July Newsletter - Thursday, July 2, 2009

Calendar of Events July 10: Enrollment Contracts Due Group B Registration Fees Due September 14: First Day of Kindermusik Fall Semester Register Now! September 26: Back-To-School Mini-Recital Nifty News Ms. Tabby's Students selected for Ruth D. Anderson Children's Fund Scholarships from Kindermusik International. Recital Review Our Spring Recital was held on June 27th at Pine Drive Community Church, and it was a big success. 49 students performed in a variety of instruments and styles. Thank you to all who participated!

New Private Lessons Contract and Policies We have so enjoyed being part of our studio families lives throughout the years. Due to the current economic situation, we are faced with difficult choices in order to stay in business and continue to provide you with excellent teachers and quality music instruction at such an economical rate. Each enrolled family in private lessons will be required to complete and return a new enrollment contract for the 2nd semester of 2009. Please see the website for details of the new contract and payment policies. If we do not have your contract on file by July 10 you could lose your time slot, so please be prompt. New Payment Options You now have 4 choices when it comes time to pay tuition for private instruction: Monthly Payment - must be paid on or before the first day of each month. Can be cash, check or credit card. Requires a security deposit of $40 per student, which is refundable after your 30 day withdrawal notice is recieved with your final tuition payment. $20 late fees assessed for all payments made after the 1st. Monthly Subscribtion Payment - Will be automatically drafted from debit or credit card on file at the studio on the 1st as pre-payment for the month. Requires the same refundable $40 per student security deposit as option 1. Avoids the possibility of $20 late fees, because tuition payment is made automatically. Monthly Post-Dated Check Payment - Write a semester-worth of post-dated checks for the 25th of the preceeding month to pre-pay for your monthly tuition. Checks will be filed until the 25th of each month, then deposited. Date check for July 25th to pay August tuition, etc. No security deposit required. Also avoids late fees, because tuition is paid automatically. Semester Payment (one time) - Pay your entire semester (January - June or July - December) at one time, and we'll waive the security deposit AND give you 10% off your tuition! Eliminates the possibility of late fees, too. BEST PRICE OPTION! Make sure you select ONE option on your enrollment form, and if necessary, include your security deposit with your payment. Kindermusik Fall Schedule Released Fall Class Schedule and Online Registration Class begins 9/14. Friendswood class times only listed here. For Pearland classes, visit the link above. Baby 0-18 months - Kindermusik Village: Tuesdays 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, Wednesdays 11:30 am, Thursdays 10:30 am. Toddler 18 months - 3 years - Kindermusik Our Time: Tuesdays 10:30 am, Wednesdays 12:30 pm, Thursdays 9:30 am. Preschooler 3-5 years - Kindermusik Imagine That!: Tuesdays 11:30 am, Wednesdays 10:30 am, Thursdays 12:30 am. School-ager 5-7 years - Kindermusik for the Young Child: Semester 1 - Tuesdays 5:30 pm, Sunday 5:00 pm, Semester 2 - Tuesdays 6:30 pm. All-ages 0-7 years - Kindermusik Family Time: Wednesday 9:30 am, Thursday 11:30 am, Sunday 6:00 pm. Rescheduled Lesson Policy We know your time is valuable, and that many of you have very busy schedules. As a consideration to both students and instructors, we now offer two rescheduled lessons per semester, which must be redeemed with a reschedule lesson coupon. In order to use the coupon, 48-hours notice of the cancellation must be given so the instructor can be notified of the change in their schedule. Your instructor must be paid for attending your lesson whether you choose to attend or not, so there are no credits or discounts for missed lessons. Rescheduled lessons are subject to availability. Students who fail to attend a rescheduled lesson forfeit that lesson.

Ruth D. Anderson Children's Fund Scholarships! -

To all who were waiting to hear from me about your scholarship applications for Home Material Scholarships for Kindermusik, I have some great news!

July 1, 2009

Dear Tabby, On behalf of all of us here at Kindermusik International, I want to thank you for applying for a scholarship through the Ruth D. Anderson Kindermusik Children's Fund. Thank you most of all for all you are doing to touch the lives of children -- children who face unbelievable challenges -- each and every day. Without you and educators like you, many of these children (perhaps most) would not have the opportunity to be influenced by the power of music. What you are doing is changing lives - and helping to make our world a much better place. This year, Kindermusik International and the Ruth D. Anderson Kindermusik Children's Fund awarded almost 700 sets of home materials to children all over the world as a result of the application process. We are honored that we are able to help -- in this small way -- to reach these children and families with the Kindermusik experience. Very best regards, Michael G. Dougherty Chairman & CEO

Wonderful Recital! - Sunday, June 28, 2009

Thank you so much to everyone who made today's recital such a great success. I'll be posting some videos and photos in the next few days. If you have any you'd like to share, please leave a comment with the link to your pictures or videos!

The July Newsletter will be going out on Wednesday, so please make sure you Subscribe to the Mailing List so you don't miss any important news!

Payment Options Under New Contract - Thursday, June 25, 2009

Since we've released the 2nd semester revised enrollment contract, there have been some questions about what you are supposed to do regarding payment for private lessons.

You have 4 options:

1) Pay Monthly Tuition during the last week of the month for the next upcoming month. Pay a security deposit of $40 per student, which is refundable when we have received your 30-day termination notice and payment for your last month's tuition. $20 late fee assessed for payments made after the 1st.

2) Pay Monthly Tuition using Automatic Credit Card Subscription on the 25th of each month for the next upcoming month. Pay a security deposit of $40 per student, which is refundable when we have received your 30-day termination notice and payment for your last month's tuition. Avoids the $20 late fee, since you won't forget to pay tuition.

3) Pay Monthly Tuition using 6 Post-Dated Checks for the 25th of each month for the next upcoming month (Dated June - November, payment for July - December). No Security Deposit Required. Avoids the $20 late fee, since you won't forget to pay tuition.

4) Pay Semester Tuition in Advance. Make a payment for tuition in full for the entire semester and not only will we waive the security deposit, we'll give you 10% off tuition! You'll never pay a late fee, either. It's the best option for everyone!

Ms. Margo has extended the deadline for new enrollment contracts to be returned to July 10. Please THOROUGHLY READ your enrollment packet and complete and return your forms with your PAYMENT OPTION SELECTED and your tuition.

A NOTE FROM THE OWNER PERTAINING TO CONTRACT UPDATES - Saturday, June 20, 2009

This post is important! Please Read.

Dear Students and Parents,

First, we would like to thank you for your continued business. Harmony Music Studio is proud to announce that we have more than tripled in size in the 2 years since moving to our current location. As we flourish, we continue to look for ways to fine-tune the areas that become obstacles in our path as we expand. We are a small business with limitations and we must make changes to protect the studio.

Music lessons are a luxury and opportunity that provide everyone involved the gift that lasts a lifetime. We want to continue to be an asset to our community by being more organized and efficient. We offer the most economical price of all music schools in the Bay Area, but our losses grow larger by the month as we grow, as well. In order for Harmony Music Studio to continue to survive and provide the best instructors in our area, we must reduce these losses by becoming more stringent about our policies. A copy of the renewed contract can be located at the front desk or down loaded from our Web-page at HarmonyMusicStudio.com. Beginning May 31, we are accepting registrations for our 2nd semester, which is from July —December 2009.

Registration Packet - Fall Semester (July-December 2009) Private Lessons - Download Now! (211 k)

Rules and guidelines have a purpose and come about by trial and error. We greatly appreciate our customers who always have abided by the past contract and we take note of your courtesy and effort in honoring our past agreements. However, due to a large number of our customers who are not honoring the contract, some major changes in policy must be accepted by all who would like to be enrolled in our school beginning in July 2009.

Students who withdraw for a month or more must re-register when they return, including registration fees. We cannot hold time slots for students who withdraw for any length of time, as we now have a waiting list of students wishing to enroll.

If you have any questions about the new policy, please email me directly at msmargo @ harmonymusicstudio.com.


Sincerely,


Ms. Margo (owner and founder since 1986)

Dream big... - Friday, June 19, 2009

I love to read the LOLs. If you haven't ever heard of LOLcats, you should check them out. I found this one especially poignant today.


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We haven't even started our summer semester yet, and already families are asking me about the lineup of fall classes. I posted a survey, and received 17 responses. Based on those responses, I have developed a robust fall schedule that I hope will work well for our currently enrolled families, and give new students a chance to experience the magic of Kindermusik as well. Note the addition of WEEKEND classes and Family Time classes, as well. Click the image or go directly to ...

Register NOW for FALL Kindermusik!

Take advantage of the 10% early enrollment discount when you register by August 14th, and don't forget we offer 1 free class for each family you refer who enrolls in the program!