Tuition, Discounts, and Scholarships

Lessons

For lesson descriptions and fees, see Lessons.

Unit System

In order to fairly price our wide range of Eastman Community Music School courses (and to implement our discount program, outlined below), virtually all classes and ensembles have been assigned a number of “units.” ECMS units are similar to credits but don’t carry college credit. The cost for each unit is $67 per semester. For example, most theory courses carry four units and cost $268 per semester.

Discount Program

The ECMS discount program has been developed to encourage those students taking private lessons to enhance their musical education by enrolling in classes and ensembles. Each unit you register for will be discounted at an increasing rate (see chart), until you reach 6 units. From that point on, each additional unit is free!

The discount program applies only to students taking private lessons. The program is applied on an individual basis; lessons or units taken by one student cannot be used to make another student (such as a family member) eligible for discounts. The discount applies only to classes and ensembles, not to a second lesson, because the student teacher ratio is 1:1 for private lessons.  Click here for examples.

For a closer look at the discount program, view the PDF here.

Billing

Bills are sent before the beginning of each semester, and are due on the 10th of the following month. Subsequent outstanding balances will be assessed a monthly fee of 1% of the amount past due. Payment can be made by check, VISA, MasterCard, or Discover. A nonrefundable semester registration fee of $10 must be paid by all students except those in Early Childhood Music classes.

Withdrawal and Refunds

Any request to withdraw from classes or lessons must be made in writing to the Eastman Community Music School office. Verbal requests will not be honored.

Students who state their intention to withdraw from classes or lessons before the beginning of the term will receive 100% credit.

Students who withdraw from a class or ensemble during the first three weeks of a semester will receive 100% credit or refund for tuition. Those who withdraw from a class or ensemble during the fourth to sixth week of classes will receive 50% credit or refund. Students receive 0% refund if they drop after the sixth week of classes.

For students withdrawing from private lessons, 50% refund or tuition credit will be granted when notification is received before the end of the sixth week of lessons. In extreme cases involving serious illness, death, or relocation, arrangements for credit or refund can be made at the discretion of the associate dean.

Scholarships

Financial assistance for regular academic year study is available to our students for lessons, classes and ensembles. Preference is given to those students enrolled in a diploma program. Assistance is awarded on the basis of merit and financial need. Merit awards recognize demonstrated musical achievement or potential. Financial need is determined by reviewing copies of federal income tax returns supplied with the application form.

 

Application Form for Financial Assistance (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

 

Applications are accepted on a continuing basis throughout the year, but awards are determined only three times each year based on the following deadlines:

May 15—first consideration for merit based aid for the coming school year

August 1—consideration for merit and need based aid for the coming school year

December 15—consideration for merit and need based aid for the spring semester, if funds remain after May and August awards are made

A full application consists of a Financial Assistance application (available above), a teacher recommendation, a copy of the first page of federal tax form (when applying for need based aid), and an Application/Registration form.