FINANCIAL AID is available based on need through our Financial Aid and Outreach Program. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form or call the JOMP office at 508-856-9541 to receive a financial aid application.

PRIVATE LESSONS: Students taking private instrumental lessons enroll for the entire academic year of 34 weeks (September 8 - June 5). New students may enroll at any time during the year on a space-available basis. Their tuition will be prorated.

Tuition: Private lesson tuition for the academic year is $1,394 for 34 45-minute lessons and $1,734 for 34 one-hour lessons. Half hour lessons are given only in special circumstances at $952 per academic year. Private half-hour recorder “catch-up” lessons for class students are $25.00.

Payment Options: Please select one of the 4 payment options listed below. If possible, we prefer full payment in advance (Option 1). To make it easier for as many families as possible to pay the full tuition, we offer three additional payment options. Most schools charge a fee for this privilege. In return for not charging a fee, please help us keep administrative and billing costs down by saving this brochure as a reminder to keep your payments current. Thank you! Late payments will incur a $5.00 per month charge.

Option 1: One payment for the academic year (34 lessons) ~ due by first lesson:

                3/4 hour lessons $1,394                 1 hour lessons: $1,734

Option 2: Two payments per year (17 lessons each half) ~ due 9/1/08 and 1/1/09

                3/4 hour lessons $697 (x2)             1 hour lessons $867 (x2)

Option 3: Four payments per year ~ due 9/1/08; 11/1/08; 1/1/09 & 3/1/09

                3/4 hour lessons $348.50 (x4)         1 hour lessons $433.50 (x4)

Option 4: Ten monthly payments:           

                Payment Due:        3/4 hour                             1 hour

                Sept. 1                     $139 + registration fee     $173 + registration fee

                Oct 1 thru May 1   $139 per month                 $173 per month

                June 1                     $143 final payment            $177 final payment

Smaller Payments: Payments smaller than Option 4 must be arranged with the director.

Withdrawal Policy: If a student withdraws before March 1, 2009 for any reason, four weeks written notice is required.    Starting one week from the date of notice, the next four lessons must be paid for whether taken or not.   Withdrawal on or after March 1, 2009 will require payment for the remainder of the academic year. Students who withdraw at any time will forfeit credits for excused absence and snow day makes ups and only receive credit for teacher absences.

Student Absences: All lessons must be paid for whether taken or missed. Each student is entitled to one excused absence per academic year. If a student chooses to attend a school, athletic or social event as their one excused absence, no other absence will be excused, including illness and family vacations. For a student to be officially excused and eligible for a make-up or credit, the cancellation must be reported directly to the office (or on JOMP’s answering machine) before noon on the day of the lesson for lessons occurring 3:00 p.m. or later, and by 9:00 a.m. for lessons scheduled before 3:00 p.m. Informing the teacher is not sufficient notification. Always call if a private lesson will be missed, as a courtesy to the teacher, and to give the office staff a chance to close the gap in the teacher’s schedule by moving another student into that time slot, if possible. If a student hasn’t practiced, it’s important that they come anyway so they don’t get discouraged.

Teacher Absences: Teacher cancellations are made up or credited. Please include relevant phone numbers so we can try to reach you if a teacher is sick.

Make-up/Credit Policy: Excused absences and teacher absences will be made up over the course of the year, if possible, or credited in June. If a student cancels or misses a make-up lesson that has been scheduled by the office and confirmed by the teacher and student, the lesson will not be rescheduled or credited.

Promptness: Students who arrive late for their lesson lose that time. Teachers need to stay on schedule in fairness to their other students.

Re-scheduling Private Lessons: Because of the complexities of scheduling so many families, it is very difficult and usually not possible to reschedule lessons by switching with another student. If you have already used your excused absence, we are willing to try to arrange an alternative lesson time for an important or rare occasion, but need at least two weeks’ notice. If it is not possible to arrange another time and you choose to miss the lesson, the teacher is not responsible for making up the lesson. No credit will be given. This policy also applies to private and public school vacations different than JOMP’s.

Sports and Other Conflicts: If a sport or school play takes priority over private lessons, we can only hold your slot if you pay for all the missed lessons. We can’t ask faculty members to forfeit several weeks’ pay, especially when we have students on waiting lists. This policy stands throughout the year.

CLASSES AND ENSEMBLES: Classes and ensembles are designed to meet for 33 weeks, unless otherwise indicated. Late enrollment and prorating of tuition will be at the discretion of the instructor and the director, depending upon the group.

Tuition and Payment Options: Tuitions for classes and ensembles are listed with class descriptions. Option 1 is payment for the academic year. Option 2 (listed in parentheses) divides the year’s payment in half, with the second payment being due the week of January 1, 2009. If fewer than 4 students enroll, tuition will be adjusted to cover the cost of the class. If only two students enroll and the director and teacher feel they are a good match, each student will pay half the cost of a private lesson. We reserve the right to cancel under-enrolled classes.

Smaller Payments: Payments smaller than Option 2 for classes and ensembles must be arranged with the Director.

Withdrawal Policy: No refunds will be given once a class or ensemble has started unless the Director recommends that a student not continue.

Student Absences: Because each student is an integral part of their class or ensemble, please call the office if your child is unable to attend, so we won’t be waiting and wondering whether or not they are coming.

Teacher Absences and Makeup/Credit Policy: Students will receive credit for teacher cancellations that can not be made up. Individual student absences from classes and ensembles are not made up or credited. Please include relevant phone numbers on your registration form so we can try to reach you if a teacher is sick.

Promptness dropping off and picking up your child will be greatly appreciated. It is difficult to set a relaxed and focused tone to a class if arrivals are staggered.

WEATHER CANCELLATIONS: We often do not close when the public schools close because most of our lessons and classes take place in the afternoon and evening.  Cancellations are announced over radio station WTAG (580 AM) and WSRS (96 FM). If possible, we will call you personally if we have to close, leave outgoing weather cancellation messages on JOMP’s answering machine and post it on our web site. One private lesson per year will be made-up or credited for official JOMP snow days. Additional snow closings will not be made up or credited. If JOMP is open, the teacher is here, and you choose not to come because of the weather, the teacher will be paid and the lesson is not made-up or credited. There are no snow closing credits or make-ups for classes or ensembles.

TEACHER/STUDENT/PARENT PARTNERSHIP: It is important to discuss problems or questions with your child’s teacher as they arise. If your child seems to be losing interest or you have other concerns, we will try to work it out with the support of the teacher and the director(s). If your child resists attending lessons or classes for any reason, please notify the director(s) immediately. Teachers will let you know if they have any concerns. Conferences are gladly arranged if requested.

PHONE MESSAGES: You may leave a message on our answering machine if the office is closed. No answer means another message is coming in, please try again.

SAFETY AND COURTESY: Parents are responsible for supervising their chlidren at all times. It is the school's policy that JOMP's staff and faculty do not assume responsibility for students (or siblings) before or after their lessons or classes. Please do not allow children or younger siblings to wander off alone, run around in the hallways or play outside the building. This is a safety factor as well as a courtesy to JOMP staff who are working, teachers and students concentrating on their lessons, and to other people in the waiting area and library.

Taking Care of the Waiting Areas: Because the lobby and hallways are not appropriate or safe for active play, we have a good selection of books, puzzles, games, markers, etc. for your children to enjoy quietly. We would appreciate it if you would help them take good care of anything they use and have them return things neatly to the shelf before you leave. The library is a quiet space for reading and doing homework.

Parking: Parking is available on the Lincoln Street side of the building and in the back, as well as in front of the building. Please park on the side or back rather than blocking the front walk or parking or standing behind cars already parked in the front. This makes it impossible for emergency vehicles to gain access and creates a dangerous situation for people going to and from their cars. Please do not park or stand in the Director's parking space at any time.

Drop off and Pick-up: Please bring your younger children into the building and make sure they connect with their teacher.  As a matter of safety, it is the responsibility of all parents to come into the building to pick up their children. We do not want students to wait in the parking area or to run out into the parking lot to meet you!