Gao Music Academy School Policies

Payment of Tuition and Fees

Tuition is due by the last week of each month for the following month’s lessons. If enrolling mid-month, tuition will be prorated for that month only.
Students who make automatic recurring payments via Zelle or check by the due date will receive a $10 monthly discount.
A $5 late fee will be applied to any payments made after the 10th of each month.
A $25 fee will be charged for each returned check.
Consultation fees must be paid in advance to hold your appointment. Impromptu consultations (i.e., outside-of-class sessions related to the student’s piano studies) should be paid promptly after the session.

Upon enrollment, both the first and last month’s tuition are due in advance.
A one-month notice is required to discontinue lessons.
Withdrawals must be submitted within the first 7 days of a month.
Charges will stop after the one-month notice period.
If tuition is unpaid after the 10th, Gao Music Academy reserves the right to terminate lessons. No refunds will be given in such cases, but lessons may continue through the end of the month (future lesson time slots are not guaranteed).
The Academy reserves the right to terminate lessons at any time without notice. In such cases (not related to non-payment), unused tuition will be refunded.

To withdraw, a parent or adult student must:

The Academy provides 48 lessons annually, from January 1 – December 31, typically 4 per month. The number may vary monthly.
Holidays and breaks are posted at: www.gaomusicacademy.com/calendar, and shared via email and studio announcements at least one month in advance.
No refunds are given for missed lessons.
Up to 3 make-up lessons per year may be scheduled for emergencies or illness with at least 24-hour advance notice. (School/family activities, vacations, or scheduling conflicts are not eligible for make-ups.)
If a teacher is absent (other than for a force majeure or pre-scheduled break), a make-up lesson will be provided. For cancellations due to force majeure, we will make every effort to reschedule, though this is not guaranteed.
Missed make-up lessons will not be rescheduled.
Students arriving late will still end their lesson at the originally scheduled time.

It is the responsibility of parents/adult students to stay informed about Academy events, recitals, holidays, and closures.
Please notify the school promptly of any changes in contact information.