Policies

Missed Lessons & Make-Up Policies

In the event of a student absence, please notify your instructor in advance. If students miss a lesson due to conflicts, travel or illness, they will receive one (1) make-up lesson per semester, provided in a group setting. If a student misses their group make-up lesson, it will not be rescheduled. If a student misses a class, no make-up will be offered.

If a teacher misses a lesson, the lesson will be made up as an individual lesson at a time mutually agreed upon by the teacher and the student.

If a student is absent without notification, the teacher will attempt to contact the student to determine the reason. After the second consecutive missed lesson without notice or contact, the student will be dismissed and the date of the second lesson will be considered the official withdrawal date. All withdrawal policies will then be followed. The same is true for classes.

Tardiness

Students who are late for a lesson cannot be guaranteed their full allotted time. Instructors will wait for a student for one-third of the scheduled lesson time. In the event their teacher is late, students are asked to do the same.

Dismissal

The Omaha Conservatory reserves the right to dismiss any student due to frequent absences, disciplinary problems, overdue tuition payments and/or noncompliance with the Omaha Conservatory’s policies.

Withdrawal / Refund Policy

The Omaha Conservatory charges a $25 withdrawal fee. A student who wishes to withdraw from individual lessons must provide two week’s written notice to admissions@omahacm.org. Verbal notice or text messages from students, caregivers, or faculty cannot be accepted. After providing written notice, the student or their family is responsible for the payment of two lessons following the date written notice is given. The student has the choice whether or not to attend those lessons.

A student who wishes to withdraw from a class must provide one week’s written notice to admissions@omahacm.org. A refund will be processed, less a $25 withdrawal administrative fee. Class tuition is non-refundable beginning the first day of class regardless of the reason for withdrawal.

Medical Leave

If a student experiences a serious health issue that prevents them from taking lessons, they have a few options:

• A student may withdraw per the Omaha Conservatory withdrawal policy for the duration of their illness. The Omaha Conservatory will consider this an opening and provide the teacher with a new student in the original student’s place. Upon recovery, a student may re-enroll during the same academic year with their previous teacher if they have availability; otherwise, the student will be assigned to a new teacher. Should the $25 withdrawal fee present hardship for the student or their family, the Omaha Conservatory reserves the right to waive the fee on a case-by-case basis.
• A student may continue to pay tuition during their recovery period in order to hold their spot on their teacher’s roster at the same time and day of their current lessons and resume lessons as soon as possible. Students may also work with their teacher to explore alternative musical explorations to accommodate an illness or injury (focus on theory or bowings only, only playing the left-hand piano part, etc.).

Recording

For Individual Lessons, Classes, and Coachings

Recording of individual lessons, classes, or coachings by students is prohibited without the consent of the instructor. Occasionally recording lessons or classes (or portions of lessons or classes) facilitates the educational nature of the Omaha Conservatory’s mission. In the event an individual lesson or class will be recorded, the instructor will obtain prior consent from the student if they are over 19. Otherwise, prior consent will be sought from the student’s caregiver.

Emergency School Closings

When Omaha Public Schools (OPS) calls an e-learning day due to inclement weather (other than subzero temperatures), the Conservatory will call a late start.  The building will be closed until 12pm (noon) and all lessons and classes are canceled before this time.

The Conservatory reserves the right to open at 12pm (noon) if road conditions have improved significantly, since most of OCM’s lessons and classes occur in the afternoon and evening, and subsequent messaging will be sent out to families notifying them if the building will open for the afternoon and evening or remain closed.

String Sprouts classes will be canceled in most cases when OPS calls for e-learning day – Sprouts families should always check their email for confirmation on whether or not their classes are running that day.

When OPS calls an e-learning day due to subzero temperatures, OCM will NOT close and will stay open for lessons and classes. Since OCM does not bus our students, the OPS e-learning day is not applicable to the Conservatory.

Lessons and classes will not be rescheduled and tuition will not be credited in the event of any emergency school closing due to weather or other circumstance beyond the control of the Omaha Conservatory of Music, unless:

• There are multiple closings on the same day of the week during the year.

Change of Lesson Length

If a student wants to change their lesson length after lessons have begun, written notifications must be given to Kai Fritchman, Admissions Manager: admissions@omahacm.org. For record-keeping purposes, verbal notice or text messages from students or caregivers cannot be accepted. Families who instigate the change must discuss with their individual instructor prior to submitting written notification to ensure the instructor can accommodate the change. The original lesson length will be maintained for eight (8) days from written notification to allow for changes in billing and teacher schedules.

Anti-Discrimination Policy

Omaha Conservatory of Music continues its firm commitment to the principle of equal employment opportunity. We provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination under applicable local, state, or federal law. We make employment decisions consistent with this principle of equal opportunity. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

COVID-19 Guidelines

We are continuing to monitor developments surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) and are focused on recommendations from local health officials, the CDC and government agencies. There may be changes to these guidelines, as new information is received from government and health agencies.

When to isolate:

Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19. You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results. If your results are positive, follow the full isolation recommendations below. If your results are negative, you can end your isolation.

If you test negative:

• You can end your isolation

If you test positive:

• Follow the full isolation recommendations below.

When you have Covid-19, isolation is counted in days, as follows:

If you had no symptoms

• Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)
• Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested
• If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset

If you had symptoms

• Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
• Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

Isolation

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.

• Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.
• Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.
• Do not travel.
• Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
• Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
• Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
• Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
• Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
• Learn more about what to do if you have COVID-19.

Ending Isolation

Ending isolation based on how serious your Covid-19 symptoms were.

If you had no symptoms

• You may end isolation after day 5.

If you had symptoms – you may end isolation after day 5 if:

• You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
• Your symptoms are improving
• If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve.

If you had moderate illness (if you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing), or severe illness (you were hospitalized) due to COVID-19, or you have a weakened immune system, you need to isolate through day 10.

If you had severe illness or have a weakened immune system, consult your doctor before ending isolation. Ending isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you.

If you are unsure if your symptoms are moderate or severe or if you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.

Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 until at least day 11. Remember to wear a high-quality mask when indoors around others at home and in public and not go places where you are unable to wear a mask until you are able to discontinue masking (see below), including public transportation and travel settings.

Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.

Removing your mask

After you have ended isolation, when you are feeling better (no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms improving),

• Wear your mask through day 10.

OR

• If you have access to antigen tests, you should consider using them. With two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your mask sooner than day 10.

Note: If your antigen test results are positive, you may still be infectious. You should continue wearing a mask and wait at least 48 hours before taking another test. Continue taking antigen tests at least 48 hours apart until you have two sequential negative results. This may mean you need to continue wearing a mask and testing beyond day 10.

After you have ended isolation, if your COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, restart your isolation at day 0. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about your symptoms or when to end isolation.

Virtual Lessons

Location

Set-up for virtual lessons must occur 10 minutes prior to the lesson so students are ready to join at lesson time. Test equipment prior to the first lesson and consult with your teacher as needed. Set-up for your virtual lesson should be in a common area of your house. If you are under 19, you must have your caregiver(s) within the vicinity of your set-up. If you are in your bedroom or other private area of your house, the instructor reserves the right to end the lesson and ask you to call back after an appropriate set-up has been made.

Attire

Please wear clothes that you would normally wear to school or an in-person lesson. Pajamas are not allowed. If a student is in their pajamas or other inappropriate clothing, the instructor has the right to end the lesson and ask the student to log back after they have changed clothing.

Online Etiquette

Be respectful. Be courteous. Be professional. Etiquette expectations for virtual and in-person lessons are the same.

Offensive Group Class Behavior

Offensive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Report offensive behavior directly to the instructor via email or by phone. Do not use the message boards in the virtual lesson window for this purpose.

Technology requirements

• Broadband or high-speed connection
• Access to a desktop, laptop, or smart phone with a built-in camera and microphone — headphones are suggested for clean audio reception.
• If on desktop or laptop, a browser such as Firefox or Chrome that will work with Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts, etc. (See Zoom’s web client recommendations here)
• In the event the Omaha Conservatory’s technology prevents a lesson from occurring, your instructor will reschedule the lesson. In the event the student’s technology is not functional, the lesson will follow the Omaha Conservatory’s make-up policy.

Missed Lessons & Make-up Policies

In the event of any student absence, please notify your instructor in advance. If you, a student, miss a lesson due to conflicts, travel, or illness, you will receive one makeup lesson per semester in a group setting. If you, a student, miss your group makeup lesson, it will not be rescheduled. If a teacher misses a lesson, it will be made up as an individual lesson at a mutually agreed upon time.

Purchasing Virtual Lessons

Virtual lessons can be purchased directly at omahacm.org. Invoices may also be emailed upon request. Please note that your payment authorizes only one person to access and participate in the virtual lesson or virtual group class.

Recording

Students are strictly prohibited from recording individual lessons. Instructors cannot record a session without consent of the student (if over 19) or their caregiver. Occasionally, recording individual lessons and classes facilitates the educational nature of our mission. By participating in a group class, you have the option to turn off your video if you do not wish to be recorded. Sharing course content with others or publishing it is strictly prohibited. Should you share your course content with another person, your access to the lesson and all its material may be immediately revoked.

Photo Release

You grant and give to Omaha Conservatory of Music [“OCM”] the absolute and irrevocable right and permission with respect to the photographs and video footage that OCM or its agents or employees have taken or will take of you or my child in which he/she may be included with others during virtual lessons. You waive all rights you or your child may have to such photographs and video footage. The Conservatory will not use the student’s full name in relation to any video or photographs obtained during lessons or classes. You understand and acknowledge that since your child’s participation is completely voluntary, neither you nor your child will receive any financial compensation or remuneration for OCM’s use of the photographs or video footage. You hereby relinquish any right that you or your minor child may have to examine or approve the completed product or products or the promotional copy or printed matter that may be used in conjunction therewith or the use to which it may be applied.