Important Bits & Pieces
LOCATION: MusicFirst NI: An Independent School of Music (NIC104806)
at 46 Botanic Ave. (First Floor), Belfast BT7 1JR
PARKING: On street parking available.
CHILD PROTECTION: View MFNI’s Child Protection Policy HERE
CPO – Ms Becca Hopkins
Becca@MusicFirstNI.com
07870 683757
Deputy DPO – Ms Denise Quinn
Denisemariequinn@googlemail.com
07719 572070
PUNCTUALITY: Plan to be in the building five minutes before class time so you can take care of coats, snacks, toilet visits, etc. before class begins.***Please arrive in good time to collect your children***No child primary school age or younger will be allowed to leave the immediate MFNI premises without a parent / caregiver. If you have any concerns regarding this, please address it directly with your instructor or one of MFNI’s CPOs.
HALLWAYS and WAITING ROOM: We share an on-street entrance and hallway with another business. For the safety of your own children, please mind them at all times when in the hall. Our waiting room is just through MFNI's own entrance. Please feel free to stay and observe your child's class. Because it is technically an "open studio," should you choose to observe the class, please be aware of potential distractions and keep them to a minimum for your child and others. Likewise, if you arrive early, please be respectful of other lessons. NOTE: If your child needs assistance while toileting, it is imperative that you stay “on hand” for the duration of the class, as Ms Becca cannot pause the lesson and leave the studio.
CLOTHING/FOOTWEAR: There are coat racks in the studio. Please use these to keep all distractions (including nappy bags) tidied-away. You can also leave them in the waiting room (MFNI cannot take any responsibly for lost or stolen items). Before entering the main studio, please remove your outdoor shoes and leave them in the waiting room. Bare feet, socks, slippers or strictly indoor shoes are all options for class. Dress comfortably in layers for class, as the studio can warm up quickly!
ILLNESS: In consideration of all, and for your child’s comfort, please keep your child home if s/he is suffering from a cold, a bad cough, a fever, a communicable disease, an unexplained rash, head lice, etc. Remember that you can “Zoom in” as long as you give Ms. Becca good notice.
FOOD: Please keep all snacks outside of the studio. You are welcome to enjoy a snack in the waiting room. Drinks such as water and formula (and of course breast feeding) are allowed in studio, but bottles / sippy-cups must be stored out of reach (until needed). Please ensure that your child does not go into class with a snack. If a child urgently needs a bite mid-class, just take her or him out into the waiting room or hall for this. Mothers are of course welcome to breastfeed as needed.
TOILET and NAPPIES: The toilet is located just across the hall. It is marked "MusicFirst NI Toilet." Because we share the hall with another business, our toilet remains locked at all times. The key is available to all MFNI families. It hangs to the right of our door, next to the light switch. Please accompany your child. Our toilet is quite small, so please feel free to change nappies in the studio or waiting room during class.
VISITORS:
If there is a family you would like to introduce to MusicFirst Kids, please speak with Ms Becca.
It is our policy to NOT offer trial classes during the term as this interrupts the weekly flow for committed families. Furthermore, with the progressive nature of the curriculum, a visiting child might not be able to fully participate without significant catch-up. This potentially leaves the child feeling negative about the experience and the curriculum misrepresented.
STARTING CLASS MID-TERM:
If your child is joining mid-term, Ms Becca will provide you with a “Catch-Up Packet” (free) and the option to book-in for 1 or 2 individual lessons with her (£20 per 30min) to quickly cover any material missed and join the action ASAP.
MISSED CLASSES:
Should a child miss a class, no credit can be given, for the class must still run and the student’s place secured. However, with good notice, Ms. Becca can set-up a Zoom call for you to attend virtually or even record it for you view later as a “catch-up”.
RESCHEDULED CLASSES:
Please note that Ms Becca is a professional performing musician, and some weeks she may need to reschedule class. If for any reason Ms Becca is unable to teach a previously scheduled class, she will offer an alternative day and time for the class to run.
By giving notice of no less than 24 hours, should you be unable to attend the rescheduled class, a credit of one class towards the next Term will be given (see below). Without 24 hours’ notice, no credit can be given, for the class must still run and the student’s place secured.
Terms & Conditions
Please note that all classes must be paid for in advance. Late payment will incur a £5 Administration Charge and may be subject to an Interest Fee of 8% as well as late payment charges.
• Deposit of £55 towards full term fees and Registration Details given (via Membership Registration Form, Email or PayPal Form) is required to secure a place in your chosen class. Any registration made after the Term’s Registration Deadline will incur a £5 Administration Charge.
• The remaining balance of tuition fees should be paid by or on the first day of class.
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Should this, for any reason, be impossible, the director can arrange a payment plan- maximum two payments.
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Otherwise, late Term fees will also incur a £5 charge per week late
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The full payment will be due on / by the 1st class of the Term, if the 2nd class is given without full payment having been made, the £5 fee will be applied. Should the 3rd class of term pass without payment, the added fee will be £10…the 4th - £15, etc.
- NOTE: Extenuating circumstances will of course be considered with discretion.
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The full payment will be due on / by the 1st class of the Term, if the 2nd class is given without full payment having been made, the £5 fee will be applied. Should the 3rd class of term pass without payment, the added fee will be £10…the 4th - £15, etc.
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Otherwise, late Term fees will also incur a £5 charge per week late
• If registration is cancelled before the first class, a refund of tuition fees minus a cancellation fee of £20 will be given.
• If a withdraw is made after the semester has begun, tuition fees will be credited toward the following Term, minus a cancellation fee of £20. The credit will be dated from the director’s receipt of your written notification of your withdrawal and membership termination.
• Satisfaction guaranteed: If you are unhappy with your MusicFirst Kids experience after attending the first five consecutive classes and wish to discontinue (and terminate your MFNI membership), you will receive a refund of tuition fees (for the classes that have not yet been given) minus a cancellation fee of £20. For any withdraw made after the first 5 consecutive weeks, no refund can be give, only a credit towards the next term (see above).
Once your child is registered by way of £55 deposit paid and registration details given (via Registration Form, Email or PayPal Form) the listed parent / account holder agrees to pay in full all tuition costs (accounting for any discounts and credits) as well as any cancellation fees. Failure to pay in full the total cost of any unit in which a student has been enrolled will result in suspension of MusicFirst NI Membership. Any student registered under a suspended membership number cannot participate in any classes / lessons until the membership is fully reinstated. Failure to complete payment after membership suspension will result in appropriate legal action being taken.
By enrolling a child in MusicFirst Kids. (by way of Registration Form, Email or PayPal), the listed Account Holder has entered into the contractual agreement (as described above) with Ms Becca Hopkins.
Available Discounts
AVAILABLE DISCOUNTS:
Discounts will be deducted from the full cost of tuition fees at the time of registration for the upcoming Term.
• Credits:
- A credit is valued at the cost of one class (taking into account any discounts given on that class) and will be deducted as part of the invoice for the upcoming Term. Credits can only be applied towards the immediately following Term (from Term 1 to Term 2; from Term 3 to Term 1, etc.)
- A credit may be given as a result of a rescheduled classes (see above)
• Referral Discount:
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Given as a ‘Thank You’ for introducing new families to MusicFirst Kids. If you invite a family to attend, and they choose to register (paying in full), each of your currently registered children will receive a credit towards the next Term.
• Family Discount:
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If 2 or more members of the same household are registered in term time classes with Ms Becca (including all MusicFirst Kids classes and Mum or Dad in singing lessons or 1 child registered for 2 weekly lessons), you will receive 10% off the total of your fees for MusicFirst Kids (percentage calculated after subtracting all other credits & discounts).
This discount is for full term registration only and does not apply to 1st Music Family Days