Students with 3 or more consecutive absences without notification, will be subject to withdrawal. 

In the event that your teacher is absent, a highly qualified substitute for your lesson, class or ensemble will be provided. 

In the event that BKCM cancels a class, lesson or ensemble for any reason, it will be rescheduled.

In the event that BKCM cancels a class due to insufficient enrollment, a full refund will be granted for classes that have not occurred.

You must notify the registration team 24 hours in advance of your absence by email to registrar@bkcm.org or by calling the front desk at 718-622-3300 and leaving a message. Annually based private lesson students are allotted one makeup per school year. Semester Based Adult Students are allotted one makeup per semester. 

Please see the CMS 24-25 calendar for annual and semester makeup days. There are no makeups for group classes. 

Teachers will wait up to 15 minutes for students to arrive at their lesson. If there is no communication informing BKCM of your lateness, the lesson becomes an unexcused absence and no makeup or rescheduling is allowed. Excessive tardiness may result in a withdrawal.

In order to withdraw you must fill out the CMS Withdrawal Form. The date that you submit the CMS Withdrawal Form is considered the official date of your withdrawal. Withdrawal requests must be 24 hours prior to the lesson. Our staff will contact you within 5 business days of your request and the approval may take up to 10 business days to process. 

Refunds for Private Lessons: BKCM retains a refund penalty equal to the cost of 4 lessons past the lessons that have already transpired. This includes lessons that occur within 24 hours of the withdrawal date. In some cases, refunds will not be possible if there are not enough lessons to cover the refund penalty.  In this instance, you may opt for a credit. For students who are paying by installment plan, if the cost of tuition for transpired lessons/classes plus the refund penalty have not yet been met, you will be responsible for the remaining balance.

From the point at which your withdrawal is approved refunds may take up to 14 business days to be processed.

Credits for Private Lessons: There is no refund penalty for credit withdrawals. Credits for private lessons are active for one year from the date the credit is issued. BKCM Credits expire one year from the date issued and once credited, cannot be refunded.

Non-Refundable Fees: Payment plan, registration, and late payment fees are non-refundable. There are no credits or refunds for private lessons during the summer term.

Group Classes and Ensembles: Students enrolled in group classes and ensembles have up to 24 hours after their 1st class to be eligible for withdrawal and receive a refund for the remaining classes or request a transfer (subject to availability). There are no credits allowed for group classes and ensembles.  

The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music offers medical withdrawals with refunds or credit on a case by case basis with a doctor’s note. BKCM credits are valid for one year from the date issued and once credited, cannot be refunded. BKCM Registration and Installment fees are non-refundable. Basis for withdrawals include injuries or illnesses that genuinely impede a student’s abilities to successfully participate in their musical instruction or instrument learning. To request a medical withdrawal, please complete the CMS Withdrawal Form.

Schedule Change:

If you are looking to make a change to a different day or time or change the length of your lesson, please email the registration desk at registrar@bkcm.org or call 718-622-3300.

Teacher/Instrument Change Request
If you are looking to make a change to a different teacher or instrument please contact CMS Administrative team at cmsadmin@bkcm.org 

The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music aims to transform lives and build community through music. Offering tuition assistance to our students is one of the ways we can achieve that mission. 

All students enrolled at BKCM are subject to the standard Community Music School Policies. The following policies for financial aid recipients are designed to encourage students to maximize their educational experience at BKCM. Non-compliance with any of these policies will result in a review, and possible removal, of financial aid.  In addition, subsequent financial aid applications may not be approved. 

• Financial aid students who have two consecutive absences without notification to the registrar will be subject to removal of financial aid and withdrawal. 
• In the event of an absence, the registrar must be notified by emailing registrar@bkcm.org or by calling the front desk at 718.622.3300.
• Financial Aid Students are expected to perform in, or attend, program recitals and encouraged to attend events throughout the school year such as workshops, concerts and public events at BKCM. 

Withdrawal Policy for Financial Aid Recipients

• Students who wish to withdraw must fill out a CMS Withdrawal Form.
• Payment will be due for the number of lessons that were scheduled until the date that the withdrawal was confirmed. This includes any unexcused student absences. Tuition will be calculated at the discounted rate (the standard tuition rate less financial aid). 
• Credits and refunds will be given at the discounted tuition rate. For refunds, the penalty of 4 additional lessons, from the date that the withdrawal is confirmed, will be calculated at the discounted tuition rate.
• There are no credits or refunds for group classes and ensembles after 24 hours after the student’s first class. 

• There are no refunds for private lessons, camps or summer programs during the summer term. 
• All registrations for summer programs are final and there are no withdrawals.
• Community Music School summer private lesson students must register for a minimum of 2 lessons. 
• There are no makeup lessons available for summer private lessons.
• Suzuki summer lessons are only open to students currently enrolled in the BKCM Suzuki program. 
• Suzuki beginners who are planning to start in Fall 2025 are not eligible for 2025 Summer Suzuki private lessons, but may sign up for summer Suzuki Early Childhood Education.

• There are no refunds or credits for private lessons, camps or summer programs.
• All registrations for summer programs and camps are final and there are no withdrawals.
• Private lesson students have until June 30th to make any changes to their private lesson schedule.
• There are no makeup lessons available for summer private lessons.
• Community Music School summer private lesson students must register for a minimum of 2 lessons. 
• Suzuki summer lessons are only open to students currently enrolled in the BKCM Suzuki program. Suzuki beginners who are planning to start in Fall 2025 are not eligible for 2025 Summer Suzuki private lessons, but may sign up for summer Suzuki Early Childhood Education.