Terms and Conditions
Staff obligations
It is expected that staff will:
- Organise an up-to-date rotating timetable and make alterations if necessary.
- Encourage and motivate students to learn, practise and improve.
- Reward students for good work using the schools’ virtue systems.
- Teach music notation and aural training.
- Write an annual report for students
- Prepare students for performance assessments at GCSE, AS and A level.
- Enter students for external instrumental examinations if appropriate.
- Keep a weekly lesson register, to be submitted half-termly to the Music Office
- Offer one pupil concert/parent consultation each year.
- Undergo annual performance management
Student expectations
It is expected that students will:
- Check noticeboards for lesson timetables.
- Attend their lessons on time.
- Bring their music to lessons.
- Bring their instrument to lessons.
- Regularly practice their instrument at home in preparation for their lessons.
- Participate in extra-curricular activities organised by the music department.
Parental expectations
It is expected that parents will:
- Pay bills promptly
- Encourage their son/daughter on their instrument.
- Purchase any music and instrumental accessories that are required.
- Remind their son/daughter of their lessons.
- Do their best to provide a quiet environment where their son / daughter can practise.
Examination entries
Associated Board/ Trinity/ Guildhall Music Exams will organised through the Peri staff and usually be held either in school or in association with Poole Grammar School. Students may be entered for external instrumental exams by their school each term at the recommendation of their teacher – this is handled by their instrument teacher. Students may need to provide (and pay for) their own accompanist. There may also be aural sessions provided which we would encourage your son/daughter to attend.
Financial support
If you would like your son/daughter to have instrumental lessons but cannot afford to pay for them, please apply to the school for financial assistance, or for suggestions on musical charities that may help. Students entitled to the pupil premium are entitled to free group lessons, or can pay £65 per term towards individual lessons
Instrument hire
Some instruments are available for hire from Soundstorm – our local music hub which can be done through school, or local instrument shops, e.g. The Music Corner in Oakdale
Arrangement of lessons
We will endeavour to meet your group-size requirements, but this may not always be possible. The instrumental music staff may need flexibility during the academic year to alter group sizes for the following reasons:
- Individual pupils’ progress within the group.
- Commencement/termination of lessons by pupils.
Any alteration of these group sizes, for whatever reason, will only take place at the beginning of each half term. You will be consulted prior to any changes taking place.
Payment for lessons
You will be billed independently by your son’s/daughter’s instrumental teacher. Lessons are to be paid for 1 term in advance, with 10 lessons per term. Failure to pay promptly will result in the possibility of your son/daughter’s instrumental peripatetic music lessons being withdrawn.
Attendance
It is the student’s responsibility to attend their arranged lessons. Instrumental music staff cannot be expected to deal with absence, although the Head of the Music Department will be notified by the instrumental teaching staff for persistent absence and will deal with the matter accordingly. We are unable to provide refunds when the teacher is available and the student is absent for whatever reason (e.g. sickness, lateness or forgetfulness!). In exceptional circumstances (for example school trips and examinations) with at least two weeks written notice given directly to the teacher, the teacher may try and provide the lesson at another time.
Students in examination years
Students in Years 11 and 13 will automatically have their lessons terminated at the end of the first half of the Summer Term unless their parents wish them to continue (if so please put this in writing to the Music Office). Year 12 students will normally continue during exam leave, but will have the option to stop lessons during this period if notice is given. They may wish to negotiate with their teachers to try to ensure, where possible, and with adequate notice as detailed above, that their lessons do not clash with their examinations.
Endangered Instrument Scheme
The school has a small collection of instruments for temporary free hire and temporary free lessons. This is considered on a student-to-student basis, based on their behaviour school-wide and participation in Music lessons. It provides the opportunity for students to try and test an instrument and experience lessons before committing to hiring, buying an instrument and paying for lessons.
The condition of this opportunity is for students to attend an extra-curricular club regularly, e.g. Choir, Band or Theory club.
Lessons available and instruments to try, include:
- Male voice lessons
- Flute
- Clarinet
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Tuba*
- Double Bass*
*Students are not eligible to take these instruments home to practice- they would be expected to carry out practice in school