Welcome To

The Diva Institute

AKA- The Divine Vocal Arts Institute

Our Mission: to encourage and nurture creativity and appreciation in all areas of musicianship & to enhance lives through quality musical experience!
We are now in our third year of operation here in Airdrie and we thank you for choosing us!! You are now part of our vocal school family. If you have any questions that aren't answered in this welcome packet, please visit our website; www.divainstitute.org, or give us a call at 403-630-6744!

Students Preparedness:
Students are expected to prepare their lesson material to the best of their ability. This is your homework!

Practice Time:
Expect to practice a minimum of 20 minutes each day; at least 5 days per week. Make sure you include warm-ups at the beginning of your practice time. Don't dive right into the material first. Make sure your voice is warmed-up & ready to go. Remember, daily practice will yield the best results. This is the only way you will improve!

Student's Responsibility to The Teacher: Students should: 1. Be on time for classes but arrive no more than 10 minutes early. Since lessons are often scheduled in sequence, tardiness will not result in a students lesson time being extended since that would delay/inconvenience the student who follows after. 2. Be fully prepared for each lesson. (Practice the material you have been assigned to work on.) 3. Give proper notice of 24h or more for absenteeism. (See Cancellation Policy and Make-up Lessons.) 4. Bring your Student Manual (Binder), a notebook and your music with you to each lesson.
Your voice is your instrument. Do your best to take good care of it, which means taking good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest. Avoid smoke. Do NOT strain your voice! 1

Lesson Attire
Please wear comfortable clothing for your lesson. Do not wear tight or constricting clothing.

Drinks and Snacks

It is important to try, if at all possible, not to eat within 30-60 minutes before your lesson. Bring only water to drink as sugary or carbonated drinks will interfere with your vocal abilities.

Musical Numbers
Student are required to purchase their sheet music through the school (at cost). If you choose to use background tracks, a copy must be made for the Diva Institute, where it will be kept in your student file.

Recitals
Student are encouraged but not required to participate in recitals. The Diva Institute's put on 2 recitals per year; a Christmas recital and a year-end recital. Students vote on the year-end recital theme every December!

The Recital fees will be announced and billed in November for the Christmas Recital and April/May and will not exceed $30 each for the 2011-2012 School year.
This fee partially covers expenditures for recital programs, rentals. This does not include accompaniest fees should the student elect to have a live pianist accompany them.

Contact Us
Director & Vocal Coach: Mlanie-Vivianne Westley
Email:

Studio/ Home Address:

102 Springs Crescent SE, Airdrie, AB

Melanie@DivaInstitute.org Web: www.DivaInstitute.org

Phone: 403.630.6744
Fax: 403.774.2049 Facebook Group: The Diva Institute

The Fine Print!

* Please read and sign one copy of this page and retain the other for your records.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition and other fees must be paid prior to lessons, event and materials given. The preferred method of payment is by email bank transfers to: payments@divainstitute.org. Other forms of payments are cash, by check (made out to Melanie Westley) and for a $5 processing fee, by credit card (if you wish to pay this way, please advise the teacher). * If paying by check, please note that funds must clear before the lesson(s) can take place. * NSF Check will be subject to a $20 processing fee.

Cancellation Policy & Makeup Lessons

In the event that a student is unable to attend a weekly lesson due to illness or unusual circumstances, the student is required to provide a minimum of 24 hours notice before the scheduled lesson. Failure to do so may result in forfeit of the lesson without refund. * Please note this includes absences due to illness. If signs of illness persist the night before your lesson, for the sake of vocal health, it is suggested that affected students cancel/reschedule the next days lesson. Makeup lessons may not be traded in place of payment owed for subsequent months. All makeup lesson times must be determined within 30 days of the originally scheduled lesson. * In the event of unsafe road conditions, lessons will be cancelled. There will be a make-up schedule for any lessons missed due to weather/snow days.

Refunds and withdrawals

Due to the need for instructors to commit to a schedule, refunds are permitted only for moving out of the area or prolonged illness or injury which may require a doctor's note. * Refunds will be subject to a $20 processing fee.

I have read and understood the policies stated herein and agree to abide by the policy guidelines.

Student Name

_____________________________

Parent/ Guardian_______________________________

Signature________________________________________ 3

The Fine Print!

* Please read and sign one copy of this page and retain the other for your records.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition and other fees must be paid prior to lessons, event and materials given. The preferred method of payment is by email bank transfers to: payments@divainstitute.org. Other forms of payments are cash, by check (made out to Melanie Westley) and for a $5 processing fee, by credit card (if you wish to pay this way, please advise the teacher). * If paying by check, please note that funds must clear before the lesson(s) can take place. * NSF Check will be subject to a $20 processing fee.

Cancellation Policy & Makeup Lessons

In the event that a student is unable to attend a weekly lesson due to illness or unusual circumstances, the student is required to provide a minimum of 24 hours notice before the scheduled lesson. Failure to do so may result in forfeit of the lesson without refund. * Please note this includes absences due to illness. If signs of illness persist the night before your lesson, for the sake of vocal health, it is suggested that affected students cancel/reschedule the next days lesson. Makeup lessons may not be traded in place of payment owed for subsequent months. All makeup lesson times must be determined within 30 days of the originally scheduled lesson. * In the event of unsafe road conditions, lessons will be cancelled. There will be a make-up schedule for any lessons missed due to weather/snow days.

Refunds and withdrawals

Due to the need for instructors to commit to a schedule, refunds are permitted only for moving out of the area or prolonged illness or injury which may require a doctor's note. * Refunds will be subject to a $20 processing fee.

I have read and understood the policies stated herein and agree to abide by the policy guidelines.

Student _____________________________

Parent/ Guardian_______________________________

Signature_______________________________ 4