 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: D.B.
Date: 1999-09-17 16:41
What are the various Teaching Policies out there in regards to cancellations for lessons? How about emergencys, car trouble, sudden sicknesses, etc. I want to hear variations on all the above.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-09-17 17:01
The tutoring policy that I have is that most cancellations require at least 24 hours notice for most of the common things, and even more notice for planned absences. Emergencies cannot be avoided or planned, so both my tutor and I have each other's daytime and nighttime phone numbers, so we can contact each other quickly. The sponsoring store/studio also keeps a book of phone numbers locked away from the public's eye, just in case of emergencies. My tutor called me to cancel a session or two for car trouble and other minor problems. I also called my tutor for the same reasons.
A few months ago, I got a call from the music store owner instead of my tutor. All tutoring sessions were cancelled for at least a week because of a sudden death in the tutor's family.
Be flexible and plan for the worst. Stay in contact. Things will work out.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-09-17 17:35
The instructor that my daughter studied with (and that I also studied with sometimes) had the following policy.
1) If the teacher missed, there was no charge OR the teacher would schedule a make up session. Availability of both student and teacher would determine which approach was used.
2) If the student missed, it depended. Basically you had to pay for the missed lesson as it would not be practical for the teacher to schedule someone in that slot for a single lesson or to schedule someone at the last minute. Afterall, your lesson fee isn't just for the lesson but to guarantee that this block of time is set aside for you. If you were normally a reliable person (and even then it helped to call in advance), the teacher would gladly schedule a makeup lesson. If you were not particularly reliable, then you had to pay for the unused time and if it were a chronic problem, the teacher dropped you.
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Author: D.B.
Date: 1999-09-17 18:16
I asked because I was talking to a teacher in N.C. who told me that in Raleigh, the teacher policies are
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Author: D.B.
Date: 1999-09-17 18:17
I asked because I was talking to a teacher in N.C. who told me that in Raleigh, the teacher policies are very strict in event of cancellation - the student looses the time with most piano teachers out there, and does pay (no makeup given) as it guarantees that the teacher gets paid for the time reserved (does a health club give a refund if you don't come for one month?). Sounded a little extreme, but makes sense.
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Author: Jim Carabetta
Date: 1999-09-17 22:36
My students actually pay the sponsoring store, from which I get my "cut". The student is not charged unless it's for a same day cancellation; they are not charged and the money stays "on account", since they pay per month, and are debited weekly. The next month, the lesson fees would be reduced by the amount on account. An instructor cancellation is handled the same way.
For a same day cancellation, the store policy is to charge the student regardless of reason, and the student is aware of this at the outset in the lesson agreement. The instructor can override the store by agreeing to forgo his/her cut, in which case the student is not charged at all and the money stays on account. If the student is charged for a cancellation, it is not the full lesson cost -- only the cost of the instructors' cut in order for the store to "break even".
The student is not charged nor is the instructor paid for sameday instructor cancellations, but the storeowner is quick to remind instructors of how stern the policy is with students, and expects as much diligence, if not more, from instructors. Any more than 2 same-day occurences within a year is looked at as a problem.
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Author: Kimberly Nisius
Date: 1999-09-18 00:49
The action of the store in Raleigh does sound drastic to me. I have followed the same as mentioned above for my students. If I cancel a lesson for any reason, there will either be make-up lessons or no fee. If the student calls with a 24 hour notice or is an emergency there is again no fee, but if the student is a no show, or they just forgot, even if they call me they still pay.
Where are you located? I am in Greenville! Nice to see another NC person here. How are you with the flood? You dont' have to answer here, you can e-mail me if you would like.
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Author: D.B.
Date: 1999-09-18 12:10
Actually, I am in Phila,PA. but was visiting family in Raleigh, and talking to a close friend who teaches Clarinet (and piano), and subs in the symphony. She was telling me that it was the policy of the area piano teachers (as in most all of them) who were members of the piano guild to have very strict, and unflexible policies. Took me by surprise that they can keep students with such an unflexible policy.
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Author: Tim2
Date: 1999-09-19 04:07
From what I've heard from Nicole, the freshman from South Carolina, it does not surprise me of the strictness from what she has posted in the past. Sounds like musicians are a tough bunch down there. It is my understanding she is from SC. If I am mistaken, I apologize.
Being from the Midwest, would not have thought this from those states. Perhaps it's a trend.
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Author: Merry
Date: 1999-09-19 23:47
I am one of the few, if the only, teacher in my area that does not charge students if they do not show up. I prefer it that they call me so I can try to put someone else in their slot so I can go home earlier. I am not a full time teacher and I have to cancel lessons occassionally so I like there to be a bit of flexability both ways. Most teachers in my area charge by the school term and if the student misses their lesson that is just too bad no matter what the extenuating circumstances are. That's a bit to rigid for me but if it is your sole income you probably have to be a bit more tough.
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Author: Sara
Date: 1999-09-20 03:07
Wow, My teacher and I are pretty good friends so we don't gripe about things, If I don't show up or if he doesn't show up that's okay,because the only reason I would not be their is if something serios happened. If I know about a scheduling conflict then I have my lesson at a different time n the week. Its very, very reflexible as far as showing up. Oh and by the way I'm from SC and it depends who your teacher is as to how strict they are.
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