Attendance and Preparedness

An important part of your child’s success is attendance at all private lessons. Please be ready for your lesson at start time: instrument unpacked and tuned (if applicable). If you are unable to make your lesson time, please notify your private teacher as soon as possible. Before you leave your house for your lesson, double check that you have at least the following materials: instrument, notebook, pen/pencil and music.

Cancellations and Make-Up Lessons

Please remember that your teachers are not only excellent teachers but professional musicians. As such, they lead active performing careers which create very busy lives with complex schedules. If you need to miss a lesson, please follow these guidelines:

• With 24 hours’ notice, one lesson per semester may be rescheduled at the student’s request.
• In the event of an emergency or serious illness, teachers have the option, but are not required to make up missed lessons. Payment is expected for missed lessons unless the teacher agrees to reschedule.
• Teacher absences will be made up at a mutually agreeable time, or the missed lesson will be credited to your account. 
• Make-up lessons are not given for missed group classes.

Inclement Weather

In the case of inclement weather, please contact your private teacher to determine if lessons will be held. Please note that the TAPA Office will not give out instructors' phone numbers.

Group classes will be cancelled if there is a Level 2 or greater Snow Emergency declared for Lucas County as of 2:00PM on weekdays and as of 7:00AM on weekends. The TSSM office will notify you via email that groups will not meet that day. The TSSM office phone number is (419) 418-0057. Please contact your private teacher directly regarding your private lessons. 

Make-ups are not given for classes/lessons missed due to weather. 

Tuition

Parents may choose to pay for lessons monthly or yearly. Monthly tuition is due the sixth of the month. After the 10th of the month, a $5 late fee will be assessed to your account. Tuition is collected via Jackrabbit, our registration software. Upon registration, you will create an account for your family. TSSM will post payments automatically to your card or bank account on file on the 6th of each month, unless you notify us otherwise. Declined cards (even if due to expiration) will be assessed a $5 fee. More information about tuition can be found here

Payment by Cash or Check

Special arrangements must be made for tuition payments via cash or check. If you have made special arrangements to pay monthly by cash or check, you can drop your payment off at the first-floor service desk, or at the Box Office during standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm)

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available to qualifying individuals who show commitment to their music education. Please fill out an application form. Apply

TSSM Harassment and Bullying Policy

The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (“TAPA”) and the Toledo Symphony School of Music (“TSSM”) are committed to maintaining a positive learning environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Discrimination, harassment, and bullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, are types of conduct that disrupt students’ ability to learn and TSSM’s ability to educate its students in a safe environment, and such conduct will not be tolerated. For purposes of this policy, harassment and bullying are defined as any unwelcome or unwanted conduct of an offensive nature, whether verbal, physical, or environmental, that is intended to or actually causes mental or physical harm to the individual at which it is directed or that creates an intimidating, abusive, hostile, or offensive environment. Harassment and bullying also includes misconduct that occurs using electronic equipment and media, such as through email, text, or social media. This policy also applies to misconduct that occurs outside of TSSM hours but that is directed towards TSSM students or staff or that substantially disrupts the TSSM’s learning environment. Examples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Physical violence, damage to an individual’s property, or threats

• Sexual assault or unwelcome touching

• Unwanted or unwelcome flirtations or sexual advances or propositions, or comments about an individual’s body, sexual prowess, or sexual deficiencies

• Verbal abuse, slurs, taunts, name-calling, or other attempts to ridicule, insult, humiliate, or intimidate

• Repeated jokes that include offensive references, particularly those that reference race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, or that are lewd or obscene

• Public exclusion from the peer group

• Spreading gossip or rumors about others

• Taking and/or disseminating unwanted or embarrassing photographs

The TSSM encourages all individuals who believe they are being harassed or bullied to firmly or promptly notify the offender that his or her behavior is unwelcome, if possible. All TSSM staff and students are required to report misconduct under this policy to the Education Director, or any other member of the TSSM or TAPA staff. Anonymous complaints can be sent to the Education Director. Retaliation against any victim or person who makes a good faith report of harassment or bullying will not be tolerated and will also be considered misconduct under this policy. Deliberate or knowingly false reports, however, will not be tolerated and are considered misconduct under this policy.

The TSSM will respond promptly and investigate all good faith complaints of misconduct. If the TSSM determines that misconduct has occurred, the parent or guardian for the student(s) involved in the misconduct shall be notified. The TSSM reserves the right to take appropriate corrective action based on the severity of the misconduct, up to and including removal from the Program.

Our Musical Community

A beautiful component of the Suzuki Method is standardized literature. This allows students from all over the world to play music together. Sometimes, this can create a sense of competition between students and parents. Please refrain from comparing your child's progress to that of another. Each student learns in his/her own time and we are in this program to help support and encourage one another. 

Our Physical Community

Please be respectful of the studio space. You are welcome to bring crayons and toys to keep younger siblings occupied during lessons but please do not leave your child(ren) unattended. Before leaving the school, please make sure to return items where they were found.

Suzuki Etiquette

As Suzuki parents, you play a very active role in your child’s musical study. Parents should be actively taking notes during lessons. Group classes are a place for your child to learn. Parent discussion is encouraged and can be very helpful. If you wish to socialize during group lessons, please take conversations out into the hallway.

TSSM Honor Roll

The TSSM Honor Roll celebrates students who have practiced 25 days each month. Honor Roll begins in October. Students should notify their teacher in writing by the 10th of each month that they have indeed practiced 25 days. While paperwork is not required, students are encouraged to use and download these monthly templates to track their practice time.