M. Christine Schneider, Director 271-4011

Welcome to the Drake University Community School of Music (DUCSOM).

Within the mission of the Music Department, the Drake University Community School of Music and its faculty strive to awaken and nurture our student's innate musical talent.

ENROLLMENT:  Enrollment into DUCSOM is on a semester basis.  The 2007-2008 calendar is as follows:
Fall:                 16 weeks                     Beginning August 27, 2007
Spring:             16 weeks                     Beginning January 22, 2008
Summer:         8 weeks                      Beginning June 9, 2008
Tuition is pro-rated for students enrolling after the start of the semester.

TUITION AND FEES: 
                       
            Fall:                               $368.00
            Spring:                          $368.00                    
            Summer:                       $184.00 eight weeks
            Pro-Rated Charge:       $ 23.00 per lesson times the number of lessons
            Enrollment Fee:            $ 25.00  (New Students Only, charged per Family)                         Two payment Plan:       $   7.00
            Three payment Plan:   $ 10.50
            Discount forfeiture:       $ 20.00

Eligible Drake faculty and staff receive a 10% tuition reduction.  Lessons discontinued on or before the second lesson receive a 75% tuition refund. Contact the DUCSOM director, not the studio instructor, regarding refunds.  Adjustments regarding the number of lessons are not made after the lessons begin. Students who discontinue lessons after the second week of the semester are still responsible for full payment of the semester’s tuition and fees. Tuition is not credited from one semester to another.  Delinquency in payment of tuition and fees results in suspension of instruction.

TERMS OF PAYMENT:
Tuition and fees must be PAID IN ADVANCE.  Payment is accepted in cash (exact amount only), by check (made payable to DUCSOM) or by credit card (MasterCard or VISA).
Tuition and fees can be
A.  Mailed to Student Accounts
                                 2507 University
                                 Des Moines, Iowa  50311-4505
                         
B.   Paid by phone, 271-2465, or in person at the Student Accounts office in Old Main, M-F,  8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Include your account number with all payments.

Available payment options are:
            1.  One-payment of the full tuition and all applicable fees.
           
2.  Two-payment plans (billed in the first two consecutive months of the term)—one-half of the tuition and any applicable fees plus a service fee of $5.00 to be included with the first payment.  For the Fall this plan is available until September 15; for the Spring until February 15 and for the Summer until May 15.
           
3.  Three-payment plan (billed in the first three consecutive months of the term)—one-third of the tuition and any applicable fees plus a service fee of $7.50 to be included with the first payment.  For the Fall this plan is available until August 15; for the Spring until January 14.  This payment option is not available during the summer.

4.   A discount forfeiture of $20.00 is charged to an outstanding balance.

ATTENDANCE & MAKE-UP LESSONS: Tuition is based on enrollment, not attendance.  To maximize your course of instruction and progress, regular attendance is expected.  Your enrollment reserves a specific lesson time.  Notify the instructor, not the DUCSOM office, concerning any absences.  Instructors are not required to make up lessons due to student absences.  At the instructor’s discretion, a make-up lesson may be offered if time is available within an instructor's regular teaching hours.  A make-up lesson cancelled by the student is not offered again.  If an instructor cancels a lesson, a make-up is offered.  In the event of school closings due to inclement weather, DUCSOM will be giving lessons if Drake remains open (please listen to your local television and radio newscasts or call the Drake cancellation line at 271-4545).  Missed lessons due to weather are made up at the discretion of the instructor.

LOCATION OF LESSONS:  All lessons are given in studios located in the Harmon Fine Arts Center at 26th and Carpenter.  Parking is available on the street or in the parking lot located directly east of the building on 25th Street.  You may park in the lot without a parking sticker after 4:00 p.m.  Parking stickers for day parking can be purchased at the Cashier's Office in Old Main.

RECITALS:  Recitals by our students occur periodically throughout the year; please consult your instructor regarding dates and times.  Students are encouraged, but not required, to participate in recitals.  The Drake Music Department also presents events throughout the year that are free and open to the public.  A schedule of events is available. Call 271-1824 or 271-3975.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the DUCSOM office at 271-4011.