Frequently Asked Questions

Our Teacher Training Programs are open for registration. Click HERE to view all Orff and Kodály Levels and Supplemental courses.

All online programs are open for registration and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Program registration will close the Friday before the start of the camp week at noon. To register for a program, click HERE.

In-Person Programs Coming Soong! The safety of our families and staff is our top priority. We are working closely with George Mason University to finalize our in-person summer protocols and will be routinely updating our website with information. Stay informed by signing up for our Academy Newsletter to receive email alerts and more.

 

We encourage you to register for the waitlist free of charge. We will notify you immediately if a space becomes available. Payment will be due at that time. Due to safety restrictions, space is extremely limited in each in-person summer program. We encourage you to register early to secure the spot.

 

Depending on the program, and with instructor/director approval, we periodically admit students to programs that are above their age range. For questions about age overrides, please contact the Academy via email at academy@gmu.edu.

 

Yes. You may transfer to a different program. You will also pay the difference or be refunded based on the tuition cost. To transfer your registration, please submit your request via email to academy@gmu.edu no later than two weeks before the registered program’s start date to receive a full refund minus the $50 cancellation fee.

 

If your child is unable to attend a program, please consider transferring to a different program. You will pay the difference or be refunded based on the tuition cost. To transfer your registration, please submit your request via email to academy@gmu.edu no later than two weeks before the registered program’s start date to avoid withdrawal penalties and fees.

If you want to withdraw from a program, please submit your written notice via email to academy@gmu.edu.

• 100% Refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee)—If you withdraw from a program no later than two weeks before the program start date.
• No refund—If you withdraw from a program within two weeks of the program start date or after the program start date.
• Exception: you may receive a full refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee) with valid medical documentation.

 

Yes. We will announce the change in advance to allow families to plan accordingly. All withdrawals from summer programming will be subject to our refund/withdrawal policy.

If you want to withdraw from a program, please submit your written notice via email to academy@gmu.edu.

• 100% Refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee)—If you withdraw from a program no later than two weeks before the program start date.
• No refund—If you withdraw from a program within two weeks of the program start date or after the program start date.
• Exception: you may receive a full refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee) with valid medical documentation.

 

Please be assured that all in-person programs will follow strict safety protocols required by George Mason University and are subject to pivoting to all virtual platforms if health and safety conditions warrant. We are working closely with Mason officials to provide a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. Required protocols will include masks, physical distancing, daily health checks, and more. Please visit our COVID Safety Guidelines for all in-person programs. We will be routinely updating the information as it evolves. Stay informed by visiting our website and through other Academy alerts and communication.

 

Each classroom has a reduced capacity due to physical distancing and Mason COVID safety guidelines. The room capacity generally is about 7-10 depending on the classroom size. Classrooms will be reserved to host one unique program per space. University Office of Environmental Health and Safety has certified safe airflow quality in all classrooms.

 

We are working closely with Mason officials to provide a safe environment for our students, faculty, and staff. Standard sanitizations will include:

• CDC-recommended face masks and practice physical distancing rules throughout the day. Additional personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required for specific programs. Students will be responsible for bringing these items. Please check the individual program’s webpage Requirements Section for detail.
• Essential tools will remain unique to each student each day. Students are required to bring their own writing utensils and supplies.
• Music stands, keyboards, and high-touch surfaces will be wiped down and sanitized by instructional and administrative staff.
• Hand sanitizing stations available throughout the building.
• Nightly cleanings will be performed in all buildings and classrooms by Mason’s custodial staff.

 

Due to safety concerns, we require all students bring a nut-free lunch, including a water bottle and snacks each day. At lunch, students will sit with their class cohort while maintaining physical distancing. Please label the lunch box with your child’s full name. No refrigeration or heating is available, so please pack non-perishable food. Please do not bring food for your student to share.

 

Please use good judgment about bringing your student to our summer programs. If your student is sick or showing symptoms of illness, please keep them home. Students who become ill during the day will be guided to an isolated space supervised by an Academy staff member until the parents/guardians arrive to pick them up. As a reminder, students and staff are required to complete a daily health screening and will not be admitted without University approval.

 

Each program offers a unique learning experience. Our experienced faculty create curricula based on students’ age and developmental stages to ensure the most meaningful education. Our online programs provide a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning methods. Students will spend their day with a combination of live-streamed sessions and independent work time with faculty check-ins.

For students ages 5-12: Live-streamed classes will be divided into 2-4 short sessions that vary by programs. Each live-streamed session is generally about 30-45 minutes. Depending on the program, one-on-one coaching sessions may be included. Please visit the individual program page for details, including daily schedule and technology requirements.

For students ages 13-18: There will be 2-5 live-streamed sessions, and each session generally runs from 45-90 minutes with additional one-on-one coaching sessions. Please visit the individual program page for details, including daily schedule and technology requirements.

*Click HERE for AFYP Acting Online Program Curriculum FAQs.

 

Communication—Many students are more comfortable engaging in meaningful conversations online than in a classroom. As the nature of online programs have limited non-verbal communication, students must pay close attention to verbal communication, which can improve their language development, listening skills, and comprehension.

Personalized Learning—Our online programs blend live-streamed class with individualized or group learning and supplemental resources, such as videos, reading materials, and one-on-one coaching. Students will gain meaningful experience through various learning styles.

 

Online education provides students more opportunities to have control over their learning styles and study pace. By the successful completion of online learning, students can improve their self-study skills and become active learners and problem-solvers for more independent learning.

 

To ensure the program is a good fit for your child, we encourage you to read through the program details, including program description, daily schedule, age range, and program and technology requirements.

 

All online programs require students to have, at a minimum: high-speed internet access, a computer/tablet/smart phone with a built-in camera and microphone capable of running the video conferencing tool each program requires. Additional software may apply to some programs. Please visit the program webpage for technology requirements. For best performance, here are our recommended technical requirements:

Operating Systems
macOS 10.13 or newer
Windows 10
Chrome OS
Apple iOS and Android

Computer Speed and Processor
Use a Mac five years old or newer, or other devices three years old or newer, if possible.
4 GB of RAM
2 GHz processor

Internet Speed
Minimum of 1.5 Mbps download and 800 Kbps upload

 

Our goal is to always create a positive, engaging learning environment for our students. To achieve this goal, our instructors will closely monitor each student’s learning progress with guidance, constructive feedback, and individual check-ins.

We will have a Virtual Class Assistant for every program to troubleshoot on-site technology issues, to monitor the security of the classroom, and to manage any disruptive behavior that hinders the progress of a class. We strongly encourage our parents to have a conversation with their children about online courtesy before attending the program.

We strongly encourage you to review the program and technology requirements prior to registration. Select programs may choose to record their live sessions for students to review as needed or at a later date. This is not guaranteed. For best performance, here are our recommended technical requirements:

Operating Systems
macOS 10.13 or newer
Windows 10
Chrome OS
Apple iOS and Android

Computer Speed and Processor
Use a Mac five years old or newer, or other devices three years old or newer, if possible.
4 GB of RAM
2 GHz processor

Internet Speed
Minimum of 1.5 Mbps download and 800 Kbps upload