Music Studio


Studio Policies and Fees

From September 2020

(Updated March 2024)


Please note that by signing up for lessons you are automatically agreeing to these terms and conditions and they are legally binding and non negotiable


The terms and conditions are set out to ensure fair practice on both parties.


1. Lesson Scheduling: The student will meet with the instructor weekly on each instrument (in most cases)

1.1 Recommended length of lesson is as follows:

Beginners (up to Grade 3): 30 min; 

Lower Intermediate (Grade 4-6): 45 min, 

Upper Intermediate & Advanced (Grade 7-8 and diploma): 60 min plus

Students on scholarship programmes for top schools such as Eton, Harrow, Wycombe Abbey or Cheltenham Ladies College, etc. would be recommended for more than one lesson per week. Please note that this is only a rough guide - everyone's needs and circumstances are different.

1.2 Lessons are tailored to the individual.

  • Lessons are booked and agreed in the lesson calendar.
  • Once you are signed up lessons continue weekly on a rolling basis until you give proper notice for cancellation of lessons. For more information on giving notice on lessons, see section 9 below. A minimum of 30 days notice is required.
  • Lessons continue through the school holidays as normal because of the importance of regular tuition to keep building progress. See section 4 about holidays.
  •  Please note that if you are late for the lesson for any reason, whether the lesson is in person or online this cannot be made up. Lessons cannot run over as this will affect the lessons of others. Therefore please make sure you have everything ready before the lesson starts; when travelling to the lesson, leave home for the lesson in plenty of time, checking traffic, etc.
  • If I am late for the lesson, I will make this up to you on a future date. If iI fail to do this you will be entitled to a refund for the proportion of the lesson that was missed

2. Tuition Fees and Payment of Fees:

2.1 General Lesson fees are as follows;

     -60-minute lessons £48

     - 45-minute lessons £37

     - 30-minute lessons £26.50

*It would be greatly appreciated if you can stick to the allotted lesson start times - just because I'm not teaching /free doesn't mean I'm free to teach - even teachers need a break/snack sometimes!

2.2

  • Tuition fees for the whole month are due on the 1st of every month for the months' lessons ahead in advance. You will receive an invoice to confirm the amount towards the end of the month before the invoice is due. Please pay the invoice before the 7th of the month at the latest, informing me of any discrepancies immediately so that they can be resolved promptly.
  •  If there are any problems paying the lesson fees please make contact with me urgently to discuss.
  • To cancel/reschedule a lesson see the booking section 3
  • Trial, or consultation lessons are charged at the normal rate (see 2.1) but with trial lessons, the standard 30 day notice does not apply. You will confirm after the trial lesson whether you wish to continue on a regular basis or not.
  • Repeated late payment of invoices will risk cancellation of lessons
  • Following a 3rd reminder, lessons will be paused until such time the payment is made
  • Non payment of lesson fees more than 48 hours after the 3rd final reminder without any communication as to the reason why so that it can be resolved will result in the lessons being automatically paused until payment is made. At this stage you will risk losing your slot to someone on the waiting list.


2.3 Electronic payment methods (bank transfers are preferred). You will have already received bank details for transferring lesson fees.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

3. Missed/Forgetting/Cancelled/Rescheduling Lesson Policy:

  • Booked lessons (in person or online) missed by the student for ANY reason (for example forgetting, no show or last minute illness) will not be refunded. Nor will they be rescheduled. To reschedule/cancel a lesson requires a minimum of 48 hours notice. This policy is strict and not negotiable.
  • Reasonable notice must be given to reschedule a lesson - at least 48 hours. Anything less than this, lessons cannot be refunded and only rescheduled if there has been a cancellation in the teaching calendar, which is unlikely because the teaching calendar is usually full. It is therefore important that when you receive your invoice for the month that you check that the scheduled lessons are ok for you to attend.
  • In rare adverse weather conditions lessons and you are unable to make the lesson the same 48 hour policy applies but lessons revert to online so that you do not miss your lesson. Online lessons take place primarily on SKYPE or as an alternative, WHATSAPP
  • Giving notice to cancel a lesson or rearrange it (minimum 48 hours) MUST be written - either email or via whatsapp so that proper notice is given.
  • Booked lessons that start late for any reason that are not the fault of the teacher will not be refunded nor rescheduled.
  • Booked lessons that start late or have to end early that are the fault of the teacher will be made up (not refunded).
  • With online lessons if the lesson has begins and the instrument is unusable, for example so badly out of tune that it cannot be played or damaged, etc, the lesson cannot be rescheduled nor refunded as this is not the teachers fault and the time has been booked. It is important to check if all is working well before any lessons start. Tuning apps can be downloaded and it is the parents and students responsibility to make sure online lessons will run smoothly.
  • Lessons missed by the teacher will always be made up if possible or refunded when the teaching schedule is full.
  • If online lesson time is lost due to the teacher not being ready then this time will be made up to you.
  • If you frequently cancel lessons you will risk losing your booked slot to someone on the waiting list.
  • Changes to the allotted time or cancellation of lessons requires 30 days notice.

Please note; If you are unable to make the lesson for some reason (for example car has broken down) I can also do the lesson online instead via Skype or FaceTime when required at the original time as an emergency alternative - but please let me know in advance if this will be the case.

4. Booking time off for Family Holidays, Events,etc


When you book your annual vacations etc, or have a special event please let me know at the earliest opportunity so that I can adjust the calendar and your invoices accordingly. Please note that I teach continuously throughout term time AND throughout the holidays. If I take a vacation you will be informed well in advance but this is generally not more than 2 or 3 weeks in the entire year.

***Sometimes students and families wish to take 'extended breaks' throughout the summer holidays - please be advised that if you take a break more than a few weeks in the summer holidays I will now no longer be unable to guarantee the place will still be available upon return in September. A normal 2-3 week vacation is perfectly understandable in the summer holidays but if you take a break longer than this (for example the entire summer holiday), then of course this is totally your right but your lesson booking will risk being taken by someone else, as much as I enjoy teaching your son or daughter. The teaching schedule at The Music Studio is incredibly full most of the time, including holidays and as such the lesson bookings you are given are all prime lesson slots. I constantly now have a waiting list of people wishing to take lessons on a regular basis***

5. Parent/ Guardian Responsibilities:

*The parent is to pay lesson fees on time, assist in scheduling make-up lessons when required, communicate in a timely manner, provide an instrument in the best possible condition, and assist and encourage regular practice. 

*Please ensure you have provided me full details of your address, parent phone numbers for emergency contact - without this information for the protection of your son or daughter I cannot proceed with lessons.

*Upon entering the studio (the music teaching room), you agree to all studio policies. If maintenance is required on the instrument, this should be done as soon as possible. The student's attendance at all scheduled lessons is necessary for continued progress. Parents must arrange their schedules accordingly to ensure the student arrives on time for each lesson.

  • Note; if there are circumstances where you are unable to attend the lesson last minute, you can reschedule to a different time (no more than once per month, or take the lesson to an online lesson at the booked time (you can do this whenever required).

-While it is, ultimately, the student's responsibility to practice regularly, parents must actively participate by providing a distraction-free time and place for the student's daily practice, by checking practice logs, communicating with the teacher, and listening while your child plays for you as often as you can. You can further help your child's musical development by enrolling them in group classes, piano lessons (for violinists), a school-based ensemble(s), or groups like The Chiltern Music Academy and by attending musical events together regularly. It is especially important for very young students to have supervision and it is recommended parents sit in on lessons (not currently available due to COVID restrictions) so that you can help them when they are practicing at home.

  • Please encourage the student to use the practice log (you will need to provide me with a student email ID which is different to the parent email ID in order that the student can have their own log in).
  • Please ensure that students have access to the lesson notes so that they can remember what to focus on and what to practice.

5.1 *COVID update*

Whilst social distancing measures are in place certain changes have been made to in person lessons for the time being;

  • Parents please remain outside the property. Only the student will enter. This is simply to minimise the number of people entering the property and to increase your protection. Exceptions will be for particularly young students who require their parents with them.
  • Students will have access to anti-bacterial wash for their hands as they enter and as they leave.
  • The teacher will generally not touch the students’ music or instrument- but will instead assist the student in tuning their violin themselves and students will notate fingerings and bowing etc., on the music themselves under guidance.
  • If the student has had a temperature/cough or any other COVID symptoms within the last 7 days please do not send your son/daughter to the Studio - we can do the lesson online instead via Skype or FaceTime.
  • Students should bring their own pencils and rubbers too for lessons and keep one in their case.
  • Cash payments are currently not preferred - see above how to pay for lessons.
  • If you or anyone in your household have been required to self isolate for the 14 days we can immediately revert to online lessons for the duration of your isolation. Please just let me know if this is the case.
  • ***IN THE EVENT OF A FULL LOCKDOWN, where lessons cannot happen in person due to government restrictions, lessons will revert to online (SKYPE or FACETIME) for the duration of that lockdown


6. Student's Responsibilities:

On time,

Well prepared,

With all the necessary materials. Please bring your own pencil - just keep a couple in your case or music bag.

For online lessons - please make sure the device you are using has enough charge for the online lesson - SKYPE can drain the battery very quickly if there is no power!


He/she must schedule routine, daily practice without distractions and utilise/reference the practise notes during practice to remind them on teacher's notes and assignments - things to focus on each week.

7. Library: Students may occasionally be lent sheet music or other materials.  A note of any materials borrowed will be made at the point they are being lent out. If the music is not returned, a charge will be made to replace the music at NEW cost.

8. Dismissal/ Dropping/Termination of lessons: If the student or parent decides to discontinue lessons,

*Notice for termination of lessons is minimum of one calendar month.

*The terms and conditions in general are legally binding and as such if parents or students breach these they are subject to immediate termination of lessons once any lessons that have been paid for are completed. If such a situation occurs, any lessons already paid for are not refunded due to the breach.

*When notice has been given in the last/final month no further lesson refunds are given in that final month.

*The instructor/teacher reserves the right to dismiss any student who cannot or will not practice consistently or whose behaviour/ attitude is not conducive to progress. Students may be dismissed for continually being unprepared, for showing disrespect to the instructor or the learning process, or for other reasons. A probationary period for new students is given in most cases, following a consultation with the parent.

*If lessons are missed or begin late, or are cancelled without due notice on a regular basis, or persistently pay fees late, then regrettably I reserve the right to give notice to cease lessons and give the teaching space to someone else on the waiting list.

Note; Students/children can go in waves of enthusiasm and waves of disinterest in a musical instrument as they grow up. This is normal - it is parental encouragement and teaching the importance of perseverance that is crucial to helping students continue to make good progress. It is also really helpful to encourage their involvement in school orchestras, etc.

9. Accompaniment of exams:

Where possible I will accompany exams, however there will be a significant number of exams that I will be unable to accompany due to exams being during the day when I am teaching in in school. In addition to this it is also better to use a professional accompanist for the higher level exams typically from grade 6 upwards so that you can help ensure the best outcome for the exam. 

On these occasions you will be required to use an accompanist and pay for the accompanist to accompany your son/daughter on the day of the exam. This will usually require at least one rehearsal in advance of he exam too. I will help you source an accompanist and then you will be responsible for organising rehearsals with him/her. All payments to the accompanist are agreed between yourself and the accompanist and not the responsibility of The Music Studio.

10. Changes to the terms and conditions

I reserve the right to change the terms and conditions at any time, but will always give students and parents a minimum of 1 months notice of any changes.


*****By having lessons with The Music Studio, you are hereby agreeing to these terms and conditions which is legally binding. These terms and conditions are in place to help ensure students make the best possible progress*****


Terms and conditions updated March 2024