Policy

There are no strict restrictions on the enrolment policy. New students may enrol at any point during the year for individual tuition. Group classes for newcomers will start at the beginning of each term and will run according to the educational programme.

All students should spend time on regular daily practice. Musica Nova Ltd reserves right to discontinue lessons where progress, effort or attendance is unsatisfactory.

All classes are dependent upon sufficient numbers. If tuition is not immediately available, applicants will be placed on a waiting list and notified when lessons can start.

Upon receipt of the application form we will contact the prospective student or their representative to arrange an audition.

A trial lesson provides a combined lesson and consultation prior to enrolment in regularly scheduled individual instruction. It gives prospective students a no obligation opportunity to try an instrument or get to know a teacher.

Auditions

There is normally an audition held for candidates who are applying for the Course.

When applying for the Certificate programme (preparation for Grade exams or Diplomas) all applicants will be expected to audition and perform a set of pieces and technical exercises (please see below) and to demonstrate their ability to sight read and demonstrate their aural skills.

Music (Piano – classical/ jazz, strings, woodwind)

Audition requirements for 1-4 Grade standard level

• Two contrasting pieces
• Scales and arpeggios
• Sigh-reading
• Aural test

Audition requirements for Grade 5 level

• Three contrasting pieces at the applicant’s choice
• Scales and arpeggios
• Sigh-reading
• Aural test

Audition requirements for Grade 6-7 level

• Bach prelude and fugue from WTK or alternative piece of the same nature
• Two contrasting pieces
• Scales and arpeggios
• Sight-reading
• Aural test

Audition requirements for Grade 8 and beyond

• One study
• Baroque piece (preferably of polyphonic nature)
• Two contrasting pieces at the applicant’s choice
• Scales and arpeggios
• Sigh-reading
• General questions may be asked and tests to ascertain a student’s level.

Singing

Singers will not be expected to sing scales and arpeggios but will be asked to sing a minimum of two contrasting pieces, one classical and one modern. Applicants should demonstrate an ability to sing in different languages. Sight reading and aural test also are part of the audition requirements.

Composition

On application composers should enclose copies of two of their recent compositions. At the interview candidates should be prepared to play a prepared piece, an improvisation on a theme given by the examiner and do some sight reading. General questions may be asked and tests conducted to ascertain a student’s level.

A Registration fee of £25.00 is charged to secure a place (non-refundable, non-deductable).

Before a term has started a non-refundable deposit for three lessons plus the registration fee is required to secure your lesson time. Once a term has started, the rest of the amount due should be paid on receipt of the termly invoice. Failure to pay a term’s fee will automatically cancel any further tuition.
Payment plans are available upon request.

Unless 24 hours notice of cancellation is given, the full charge will apply to any missed lesson by the student. If the total number of lessons offered within the academic year falls below the agreed number through a teacher’s absence, a credit or refund will be given at the end of the summer term. A shortfall in any one term may be counterbalanced in another.Credits/refunds are therefore not given at the end of each term.

A pupil can withdraw from lessons only at the end of a term. Written notice of withdrawal must be sent to the Musica Nova Ltd office by half term at the latest. If this notice is not given, a half term’s fee in lieu of notice will be charged.

A 2.5% discount is available on less expensive class or lesson for:

• Any student taking a second individual lesson and paying for the term in advance.
• Additional family members enrolled in any class or private tuition, and paying for the term in advance.

Senior Citizens (60 years+) are entitled to 15% discount

• A Further 5% discount is available on any third individual lesson per week.
• Gift Vouchers

You are welcome to purchase Gift Vouchers for members of your family or friends for any amount of lessons you wish. A 10% discount will apply if you will buy Gift Vouchers for more than 3 lessons.

Any decision concerning tuition made by Musica Nova Ltd shall be final and the Musica Nova Ltd reserves the right to alter the Terms and Conditions without prior notice.

Musica Nova Productions Ltd incorporating the Musica Nova International Academy of Music, expects that all staff, which for these purposes includes anybody in paid or unpaid work operating on its behalf will be aware of this Code of Practice and adhere to its principles in their approach to all children.

The “Musica Nova Code of Practice” is based on ISM Code of Practice for private music teachers and ABRSM code of practice.

Teachers:

1. In order to protect children, young people and members of stuff, we encourage teachers to follow our professional code of conduct. This covers appropriate dress, the use of appropriate boundaries, social contact outside setting (including on social networking sites), the receiving and giving of gifts and favoritism, and the safe use of technology.
2. The lesson process should be as open as possible.
3. Teachers are expected to initiate and maintain good communications with parents, schools and other private teachers, as well as with pupils, and to communicate clearly and openly at all times. Child pupils should not be expected to be the sole communicators to other adults of information concerning their music tuition.
4. Teachers should not communicate with child pupils by internet, email or text message without a parent’s prior permission.
5. All teachers are in a position of trust with their pupils. Any sexual activity, even if within a consensual relationship, between a teacher and a pupil under the age of 18 (irrespective of the age of consent) could constitute a criminal offence.
6. Any physical contact with pupils is open to misinterpretation. Teachers should therefore be aware of the boundaries of appropriate and inappropriate touch and consider using other strategies such as demonstrating for the student to copy or using a mirror. If a teacher intends to use any physical contact in their teaching, they should state this in writing before lessons begin and ask the parent or carer to sign that they have read the document. Explain the type of touch involved, where on the body and why, and make sure the pupil is aware of the reason for physical contact. Explain this orally to parents, carers and pupils, and keep them informed of any need to modify the type of touch required as pupils progress. It is not advisable to touch a child on the trunk of the body unless there is a justifiable reason (e.g. to administer first aid). It is not appropriate to touch a child around the chest, waist, diaphragm or ribs in order to teach breathing.
7. It is good practice to make it possible for another person to view the lesson from outside the room, as is encouraging parents to sit in on lessons, particularly when teaching at home alone. Teachers should provide information on who else might be in the house or premises where lessons take place.
8. Teachers should not take pupils alone in a car on journeys, however short without the parent’s prior agreement. Teachers should be extremely cautious about communicating with pupils via Facebook or using other informal communication tools since it can be difficult to maintain professional boundaries with pupils when such communication tools are used. It is preferable to maintain a professional distance from pupils at all times.
9. Teachers should treat all personal information acquired in the course of teaching children as confidential, except where there are concerns that a child may be at risk.
10. Do not make suggestive or inappropriate remarks to or about a child, even in fun, as this could be misinterpreted.
11. It is important not to deter children from making a ‘disclosure’ of abuse through fear of not being believed, and to listen to what they have to say. Guidance on handling a disclosure is set out in Appendix C of the “Child Protection Policy”. If this gives rise to a child protection concern it is important to follow Musica Nova’s procedure for reporting such concerns, and not to attempt to investigate the concern yourself.
12. Clients should be treated courteously and their rights as individuals respected. Confidentiality of personal information must be maintained at all times, except where disclosure of information is deemed necessary to safeguard the welfare of a child.
13. Remember that those who abuse children can be of any age (even other children), gender, ethnic background or class, and it is important not to allow personal preconceptions about people to prevent appropriate action taking place.
14. Good practice includes valuing and respecting children as individuals, and the adult modeling of appropriate conduct – which will always exclude bullying, shouting, racism, sectarianism or sexism.
15. Any concerns or allegations that a member of staff may have acted inappropriately should be brought to the “Musica Nova Ltd” administration immediately, in confidence.

Visitors:

1. No visitors, including trades people, should be allowed to wander around the premises unaccompanied when children and young people are present;
2. Staff should be alert to strangers frequently waiting outside a venue with no apparent purpose;
3. Children should not be collected by people other than their parents unless written notification has been received in advance;
4. If a child is not collected after a session it is reasonable to wait approximately half an hour for a parent or carer to arrive. If the parent or carer cannot be contacted, staff should contact the Administration.

Musica Nova Ltd has adopted appropriate recruitment and selection procedures for staff, subcontractors and teachers in the context of safeguarding and child protection. Please sign in to view the full Policy.

Vetting Procedures

All of our candidates are carefully assessed and vetted in accordance with DFES regulations and employment legislation and our own quality control procedures.

We take our security procedures very seriously indeed and random audit checks are regularly carried out to ensure the continuing standards of our systems.

The “Musica Nova Ltd” checks the following:
(A JP or person of equivalent standing must sign any photocopies if originals are not supplied)

• Completion of application form.
• Requested CV.
• Full Qualification Check. Their original certificates must be produced for copying. Original certified is required or certified copies. NARIC is used for overseas teachers where necessary.
• Two professional work references, including one from the most recent employer who can verify teaching ability. References are followed up verbally for verification.
• Identity Check x 2 (passport, 2 recent bills)
• UK visa or right to work check
• Criminal Records Bureau Check / List 99 Check
• Health Check
• National Insurance Number Check
• UTR Check
• All Teachers are issued with our Child Protection, Code of Practice and Equal Opportunities policies.

Once all the above has been checked and verified, then the potential applicant is invited for the Face to face interview.

At Musica Nova Ltd we value and respect children as individuals and are committed to creating a safe environment in which children and young people can feel comfortable and secure while engaged in any of Musica Nova International Academy of Music courses, training events or workshops.

Musica Nova Ltd will endeavor to safeguard children by:

• Adopting safeguarding and child protection procedures and a code of practice for all who work on behalf of the organisation;
• Reporting concerns to the authorities;
• Following carefully procedures for recruitment and selection of staff, examiners and volunteers;
• Providing effective management for staff, subcontractors and volunteers through support and training.
• Musica Nova Ltd is committed to reviewing its Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy and Code of Practice at regular intervals.

Please sign in to view the full Policy.

Musica Nova Ltd recognises that it is responsible for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of its employees. The Company believes that the pro-active management of health and safety issues is an integral part of its obligations to its employees and to the wider community. This policy statement sets out in broad terms the legal responsibilities owed by the Company and by employees in relation to health and safety issues. It will only be possible for the Company to comply with these legal obligations if both its employees and any self-employed third parties on the Company’s premises understand that they are under a duty to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and any of their colleagues who may be affected by their acts or omissions and that they are required to co-operate with the Company to enable the Company to perform its obligations.

Please sign in to view the full Policy.

At Musica Nova Productions Ltd. we treat each employee with respect. Our policy and working ethics prohibits any sort of discrimination against workers because of a physical or mental disability.

Musica Nova Ltd promotes an inclusive working and learning environment in which students, staff and visitors are supported and welcomed. Students and staff are selected, taught, trained, assessed, appraised, promoted and otherwise treated solely on the basis of their relevant merits and ability, thereby being afforded equality of opportunity. Quality and equality are at the core of our values, underpinning all of our activities. We are committed to identifying and removing barriers which prevent individuals from achieving their potential in the Company. The Company will support staff and students in challenging and removing any form of prejudice and discrimination, and in promoting equality and diversity, which in turn enriches the teaching, learning, artistic and social environment.

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Dismissal and Disciplinary Rules and Procedure

The Company’s aim is to encourage improvement in individual performance and conduct. Employees are required to treat members of the public and other employees equally in accordance with the Equal Opportunities Policy. This Procedure sets out the action which will be taken when disciplinary rules are breached.

Grievance Procedure

Our formal grievance procedure exists to ensure fair and consistent handling of grievances raised by staff within Musica Nova Ltd. The governing body recognises the right of every employee to express a grievance and to be given a fair hearing.

These procedures apply to all employees and Bona-fide subcontractors at Musica Nova Productions Ltd.

Please sign in to view the full Policy.