Phone: (919) 832-0900 Community Music School Email: ezanders@cmsraleigh.org 618 Tucker Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 Website: www.cmsraleigh.org P.O. Box 2545, Raleigh, NC 27602 (Mail) Community Music School 2015-2016 Parent/Student Handbook Community Music School was created by area musicians, educators, and concerned citizens because music makes a difference in the lives of Wake County children. CMS offers instruction at 618 Tucker Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. Classes are thirty-minutes in length and consist of private and, in some cases group, instruction on instruments including piano, violin, viola, cello, classical and comtemporary guitar, bass guitar, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, voice and percussion. The CMS website (www.cmsraleigh.org) is updated weekly with current information regarding lessons and other events. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to check this website weekly. Parents/guardians are also advised to check their email regularly for messages from Erin Zanders, operations manager, at ezanders@cmsraleigh.org. It is also the responsibility of all families to notify Erin of any updated email addresses and mailing address changes. CMS is not responsible for any communications you may miss due to incorrect contact information. CMS Programs Private Music Lessons: This is our largest and main program consisting of 30 minutes of instruction with a professional educator. Fundamentals of Music: First-year students receive a solid foundation in basic music skills. Students must pass this class in order to move into private lessons the following year. Music Composition: Monthly half-day workshops teach principles and techniques of writing original music and lyrics. Berklee PULSE Music Method: Online program supporting music skills provided by the Berklee College of Music in Boston. This excellent resource is available to all CMS students grade 6 and up. Contact Erin Zanders to request access. Ensembles: Group instruction for students specially selected by their instructors. These students receive additional instruction and performance opportunities. Offerings include: Vocal Ensemble, Handbell Choir (sponsored by the Raleigh Ringers), Marzetti Memorial Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and Rock Band. Master Classes and Student and/or Faculty Recitals: o Students are required to perform in one Recital per year o Faculty may perform in Recitals along with students, or separately o Students may be required to perform in a Master Class at the discretion of their instructor o Guest clinicians coach and evaluate students in open-attendance Master Class settings Honors Recital: Select students are nominated by their teacher to audition for an annual honors recital in the spring. CMS Sponsored Guest Artist Events: o Prominent musicians perform especially for CMS students o Attendance is strongly encouraged and students earn music appreciation points for attending Non-CMS Sponsored Arts Offerings: o Opportunities to attend local arts offerings at low or no cost Admission As funds and scheduling permit, students are admitted to the school after submitting an application, meeting the eligibility requirements, and completing the interview process. Eligibility is determined by the student s enrollment in the Federal Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program through their school. A copy of the Wake County Public Schools Direct Certification Notification Letter showing approval of benefits must be on file for each child by October 15 th, 2015 for continued enrollment. In instances where the student has been a participant in and no longer meets this requirement, additional criteria may be utilized to assess eligibility. This determination is at the discretion of CMS staff. Refusal to submit verification will affect the child's ability to participate in Community Music School and its programs.
CMS admits students to its program without regard to race, gender, creed, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or disability. Tuition Tuition and fees are to be paid in full before the school year begins. Tuition for private lessons and Fundamentals of Music is $30 per year, and $10 per year for each ensemble. If a returning CMS student no longer qualifies for the Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program, tuition may be higher. There is absolutely no participation in lessons or ensembles if payment is not received by the due date. Each lesson missed due to late payment will be counted as an absence. Payment schedule is as follows: o For one child: $30 due prior to the first day of classes o For 2 children: $30 due prior to the first day of classes and $30 due September 30 o For 3 or more children: $30 due prior to the first day of classes, $30 due September 30, and the remaining balance due October 30 Ensemble fees of $10 per ensemble per student are due prior to the first day of classes. Tuition is non-refundable if students withdraw or are asked to leave the program for disciplinary reasons. Please Note: CMS accepts payments online (a small processing fee applies) by credit/debit card or PayPal, and in the form of cashier s check, money order and cash only. Personal checks are not accepted. Lesson Times Lesson times are assigned at the beginning of the school year based on teacher availability. We do our best to accommodate the schedules of our students, but in some cases it may not be possible. If you accept your lesson time, you are accepting it for the entire school year and will not be permitted to change it. Please bring any scheduling concerns to the attention of the operations manager. Do not ask your teacher to change your lesson time. Fair Share Fundraising Requirement Parents are expected to participate in fundraisers on behalf of the school and raise $50 per child enrolled at CMS. This is in addition to class tuition and due before the end of the school year. The Fair Share can be earned through participation in school fundraising campaigns, individual fundraising efforts or simply paying additional tuition. The CMS Parent Representative and the Parent Advisory Committee is available to advise parents regarding suggested fundraising activities. One Instrument Policy CMS strives to serve as many students as possible each year. As our popularity and exposure increases, so does our waiting list. Because of this, we have a one instrument per student policy. No current or new student will be permitted to take lessons on more than one instrument per year. Students may participate in one or more ensembles. Attendance Regular attendance is necessary for students success and to achieve the maximum possible benefits from their CMS experience. Attendance is the responsibility of both students and parents. Students are required to bring their instrument, music, and any other necessary materials with them to all lessons in order to be counted as present. Students are expected to attend all scheduled lessons and other required events as noted on the calendar. Arriving on time for lessons is required. Students should plan to arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled lesson/ event. Only two absences per semester are allowed. If a student misses a Recital that he/she is to perform in, that will count against allowed absences. Minutes of tardiness will count toward absence computations. For instance, arriving 10 minutes late to three lessons equals one absence. Appeals are to be made in writing. Parents or Guardians must notify Operations Manager at least 24 hours before an expected absence by phone (919-832-0900), or email: ezanders@cmsraleigh.org. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm. Notifications on Saturdays and after business hours are recommended to be sent to the student s teacher directly. No make-up lessons are offered for student absences.
Faculty absences: Two make-up lessons are scheduled on the CMS calendar. If a faculty member is absent, every attempt is made to find a substitute. If a substitute is not available, the faculty member will make up the lesson on the designated makeup day, as noted on the calendar. The teacher and/or operations manager will inform students of the time and date of a makeup lesson. Inclement Weather Communications In case of inclement weather, we follow the weather-related closings of Wake County Public Schools, for both full-day cancellations, early closings, and cancelled after-school activities. Please check our website to confirm a closing. Instrument and Supplies Policies: Every student must have an instrument at home for practice. Piano students must have either a standard acoustic piano or an electronic keyboard with at least 49 keys. CMS maintains an instrument loan program for the benefit of actively enrolled students. These instruments are the property of the school and must be returned promptly when requested. Musical Instrument Rental: Instrument rentals are available for all students $25 deposit required. Teachers select appropriate instrument for student (size, quality, case, accessories). Families meet with operations manager to complete Musical Equipment Temporary Possession Agreement. Instrument can be sent home once deposit is received. Only cash, cashier s checks or money orders will be accepted. All students with instrument loans complete a new form at the beginning of each school year. At the end of the year, instruments must be inspected by the student s teacher and any damage recorded. Students who plan to return to CMS and remain in good standing may keep their instruments over the summer. Equipment is due within ten days if the student leaves/is asked to leave CMS. Deposits will be refunded within 30 days, only if the instrument is returned in good working condition. Books and supplies are often donated to CMS. These are available for use by CMS students. Teachers access method books in our music library for their respective students. Families are responsible for purchasing materials required by their instructor when donated materials are not available. If the instructor provides materials to the student, it is the responsibility of the family to settle payment with the instructor in a timely manner. Use CMS resources (instruments and music books) in appropriate ways consistent with their purpose and handle with care so that these may continue to be used by other students in the future. Expectations for Continued Enrollment: Parents: Active participation by families is required. A parent or guardian is required to volunteer the equivalent of one hour of service per month to the school. Examples of service include: volunteering time at CMS events, office tasks, helping with fundraising, and participating in the Parent Advisory Council (PAC). Parents are expected to enforce at-home practice for students and assist students with maintaining practice logs (see attached). Parents are required to remain at the school for the duration of their children s lessons, to ensure student safety in the event of an emergency. Students: At the end of each semester, students are evaluated on their musical progress, punctuality/attendance, number of performances in recitals and other required events, attitude, behavior, and commitment to musical excellence. These criteria, combined with teacher recommendations, as reported on semester progress reports (see attached), and earning sufficient Music Appreciation Points (see Point System below), form the basis upon which students are invited to continue as students of the school. Cell phones should not be used during lessons, recitals and other CMS events, and must be silenced or turned off. Music Appreciation Points: A component of music education is music appreciation as an audience member. Each CMS student is required to attend music performances in the community. Students are required to earn a total of 4 points over the course of the year in order to remain enrolled at CMS. The points are allotted as follows: 2 points- Attend concerts in which guest artists perform at CMS. 1 Point- Attend off-site performances, such as the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra, Raleigh Chamber Music Guild, or free concerts provided in the community. On-site options include attending a CMS recital or a CMS Master Class in which you do not perform.
Attendance is defined as arriving before the start of the program and remaining in attendance until it is finished. Late arrivals and/or early departures from concerts, recitals and other programs will be considered as an absence. Practice: Regular practice is required for all CMS students in order to stay enrolled. Parents/guardians are required to monitor and enforce practice at home. Weekly practice charts will be given by each teacher. Each teacher will communicate his/her expectations, but most require a minimum of 30 minutes at least five days each week. Teachers will evaluate student progress. Berklee PULSE Music Method Program: Students in 6 th grade and above who are interested in contemporary music are invited to participate in the online instructional program, Berklee PULSE Music Method, free of charge. Each student receives a course of study designed specifically for him/her. Enrolled students may log in at CMS, at home or from any public library. The PULSE library has fun and educational resources, such as a tool that helps you practice improvising along to contemporary songs. Additional Opportunities and Expectations: There may be additional requirements or participation expectations of CMS students based upon the specific instrument studied and faculty discretion. For example, percussion students are required to attend monthly Classical Percussion workshops in addition to their weekly lesson. Probation: Any student who does not make minimum, satisfactory progress may be placed on probation. If progress does not improve to the satisfaction of the teacher, the student will not be allowed to continue. Teachers are expected to communicate with the student, parent/guardian, and the operations manager regarding this policy. Students on probation may be given a stated number of lessons to improve. If the student s behavior/performance does not improve satisfactorily, he/she will be dismissed. Behavior /Safety: CMS provides quality programming to the community. Parents, as well as students, must respect all policies and procedures. Attitude and behavior of students is evaluated along with other factors to determine continued enrollment. Students and parents should behave in a manner that is respectful of others, practicing courtesy and consideration in interactions with fellow students, families of students, faculty, staff, Board members, and guests at performances. Verbal, emotional, or physical abuse or bullying by any party will not be tolerated under any circumstance. Parents and students should use appropriate, respectful language at all times. Should a situation arise in which there is a conflict between the parent/guardian, faculty, and/or student, contact the operations manager immediately and a meeting will be scheduled to discuss the situation. The executive director and/or a board member may be present during this meeting. A student may be dismissed from the program based on a parent/guardian s behavior. Dress Code: Students should demonstrate good judgment in dressing appropriately for lessons, performances, concerts and other events where they are representing CMS. Clothing should be modest and neat, at a minimum, and shoes must be worn at all times for health and safety reasons. Concert attire for boys: Dress pants or khakis, collared shirts tucked in, dress shoes Concert attire for girls: Dress pants, knee-length or longer skirts and dresses, blouses, dress shoes For recitals and concerts, whether you are performing or sitting in the audience, no athletic clothing, jeans, sweatshirts, or sneakers are to be worn. Parents/Guardians have full responsibility for their children s actions and behavior. There are no exceptions. Parents are expected to remain at the school for the duration of their child s lesson to allow for communication with faculty. Parents shall not enter the classroom unless invited by the teacher. While in the waiting areas, the following policies and procedures must be followed: No food or drink other than plain water allowed in the waiting areas. No loud conversations, noises or music are allowed in waiting areas. Please silence all cell phones. Please supervise the siblings of the students who are taking lessons. All students must remain in the waiting area quietly until called by their instructor for lessons. Everyone must keep the waiting area clean and neat.
The downstairs restroom is designated for people with disabilities and faculty/staff; all others should use the upstairs restroom. No smoking is allowed inside the school building or on the school grounds. Bringing weapons or illegal substances into the CMS facility will be grounds for immediate dismissal. Photo/Video Policy: It is sometimes necessary for pictures and videos to be taken of CMS students, faculty and staff during lessons, events, and performances. CMS is supported by donations from individuals, businesses, and grants. Tuition paid for lessons constitutes less than 5% of the money needed to run the school. It is therefore necessary for CMS to strive for greater awareness in our community and take all positive press opportunities that are offered. In addition, CMS maintains a website and publishes newsletters to donors. Grant applications also require information such as photos and videos in order to evaluate the school for funding. Please sign Handbook Acceptance below granting permission to utilize these images for marketing and fundraising purposes. We will only use your child s first name and last initial. In the Event of an Emergency: In the event of a fire or other building safety issue, please vacate the building immediately and move a safe distance. Call 911 first, then ask your teacher to call Erin Zanders to report the issue. There is an emergency exit in the kitchen on the first floor, and a window exit in the classroom beside the restroom upstairs. In the event of severe weather, move to a location on the ground floor, away from windows, toward the center of the building. Please report any safety concerns or emergencies to a teacher, volunteer or staff member immediately. In the event of a medical emergency, please dial 911. There is a first aid kit in the lower cabinet to the left of the sink in the kitchen. If your child has a medical condition or allergy, please share that information with their teacher so they can be prepared and watchful. Parent/Student Handbook Updated April 2015
HANDBOOK ACCEPTANCE I, as parent/guardian/grandparent (circle one) of (Name) I accept all policies and procedures as set forth in this handbook. (Student(s) name(s)) I understand that should I not agree to these policies, my child(ren) will not be enrolled in CMS programming. I also understand that these policies may be changed or updated at any time by the Executive Director and/or the Board of Directors. If there are changes in policies, I understand that I will be notified promptly of such changes. Parent/Guardian Signature: Date: Student s Signature(s): (Optional) I understand that occasionally photos and videos of the students participating in CMS programs are used for publicity and grant funding. I grant permission to CMS to use my child s first name and image for publicity and grant purposes without compensation to my student or family. Parent/Guardian Signature: Date: LESSON ACCEPTANCE YES, I accept my child s lesson time and placement. By accepting this lesson time I also accept that I will not be permitted to change lesson times mid-year. No, I decline my child s lesson time and placement and we do not wish to participate in CMS in 2015-2016. Parent / Guardian s Signature: Date: This form is due at CMS by September 1st, 2015. If emailed, you state that the typed electronic signatures are valid and may be considered as documentation of agreement to the handbook by the parent/guardian and student.
CM Student Progress Report Report Date: Student Name: Semester Lessons Attended: Total Absences Instrument: Instructor: Student Responsibility Musical Skills A O S N E G F U Lesson Promptness Playing position Brings lessons materials Note Reading Has responsive attitude Rhythm Completes assigned Finger Facility practice time weekly Exhibits appropriate behavior Intonation A= Always O= Ordinarily S= Sometimes N=never E= Excellent G= Good F= Fair U= Unsatisfactory Teacher Comments: Evaluation: Working above expectations Meeting expectations Working below expectations Not meeting minimum expectations Not recommended for reenrollment next semester
Student s Name: ***Lesson Date: Teacher: Instrument: Lesson Assignment Scale and Technique: New Pieces: Review Pieces: Teacher s Comments: Weekly Practice Log (Please record in exact minutes practiced daily) Day of Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Date Minutes Parent/Guardian Comments: Total Minutes Practiced: Parent/Guardian s Signature: -