Nieves Music Studio

Terms & Conditions

Last updated: September 9, 2025 (includes trial lesson policy update)

1. Welcome to Nieves Music Studio

At Nieves Music Studio, we’re committed to providing a positive and enriching musical experience for every student. Our policies are designed to ensure a smooth, fair, and respectful learning environment for students, families, and teachers.

By following these guidelines, we can focus on what matters most—helping students grow and succeed in their musical journey.

For questions about these policies or your enrollment, please use the contact information below.

Contact Information

Email: office@nievesmusicstudio.com

Phone (Call): 352-282-0771

Phone (Text): 352-282-0771 or 352-251-2619

Scope of Agreement

These Terms & Conditions apply to all students enrolled under the same family or account, as listed on the enrollment form or in the student portal. By submitting the enrollment form and/or activating a student account, families agree to abide by these terms on behalf of each enrolled student.

2. Lesson Agreement & Scheduling

Lessons continue on an ongoing basis according to your selected enrollment plan—monthly by default, or termly for Step Up for Students recipients or other special arrangements. Enrollment automatically renews each billing cycle unless an official Unenrollment Form is submitted in accordance with our policy.

The student or their account holder will be notified of their lesson day, time, and start date prior to their first lesson. Confirmation is typically sent by email and/or SMS, but may also be provided by phone or in person. It is the responsibility of the account holder to review and respond to scheduling details. Once sent, lesson confirmations are considered official unless a conflict is communicated in advance.

Tuition and billing policies are outlined below and apply to all enrolled students and/or their account holders.

Trial Lessons
When available, students may take a trial lesson or a limited trial package (such as two or three lessons) prior to enrollment. All general studio policies—such as supervision, behavior, and liability—apply to trial lessons. Trial lessons may be free or paid, depending on studio policies and promotional offerings at the time of booking. If a trial or trial package is paid, the fee is due prior to the first lesson and is non-refundable. A single trial lesson may be rescheduled once with advance notice. For multi-lesson trial packages, any missed lessons are forfeited and may not be rescheduled or refunded. No-shows without notice forfeit the trial and may lose the opportunity to reschedule. Tuition and billing policies apply only once a student is officially enrolled and a membership has been activated.

3. Tuition & Billing

By enrolling at Nieves Music Studio, the account holder agrees to the tuition, billing, and payment policies outlined below. These terms apply to all students, whether on a monthly or term-based plan. Tuition is required to secure a student’s lesson time and must remain current for continued enrollment.

Tuition secures your weekly lesson time. It is a flat, prepaid fee. The number of lessons each month may vary depending on holidays and the studio calendar.
The full tuition amount for the selected membership (monthly or term-based) is due prior to the student’s first billable lesson. Students may not attend lessons until payment is received. The student’s lesson time is not guaranteed until payment is received and processed.
If enrollment begins mid-month, tuition will be prorated for that month only. After that, standard billing applies.
Tuition is billed on the 1st of each month or term via AutoPay using the payment method on file. An active credit card or bank account must be maintained unless tuition is paid through an approved third-party scholarship (e.g., Step Up for Students).
Payments are processed securely through Stripe.
A $10 late fee applies to any tuition not received by the 15th of the month. If tuition is not received by that time, the student’s membership may be suspended, and their reserved lesson time may be released without further notice.
Declined or failed payments are considered late. If the account remains unpaid, the balance may be subject to additional recovery efforts at the discretion of the studio. This may include the use of third-party collection services, and any associated fees may be added to the outstanding balance. Re-enrollment will only be permitted once the balance is paid in full and is subject to availability.
All tuition payments are final, non-refundable, and non-transferable. Refunds are considered only in limited cases—such as documented medical emergencies or unresolved studio cancellations—and are issued solely at the discretion of the studio. Approved refunds will be processed within 30 days from the date of approval, unless otherwise required by law. For details on make-ups or cancellations, see the “Studio-Initiated Cancellations” section.
Students and/or account holders may also be responsible for purchasing lesson materials, such as books or accessories, as needed for their program.

4. Unenrollment

To unenroll, the account holder must submit an official Unenrollment Form (electronically, in person, or via text/email).

a. Standard Unenrollment (Submitted by the 15th)

Unenrollment must be submitted by the 15th of the month to avoid being charged for the following month.

b. Late Notice Unenrollment (Submitted After the 15th, Before the 1st)

Requests submitted after the 15th but before the 1st may still be processed for the upcoming month.
However, due to weekends, holiday breaks, or limited admin hours, tuition may still be charged automatically on the 1st.

If the unenrollment was submitted on time and the charge was due to a studio delay, a full refund will be issued.
If tuition is charged due to a late unenrollment, a $15 late notice cancellation fee will apply if a refund is granted.

In either case, the student will be unenrolled immediately, and their lesson time may be reassigned.

c. Post-Charge Unenrollment (After the 1st of the Month)

Tuition is non-refundable after the 1st. The student may continue attending through the end of the month; however, if they indicate on the Unenrollment Form that they will not attend any remaining lessons, their spot will be released for scheduling after their last confirmed lesson date.

d. Incomplete Unenrollment (Verbal or Unconfirmed)

Unenrollment is not considered official until the Unenrollment Form is submitted.

If a student or account holder notifies the studio of their intent to stop lessons but does not complete the form, the studio will consider the most recent written communication as the final attendance date and may release the student’s spot thereafter.

Nieves Music Studio is not responsible for holding lesson times or issuing refunds if the unenrollment process is incomplete. It is the account holder’s responsibility to complete the Unenrollment Form in a timely manner.

5. Attendance & Cancellations

Missed Lessons: What to Expect

At Nieves Music Studio, we understand that absences occur. This section outlines what to expect when a lesson is missed.

a. Student-Initiated Absences

Make-Up Lessons
Make-up lessons are not offered for student-initiated absences. This includes illness, travel, or other personal scheduling conflicts.

Video Supplements (Private Lessons Only)
Private lesson students and/or account holders who give at least 24 hours’ notice will receive a short instructional video via email. This is not a full replacement, but a helpful tool to stay on track between lessons.
Group lesson students do not receive video supplements, due to the nature and pacing of group instruction.

How to Cancel
Cancellations must be made through the Student Portal or by contacting the studio directly. Please do not message your teacher privately—only cancellations submitted through official channels are eligible for a video supplement.

Extended Absences
If a student expects to miss more than 3 consecutive weeks, we ask that you notify the studio in advance. Extended absences without communication may result in automatic unenrollment and loss of the reserved lesson time.
For more, see our Extended Absences & Interruptions policy.

Tuition for Missed Lessons
Tuition remains the same regardless of attendance. No refunds or credits are given for student absences.

b. Studio-Initiated Cancellations

If a teacher is unavailable, the studio will provide a qualified substitute whenever possible. If no substitute is available, the lesson will be canceled and a credit will be issued. Here’s what that means:

What is a credit?
A credit represents one missed lesson owed to the student and is automatically issued whenever the studio cancels a class without a substitute. It will appear in your student portal as “1 credit” or something similar.
Credits are not refunds and do not reduce tuition. Instead, they provide the opportunity to schedule a make-up lesson, if one becomes available. If no make-up is scheduled, the credit may be applied as a partial tuition adjustment, or—if the student unenrolls before it’s used—a refund may be requested within 30 days.

What to Expect When the Studio Cancels

A qualified substitute will be provided whenever possible.
If no substitute is available, the lesson will be canceled and a credit will be issued automatically.
The credit may be used to schedule a make-up lesson within 30 days, with the original teacher or a qualified substitute, if availability allows.
If a make-up is scheduled and the student cancels with less than 24 hours’ notice or does not attend, the credit is forfeited.
If a make-up cannot be scheduled, the credit will remain in your account and may be applied to a future billing cycle.
Credits are tracked internally and may be applied manually, if needed, by studio staff.

Special Circumstances
In cases of inclement weather or emergencies, make-up scheduling may be postponed beyond the 30-day window as needed.

Applicability
This policy applies only to unexpected, studio-initiated cancellations. It does not apply to:

Scheduled studio closures (posted on our calendar)
Weather-related closures, which follow a separate protocol and do not qualify for credits unless otherwise noted

Questions?
If you have any questions about credits, make-ups, or cancellations, feel free to reach out to us at office@nievesmusicstudio.com. We’re happy to help.

c. Extended Absences & Interruptions

At Nieves Music Studio, we understand that life happens—whether it’s travel, illness, or unexpected emergencies. However, consistency is key to progress, and extended absences may impact your membership status.

Vacations & Planned Absences

We no longer offer a formal Summer Hold policy. If a student will be away for vacation or other planned time off, we kindly ask for prior written notice.

With advance notice, we will hold the student’s regular lesson spot during their absence.
The studio reserves the right to temporarily schedule another student into that spot for the specific dates the student will be absent.
No tuition discounts or credits will be given for missed weeks due to travel or vacation.
Standard student absence policies apply, including how absences are handled for group vs. private lessons.
Without prior communication, absences longer than 3 consecutive weeks may result in un-enrollment and forfeiture of the student’s time slot.

Medical & Emergency Situations

In the event of extended illness, injury, or hospitalization, please contact the studio as soon as possible.

Make-up materials or lesson accommodations may be provided at the studio’s discretion.
Credits or refunds may be considered only in cases of documented medical emergencies.

Uncommunicated Absences

Any student who misses more than 3 consecutive weeks without notice or communication may be unenrolled automatically, with their spot released to another student.

Ongoing enrollment requires clear and timely communication with the studio.
If special circumstances arise, we encourage families to reach out to discuss options in advance.

6. Holiday & Scheduled Closures

Nieves Music Studio observes its own holiday & scheduled closure calendar and does not follow the Marion County Public Schools calendar for holidays (e.g., MLK Day, Presidents Day, etc.).

The studio will be closed for select holidays and seasonal breaks throughout the year. These dates will be shared in advance through our website, newsletters, and/or sms/email announcements.

Regular lessons continue on some school-observed holidays unless otherwise noted. Please refer to our official calendar or contact the studio for current closure dates.

7. Inclement Weather & Emergency Closures

Nieves Music Studio generally follows Marion County Public Schools for inclement weather closures but may make independent decisions depending on the situation. Closure decisions are based on studio operations, teacher availability, and the safety of our students and staff.

Families will be notified of closures via email, text, or phone call as soon as possible.
Lessons canceled due to inclement weather will not be refunded or rescheduled.
Supplemental group experiences may be offered in the event of extended emergencies.
Participation in any supplemental experiences is optional and may be offered based on space and teacher availability.

For holiday closures, please refer to the designated Studio Calendar on the studio website.

https://www.nievesmusicstudio.com

8. Sickness & Wellness Policy

To help keep our studio a safe and healthy space for all, please do not attend lessons if you are sick—especially with any symptoms that could be contagious (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea).

Students who arrive visibly ill may be asked to return home.
No refunds or credits will be given for missed lessons due to illness.
For private lessons, if 24-hour notice is provided, a short instructional video will be sent in place of the missed session.
For group classes, make-ups are not available, even in cases of illness.
In case of extended illness, see our Extended Absences & Interruptions policy.

9. Practice & Preparation

Instruments and Home Practice

At Nieves Music Studio, we strive to support every student's musical journey and clearly communicate what it takes to succeed:

Instrumental students are expected to have their own instrument—either purchased or rented—within the first month of lessons and maintain it throughout their time as a student. (Our studio is happy to recommend beginner-friendly options.)
Instruments should be kept tuned and in good working condition to effectively support practice.
Regular weekly practice at home is essential. While occasional missed practice is understandable, consistent practice is key to meaningful progress.

Remember:
Lessons provide guidance, but real improvement comes from consistent practice at home.

10. Studio Etiquette & Shared Spaces

Students, parents, and visitors should be respectful of teachers, fellow students, studio staff, and studio property at all times.

Attendance & Punctuality

Students are expected to arrive on time and fully prepared to participate in their lesson or class. Late arrivals will not receive extra time.
Students who exhibit chronic lateness or disruptive behavior may be unenrolled from the class without refund.

Noise Policy During Classes

Parents, students, and visitors in the waiting area must keep conversations at a low volume when a group class is in session in the large entrance room.
Avoid disruptive activities such as loud phone calls or playing videos without headphones, as sound carries into classrooms.

Transition Time

A brief transition period of up to 5 minutes is allowed at the start and end of each lesson for setup and wrap-up.
Teachers may end lessons a few minutes early to briefly speak with parents/guardians.

11. Emergency Contact Information

To support student safety, Nieves Music Studio requests that all students—minors and adults—provide an emergency contact to be kept on file. This contact should be someone other than the primary account holder (if applicable) who can be reached in case of urgent or unforeseen situations.

Emergency contact details can be submitted at the time of enrollment or added later by contacting the studio. While not currently mandatory, we strongly encourage families to provide this information for safety purposes.

12. Logistics & Expectations (For Minors Under 18)

a. Drop-Off & Pick-Up Policy (for minors under 18)

At Nieves Music Studio, the safety of our students is a top priority. However, we are not responsible for students before or after their scheduled lesson time. Our staff may be attending to other duties and are not able to supervise students outside of class.

Parents and guardians are responsible for their child’s safety outside of lesson times. For younger students, we strongly encourage parents to come inside for both drop-off and pick-up, and for students to remain indoors until an authorized adult arrives.

We understand that some older students may have more independence. If your child is permitted to leave the building on their own—such as by walking, biking, or using a rideshare—please provide written permission. Without written permission, we will assume your child is expected to wait inside until picked up.

Students who drive themselves are responsible for their own arrival and departure.

While staff or teachers may occasionally assist a student with exiting the building, such actions are voluntary and do not imply supervision or liability. By enrolling, parents acknowledge and accept responsibility for coordinating and enforcing their child’s transportation arrangements.

This policy is not intended to restrict parental rights and is in place solely to clarify the studio’s supervision boundaries and ensure transparency of responsibilities.

b. Bathroom Break Policy (for minors under 18)

Students are encouraged to use the restroom before or after class.
Teachers will not deny a student a bathroom break during class. However, once a student leaves the classroom, they are unsupervised, and teachers are not responsible for monitoring students during bathroom breaks.
Parents/guardians should ensure younger students use the restroom before class.
Teachers and staff do not assist students in the restroom.
Cameras are in place in the hallways for general security, but restroom areas are not actively monitored.
Nieves Music Studio is not liable for incidents that occur while a student is outside of the classroom for a bathroom break.
Students are responsible for managing their own time. Missed class time due to a bathroom break will not be made up.

Parents/guardians acknowledge that students may be unsupervised in common areas such as hallways or restrooms, even during scheduled class time, including in cases of bathroom breaks during a class, and accept full responsibility for their child’s safety and actions any time the student is outside the classroom.

13. Waiting Area & Student Care

Nieves Music Studio does not provide before or after class care.
Parents/guardians must ensure their child is picked up by an approved individual. If someone other than a legal guardian is picking up a student, the parent/guardian must notify the studio in advance, but the studio does not verify the identity of individuals picking up students.

14. Behavior & Conduct

Right to Refuse Service
Nieves Music Studio reserves the right to discontinue lessons for any reason, including but not limited to:

A teacher determines that a student is not a good fit for their teaching style.
Disruptive, disrespectful, or inappropriate behavior from a student, parent, or guardian.
Failure to comply with studio policies, payment obligations, or agreements.
A teacher feeling unsafe or uncomfortable continuing lessons. Teachers and staff reserve the right to end any lesson immediately if they feel unsafe or threatened.
Actions that compromise the safety, integrity, or learning environment of the studio.

For group classes:

Students are expected to participate respectfully.
Repeated disruptive behavior, refusal to engage, or actions that interfere with the learning experience of others may result in removal from the class. In such cases, tuition is non-refundable.

If a student is removed from lessons due to misconduct, policy violations, or disruptive behavior, no refunds or credits will be issued.
Re-enrollment after removal is not guaranteed and will be considered at the sole discretion of Nieves Music Studio.

If lessons are discontinued by the studio, refunds will not be issued unless granted solely at the discretion of Nieves Music Studio.

All decisions regarding refusal or discontinuation of service are made at the sole discretion of Nieves Music Studio and are final, with no exceptions or appeals.

15. Discontinuation of Classes by Studio

Nieves Music Studio reserves the right to discontinue or make schedule changes to any class (group or private) due to low enrollment or teacher availability.

Every effort will be made to notify students and/or their account holder as early as possible, but changes may occur at any time.

If a class is discontinued or rescheduled:

Students and/or account holders will be offered the option to transfer to another available class or lesson time
If no suitable alternative is available, or if an offered alternative is declined, a refund may be issued at the studio’s sole discretion.

Note: Refunds are not issued in the event of teacher replacements. If a class continues with a different teacher due to staffing changes, this does not qualify as grounds for a refund.

16. Teacher Continuity & Reassignment

While we aim to maintain consistency for every student, teacher assignments are not guaranteed. From time to time, teachers may change due to staffing, scheduling, or other studio needs. Nieves Music Studio reserves the right to assign or reassign teachers at its discretion. Continued enrollment constitutes acceptance of this policy.

17. Legal & Media Policies

a. Injury Waiver & Liability Release

By enrolling in lessons at Nieves Music Studio, students and/or their account holders acknowledge and voluntarily assume all risks associated with participation in music instruction and related activities.

Nieves Music Studio, its owners, employees, instructors, and affiliates shall not be held liable for any injuries, damages, or losses, including but not limited to personal injury, property damage, or theft, that may occur before, during, or after lessons, rehearsals, performances, or any studio-related activities.
Students and/or their account holders agree to release, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Nieves Music Studio from any and all claims, demands, or causes of action, including those arising from negligence, accidents, or unforeseen incidents.
For minors, parents or guardians assume full responsibility for their child’s conduct and safety before, during, and after lessons, including arrival, departure, and any time spent in the waiting area.
Nieves Music Studio is not responsible for disputes, conflicts, injuries, or damages arising from interactions between students. Any behavioral concerns should be reported to studio staff immediately, but the studio assumes no liability for personal conflicts between students.
Nieves Music Studio is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items, including but not limited to instruments, books, bags, or other belongings. Students and account holders are responsible for their own property while at the studio.
Nothing in this waiver is intended to release the studio from liability for willful misconduct or gross negligence as defined by Florida law.

b. Photo & Video Release

By enrolling, students and/or their account holders grant Nieves Music Studio permission to photograph, record, or video students during lessons, performances, or studio events. These materials may be used for promotional, marketing, and educational purposes in formats including but not limited to social media, website content, advertisements, and printed materials.

If a family does not wish to grant permission, they must submit a written opt-out request before the student’s first lesson. Verbal requests will not be accepted.
Opt-out requests apply to future recordings only. Nieves Music Studio is not required to remove previously published photos or videos.

c. Policy Enforcement & Changes

Nieves Music Studio reserves the right to update, modify, or amend these policies at any time. Families will be notified of significant changes via email or posted announcements. Continued enrollment constitutes acceptance of updated policies.
Failure to comply with any Nieves Music Studio policies may result in discontinuation of lessons at the studio’s discretion, without refund.

18. Additional Terms for Step Up For Students Scholarship Recipients

Students and their account holders using Step Up for Students (SUFS) are subject to all Nieves Music Studio policies, including those related to attendance, scheduling, behavior, and extended absences. The following additional terms apply specifically to scholarship-funded students:

Funding Requirements

Scholarship funds must be reserved in the EMA Portal and approved by Nieves Music Studio before the student’s first paid lesson.
To maintain enrollment, funds should be reserved by the account holder at least 15 days before the current term ends. Failure to do so may result in a lapse of service or loss of the reserved lesson time.

Payments, Refunds & Credits

SUFS recipients are not billed directly by Nieves Music Studio.
All payments made through the EMA Portal are non-refundable and non-transferable once processed.
Payments may not carry over from one term to the next.
If the studio cancels a lesson and no substitute is provided, a credit will be issued to the student’s account in accordance with our studio-initiated cancellation policy.
If a student un-enrolls before using a credit, the account holder may request that any unused credit be returned to Step Up for Students. Refunds cannot be issued directly to students or their account holders, as the funds are held and managed by SUFS. All refund requests must be made within 30 days of unenrollment and will be handled through the EMA Portal, subject to SUFS and EMA policies.

Unenrollment & Spot Release

Tuition remains non-refundable if a student un-enrolls early.
To un-enroll before the end of a funded term, the account holder must submit an official Unenrollment Form.
Upon receiving written notice, the final confirmed lesson date becomes the student’s last scheduled day. The student’s spot will be pre-released for scheduling after that date.
The unenrollment decision is final once submitted and cannot be reversed or adjusted.

Additional Costs
While tuition covers regular weekly lessons, scholarship funds do not cover additional costs such as instruments, instructional books, accessories, or tickets to recitals and special events.

These costs are the responsibility of the account holder, or may be purchased through the EMA Portal if the product or offering is available.

Extended Absences

Standard extended absence policies apply. If a student is absent for more than three consecutive weeks without notice, the student may be unenrolled, and their reserved spot will be released.

19. Severability

If any provision of this policy is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

20. Policy Acknowledgment & Agreement

By enrolling in lessons at Nieves Music Studio, the student and/or their account holder confirms that they have read and agree to all policies outlined in this document. This includes, but is not limited to:

Tuition, payment, and unenrollment terms
Attendance, cancellation, and illness policies
Safety and supervision expectations for minors
Liability waivers and release of responsibility
Studio behavior expectations and right to refuse service
Media release and opt-out instructions

I understand that these policies are subject to change, and that continued enrollment signifies my acceptance of any future updates shared by the studio.

For digital enrollment:
By clicking “Agree,” enrolling online, or continuing to use our services, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted the policies outlined in this document.