagious such as a cold or flu or a contagious rash, please do not enter the facility.

• We appreciate you wearing a mask if you are no longer contagious but still have symptoms of an illness, such as coughing.

• Please consider video lessons in order to prevent spreading germs. 

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DIVERSITY and Inclusion Policy

Denver Academy of Musical Arts,  with all owners, partners, and employees does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or political affiliation. 

 

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ACCEPTANCE OF THIS DOCUMENT

Students and/or their parents/guardians will be notified via email of any revisions made to this document between annual updates.  Students and/or their parents/guardians who do not agree to abide by the revisions of this document must contact the staff in writing within 7 days of registering a student to decline acceptance, in which case participation in DAMA  programs may be declined  or the Policy/ Procedure in question may be amended by the owner to suit both parties. It is at the owner's discretion to accept or deny any student based on non-acceptance of this document. 

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Please direct any questions or concerns to: admin@denverama.org

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To return the registration page, see the tab at the top of your web browser.  This page opened in a separate window. 

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