Prelude School of Music Terms and Conditions of Service.
Revised 1st September 2022
These terms and conditions form the basis of the contract between Prelude School of Music and Customers. Customers are subject to and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
In these terms and conditions the following definitions apply:
Prelude School of Music refers to the company which provides the Music Services. References to “Prelude School of Music”/”we”/”our” are to Prelude School of Music,
Customer refers to any individual to whom Prelude School of Music supplies tuition at its studio. “Customer” includes the parent/guardian of the Customer, where the Customer is under the age of 18. References to “you”/”your” are to the Customer.
Due Date refers to the date outlined in any correspondence regarding payment or re-booking.
Lessons(s) refers to the one to one instrumental/vocal/music theory lessons to be provided by Prelude School of Music to the Customer. Lessons can last from 30 minutes to 60 minutes, and take place the the operating address of Prelude School of Music, as outlined on our website.
The School refers to the venue at which the Lessons are provided
Price refers the charge or the services as set out in the Terms and Conditions.
Personal Data refers to the information about you Prelude School of Music collects from the Customer to be able to provide its services.
Re-booking refers to if the Customer wishes to continue with the Lessons beyond the initial agreed period.
Block booking refers to the fixed number of lessons The School offers at a discounted rate when paid for in advance in one lump sum.
Teacher(s) refers to any services provider Prelude School of Music contracts to deliver music lessons.
Terms refers to the terms set out in these terms and conditions of business.
Period refers to the period of Lessons the Customer has agreed to receive from Prelude School of Music.
1: Changes to Terms and Conditions
Any changes to these Terms are valid only if agreed between Prelude School of Music and the Customer. From time to time we may update these terms and conditions by sending you a notification of alteration. Should you choose not to accept these changes please notify us of your non-acceptance within 14 days of notification. Otherwise, the changes will take effect upon the expiry of the 14th day.
2: Booking Lessons
Specialist one to one instrumental/vocal/music theory tuition is provided through one hour or half-hourly lessons at intervals agreed upon by both you and The School. Lesson durations that fall outside of these formats are at the discretion of the Teacher(s), and will be agreed upon with both the Customer and Teacher prior to commencement.
When signing up for Lessons, Prelude School of Music will work with the customer to identify the day and time availability for the instrument/service being sought. We will then pass your personal data to the relevant Teacher(s) in order to arrange a trial lesson. This lesson is charged at the standard rate. Should you choose to continue Lessons with a Block Booking, Prelude School of Music reserves the right to charge the trial lesson separately from a Block Booking.
2.1 Pay-As-You-Go Lessons
Lessons taken on a Pay-As-You-Go basis, are to be taken weekly. These can be scheduled at intervals greater or smaller than one week, only with the express prior agreement from both the Teacher(s) and The School. In the case of Pay-As-You-Go Lessons, the Period will be classed as 7 days. All Lessons must be paid for in advance, at the time of booking. Lessons will not be booked until payment has been received.
2.2 Block Bookings
Should You choose to pay a lump sum for Lessons, these must be taken no less than weekly. A grace period of 2 weeks will be added to the agreed upon Period to allow for illnesses and holidays, but after this Period, You must either enter into a new Block Booking, or Pay-As-You-Go arrangement. In the case of Block Bookings, the Period will be a number of weeks equal to the number of lessons booked in advance, plus the 2 weeks grace period.
Discounts for Block Bookings are only applicable for 4, 6, 8, or 10 lessons booked and paid for in advance on our Full Rate Lessons.
Discounts for Block Bookings on our Concessionary Rate Lessons are only applicable for 10 lessons booked and paid for in advance.
Your first lesson will not be booked until payment has been received.
3: Personal Data
Prelude School of Music will use the Customer’s name(s), telephone number and email address (your Personal Data) to process your booking. We will only use your Personal Data in accordance with our privacy policy which is available to view on our website at:
https://www.preludemusicliverpool.co.uk/privacy-policy
Our privacy policy also contains details of your right to withdraw your consent, to update your preferences, to request further information and to make a complaint.
4. Re-Booking Lessons
In order to give existing Customers priority to continue with their Lessons, Prelude School of Music operates on a rolling system. Existing Customers, once booked in for Lessons, will have their allocated time and day held for one week after their initial Period has ended. Prelude School of Music requires notification of changes to Services no later than 7 days after the initial Period has ended, before we make that time slot available to other Customers.
Should you fail to comply with the deadline, Prelude School of Music will not be able to guarantee your same lesson slot moving forward, as it will be released and made available to others.
If you do not wish to be re-booked for another Period, or you wish to change the day or time of your Lesson(s), you must inform your Teacher(s) and/or The School directly by the stated deadline.
You can do this by phone (+44 74 144 71 585) or email (preludemusicliverpool@gmail.com)
5: Price and Payment Arrangements
The School operates two pricing tiers: Full Rate and Concessionary Rate.
5.1 Full Rate
At the full rate, Lessons are priced at £33 per hour, and £20 per 30 minutes.
Block Booking prices at the full rate are as follows:
£121 for 4 hours
£172 for 6 hours
£220 for 8 hours
£264 for 10 hours
£74 for 4 half-hours
£104 for 6 half-hours
£133 for 8 half-hours
£160 for 10 half-hours
5.2 Concessionary Rate
In order to qualify for the Concessionary Rate, the Customer must be under 18, a full time student, in receipt of benefits, or in receipt of a state pension.
At the concessionary rate, Lessons are priced at £28 per hour, and £17 per 30 minutes.
Block Bookings at the concessionary rate are only available on 10 lessons paid in advance, and are priced as follows:
£252 for 10 hours
£153 for 10 half-hours
5.3 Payment
Payment can be made via bank transfer, payment link, cash or credit/debit card. No financial details are stored by Prelude School of Music. Payments must be made at least 7 days in advance of a new Period of Lessons commencing.
6: Refunds and Cancellations
You may cancel your trial Lesson within 14 days of booking. A refund will be issued only in cases where a trial Lesson has not already been provided. After your trial Lesson, should you choose to continue receiving Lessons, it is expected you will enter into either a Pay-As-You-Go or Block Booking arrangement, whereupon Lessons are non-refundable.
All Lessons are subject to a 24-hour cancellation policy. If you cancel, or fail to attend a lesson with less than 24 hours notice, you will still be charged. In the case of Pay -As-You-Go Lessons, you will be required to make a new payment for your next lesson before we will book you in. In the case of Block Bookings, You will automatically roll over to the next lesson in the Period. In the event you arrive late for your lesson, Prelude School of Music is under no obligation to offer a partial refund for time missed.
Wherever possible, when appropriate notice has been given of cancellation, Your Teacher(s) will endeavour to reschedule to a time that is mutually convenient for both parties. Prelude School of Music is under no obligation to provide a reschedule/catch-up lesson in the event of Customer absence or failure to attend a lesson, for example due to sickness, holidays, school trips, exams, medical appointments or adverse traffic, where the period of notification is less than 24 hours.
If Your Teacher is unable to deliver a Lesson(s) for any reason, every effort will be made for the Lesson(s) to be rearranged at a later date. In the event this is not possible, a catch up lesson will be added to your Period of Lessons at no extra cost.
7: Complaints
If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the Lessons, level of customer service or our performance of this agreement, please send your complaint in writing to the School Director by email (see above). Any determination made by Prelude School of Music arising from the Terms shall be final.
8: Exclusion of Liability
Prelude School of Music does not accept liability for loss or damage to Customers’ instruments or personal possessions. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate insurance for these items.
9: Behaviour
All Customers are expected to behave in a responsible and courteous manner within the School at al times and to attend Lessons regularly. Poor attendance, disruptive or anti-social behaviour may result in tuition being withdrawn with immediate effect. No refunds will be issued in such circumstances.
10: Teachers
All Teachers are highly qualified, trained and are required to hold valid DBS checks.
Prelude School of Music monitors quality and endeavours to provide professional development for all staff. Observation of Teachers’ work for routine performance management may take place during your Lesson. This is non-intrusive to the Lesson content, pace or flow.
11: Safeguarding
Prelude School of Music is committed to the highest standards of promoting the welfare of children and adults and protecting them from harm at all times.
Prelude School of Music is committed to
Protecting children and adults who receive our services;
Ensuring that all members of staff are properly trained and supported in safeguarding;
Ensuring that all Teachers and staff have enhanced DBS clearance checks.
All staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which individuals can learn. We recognise that some children, young people and adults may become victims of neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse and that Prelude of School of Music staff, by virtue of their knowledge and contact with these individuals, are well placed to identify and report such abuse so individuals may be effectively supported as appropriate.
All staff are required to follow the Prelude School of Music safeguarding policy, which is in line with the Liverpool Safeguarding Children Partnership Safeguarding Procedures. In addition, we we will strive to ensure that all Prelude School of Music staff have access to appropriate training and briefings on a regular basis. To follow correct procedures is a statutory requirement, and failure to do so will be treated as gross misconduct.
12: Supervision
A waiting area is provided at The School, should parents wish to remain onsite during Lessons. This waiting area is not staffed. Prelude School of Music only accepts responsibility for children/young people during actual Lesson time. At all other times, responsibility lies with the parents/guardians.
Teachers are not responsible for escorting children/young people to/from Lessons.
13: Resources
Customers may be required to purchase music books/scores and any relevant accessories as required to support their learning. As individual learning requirements are different, please speak to your Teacher about any additional support materials you may need. Prelude School of Music is not responsible for the purchase of any such materials.
14: Examinations
Prelude School of Music offers external examinations with ABRSM, Trinity, LCM and Rockschool.
Your Teacher will advise on the appropriate time and level of examination should you wish to pursue formal instrumental/vocal attainment.
Customers are expected to pay any examination fees, and to make arrangements for accompanists, as appropriate.
15: School Concerts
From time to time, Prelude School of Music will organise informal concerts to celebrate success and progress as well as facilitating the opportunity to gain essential performance experience. Taking part in a concert of this kind is not mandatory, but the opportunity will be offered to all Customers as a matter of course.
16: Workshops
From time to time, Prelude School of Music will organise workshops, masterclasses, and/or other one-off activities outside of regular Lessons. These will not form any part of your regular Lesson Period, and must be paid for separately to ongoing lessons.