Fees & Policies

Tuition

Our tuition system of payment is based on the following rates per lesson:

30 minute lesson = $36
45 minute lesson = $49
60 minute lesson = $65

WINTER/SPRING 2024 term: Monday, January 8 –  Friday, June 21

Our Winter/Spring term will follow our regular tuition system (see below) with 20 lessons in a 24 week period of time.

How our tuition payment system works

(for Fall and Spring terms only)

Students can enroll in lessons at any time of the term depending on availability for each teacher.

Tuition is a prepayment of lessons at the beginning of the term- based on an estimation of how many lessons the student will have in the term. We charge for fewer lessons than there are weeks of the term, and adjustments are made at the end of the term based on the actual number of lessons the student had. Sometimes the student will attend all of the weeks of the term, and therefore owe more than the tuition estimation. Sometimes a student will need to be credited or refunded at the end of a term- if a student has paid for more lessons than they had in “excused” absences. Excused missed lessons are explained below. For example, a student pays tuition for 12 lessons, and only has 11 by the end of the term- Opus will allow the credit to go toward another term, as long as the absences were excused by the teacher. If a student pays for 12 lessons, but has 14 total by the end of the term- we will send a bill for the unpaid 2 lessons.

Payment for Fall 2023 term includes 12 lessons in a 15 week period of time.

Payment for Winter/Spring 2024 term includes 20 lessons in a 24 week period of time.

Lessons must be paid in full at the beginning of the term OR you may choose to pay in equal monthly payments at the beginning of each month of the term. (The monthly payment amount is the total tuition cost divided by the number of months in the term, not the amount of lessons that occur each month). Fall term has 4 months, Winter/Spring has 6 months.

Any extra lessons (more than the number of lessons covered in the tuition) at the end of the term can be paid for “a la carte”.

Any student starting late in a term will be pro-rated. Lessons can begin at any time! We adjust your payment schedule.

If after the first lesson you choose not to continue, we will only charge you for one lesson.

Because of our flexibility in allowing for a few missed lessons (reasonable excused lessons), not all missed lessons require make-ups. Each teacher has a different policy on make up lessons based on their schedules and availability. Please check with individual teachers regarding their policy.

At Opus Ithaca, students enroll in a full term of weekly lessons.

Annual Registration Fee

Required for all students, private lessons, ensembles, and classes and is non-refundable.

Private lesson students:
$50 per student/$40 per student for 2 or more family members
(no additional fee is charged for ensembles or classes if the private registration fee is paid)

*Registration fee is half price for students joining in Jan-May 2024

Ensemble students and class students (non-private lesson students):
$25 per student/$20 per student for 2 or more family members

College Students

Please click here to see information and rates.

Missed Lesson Policy

If a student misses a lesson it is up to the discretion of the private teacher to determine if the circumstances of the missed lesson warrants a make-up lesson, or if the missed lesson can be counted as an excused lesson.

It is Opus Ithaca’s policy that any last minute cancellations (within hours), or simply “forgotten” lessons will be charged (extraordinary circumstances may be considered).

If the teacher misses a lesson: If a student was not able to make all of the prepaid lessons in the term and the cancellation of the lesson was made by the teacher, there are three possible options for the student –

  1. a make-up lesson will be given,
  2. a credit will be given to the student toward the next term, or
  3. money for the remaining lesson(s) will be reimbursed to you.

Please note: Opus Ithaca does not follow the ICSD schedule for our lessons. If there is no school because of Superintendent’s days or minor holidays, we are usually still holding our private lessons. Each individual teacher is responsible for canceling lessons. If you are uncertain about lessons on a day there is no school, always contact your teacher to find out if lessons are still being held. Contact individual private teachers for cancellations due to weather.

In the event that a student wishes to end a term early, 2 weeks notice is required or you will be charged for 2 weeks worth of lessons.

Scholarships

At Opus Ithaca, we believe that quality music lessons should be available to anyone, regardless of financial circumstances. We are proud to offer a robust scholarship program, providing financial assistance to families with demonstrated financial need. If you would like to apply for a scholarship to Opus Ithaca, please email info@opusithaca.org.

The Opus Ithaca Scholarship Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

Other

FEES FOR CHAMBER MUSIC AND JAZZ COMBO: Please click here to see information and rates.

FEES FOR GROUP CLASSES (PRIVATE LESSONS STUDENTS): 3 students, $22/session;   4-5 students, $16/session;   5+ students, $13/session