Registration & Billing Information

Private Lessons

Assignment of students to teachers takes place in the Community Music School office; the teacher, director, and assistant director are all part of the conversation. Parent and student requests are considered along with teaching and student learning styles.

Registration of students implies a year-long commitment between teachers and students. As Lawrence Community Music School runs on a two-semester schedule, all students enrolling in the fall semester are automatically registered for the full school year and will be billed for the second semester in January. Students placed with student teachers or students who successfully audition with Conservatory faculty members are also billed by semester.

Returning Students Registration

• Returning students will be sent materials in the spring to register for the following school year. A $50 non-refundable deposit per student due in June will be required to secure your spot for the upcoming school year. The deposit will be applied to tuition due and subtracted from the first bill.

New Students Registration

• New students may register any time during the year; tuition is pro-rated when not beginning at the start of a semester. If no teacher is available, you will be placed on a waiting list and contacted when an opening occurs.
• If you are placed immediately, a deposit will be required before lessons begin.

• Please fill out our interest form to begin the placement and registration process. 

Cost

The Community Music School has three categories of music teachers and corresponding lesson fees:

Community Music School teachers comprise most of our teaching staff. These teachers have extensive experience in teaching and/or hold advanced degrees, certificates, or diplomas in music education. In addition to teaching, many maintain active performance careers.

Lawrence University Conservatory of Music faculty teach a small number of highly accomplished students as their teaching schedule allows. Placement is by audition only.

Lawrence Conservatory of Music student teachers offer private lessons and are supervised by the Community Music School. Student teachers are recommended by conservatory faculty and have successfully completed pedagogy coursework.

Class and Ensemble Registration

Non-Auditioned Programs

Registration and cost information is available on each program page along with the program description.

Auditioned Ensembles

Audition information for the following ensembles is sent in the spring. If you wish to receive audition information, please fill out our interest form. When the audition is complete, registration and cost information is sent to the student's family. Additional information on ensembles is available on each program page. 

• Lawrence Community Youth String Orchestra (LYSO) (grades 5-8)
• Girl Choir (six choirs, grades 3-12)
• Wind Ensemble (grades 10-12)

Registration Fee

Each Community Music School student is charged a $19 non-refundable registration fee that covers all Community Music School programs for the academic year.  For instance, if a student takes piano lessons but later adds another program, an additional registration fee will not apply.

Payment Schedule

Payment is due, in advance of each session of lessons or classes, by cash or check made payable to the Lawrence Community Music School. We also accept VISA and MasterCard.

• Your canceled check or credit card statement is your receipt.  Returning students will receive their bills via our online bill payment system.
• An installment payment plan for private lessons or ensembles is available by request at the time of registration for an $12 per semester surcharge. Please note that the Community Music School does not store your credit card information, and installments will not be automatically paid.

• A $20 late fee will be added if payments are received after the scheduled due date.
   
• Tuition refunds for private lessons will be considered only when the student withdraws before the halfway point of the semester. There is a charge for one additional lesson. The registration fee is not refundable.
   
• Students who enroll in ensembles or classes and then discontinue are not issued a refund or credit.
   
• Summer lessons must be prepaid before scheduling. There will be no refunds or make-ups for missed summer lessons.

Online Billing

The Community Music School uses an online billing system that shows monthly statements and offers secure EFT or credit card payment options.

To access your statement:

1. Log in to Voyager: http://go.lawrence.edu/cms-billing
2. Click on the Community Music School box
3. Click on "View My Statement"

Please call 920-993-6278 with any questions about your bill or statement.