Studio Teaching Policy
This document lists the policies by which we offer private music lessons at the Ripley Sounds Studio, or online lessons via Zoom, Skype or FaceTime, on either a regular or ad-hoc basis.
Before we commence/continue with your lessons, it is important that you read the following pages carefully, and confirm that you have understood and agree to these terms. If you are unsure of anything, please email info@ripleysounds.co.uk and we will be happy to answer your questions.
A full list of Terms and Conditions is available on our website.
Regular Students
1). Students who commit to weekly or fortnightly lessons receive a discounted rate and a guaranteed time slot.
2). Regular lessons must be paid for monthly in advance. Lesson payments are due by the 28th of each month prior to lessons being given. For example, October lesson payments are due by September 28th; November lesson payments are due October 28th, etc.
3). Payments are non-refundable. If you need to cancel a lesson, you will be issued with a Make Up Credit, which can be used to book an additional session, within three months of the cancellation.
4). Please notify us in advance of planned absences(such as holidays), to receive an amended invoice for the following month. Regular planned absences, that result in less than two lessons being taken per month, may forfeit the discount.
5). Termination of regular lessons requires 30 days’ notice.
Ad-hoc Students
1). Ad-hoc lessons can be booked directly through the student portal or by emailing info@ripleysounds.co.uk. All bookings are subject to availability and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
2). Slots must be booked a minimum of six hours prior to the lesson start time.
3). Payment should be made at time of booking. Please be aware that we cannot proceed with a lesson, until payment has been received.
4). Ad-hoc lessons can be cancelled at any time up until 24 hours before the designated start time, with no charge. After this time, the following cancellation fees are applied:
- Between 24 hours and 12 hours before the lesson start time, 25% of the lesson fee is charged.
- Between 12 hours and 1 hour before the lesson start time, 50% of the lesson fee is charged.
- Less than 1 hour before the lesson start time, 100% of the lesson fee is charged.
5). If you need to reschedule a lesson that has been paid in full, you will be offered a Make Up Credit, in lieu of paying the cancelation fee.
Lateness / Absence
1). Upcoming lessons can be cancelled directly through the student portal, or by emailing info@ripleysounds.co.uk.
2). For last-minute (same-day) cancellations or to notify us of lateness, please contact Cal directly by SMS, to ensure that he receives the message in time.
3). Students should aim to arrive 2-3 minutes prior to the start of a lesson. Late arrivals will result in reduced lesson time, as we usually cannot allow lessons to overrun, due to other students and commitments.
4). If we have not heard from or been able to contact you after 15 minutes into the lesson time, the lesson will be cancelled.
5.) Lesson time missed due to lateness, or absence without notice, is non-refundable and ineligible for a Make Up Credit.
Illness
If you are feeling unwell, have symptoms of an illness or are recovering from an illness, we would kindly ask that you do not attend the studio. Lessons can easily be moved online if you feel well enough to proceed. Alternatively, you can rearrange the lesson for a later date, observing the cancellation policy outlined above. Being self-employed, Cal relies on his ability to remain heathy, especially as he uses his voice often and comes into contact with many students each day. We reserve the right to refuse entry to the studio, or to stop a lesson, if a student is clearly unwell.
(Please see the COVID-19 Prevention PDF for information regarding our COVID specific policies.)
Data Protection: GDPR
Ripley Sounds:
All data will be stored in compliance with the Data Protection Act. Student information will be retained for 2 years after musical services are terminated.
Mailchimp:
By accepting the terms of this policy, you opt-in to receive newsletters and promotions via Mailchimp. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.
My Music Staff:
The sign-up data you provide will be entered into My Music Staff. You can find details of their privacy policy here. You will receive a personal login for My Music Staff, so that you can book lessons through the Student Portal and view or edit the details on your account.
Image Release:
By agreeing to these terms, you also consent to being included in images, video or audio recordings shared on social media, our website or promotional materials. If the student is under 18 years old, this consent to use the student’s image is provided by a parent or guardian. To withdraw this consent, please email info@ripleysounds.co.uk.