Student Policies

The Berkshire Music School year consists of three trimesters of 12 weeks (fall, winter, and spring) with an 8 week session in the summer. Lessons come in four lesson, weekly, cumulative packages. There are three packages in each of the trimesters, with two in the summer. These packages recur automatically.

Scheduling is made on a first come, first serve basis. All scheduling is handled through the front desk.

Lessons take place on a weekly basis, except for where there are school closures, which can be seen on the website. Please note that Berkshire Music School's calendar reflects the calendar of the Pittsfield Public School calendar.

Many teachers and students take summers off, and our hours are reduced during July and August. Scholarship and financial aid awards do not extend past the end date each June. Scholarship and financial aid recipients are welcome to continue lessons throughout the summer at full cost.

Berkshire Music School utilizes TeacherZone for scheduling and payments. New students will receive login information upon account creation. It is important to set this up as soon as possible.

A free app is available for students through the iOS or Android app stores. Through this app, students will receive lesson reminders and other important notifications. You can use your TeacherZone account to cancel a lesson, view your billing and attendance history, and update your credit card.

Due to the nature of our growing organization, most communication will come from staff electronically. It is important to ensure that you are receiving notifications from TeacherZone for scheduling reminders and day of cancellations. Additionally, we often share information for students through our newsletter and through individual emails.

Communication about lesson scheduling, time changes, and any other needs should be managed through the front desk staff.

Berkshire Music School frequently takes photographs, records audio, and shoots video during our programs, classes, and lessons. These materials may be used in print publications, websites, social media, and marketing. By participating in Berkshire Music School activities, you grant the right to use your image and likeness. If you do NOT want to be photographed or have your image/voice published, you must formally opt out. To opt out, please let the front desk staff know by emailing hello@berkshiremusicschool.org.

Payment for lesson packages are due prior to the start of lessons. At the completion of the fourth lesson, a charge for the following four lessons will be incurred. A credit card is required to be kept in the TeacherZone portal for automatic payments to be processed.

If a payment cannot be collected within a two week period, the student will be removed from the schedule until payment can be obtained.

If a lesson can not be attended for any reason, the front desk must be notified.

Each student is eligible for one excused absence per session (winter, fall, and spring), with no excused absences available for the shorter summer session. You will not be charged for excused absences. All other cancellations will be the responsibility of the student.

Two no shows will necessitate a removal from the schedule. Poor attendance may necessitate a removal from the schedule.

If a teacher cancels a lesson, you will be notified as soon as possible through a text message or email from the TeacherZone software or you will be notified by the front desk staff. It is suggested that you ensure proper notification set up in the portal. Teacher cancellations are not charged to the student.

After 10 minutes, if a student has not arrived for a private lesson, it will be considered a no show. The student will still be charged for the lesson.

If a student arrives more than 10 minutes late for a private lesson, the time will not be made up by extending the lesson.

By establishing a lesson package, you are assuming responsibility for the lessons in that package. Students are responsible for the full amount of the lessons in a four week package, even with early withdrawal.

Scholarship and financial aid recipients will lose their aid or award with withdrawal for the remainder of the school year, even if they choose to sign up for lessons at a later date.

Virtual lessons are conducted via Facetime or Zoom. Requests for converting in-person to virtual lessons (or vice versa) must be made through the BMS office at least 4 days in advance and cannot be guaranteed. Most teachers prefer to have in-person lessons due to the difficulty with sound carry through virtual means and many will not use virtual lessons. Virtual lessons are at the discretion of the teacher.

BMS reserves the right to discontinue any student whose behavior, work, or attendance is unsatisfactory, or whose payment is in arrears.

Any student who fails to pay for lessons will be given a two week grace period before being removed from the calendar. If you are having trouble paying for lessons, please speak to our office staff to see what we can do to help.

BMS reluctantly cancels classes and programs due to inclement weather. Notifications of closing will be issued through TeacherZone. Teachers may offer students the option to move scheduled lessons virtually. Students are not charged due to weather cancellations.

Recitals will take place on the Saturday at the end of each trimester and will be announced to teachers ahead of time for sign up opportunities. Recitals are not mandatory but are a great performance experience opportunity for students to show their progress.

Fall registration will open one month prior to the beginning of the fall semester. This registration will last through the school year. Additional registration will be required for continuing through summer, with a commitment to the full session required (meaning, if you want to continue through the summer, you will be responsible for the payment of a full two sessions whether or not they can all be attended).

Parents are welcome to stay in the lesson with their child but use of cell phones during lessons is strictly prohibited. When waiting outside of the classroom, use of cell phones with volume is strictly prohibited. It is disruptive to both students and teachers.