TERMS OF SERVICE

YOUR PIANO LESSONS

  • Lessons are offered in 15, 30, 45, and 60 minute durations depending on age and ability. Lesson duration may be required to increase over time, and we will notify you when appropriate. Please remember, when students reach a certain level it is counterproductive to have shorter lessons as there will not be sufficient time to cover all areas. 

  • For lessons in your home/online, please ensure you are ready to begin promptly and have all materials ready. Lesson time should not be used to find materials and your teacher cannot always carry spares.

  • In the case that your teacher is held up by traffic, the teacher will always compensate for the delay although they may not be able to do so on that particular occasion.

  • For lessons at your teacher’s home, please arrive on time with all materials required. There is no designated waiting area, so please refrain from knocking if you are early as this will disturb another student’s lesson. Lessons cannot be extended to compensate for lateness.

  • Please ensure that students are collected from their lesson in a timely manner so as to not disturb the next student’s lesson. Students that are collected 10 minutes or later after their scheduled lesson has ended will be charged at the lesson rate.

  • Teachers are assigned based on location and availability. While we strive to maintain continuity in the student-teacher relationship, please note that teachers may vary from year to year in response to scheduling and staffing changes.

TERMLY RECITALS

  • EEPT holds a termly recital opportunity for all students either in person or recorded. Attendance is not compulsory, however we encourage all our students to attend to perform and/or watch.

  • Attendance for Students and Parents is free of charge.

TUITION PAYMENT

  • Students receive 37–40 lessons throughout the academic year. Payment for all the lessons is divided into 12 equal monthly payments (i.e. you will pay the same amount each month regardless of how the lessons are given in a month).

  • Monthly payments will be taken on the 1st day of each calendar month via GoCardless.

  • Cash and cheques are not accepted.

  • Any late payments are subject to a £12.00 (inc. VAT) late fee.

PRICES inclusive of VAT (as of April 2024)

  • 15 minute lessons: £42 per month*

  • 30 minute lessons: £72 per month*

  • 45 minute lessons: £108 per month*

  • 60 minute lessons: £144 per month*

*If you choose to have lessons in your own home, an additional fee of £5.40 per lesson, per household (£18.00 per month) will be added to your invoice.

*Please be aware that all prices are inclusive of VAT.

Please note, Emily Eccles Piano Tuition reserves the right to review and change the prices on an annual basis and you will be given a minimum of 28 days notice with any changes.

LESSONS OUTSIDE OF TERM TIME

  • Extra lessons during the school holidays can be purchased at a rate of £43.20 per hour plus a £5.40 travel fee, if the lessons take place in your own home. These will be held depending on teacher availability and charged via GoCardless on top of your monthly fee. Prices above include VAT.

PIANO HIRE

  • We have a limited number of digital pianos available to hire on a monthly basis when a student first begins lessons without an instrument at home.

  • Any digital pianos hired from EEPT need to be maintained and looked after. Any damage will be paid for by the current family hiring the instrument.

  • Prices of digital piano hire is between £18 - £30 inc. VAT per month (depending on which model of digital piano is hired).

PIANO EXAMS

  • We believe that people learn best when they enjoy themselves, which is why we try to make every lesson, exercise and practice as interesting and enjoyable as possible. Enforcing exams on students who do not want partake goes against the values we hold here at Emily Eccles Piano Tuition.

  • For those who are wanting to take exams, your teacher will advise on which grade the student will be taking and when. If the teacher feels the student needs longer to prepare, they will voice this as early as possible.

  • Face to face exams are available three times per year. Recorded exams are booked in with your teacher at an agreed time, however, these can be taken at any time in the year.

  • We are happy to cover all examination boards.

  • Payment is required before EEPT book the exam for you and the amount will be confirmed in advance.

  • For your information, you can find the current LCME price list for exams here

LESSON MAKE-UP POLICY

  • Regular attendance is necessary for student progress, interest and engagement. When signing up to lessons, you are agreeing to commit to all lessons in your subscription plan. 

  • We therefore DO NOT offer refunds. We understand that emergencies and sickness can happen and we allow a maximum of two rescheduled lessons per term. Any other cancelled lessons will be forfeit. 

  • There will be no make-up lessons offered in July, any lessons cancelled in July will be forfeit.  

  • Please do not attend your lesson or allow your teacher to visit your home for a lesson if you are sick. If the teacher thinks a student is not fit for a lesson, the teacher reserves the right to not teach the lesson and no refund or rescheduled lesson will be offered. Online lessons can be requested in the case where a student is sick but well enough to take a lesson.

  • If your teacher is unable to attend lessons for any reason these lessons will be rescheduled. If we cannot agree on a mutually convenient time to have the lesson, we will offer a refund for the lesson and travel fee.

  • If you have lessons in your own home, lessons that need to be rescheduled, may need to take place at your teacher’s home or online. Rescheduling is dependent on teacher availability.

  • Any lessons rescheduled by the student which do not take place within the remainder of the academic year cannot be carried over to the next academic year.

CONTACTING US

  • If a parent/guardian/student wishes to discuss their child’s/their progress/lessons we can do so at the beginning of the lesson. It is not always possible to discuss matters once a lesson has ended.

  • Alternatively, you can contact Emily Eccles Piano Tuition by telephone, text, or by email.

PARENT/GUARDIAN PARTICIPATION

  • We operate an open door policy; therefore, parents/guardians are invited to observe lessons in a silent capacity. However, we maintain that students tend to respond better without their parents/guardians present.

  • It is very important that parents/guardians encourage and support their child’s learning and practice at home, keeping track of their assignments and progress plans.

  • Parents can contact Emily Eccles Piano Tuition if they have any questions or want advice on how to help their child's progress

MONITORING PROGRESS

  • Students will be taught a mutually agreed progress plan. This will be reviewed at the end of each term. Parents/guardians/students are always welcome to contact Emily regarding progress. Refer to the ‘Contacting Me’ section.

INSTRUMENT

  • It is required that students have an instrument before they begin lessons. Do not hesitate to contact Emily should you need any advice on purchasing an instrument.

  • Acoustic pianos must be well maintained and tuned regularly (every 6 months).

  • Digital pianos must be full sized (88 keys), fully weighted, with a sustaining pedal.

  • Keyboards are not acceptable.

  • An appropriate piano bench is required. It is recommended that piano benches are height adjustable.

  • We may also recommend additional materials, such as a foot stall or pedal extender.

DISCONTINUING LESSONS

  • One month’s notice must be given to Emily Eccles Piano Tuition in writing for discontinuing lessons.

    Students may be dismissed at any time if they consecutively miss payments, fail to practice, show a lack of interest, or behave disruptively.