THESE ARE OUR POLICIES
(revised March 2006 and again June 2009)
Places at Stix School are offered on the students'/parents' unreserved acceptance of all the terms and conditions detailed within this document.
FEES and Payment Plans Appointments Period of Notice required Holiday Arrangements - Days of Closure for tuition Liability Ethics Absentees
We currently charge under the rate recommended by the Musicians' Union, The Society of Music Masters' & Mistress', the Incorporated Society of Musicians [ISM] and Barclays Bank. The 'fees charged are determined by demand, the standard being taught where the lessons take place... a private teaching rate of £18.60 per hour ... amateur ... being largely self-taught and offering lessons as a sideline rather than as a serious profession ... Experience and qualifications can allow a tutor to charge a higher rate ... this is matched by an equally high standard of services ... a strong reputation, will enable the tutor to charge more for lessons and be more selective in accepting new students ... commercial premises rather than the home ..." [excerpt from profile written by Project North East, published under licence by Barclays Bank, PLC]. Upon the advice of the Legal Department of the musicians union summer 1999 Martin was told to charge a minimum of £37.50 per hour for his expertise, if not £50. Obviously, not every talented young musician or their parents can afford to pay it's worth. Therefore, for the status Martin holds, at £16.50 per half-hour he is still very much under the rate, but refuses to charge any more than that under contract.
Please see the heading "rates & Payment" for cost information
Over the years we have tried not to increase the costs to our students that we have incurred with the inflation or growth. The solution to uprising costs was to cut our academic year from 52 weeks to 45. We are still open during those scattered 7 weeks, just not for one to one tuition. Normally during that time of individual lesson closure, we have music tuition in the form of workshops at a ridiculously inexpensive charge... masterclasses as well. This means a continuous study in a shared environment without missing a week.
Fees must be paid monthly in advance and all payments must be received by us before the last lesson of your fiscal month [your billing period]. If payment is not made within seven days of your due date, it will be assumed by us that you no longer desire tuition and you will be taken off the register then as 'notice to quit' The only way to avoid automatic expulsion from non-payment is to make prior arrangements with the administrator to amend your payment schedule. If in the event you are on a scheduled holiday or have missed your lesson in the week in which you are due, it will be expected that you leave a cheque with us for receipt on your due date, alternatively we will provide you with a prepaid envelope to ensure your payment reaches us in time.
Upon registering as a student of Stix School, we will require from you:
1. An Entrance Fee of £25.00. This is a retainer that also covers administration and some initial materials
2. Completed and signed agreement [contract]
3. The first month's payment for tuition [This is required regardless of future payment arrangements]
4. Completed and signed Registration Form
Upon registering as a student of Stix School, YOU will receive from us:
1. Welcome Pack [contents may vary]
2. A receipt of payment
3. A copy of your signed contract
4. A standing order mandate [optional]
5. A guaranteed appointment time
6. A Holiday Booking Form
7. A current newsletter
8. A student ID card [good for local discounts]
9. THE MOST IMPORTANT .... OUTSTANDING TUITION
Appointments, Session Times and Holidays
Since the majority of people work weekdays 9 - 5 or are in school during the same hours, we have to be flexible as to when it is convenient to you for your lessons. Therefore, we have a prime time of 4:00 to 8:00 resulting with you more than likely having to be placed on a waiting list in order to accommodate. We do however, work outside of those hours and you are welcome to book daytime lessons from noon to after hours, up to 11pm. We are normally available by telephone or e-mail 7 days a week, but if not, we have an answering service. We operate our normal schedule on all Bank Holidays unless you have been notified of any change, therefore we expect you in for your lesson. Please fill in a Holiday form if you plan not to come in on a Bank Holiday.
You may find that we simply do not have a time slot available during your preference and after you have paid a registration fee, you will be placed on a waiting list and notified as soon as your desired time or day becomes available. Otherwise, we can allocate an opening to get started straight away and you may remain on a list for your preferable time, thereby, as an existing student will have the first option of changing your time or day.
Holiday 'make ups' are usually done when another student is not in, absence. This simply means that we can not allocate a place for you to come in when you book your time off and you may be rung at 'short notice' or have to leave it on account until such time is free. We limit you to four of these types of absences per year.
Illness: A dreadful subject. Unfortunately, because of the large volume of students, it is impossible to make up absences due to illness. If for some reason you illness extends beyond two absences, with a doctors' certificate, we will make arrangements so you do not suffer a great financial loss or placement at STIX.
STIX Day's Off We do not CHARGE you for the time we close! You will remain in credit on your account.
Notice Period If once you have enrolled in Stix School, paid an administration fee, perhaps have had lessons for a while, and decide to cease tuition, then you must give at least ONE Month's clear notice. This means notice to quit must include a months tuition payment. If you are paying on a quarterly basis, then the period of notice will be 6 weeks.
IMPORTANT: If you have had less than 12 months tuition [since payments are based on a pro rata basis], you will be sent a statement of account which may or may not show an additional amount due. This depends upon the time of year due to holidays. It will be expected that the amount shown on your final statement be settled within 30 days. This also applies to a credit balance. If not, proceedings will be taken to recover the outstanding amount.
Repairs & Maintenance can be done with no additional charge to you provided the time taken for labour occurs within the boundaries of your lesson period. You will be charged for anytime outside of your session. Holidays If you are going on holiday, we will need your holiday booking form returned to us with at least 4 weeks notice clear. You may take up to 4 weeks per year with a make up lesson, thereby not losing any time or money provided proper notice has been given. during our weeks of one to one closure, that time does not get made up as those are the weeks that balance the pro rata basis for payment. If your holiday should happen to fall during that time, obviously it is not made up therefore does not count toward your four week quota. Hence a minimum of ten weeks per year with absolutely no financial loss on your part.
Liability Waiver Stix School will not be responsible for students other than their appointment time or extracurricular activities. We will also not take responsibility for articles left on the premises, lost property, injury incurred due to misbehaviour of any participant or occurrence outside of scheduled activities. we also will dismiss anyone guilty of misconduct or in breech of contract. Ethics: It is expected that each student conduct him/herself in a respectful manner. Please note that if at anytime a student acts [including dress] indecently or undesirable, they will be sent home.
THE NEXT STEPS
If you have decided you would like to become a serious student of Stix ... what do you do next? Use our contact page or ring us to set up a consultation appointment free of charge. We'll take it from there.
©stix school 2004 [revised 2009]