Policies

Enrollment at Public Schools: At public school after-school programs, there must be a minimum of 17 students enrolled in private and group lessons during fall and spring semesters in order for Music Lessons Express to provide lessons. If this minimum enrollment is not met, you may register for in-home lessons, lessons at our studio, or at a lesson location that is open to the public (please call for more information.) Lessons are open to grades K and above and scheduled on a first-come first-served basis. When lesson times are full, students may be placed on a waiting list. You must submit the registration fee and first month's tuition in order to secure your lesson time. The registration fee enrolls students for lessons from September through May.

Enrollment at a Private School, Home, Church or Workplace: In order for lessons to be provided at one of these locations, the location must be near one of our existing locations and scheduled on the same day as that location, or there must be at least four students taking lessons at the location (or in the area). For lessons in a home, an instrument must be provided by the student. For lessons in a private school, church or workplace, an instrument may be provided by MLE depending on the number of students enrolled.

Withdrawal: We encourage all students to remain in music lessons on a long-term basis, as learning an instrument takes time and commitment to practice. However, a student may be withdrawn from lessons by contacting the Music Lessons Express office directly (850-219-3653 or info@musiclessonsexpress.com). Upon request, lessons will be terminated, provided 30 days notice is given. Payment will be required for all lessons that would have been received during the 30 day period following the date of withdrawal. If a student stops coming to lessons with no notification, then a charge will incur for the current month of lessons plus the following month in order to fulfill the 30 days notification policy. Except in emergency situations, this policy will be enforced. Students will be enrolled from September - May unless withdrawal notification is given.

Tuition and Payment Options: Tuition is the same per month regardless of how many lessons take place during a month (except for December which is half the monthly amount). Each student receives a total of 34 lessons from September through May with an average of four lessons per month (only two in December). At the time of enrollment, you must pay the registration fee (non-refundable) and either the full tuition (one semester or entire school year) or the first month's tuition then follow the monthly payment schedule. All monthly payments are due by the first of the month. A payment reminder will be sent by e-mail approximately 10 days before the due date. A $10 late fee per student will be added to payments not received by the 5th of the month. Students will not be allowed to participate in lessons when payments are late by more than 14 days. Payments for Desoto Trail, Hawks Rise, and Roberts should be made payable to the after-school program and submitted to them. Payments for all other locations may be made online at www.MusicLessonsExpress.com or mailed to 2706 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301. A $20 fee will be charged for all returned checks. Please do not submit payment to your instructor. For summer semester, the full tuition amount is due at the time of enrollment.
Registration Discount: Enroll one family member at the $35 registration fee and receive a free registration for each additional family member.

Lessons Calendar, Absences and Make-up Lessons: We follow the Leon County School calendar; therefore lessons do not take place on school holidays. (See our lessons calendar for detailed information). If your child will be absent during a regularly scheduled lesson, please contact the instructor and/or the Music Lessons Express office 24 hours before the lesson. This is very important, especially for students enrolled in lessons at a school. Make- up lessons will NOT be provided if a student is absent or if a parent or student cancels a lesson. This is due to the difficulty in re-scheduling lessons. If the instructor must be absent, a substitute will be provided or the lesson will be rescheduled. If Leon County Schools are closed, we will not provide lessons that day (at all of our locations, not just public schools). Weather Related Closings: We abide by state/local authority decisions regarding emergency school closings and therefore lessons will not take place in these situations. Since these incidents are rare and out of our control, we do not make up these lessons.

Lesson Scheduling and Format: Lessons are taught during fall, spring and summer semesters but do not take place in August. Group piano, guitar and violin lessons take place once a week for 40 minutes with up to 5 students per class. If only two students are enrolled in a group class, the lessons will be shortened to 30 minutes. Specialty classes may be offered throughout the school year and will also take place once a week for 40 minutes. Private lessons at an after-school program are 30 minutes and scheduled on the same day as group lessons, usually after the group lessons are complete. Private lessons in the home take place once a week and may be scheduled in 30, 45 or 60 minute sessions. All lessons are scheduled on a first-come first-served basis. For group lessons, our goal is to schedule students by grade with younger student's together (K-2) then older students (3-5). However, due to scheduling factors, this is not always possible. Summer music lessons are taught during the months of June and July and students are required to register for a minimum of four lessons.

Behavior, Discipline and Supervision: During lessons, students are expected to behave properly. If a student misbehaves and is disrupting a lesson, the instructor may remove the student from that day's lesson and will inform the parent and, if applicable, the after-school program director. Multiple occurrences of poor behavior may require an instructor/parent conference. If the student cannot or will not behave properly, we reserve the right to permanently remove the student from lessons. Additionally, the staff of Music Lessons Express is not responsible for supervision of a student before or after his/her lesson. Students in the after school program should check in with the after school program staff before coming to music lessons.

For non-after-school program students taking lessons at a school, the parent/guardian must walk with his/her child to the lesson room, and then return to the lesson room to sign out the child when the lesson is over. If your child is attending the lesson immediately after school, you may give permission on the MLE registration form for your child to walk to the lesson room from their classroom (please inform your child's school teacher of this.) When picking up your child after a lesson, please be prompt. For children taking lessons in the home, a parent or guardian must be present in the home during each lesson.

Practice Requirements: Students receive a lesson assignment folder which includes a collection of assignment sheets that lists the pages to practice or complete for that week. Each assignment sheet includes a weekly practice log where students are encouraged to record the number of minutes they practice each day. For a student to be successful, he/ she must practice on a regular basis. We recommend a minimum of four practice days per week. Practice periods may be 15 minutes for beginners and 30 minutes or more for intermediate and advanced students. Additionally, children are more successful when the parent takes an active role in motivating the child to practice. For example, parents may establish a practice schedule or reward your child for a productive practice session. Please communicate with your instructor for additional information on how to establish effective practice habits. For younger students in kindergarten and first grade, it is often necessary for the parent to participate with the child in each practice session. Please consult your instructor for tips on how to assist your child during practice.

"Reach for the Stars" Awards Program: In order to motivate our students, MLE implements an awards program during October through April. Students may earn one star (point) at each weekly lesson in the categories of attendance, practice time, and behavior. Each instructor keeps a log where the star points are recorded. At the end of April, the star points acquired October through April are tallied and awards are given at each lesson location at the spring recital according to the rules provided on our website. If your child prefers to not participate in the awards program, please inform your instructor. See Awards Program for more detail.

Curriculum Fees and Requirements: The annual registration fee covers administrative costs plus one lesson book and theory book per student per school year. (For students in specialty classes, the registration fee covers the cost of teaching materials used in the classroom.) Parents will be responsible to purchase any additional books and materials that the student may need during the course of the year (as the student may graduate from one level to the next). Instructors will notify students/parents when it is necessary to purchase the next level of books. Below please find the location and contact information for the two local music stores that MLE recommends for book purchases. Additionally, we encourage you to purchase recital books during October and February at the locations listed below. Your instructor will give you guidance as to what specific book to purchase.

All students are required to bring their books to each lesson. These books will also be used in the home for practice sessions. Instructors will have extra copies of lesson books if the student forgets to bring his/her books.

Beethoven and Company
1415 Timberlane Rd. Suite 210
Tallahassee, FL 32312
Phone: 850-894-8700

Music Masters
1114 North Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: 850-224-6158

Curriculum Descriptions
Piano: Piano students will learn to play written music using the Piano Adventures method. For beginners, foundational concepts such as finger numbers, rhythm and note names must be learned before a student learns to play written music. Supplemental books may be purchased for recitals and for students who show excellent progress in lessons and are practicing on a regular basis. These book categories include classics, pop, rock, jazz, children's songs, favorites, hymns and Christmas.

Guitar: Guitar students will learn to play melodic and rhythmic guitar by written music and chord charts using the FJH Young Beginner Guitar Method or the MLE group guitar ensemble method. Lesson book repertoire includes a selection of rock, pop, country, folk and children's songs. Classical guitar and bass guitar instruction is available; please call our office for more information.

Strings (Violin, viola, cello and double bass): Students in group and private string lessons will learn to play by written music using the Essential Elements 2000 for Strings method. For beginners, the fundamental elements such as posture and setup, note-reading, and rhythm-reading must be learned before a student learns to play written music.

SuperStar Singing and Voice: Students will learn basic singing principles in a group choral setting in SuperStar Singing or private vocal setting with private voice lessons. Proper singing techniques, voice exercises and stage etiquette will be taught with an emphasis on tone quality and musical concepts. Instructors use a carefully chosen repertoire from various sources including Hal Leonard Publishing Company and Express Musicals song collections. When necessary, an instructor will provide lyric sheets and practice CDs for in home-practice for an upcoming recital or performance.

Woodwinds: Students will learn to play written music and proper techniques using the Essential Elements 2000 method. All students receive a lesson book as part of the registration fee. For beginners, foundational concepts such as correct posture and position, correct embouchure (lip placement) and proper breathing and tone techniques must be learned before a student learns to play from written music.

Percussion (In-Home Lessons Only): Students will learn about many instruments in the percussion family including snare drum, drum set, and accessory instruments such as hand drums, tambourine, and congas. Students will learn to read music and perform on percussion instruments using a percussion curriculum and general music appreciation curriculum. Students may begin lessons using a drum pad and sticks if a drum set is not available in the home.

Instrument Requirements: Students are required to have an instrument for home practice within one month of beginning lessons. (Percussion students initially may use a drum pad and sticks for lessons in the home). Piano and Guitar students are provided with an instrument during lessons at after-school program locations. All other students must provide their own instrument during lessons. For lessons in the home, an instrument must be provided by the student. For lessons in a private school, church or workplace, an instrument may be provided by MLE depending on the number of students enrolled. For more information on purchasing or renting an instrument, see Instrument Requirements, or contact the MLE office.

Recitals: Recitals take place twice a year with a Holiday Show in December and Spring Recital in May. An email announcement with the recital date, time and location is forwarded 2 - 4 weeks prior to the recital date. All students are encouraged to participate but are not required to do so. "Reach for the Stars" awards are presented at the Spring Recital. Additionally, recital books are available for purchase during October and February and email notification will be sent when these books are available for purchase.

Instructor Qualifications: Each instructor is required to pass a background check as facilitated by the Leon County School Board Office. All instructors are talented musicians and teachers who are dependable and work well with students of all ages, and many have received or are pursuing advanced degrees in music.

Correspondence: Announcements with pertinent information will be sent by e-mail. Those without e-mail will receive information by US mail, phone, or fliers distributed to the students.

	Policies Enrollment at Public Schools: At public school after-school programs, there must be a minimum of 17 students enrolled in private and group lessons during fall and spring semesters in order for Music Lessons Express to provide lessons. If this minimum enrollment is not met, you may register for in-home lessons, lessons at our studio, or at a lesson location that is open to the public (please call for more information.) Lessons are open to grades K and above and scheduled on a first-come first-served basis. When lesson times are full, students may be placed on a waiting list. You must submit the registration fee and first month's tuition in order to secure your lesson time. The registration fee enrolls students for lessons from September through May. Enrollment at a Private School, Home, Church or Workplace: In order for lessons to be provided at one of these locations, the location must be near one of our existing locations and scheduled on the same day as that location, or there must be at least four students taking lessons at the location (or in the area). For lessons in a home, an instrument must be provided by the student. For lessons in a private school, church or workplace, an instrument may be provided by MLE depending on the number of students enrolled. Withdrawal: We encourage all students to remain in music lessons on a long-term basis, as learning an instrument takes time and commitment to practice. However, a student may be withdrawn from lessons by contacting the Music Lessons Express office directly (850-219-3653 or info@musiclessonsexpress.com). Upon request, lessons will be terminated, provided 30 days notice is given. Payment will be required for all lessons that would have been received during the 30 day period following the date of withdrawal. If a student stops coming to lessons with no notification, then a charge will incur for the current month of lessons plus the following month in order to fulfill the 30 days notification policy. Except in emergency situations, this policy will be enforced. Students will be enrolled from September - May unless withdrawal notification is given. Tuition and Payment Options: Tuition is the same per month regardless of how many lessons take place during a month (except for December which is half the monthly amount). Each student receives a total of 34 lessons from September through May with an average of four lessons per month (only two in December). At the time of enrollment, you must pay the registration fee (non-refundable) and either the full tuition (one semester or entire school year) or the first month's tuition then follow the monthly payment schedule. *All monthly payments are due by the first of the month.* A payment reminder will be sent by e-mail approximately 10 days before the due date. A $10 late fee per student will be added to payments not received by the 5th of the month. Students will not be allowed to participate in lessons when payments are late by more than 14 days. Payments for Desoto Trail, Hawks Rise, and Roberts should be made payable to the after-school program and submitted to them. Payments for all other locations may be made online at www.MusicLessonsExpress.com or mailed to 2706 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301. A $20 fee will be charged for all returned checks. Please do not submit payment to your instructor. For summer semester, the full tuition amount is due at the time of enrollment. Registration Discount: Enroll one family member at the $35 registration fee and receive a free registration for each additional family member. Lessons Calendar, Absences and Make-up Lessons: We follow the Leon County School calendar; therefore lessons do not take place on school holidays. (See our lessons calendar for detailed information). If your child will be absent during a regularly scheduled lesson, please contact the instructor and/or the Music Lessons Express office 24 hours before the lesson. This is very important, especially for students enrolled in lessons at a school. Make- up lessons will NOT be provided if a student is absent or if a parent or student cancels a lesson. This is due to the difficulty in re-scheduling lessons. If the instructor must be absent, a substitute will be provided or the lesson will be rescheduled. If Leon County Schools are closed, we will not provide lessons that day (at all of our locations, not just public schools). Weather Related Closings: We abide by state/local authority decisions regarding emergency school closings and therefore lessons will not take place in these situations. Since these incidents are rare and out of our control, we do not make up these lessons. Lesson Scheduling and Format: Lessons are taught during fall, spring and summer semesters but do not take place in August. Group piano, guitar and violin lessons take place once a week for 40 minutes with up to 5 students per class. If only two students are enrolled in a group class, the lessons will be shortened to 30 minutes. Specialty classes may be offered throughout the school year and will also take place once a week for 40 minutes. Private lessons at an after-school program are 30 minutes and scheduled on the same day as group lessons, usually after the group lessons are complete. Private lessons in the home take place once a week and may be scheduled in 30, 45 or 60 minute sessions. All lessons are scheduled on a first-come first-served basis. For group lessons, our goal is to schedule students by grade with younger student's together (K-2) then older students (3-5). However, due to scheduling factors, this is not always possible. Summer music lessons are taught during the months of June and July and students are required to register for a minimum of four lessons. Behavior, Discipline and Supervision: During lessons, students are expected to behave properly. If a student misbehaves and is disrupting a lesson, the instructor may remove the student from that day's lesson and will inform the parent and, if applicable, the after-school program director. Multiple occurrences of poor behavior may require an instructor/parent conference. If the student cannot or will not behave properly, we reserve the right to permanently remove the student from lessons. Additionally, the staff of Music Lessons Express is not responsible for supervision of a student before or after his/her lesson. Students in the after school program should check in with the after school program staff before coming to music lessons. For non-after-school program students taking lessons at a school, the parent/guardian must walk with his/her child to the lesson room, and then return to the lesson room to sign out the child when the lesson is over. If your child is attending the lesson immediately after school, you may give permission on the MLE registration form for your child to walk to the lesson room from their classroom (please inform your child's school teacher of this.) When picking up your child after a lesson, please be prompt. For children taking lessons in the home, a parent or guardian must be present in the home during each lesson. Practice Requirements: Students receive a lesson assignment folder which includes a collection of assignment sheets that lists the pages to practice or complete for that week. Each assignment sheet includes a weekly practice log where students are encouraged to record the number of minutes they practice each day. For a student to be successful, he/ she must practice on a regular basis. We recommend a minimum of four practice days per week. Practice periods may be 15 minutes for beginners and 30 minutes or more for intermediate and advanced students. Additionally, children are more successful when the parent takes an active role in motivating the child to practice. For example, parents may establish a practice schedule or reward your child for a productive practice session. Please communicate with your instructor for additional information on how to establish effective practice habits. For younger students in kindergarten and first grade, it is often necessary for the parent to participate with the child in each practice session. Please consult your instructor for tips on how to assist your child during practice. "Reach for the Stars" Awards Program: In order to motivate our students, MLE implements an awards program during October through April. Students may earn one star (point) at each weekly lesson in the categories of attendance, practice time, and behavior. Each instructor keeps a log where the star points are recorded. At the end of April, the star points acquired October through April are tallied and awards are given at each lesson location at the spring recital according to the rules provided on our website. If your child prefers to not participate in the awards program, please inform your instructor. See Awards Program for more detail. Curriculum Fees and Requirements: The annual registration fee covers administrative costs plus one lesson book and theory book per student per school year. (For students in specialty classes, the registration fee covers the cost of teaching materials used in the classroom.) Parents will be responsible to purchase any additional books and materials that the student may need during the course of the year (as the student may graduate from one level to the next). Instructors will notify students/parents when it is necessary to purchase the next level of books. Below please find the location and contact information for the two local music stores that MLE recommends for book purchases. Additionally, we encourage you to purchase recital books during October and February at the locations listed below. Your instructor will give you guidance as to what specific book to purchase. All students are required to bring their books to each lesson. These books will also be used in the home for practice sessions. Instructors will have extra copies of lesson books if the student forgets to bring his/her books. Beethoven and Company 1415 Timberlane Rd. Suite 210 Tallahassee, FL 32312 Phone: 850-894-8700 Music Masters 1114 North Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32303 Phone: 850-224-6158 Curriculum Descriptions Piano: Piano students will learn to play written music using the Piano Adventures method. For beginners, foundational concepts such as finger numbers, rhythm and note names must be learned before a student learns to play written music. Supplemental books may be purchased for recitals and for students who show excellent progress in lessons and are practicing on a regular basis. These book categories include classics, pop, rock, jazz, children's songs, favorites, hymns and Christmas. Guitar: Guitar students will learn to play melodic and rhythmic guitar by written music and chord charts using the FJH Young Beginner Guitar Method or the MLE group guitar ensemble method. Lesson book repertoire includes a selection of rock, pop, country, folk and children's songs. Classical guitar and bass guitar instruction is available; please call our office for more information. Strings (Violin, viola, cello and double bass): Students in group and private string lessons will learn to play by written music using the Essential Elements 2000 for Strings method. For beginners, the fundamental elements such as posture and setup, note-reading, and rhythm-reading must be learned before a student learns to play written music. SuperStar Singing and Voice: Students will learn basic singing principles in a group choral setting in SuperStar Singing or private vocal setting with private voice lessons. Proper singing techniques, voice exercises and stage etiquette will be taught with an emphasis on tone quality and musical concepts. Instructors use a carefully chosen repertoire from various sources including Hal Leonard Publishing Company and Express Musicals song collections. When necessary, an instructor will provide lyric sheets and practice CDs for in home-practice for an upcoming recital or performance. Woodwinds: Students will learn to play written music and proper techniques using the Essential Elements 2000 method. All students receive a lesson book as part of the registration fee. For beginners, foundational concepts such as correct posture and position, correct embouchure (lip placement) and proper breathing and tone techniques must be learned before a student learns to play from written music. Percussion (In-Home Lessons Only): Students will learn about many instruments in the percussion family including snare drum, drum set, and accessory instruments such as hand drums, tambourine, and congas. Students will learn to read music and perform on percussion instruments using a percussion curriculum and general music appreciation curriculum. Students may begin lessons using a drum pad and sticks if a drum set is not available in the home. Instrument Requirements: Students are required to have an instrument for home practice within one month of beginning lessons. (Percussion students initially may use a drum pad and sticks for lessons in the home). Piano and Guitar students are provided with an instrument during lessons at after-school program locations. All other students must provide their own instrument during lessons. For lessons in the home, an instrument must be provided by the student. For lessons in a private school, church or workplace, an instrument may be provided by MLE depending on the number of students enrolled. For more information on purchasing or renting an instrument, see Instrument Requirements, or contact the MLE office. Recitals: Recitals take place twice a year with a Holiday Show in December and Spring Recital in May. An email announcement with the recital date, time and location is forwarded 2 - 4 weeks prior to the recital date. All students are encouraged to participate but are not required to do so. "Reach for the Stars" awards are presented at the Spring Recital. Additionally, recital books are available for purchase during October and February and email notification will be sent when these books are available for purchase. Instructor Qualifications: Each instructor is required to pass a background check as facilitated by the Leon County School Board Office. All instructors are talented musicians and teachers who are dependable and work well with students of all ages, and many have received or are pursuing advanced degrees in music. Correspondence: Announcements with pertinent information will be sent by e-mail. Those without e-mail will receive information by US mail, phone, or fliers distributed to the students.
Music Lessons Express (850) 219-3653 \| 2706 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32301 info@musiclessonsexpress.com