Heart Beats Music School

HARMONY ROAD CLASS POLICIES

Welcome to the Harmony Road program! Please familiarize yourself with our school policies and let us know if you have any questions. We can’t wait to make music with you!

Overview

📘 Commitment & Enrollment

All of our group classes are designed as semester-long programs that follow a thoughtful, carefully sequenced curriculum. Beginning in 2026, families enrolled in Toddler Tunes and Music in Me may choose either:

• a shorter 8–9 week session, or

• the full semester at a discounted rate.

Enrolling in any option means committing for the full session or full semester.

🎵 Why commitment matters for students

Children make the most meaningful progress when they can grow within a consistent routine. Staying enrolled gives them the chance to:

• build skills step by step

• feel confident in the familiar rhythms of class

• form real connections with classmates and their teacher

• enjoy those “it clicked!” moments that come after weeks of playful repetition

• experience the pride that comes from sticking with something and seeing it grow

When children stay committed, they don’t just learn more — they feel more capable, confident, and connected. That sense of accomplishment and belonging supports them far beyond music class.

🎵 Why commitment matters for the program

Each class depends on consistent enrollment in order to run. Steady commitment from families allows us to maintain small class sizes, keep schedules stable, and offer a sustainable, high-quality program.

For these reasons, we are unable to offer credits or refunds for cancellations, early withdrawals, or missed classes.

💳 Tuition & Fees

For a full break down of Tuition and fees, see our Tuition and Fees page. Tuition can be paid in full or in installments, depending on your class length and enrollment choice. All payments—whether full or installment—are processed through automatic billing for convenience and consistency.

🎵 Short-session classes

(Toddler Tunes, Music in Me, More Music in Me)

• Short sessions may be paid in full or in two installments.

• Full semester enrollment for these classes may be paid in full or in four or five installments, depending on the semester length.

🎵 Semester-length classes

(Harmony Road, Young Musician, Keyboard Prep)

• May be paid in full or in five installments, since all semester programs run five months.

All Classes

A $75 deposit holds your class spot, and tuition is charged approximately 7 days before the first class.

Because group classes rely on consistent enrollment to run, we are unable to offer credits or refunds for cancellations, early withdrawals, or missed classes.

💳 Payment Methods

We accept credit and debit cards and bank transfers (ACH).

• Card payments include a 3% convenience fee.

• ACH payments have no fee.

Our system requires a card on file during registration, but you may switch to ACH afterward in your student portal. Instructions are included in your welcome email, and we’re happy to assist.

All tuition plans—whether paying in full or in installments—are set up on automatic billing.

🏫 Charter Schools & Homeschool Programs

Heart Beats is a vendor with Cottonwood School and Feather River Charter School. We are in the process of becoming a vendor with Alta Regional Center, and in the meantime we can work with them to set up or accept third-party payments.

If you are with another charter or homeschool program, we are happy to consider becoming a vendor—just let us know ahead of time.
(Becoming a vendor means your charter program can pay tuition directly to us.)

If we don’t have time to complete the vendor process before your first class, you will be responsible for tuition and registration fees. For all programs, families are responsible for any costs not covered by their institution, including remaining tuition for early withdrawals.

🔄 Automatic Re-Enrollment

All group classes at Heart Beats use automatic re-enrollment to keep learning consistent and scheduling simple for families. Your child will be automatically enrolled and billed for the next session (for short-session classes) or the next semester, unless you choose to opt out.

We aim to be transparent and make this process easy. You’ll receive clear communication well in advance so you have plenty of time to decide whether you’d like to continue.

🎵 Opt-Out Deadlines

If you choose not to continue, please notify us by:

• two weeks before the end of a short session, or

• 30 days before the start of a new semester

You will receive multiple reminders leading up to these deadlines.

🎵 Aging Up + Schedule Changes

If your child is ready for the next level, or if a different class day or time works better, we’ll help you transition smoothly into the right placement.

Automatic re-enrollment ensures your child keeps their spot, supports steady progress, and helps maintain a stable, reliable program for all families.

🔀 Transfers & Class Changes

We ask all families to commit to the full semester when registering for a group class. Our curriculum builds week to week and is designed to be experienced in community with the same group of students.

Transfers to another class may be granted on a limited basis, only if:

• there is room in another class of the same level

• the age and developmental needs are compatible

• moving a student will not jeopardize the balance or viability of either group

Mid-semester transfers are not guaranteed and are considered on a case-by-case basis.

If a class falls below our minimum enrollment threshold, we may reach out to discuss alternatives, including possible rescheduling, combining classes, or a private lesson option.

👨‍👩‍👧 PARTICIPATION & CLASS EXPECTATIONS

🧑‍🏫 PARENT ORIENTATION MEETING

Parents are strongly encouraged to attend a parent orientation meeting within the first month of semester classes. Dates will be released before the start of the semester. Meetings will be held via Zoom.

Experience has shown that students and families whose caregivers attend orientation have greater success in the program. Caregivers who understand the curriculum are better prepared to support learning at home and participate fully in class.

🎶 IN CLASS

A parent or caregiver is required to attend the class with the student. Parents will participate in class activities along with their child, including singing and dancing!

Parents must make their own arrangements for the supervision of any other (non-enrolled) children under their care during class time. Additional children and guests are not permitted in the classroom. Older siblings may wait in the lobby if they can behave responsibly, but we encourage you to make arrangements whenever possible.

🏠 AT HOME

Students and parents will share in weekly assigned at-home activities together. This is an essential part of students’ music education! Each week your teacher will assign you activities to practice at home to reinforce class concepts and to make music-making a family activity and bonding experience.

These activities may include singing, rhythm games, movement, or playing simple songs on the keyboard.

Practicing every day will give your child the best foundation for learning and good habits for the future! At a minimum, please plan to practice 3 days a week outside of class time.

📅 ATTENDANCE & EVENTS

📌 ATTENDANCE POLICY

Missed Class Policy:

• No refunds or credits for missed classes.

• To be eligible for a make-up, text 916-818-3882 or email info@heartbeatsmusicschool.com at least 24 hours in advance.

• Make-ups are not guaranteed but may be offered if another class of the same level is in session.

• Make-ups may be used any time during the semester (NEW Fall 2025).

• If no make-up is available, your teacher will send homework and an updated at-home activities sheet.

Make-Up Notes:

• Max 2 make-ups per semester.

• Make-ups may be used at any time during your enrollment or in the following session. If not re-enrolling, use any remaining make-ups during the current session. For short sessions of Toddler Tunes, Music in Me & More Music in Me, make ups may be used in the following session.

Please do not attend class if you or your child are ill. If needed, text or email to arrange a make-up class (subject to availability). Your teacher will ensure you have the homework from any missed class.

🧑‍🏫 TEACHER ABSENCE

Every effort will be made to obtain a substitute teacher if your teacher is not available. If that is not possible, we’ll either reschedule your class or invite you to attend another class that week.

🎹 RECITALS

Students ages 4.5 and up (in Harmony Road, Young Musician, and Keyboard Prep classes) are invited to participate in our three yearly recitals along with our private lesson students. This is a wonderful opportunity to share and celebrate what we’ve learned, and watching more advanced students perform is both motivating and inspiring!

Recital dates and locations will be announced at the beginning of each semester. Participation is encouraged but optional.

📆 CALENDAR

We observe the following holidays and breaks. There will be no classes on these dates. Your class schedule is planned around these holidays, and you’ll still receive the full number of classes in your course.

• Labor Day

• Thanksgiving Week

• Two weeks at Christmas (dates TBA)

• One week for Spring Break (TBA)

• Memorial Day

• One week each summer (TBA – usually in July)

🎼 EQUIPMENT

• Toddler Tunes: A piano or keyboard is not required.

• Music in Me and More Music in Me: A piano or keyboard is recommended but not required.

• Harmony Road, Young Musician, and Keyboard Prep (Book 1+): An instrument is required beginning the first week of class. We recommend an acoustic piano or a digital piano with weighted keys.

Although acoustic piano is our first choice, a touch-sensitive keyboard can work for teaching the very young. Fortunately, there are affordable rent and rent-to-buy programs, and digital pianos can be used until students are ready for more serious piano study. For help choosing an instrument, visit our instruments page.

👶 AGE POLICY

Our classes are carefully designed for each child’s developmental stage, and students must meet the minimum age requirements for their class.

A few examples:

• A 3-year-old may not join Music in Me until they are at least 3.5 years old, unless special permission is granted after a teacher assessment.

• We also understand that there is a large developmental range for each age; a child who isn’t yet ready for the length or focus of Harmony Road Book 1 may be recommended to take a semester of Music in Me first.

• Conversely, if a child shows advanced focus, motor skills, or readiness, they may be permitted to move into HR 1 slightly early with teacher approval.

If you're unsure of the best placement, our 4-class intro sessions are a great way to try a class and receive teacher feedback.

For questions, please email info@heartbeatsmusicschool.com.