Revised 7/18/2024
Academy of Arts
Parent/Student Contract (Policy)
Mission Statement:
The First Baptist Jackson Academy of Arts exists to reclaim the arts for Christ through unparalleled instruction in musical arts and their integration into daily life. The Academy of Arts seeks to create a stream of devoted and excellent artists dedicated to multiplying disciples to live like Jesus for generations.
Lessons:
Students may enroll for lessons at any time. Lessons will take place at approved Academy locations. We break the year into a Fall Semester, a Spring Semester, and a Summer Session. Here is the breakdown:
- Fall Semester: 15 Lessons, 1 make-up for student cancellation; teacher/studio cancellations will be rescheduled.
- Fall semester begins the week of August 26, 2024, and ends the week of December 10, 2024. The makeup week is December 16-21, 2024 though makeup lessons can be scheduled at mutual agreement of teacher and student.
- There are no lessons the week of Thanksgiving. This week may be used for makeup lessons at the discretion of the teacher.
- Spring Semester: 15 Lessons, 1 make-up for student cancellation; teacher/studio cancellations will be rescheduled.
- Spring semester begins the week of January 20, 2025, and ends the week of May 5, 2025. The makeup week is May 12-17, 2025 though makeup lessons can be scheduled at mutual agreement of teacher and student.
- There are no lessons the week of Spring Break. This week may be used for makeup lessons at the discretion of the teacher.
- Summer lessons will be scheduled on a 4 week cycle with a possible 3 cycles during the summer. There are no makeup sessions within a 4 week cycle of summer lessons unless the teacher/studio is forced to cancel the lesson.
- Summer session cycles are:
- May 26, 2025 - June 21, 2025
- June 23, 2025 - July 26, 2025 (no lessons the week of July 4th)
- July 28, 2025 - August 23, 2025
- Summer session cycles are:
Tuition:
Tuition reserves the student’s weekly time slot in the teacher’s schedule.
Tuition covers lesson fees and administration fees. The Academy offers multiple options for payment.
For families, first student is full price; additional students receive a 5% discount each.
Private Lessons (Academic Semester):
Lessons for the Spring or Fall Semesters are either paid in full for by semester or in three installments of 5 lessons. Paying in full for the semester is subject to a 5% discount.
Only one reschedule allowed for student missed lesson. There are no refunds for student missed lessons. If teacher misses, makeup will be rescheduled on a mutual agreeable date as soon as reasonably possible but there will be no refunds or moving billing forward. Semester charges are as follow:
> 30-minute lessons | 3 payments of $150 each OR 1 payment of 427.50 for the full semester
> 45-minute lessons | 3 payments of $225 each OR 1 payment of $641.25 for the full semester
> 60-minute lessons | 3 payments of $300 each OR 1 payment of $855.00 for the full semester
Please note that we will support bi-weekly (every 2 weeks) or once a month lessons for all ages. Pricing will be provided for that schedule on request.
Private Lessons (Summer):
Lessons for the Summer are paid for each 4 week term.
> 30-minute lessons | $120 for each 4 week session OR 1 payment of $304 for the full summer
> 45-minute lessons | $180 for each 4 week session OR 1 payment of $513 for the full summer
> 60-minute lessons | $240 for each 4 week session OR 1 payment of $684 for the full summer
Please note that we will support bi-weekly (every 2 weeks) or once a month lessons for all ages. Pricing will be provided for that schedule on request.
Teaching Location:
The AoA permits lessons to be held at approved locations. These options are as listed below:
- First Baptist Church of Jackson – specific lesson space dictated by Academy administration
- Teacher’s Home
- Academy Student’s Home *
*If we teach in the student’s home: A $10 charge per household per week (assumes all lessons in the household are on the same day) for gas and travel time for the instructor will be added to the total charges. This charge (in home supplement) is not optional and is not subject to any discounts.
Lesson location may be changed (permanently or on an ad hoc basis) during the semester/summer. If in the student’s home, the $10 per household in home supplement charge will apply.
Lesson Scheduling:
Lessons can be scheduled Tuesday through Saturday. Lesson times are negotiated between the teacher and student/parent. All Saturday lessons must be in the home of the student. We do not teach on Mondays due to the number of Monday holidays. Mondays and holiday weeks, at the students and teacher’s discretion, may be used for makeup lessons.
Studio Expectations:
Instructor Tardiness: The teacher will contact the student if they expect to be late for a scheduled lesson. If the teacher arrives after a scheduled lesson has begun, the teacher will give additional time past the time slot to compensate for their tardiness with mutual acceptance of the student’s schedule.
Student Tardiness: Students should notify the teacher if they will be late. It is at the teacher’s sole discretion that the lesson be extended to make up for the student being tardy.
Student Cancellations: Except for family emergencies, no lessons will be rescheduled. The schedule is the schedule. Emergencies are NOT other activities – emergencies would be illness or a death in the family. One student cancelled lesson per semester may be made up the last week of the semester or at a time mutually agreed upon by the instructor and student. There are no refunds for cancelled lessons. Teachers may make up other cancelled lessons at their sole discretion, but they are not required to do so.
Teacher Cancellations: Teacher cancellations will be communicated to the student as soon as possible. A makeup lesson for that cancelled lesson will be scheduled as soon as possible at a time and location mutually agreed to by the teacher and student. Teachers are not paid for this lesson until it is made up.
Withdrawal: Students and parents should consult with the teacher and Academy director if they are considering discontinuing lessons to discuss the reason for cancellation. If there is no resolution, the lessons will be cancelled. If you are on a semester installment payment plan, there will be no refunds. If you paid for the full semester, you will be refunded for lessons beyond the current scheduled 5 lesson set less the discount given for paying in full.
Parental Involvement: Students 18 years and younger, at the instructor’s discretion, may have a parent or guardian present at the lesson. Students 10 years or younger must have a parent present in the lesson. The parents will take notes and act as the student’s “home teacher”. Parental involvement is welcomed and strongly encouraged for all students.
Materials: Instruments are not included in tuition. Students are expected to have all the necessary materials for their lessons. This includes their instrument, shoulder rest/rock stop, rosin, cleaning cloth, assigned music, lesson notebook, and pencil, as applicable.
Instrument Rental: Instruments may be available for rent through local sources. Details will be sent upon registration. Online resources for materials other than instruments include www.sharmusic.com and www.amazon.com. If a student is considering purchasing an instrument or graduating to a larger size instrument, the teacher should be consulted to ensure a proper instrument for the student.
Family Group Lessons (ages 17 and younger): These lessons are limited to an hour for three to five children in the same family. Cost is $20 per child per week and in home supplement does apply. These lessons are billed in 4 week increments and there are no refunds. Makeup lessons for the group can be scheduled at the discretion of the teacher.
Exception Based Lessons:
The Academy of Arts will consider exception based lessons on a limited basis. Please contact Cille Litchfield at clitchfield@fbcj.org or 601-506-7325.
Categories of Exception Based Lessons:
Adult students (ages 18 and older): These lessons will be prepaid in groups of 4 lessons of 30, 45 or 60 minutes and then scheduled at the mutual agreement of the teacher and student. There are no discounts for these lessons however the in home teaching supplement will apply, if applicable. Once all four lessons are taken, an additional four lessons may be purchased. Lesson credits will expire at the conclusion of a AoA year (August-July). There are no refunds.