Payment and Attendance Policy – Summary & Explanation
Below is a summary and explanation of our Payment and Attendance Policy for the school year (September–June). The full policy is available on our website. Attendance is a key part of a successful music education, and we appreciate you taking the time to understand how we approach scheduling.
Please reach out with any questions—our team is happy to help.
What’s the Policy?
Reschedule requests require at least 48 hours' notice.
Reschedules are a courtesy, not guaranteed or owed.
Tuition covers an average of four scheduled lessons per month at your specific, agreed-upon day and time. It does not cover four lessons that can be taken at any time.
Each student is allowed up to 4 reschedules per school year (September–June).
If we cancel a lesson, we will always offer a make-up or provide a comparable refund.
Summer (July & August)
Lessons continue as usual through the summer, and we never remove a student from the schedule unless requested—so if you plan to take the summer off, please let us know in advance.
We offer more flexibility during July and August to accommodate travel and changing routines. You can remain enrolled just as you are during the school year, or choose from one of our flexible summer lesson packages (details are released each spring), which allow for a reduced weekly commitment.
Whichever option works best for you, we simply ask for advance notice of any changes so we can plan accordingly. This seasonal flexibility helps students maintain progress while allowing space for summer plans.
Why These Policies Exists
We want to be transparent about why these policies are in place, and how it helps us maintain a high-quality, sustainable music program:
Attendance issues are the most common challenge in music education—both financially and logistically. Many schools have eliminated make-ups entirely. We’ve chosen a more balanced path because we understand that life happens.
Our time is valuable. We treat it with respect and ask that our students do the same.
Your weekly lesson time is reserved just for you and usually can’t be filled if missed. Like you, our clients desire a consistent week-to-week schedule—not one-off appointments like those at a barbershop, doctor’s office, or other appointment-based services.
Our instructors are paid whether a lesson is attended or not. Their time is valuable and already committed to you.
While it may feel like you're asking for a rare exception, we receive similar requests multiple times each week. Making exceptions repeatedly simply isn’t sustainable.
We want our energy focused on teaching and creating enriching programs, not on hours of reschedule coordination.
We understand it’s frustrating to miss a lesson for unavoidable reasons. But we ask for understanding: the school cannot absorb that loss from multiple students each week.
Thank you for taking the time to read and respect this policy. At Bridgewater School of Music, the relationship between students, families, and teachers plays a central role in each student’s success. Your cooperation helps us maintain a positive, productive, and respectful learning environment for everyone.
Thank you,
The Staff at Bridgewater School of Music