Dear Students, Parents and Guardians:
Please review the following Policy Statement with respect to your lessons with me. It is your responsibility to know this information, and it is presumed you will abide by both the spirit of the statement and the explicit details herein. I hope you understand my reasons for having to set this in writing, to protect myself and my time. It’s important that we all understand we have to work together to have a successful musical relationship. Keep practicing and enjoy yourself!!
I.
You are responsible for knowing when your lessons are. Please take a moment to make a note of your lesson times. Not everyone writes this information down or logs it into a Palm Pilot. Calling me to verify times takes up my time, particularly if I have to call someone back on this — please do not make a habit of this.
Scheduling:
Once we schedule for the month you are financially obligated for those lessons. PLEASE… Schedule your lessons carefully, watching for potential conflicts far in advance. My time is completely booked up and I cannot schedule make-ups. In addition, students booking time in September will now be committed through the second week of December to receive preferred lesson times. Likewise returning students in January will be committed through the second week of June to receive preferred lesson times. Preferred lesson time is given to students that come weekly and demonstrate good preparation, good attitude, attention to all details and promptness. If you arrive late for a lesson, you will only receive the remainder of the lesson time that day provided you are no longer than 15 minutes late. Arrival after 15 minutes is considered a No-Show and the lesson is terminated at full value.
II.
Payment:
Monthly lesson money is due, in full for the month, at the beginning of the first lesson of each month. A $10 late fee will be assessed for late payment. I will no longer accept partial payment for the month or individual lessons from September through May unless a student or parent makes other arrangements with me prior to the lesson.
Regarding Dad’s, Nanny’s and Babysitters: On the first lesson of the month --You MUST remember to send with them the lesson payments or THE LATE FEE WILL APPLY. NO exceptions.
III.
Cancellations:
There is only ONE reason that a lesson can be cancelled without a FULL lesson charge being incurred — sickness. Still, you MUST CALL and inform me of this with reasonable notice as I need to be able to shuffle my schedule when necessary. A few hours can make all the difference in the world. If, for any reason, you must miss a lesson, CALL ME DIRECTLY and, if you don’t reach me, leave a message on my voice mail, stating the reason for the missed lesson.
Calling the store and leaving a message with the store does not qualify as direct contact. Neither does a last minute email.
No-Shows and No-Calls will be charged.
REMEMBER: I DO NOT HAVE A 24 hour cancellation policy.
You cannot, without forfeiting lesson money, call me the day before a lesson and say a soccer practice was added or your student forgot to inform you of an event and you can’t make your lesson. You are welcome to call me anytime if someone is sick, and at my discretion I will credit those lessons accordingly.
Additionally, I reserve the right to stop or refuse a lesson to any student that arrives for a lesson with obvious cold or flu like symptoms. Please do not bring potentially contagious students with obvious cold symptoms to lessons.
The lesson will not be credited in the above situation — you will be charged.
IV.
Teacher Absence:
If I need to cancel a teaching day due to my own personal sickness, or to fulfill any professional musical obligation, a credit for any missed lesson will be extended. That credit will be good for a a period of 90 days. In all cases I will do my absolute best to not miss days and will make good on missed lessons.
ALSO:
Ask me if your student’s equipment, reeds and the like, are what I prefer that they be playing. I have inexpensive yet effective suggestions to get the most out of my work with the students, and having the right tools is a big part of the equation. Please discuss with your student the commitment to practicing, which I define as 1/2 an hour a day for middle school students and 45 minutes to an hour a day, or more, for high school students.
Please do not purchase any equipment without discussing it with me first.
ALWAYS take advantage of all performance opportunities, like churches, school, and various community activities, to gain experience performing.
Finally:
I reserve the right to refuse to do business with anyone for reasons I deem necessary.
Thanks for your hard work and dedication to the musical art form.