Our Philosophy
The Music Loft’s (TML) primary mission is to provide the highest quality music instruction in a family friendly environment. The highest quality music instruction demands creativity as well as attention to discipline and dedication. We know through experience that the most successful musicians pay close attention to detail, have dogged persistence, and impeccable attendance. We also have families ourselves, so we understand the importance of transparency, order, and predictability when it comes to scheduling and billing. TML’s studio policies and procedures are designed to reflect these values, so as to benefit all of us.
Tuition
TML operates on a semester basis. The school calendar includes 6 semesters in all. Every semester includes 8 weeks of instruction. During the school year, instruction includes seven 30-minute private lessons and an unlimited amount of small group sessions (Master Classes) that range from 60-90-minutes in length. The only exception to this format is during the summer semester, when the 8-week semester includes eight 30-minute private lessons scheduled on a flexible basis. Master Classes are not offered during the summer semester.
Tuition is paid by the semester via credit card auto pay in one or two installments. Upon registration, fees will be for your first full semester of lessons OR a prorated fee for the remaining lessons in the semester that you start. At that time, you'll also pay a one-time registration fee of $25. All auto pay charges are processed on the first of the month. Registration fee and prorated amounts will be charged at the time of registration.
PLEASE BE SURE YOUR ACCOUNT INFORMATION REMAINS CURRENT.
You will be assessed a $10 handling charge on a declined transaction. Expect to pay these charges in full before your next lesson.
Absences & Makeups
Your registration reserves the instructor's time during your regularly scheduled lesson/class day and time ONLY. Therefore, student cancelations may be rescheduled according to the discretion of The Music Loft and according to instructor availability. Student cancelations are not guaranteed a makeup lesson under any circumstances.
NOTE: TML does NOT consider rehearsals, practices, games or meets for activities outside of school curricula as eligible for rescheduling. As such, these cancelations will not be rescheduled.
If an Instructor must be absent, private lessons will be made up at a time mutually convenient to the instructor and student OR a qualified substitute will stand in for the instructor. If a student chooses not to attend a lesson taught by a substitute, the lesson will be forfeited. If a student is unable to attend the scheduled makeup lesson due to instructor absence, no additional makeup will be scheduled.
All makeup lessons must be scheduled during the semester in which the missed lesson was originally scheduled. If this is not possible, the lesson is forfeited.
Please reserve cancelations for emergencies only. (Any “emergency” will be determined by TML and a makeup may be provided accordingly.) If you must cancel, please respect your instructor's time by giving at least 24 hours notice by calling or emailing TML, or by canceling your lesson through the online customer portal. Cancelations received on the day of the lesson (i.e.: less than 24-hours notice) and no-shows will not be rescheduled.
Instructors are asked to wait 10 minutes for a tardy student. If you will be more than 10 minutes late to a lesson, please call the studio, as you may forfeit the lesson otherwise.
Inclement Weather
TML rarely closes due to inclement weather. If there is a question as to whether we will open, a notice will be posted to our web site homepage by 12:00 noon (www.TheMusicLoftOnline.com). Please keep in mind that TML does NOT follow public school closures, as the snow is often removed by the time our lessons are scheduled in the late afternoon.
In the event that TML does close, we will do our best to schedule makeup time based on instructor availability. Any lessons not attended due to inclement weather will be made up at TML’s discretion and are not guaranteed.
Please refer to The Music Loft Semester Calendar for scheduled closings and holidays.
Communication
In order to maximize our teachers’ time with students, please make every effort to communicate administrative concerns via email, phone, or through Leanne or other front desk staff. You can reach Leanne at Leanne@TheMusicLoftOnline.com, as she checks email regularly throughout the day. If you are unable to reach us in a timely manner regarding admin issues, please check the web site. We do our best to keep it up to date with recital information, Master Class enrollment details, and other notifications you may need.
Of course, we hope you will have strong communication with your instructor as well! Hopefully, communication with the instructor can be more related to your child’s music education than administrative. Ask questions of your instructor about your child’s progress and what is expected of him or her during the week. We welcome parents to observe lessons, however, we respectfully ask that parents do not interrupt the instructor unless it becomes absolutely necessary.
Privacy Policy
TML will often take photographs and sometimes video of lessons and classes for both educational and marketing purposes. Marketing includes social media and print media. TML respects your privacy and will honor any request not to utilize in whole or in part, photographs, sound bites, or video footage taken as a result of participation in TML activities. Please submit any such requests via email to info@TheMusicLoftOnline.com. If written notice is not given otherwise, you are giving TML the right to use and incorporate (alone or together with other materials), in whole or in part, photographs, sound bites or video footage taken as a result of participation in TML activities.
We do not under any circumstances sell your contact information to any third party. In accordance with PCI Compliance laws, TML does not store payment information in a way that can be compromised.
Books & Materials
TML Herndon stocks some book & material inventory for our students’ convenience. These can also be made available to our Ashburn students on request. All materials purchased through TML are charged to the credit card account that is kept on file for tuition payments.
Since our inventory is relatively small, your instructor may ask you to purchase something TML doesn’t carry. When this is the case, we hope you will go to www.SheetMusicPlus.com/m/TML to find it, because TML receives an 8% rebate on purchases made there.
We use the rebates to help pay for recital receptions, Master Class materials, etc.
School Mascots
From time to time, you might see a four legged creature greet you at The Music Loft (especially in Herndon). Ms. Kara’s Goldendoodles, Ruff and Winnie, will often make an appearance, and sometimes Ms. Leanne has her Cocker Spaniel, JoJo, as a guest. We are a pet friendly environment.
Please let us know if you have any special needs in this area.
Pick-up & Drop-Off
Both TML Ashburn and TML Herndon have space for parents and siblings to wait while lessons are ongoing. Be our guest and enjoy a cup of coffee and wifi while younger siblings play! You are also welcome to drop off and pick up students. However, please be advised that we do not have staff designated to watch waiting areas or entrance/exit ways. In order to ensure the safety of your child, we ask that you kindly drop students off no more than 5 minutes prior to your scheduled lesson time. Similarly, please arrive promptly to pick up children immediately following the lesson.
If you expect to be late picking up, please give us a call.