FMS-Blog : The Wildly Whimsical, Mostly Musical WebLog
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Student / Teacher Agreement
Over the last 6 months that I've been properly freelancing full time as a music teacher I've found that one of the most frustrating aspects of the job is that the services I offer are sometimes viewed as just that: a service that someone can take or leave according to their whim. This is all very well from the customer's point of view but as private music teacher relies on the income from appointments that are made then often broken with little or no notice given. When this happens, of course, that teacher does not have enough time to rearrange his/her schedule to book in other work.
My website has always stated that I charge for lessons that are cancelled or rearranged without sufficient notice but it has now got to the point where I am going to have to get all my current students (and anyone who signs up in the future for piano, guitar or singing lessons) to sign a written agreement stating that they understand this policy. Frankly, one regular, reliable and committed student is worth four others who may or may not turn up for lessons, and this is why I've had to resort to this measure.
It's a real shame too because until recently I really tried to be flexible and fair with people. As usual in this life, it's always the minority that spoil the situation for the majority of people who do reciprocate that level of respect and decency.
For those who are interested in taking piano lessons with me, click here to download the agreement I have drafted, or see below for a brief list of the main conditions:
My website has always stated that I charge for lessons that are cancelled or rearranged without sufficient notice but it has now got to the point where I am going to have to get all my current students (and anyone who signs up in the future for piano, guitar or singing lessons) to sign a written agreement stating that they understand this policy. Frankly, one regular, reliable and committed student is worth four others who may or may not turn up for lessons, and this is why I've had to resort to this measure.
It's a real shame too because until recently I really tried to be flexible and fair with people. As usual in this life, it's always the minority that spoil the situation for the majority of people who do reciprocate that level of respect and decency.
For those who are interested in taking piano lessons with me, click here to download the agreement I have drafted, or see below for a brief list of the main conditions:
The fixed rate for these lessons will be ÂŁ20 per hour (or a pro-rata calculation based on this rate), plus any agreed travel expenses. The teacher reserves the right to amend this rate in the future, in line with market prices.
When a lesson is booked, both the student and the teacher are committed to sticking to that appointment and showing up promptly for it. They are only usually committed to the next lesson that is booked, unless more than one appointment has been made in advance.
Any cancellation or rescheduling of a pre-arranged lesson must be agreed at least 24 hours prior to the appointment. If a student cancels (or wants to rearrange) a lesson without giving a minimum of 24 hours notice, or doesn’t show up at the arranged time and place, the lesson will be chargeable in full and the balance will be due at the next lesson. If the teacher is unable to give 24 hours notice then the next regular lesson will be given free of charge.
Where extenuating and unavoidable circumstances occur that result in the student failing to give 24 hours notice to cancel, as they sometimes do, this charge may be wavered, at the teacher’s discretion. An example of such an occasion would be a medical emergency.
Students will behave in a respectful manner at all times when dealing with the teacher.
