REGISTRATION - General Information & Policies

Registration Fee
Registration fees are payable at the time of registration. All students must register at the start of the term and registration fees are payable by all students, both returning and new.

Returning Students
Students currently enrolled at the Conservatory who wish to keep the same weekly private lesson time for the following year should register before June 15th of each year to guarantee placement.

Vocal Consultation Lesson prior to Registration
This lesson gives a new student the opportunity to meet with his/her teacher before lessons commence. The consultation lesson gives the student an opportunity to discuss his/her goals and aspirations in taking voice lessons and also gives the teacher a chance to hear the student sing, to give feedback, and to explain how the lessons will be conducted. The teacher will also evaluate the student’s sight-singing and ear-training abilities, and decide if a music theory course should be recommended.

The Vocal Consultation Lesson is 30-minutes in length, and a consultation fee of $24.00 will be
charged regardless of the singing level of the student.

Payment of Fees from September to June
During the months from September to June, all lesson fees are payable in advance through a series of monthly post-dated cheques dated the 1st of each month, until June OR, payment may be made with ONE cheque to cover the entire amount from the start date of lessons until the end of the term. The end of the term may vary, depending on the course. Regardless, lesson fees are to be paid in full until the end of the term. Registration will not be accepted and lessons will not begin until full payment has been received by the BCCM office.

Payment of Fees for Summer School Term
Fees are payable in advance with one cheque to cover all summer lessons.

Payment of Fees for Accelerated Theory Courses
Fees are payable in advance with one cheque to cover all summer lessons.

Why must the fees be paid for entire term or year?
Payment is required for the entire term or year in order to secure the student's time and place on the schedule for their weekly lessons.

Tax Receipts
The British Columbia Conservatory of Music is registered with the British Columbia Ministry of Education as a post-secondary institute which enables it to issue tax-deductible receipts to registered students in accordance with Revenue Canada guidelines.

Tuition Tax credit
Students, regardless of their age, studying British Columbia Conservatory of Music curriculum, are now eliglble to claim the tuition for lessons, exam fees, etc. Further, students may transfer up to $5000 per year to a parent. The tax saving for the person who owes federal and provincial income tax is about one fifth of the expense claimed. 

Punctuality
Students are expected to be on time for their lessons. No extension of lesson time will be granted to those who are late.

Missed Lessons
Students are expected to attend their lessons on a weekly basis. Notification of the inability to attend a lesson is a courtesy to the teacher but we regret that there will be no refund or a reduction of fees for missed lessons.

In the event of an unavoidable absence by the student, such as illness (Doctor's note required), accident or another similar valid situation, the lesson time may be made-up by:

1) adding time to existing lessons over a period of a few weeks;
2) a complete lesson given on another teaching day that is convenient for the teacher and the student.

If a lesson is cancelled by the teacher, it will be made-up at a mutually convenient time for the student and the teacher.

Missed Theory Classes
Due to the nature of a strict theory course calendar, there are no make-up lessons available for class theory lessons (2 students or more) and fees are not reduced for missed lessons. However, students will be given a copy of all notes or handouts used during the class.

School Terms
The BC Conservatory of Music is open for instruction all year round with the regular school year being from September 1st to June 30th and Summer School from July 1st to August 31st.

School Resumes
Each year school resumes for class and private lessons on September 1st, or the first available weekday after September 1st.

Statutory Holidays
The Conservatory is open on most statutory holidays and students are expected to attend lessons at their regular scheduled time unless arrangements have been made in advance directly with the teacher to have the lesson re-scheduled to another day.