Fees and Payment
- Lessons must be paid for in advance, at the lesson, or by monthly Direct Debit.
- Payments are accepted by bank transfer, card or Direct Debit.
- Fee rates will not change before the date shown on my website.
- I will give at least one month’s notice of any change in fees.
- Monthly Direct Debit plan:
- This covers up to 40 lessons to be taken within a year;
- The fixed monthly payment will be debited on 1st of each month or just after;
- Fees and payments are fixed for the duration of the plan regardless of any general fee change during the year;
- The plan expires after 40 lessons are taken, or one year from the first lesson, whichever comes first, after which you will be invited to renew;
- You can check your running balance in the student/parent portal;
- If there is a balance remaining at the end of the plan, this will be cleared with a payment or refund at the beginning of the following month.
Cancelling a lesson
- Lessons are held year-round, including during school and bank holidays. If you know you’ll be away, please inform me of the dates as early as possible.
- For short-notice cancellations, such as illness, I ask that you notify me before the scheduled lesson time, and I will offer the option to reschedule if possible.
- You can also cancel and reschedule lessons in the Student/Parent portal.
- There is no charge for cancelled lessons as long as you’ve informed me in advance. If the lesson has been prepaid or you have a monthly Direct Debit plan, the missed lesson will carry forward for future use.
- If you miss a booked lesson without prior notice, it will be forfeited with no refund or rescheduling available.
- If regular weekly lessons are frequently cancelled, I may suggest switching to a flexible booking arrangement so that the time slot can be offered to someone else.
- If I’m away or I need to cancel a lesson, I will provide as much notice as possible. For prepaid lessons or monthly Direct Debit plans, the lesson will carry forward for future use.
Termination of lessons
- If you wish to stop lessons or have a break for any reason, please let me know.
- If you have paid in advance for lessons, I will provide a refund for any not taken.
- If you are on a monthly Direct Debit plan your final payment will be adjusted to reflect lessons actually taken.
Lesson Schedule, Venue, and Attendance
- Students are expected to attend lessons regularly and arrive promptly at the scheduled time. Please note that if you arrive late, the lesson will still end at the usual time and cannot normally be extended.
- Always bring your sheet music to each lesson.
- In-person lessons are held at my private residence. I ask that you treat the space with respect and remain within the teaching room or designated waiting area.
Between Lessons
- Students should have access to a suitable instrument for daily practice.
- For piano students, this should be either a well-maintained and regularly tuned acoustic piano or a digital piano with weighted keys.
- Brass instruments should be maintained and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidance.
- I’m happy to offer advice if you’re unsure whether your instrument is appropriate.
- Consistent progress relies on regular, ideally daily, practice between lessons. I will provide clear guidance on practice priorities during each session.
Other Matters
- From time to time, I may recommend sheet music or method books for study. These should be purchased in good time ahead of the relevant lesson. If preferred, I can source and order the materials, which will be invoiced at their retail price plus postage.
- Students under the age of 18 will only be entered for exams, competitions, or performances with the agreement of both the parent/guardian and the teacher. I am happy to handle exam entries on behalf of the student, provided the required fees are paid to me in advance.