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 the Academy faculty to focus on their students in an effective manner. Please read these carefully, and file them for future reference.
Registration Procedures
Belmont Academy is a part of the Belmont University system, and operates under the guidelines and fiscal year of the university.
- All registration fees and tuition for the semester are payable in advance and receivable before the first class.
- A non-refundable registration fee of $10.00 per family is due upon registration for each year.
- Payment must be made by check or money order and made payable to Belmont Academy. No cash, please.
- A fee of $25.00 will be assessed for returned checks.
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 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 less a $25.00 fee for processing.
Practice
Students are expected to practice daily. Please discuss practice requirements with your teacher. Students are permitted to practice in University practice rooms before or after a lesson. Two rules concerning the use of practice rooms:
- The student must leave the room if a college student needs that space.
- The door must be closed securely at all times.
*Practice in Harton Concert Hall is not permitted unless approved by the Academy office and the University.
Attendance
A student arriving late will only receive instruction for the remaining portion of the allotted lesson time. NO REFUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR LESSONS MISSED. 24-hour notice must be given to the Instructor for absences due to illness. A maximum of 2 make-up lessons per semester may be scheduled during the semester. Forgotten lessons or missed lessons due to conflicting activities are not considered emergencies and are not required to be made up by the instructor. Snow days and inclement weather days may be made up, but only if it does not exceed the 2 make-ups. If the university is closed for any reason, there will not be lessons, and those lessons will be made up. These will not count against the 2 make-up policy. Parents and students must be flexible with instructors in any type of make-up scheduling, and must be reasonable about their requests. If schools are closed but the university is open, lessons will occur. As always, students are requested to use their best judgment when proceeding to come to campus.
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 recitals. Information regarding other performance opportunities (auditions, competitions, festivals, etc.) will be made available through the individual instructors. Belmont Academy offers recital experiences at the end of the fall and spring semesters.
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 their performances. Each recital is the showcase of their accomplishments. Please be considerate of the performers needs.
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).
- Attire for recital is as follows:
No jeans, miniskirts, shorts, midriff shirts, flip-flops, or tennis shoes are allowed! Please show respect for your peers and yourself and dress accordingly.
