PensonStringWerks Student Policies, Beginning Jan 1, 2010:
(Publish date: 12/7/09)
For Existing 2009 Students
Beginning January 1st, 2010, we will be going to a semester basis for lessons.
There will be an opt out for this, though, for those who aren't able to schedule
an entire semester. Basically, there will be two paths:
Semester Plan, 1-1-10
1 semester, 3 months, 12 weekly lessons, 360.00 (30.00/lesson) paid in full, in
advance of the first lesson. The reason for putting a time limit on the lessons
is that I can't continue to operate not knowing when my money is coming in. If
you sign up for 4 lessons under the current plan and take 3 months to use them,
I can't budget my income. This would be the equivalent of working for a company
that told you that, based on customer response, you'd be getting some fraction
of your salary each month, maybe 80% this month, and 45% the next. There are
days when I have 5 or 6 regularly scheduled lessons and 4 cancellations. I just
can't continue to operate like this. This new system will basically a "use it or
lose it" system. I will, of course, work with you to reschedule lessons within
the semester so that you can get them all in, but remember that my calendar has
only so much flexibility. Think of this like a semester of college. You pay up
front regardless of your level of participation. The difference is that a prof
won't reschedule classes because you miss. I will attempt to do this with at
least 24 hours notice. I am asking for an increased level of commitment from my
students by doing this, I understand, but I am faced with having to do this in
order to stay in business. I will be distributing contracts to those going to
this plan in the month of December. The contract is not intended to bind you in
any way, but just to get a sign off of approval on the new terms and rates.
Absences: Everybody gets sick, and everybody has emergencies to deal with. There
will be times when I won't be able to make a lesson, too. In those cases, all
attempts will be made to reschedule. If I miss a lesson without 24 hours notice,
you get one free, under the 40.00/lesson plan. If you miss with less than 24
hours notice, the 10.00 restocking fee is still in effect. In the semester
model, if you miss, we will try to reschedule.
Recurrences/Time Slots: Missing two lessons in four recurrences will forfeit
your times slot. For example, if you have a regular Thursday lesson at 4 pm each
week, and miss two in one month, you are subject to losing that slot. Most of my
students want to come at the same times - typically weekdays from 4 to 7 - so
these slots are hard to come by. I have a short list of people waiting for time
slots.
Vacation/Holidays: My schedule with my kids pretty much follows the Arlington
school district schedule. I get two weeks in the summer with them, 1 week at
Spring Break in alternate years, and half of the Christmas break each year.
These periods will be treated just like holidays within the college semester
model with lessons scheduled around them.
All lessons will begin at appointed times.
Please turn off your cell phone (and
I will turn mine off). Lessons are 50 minutes long.
Payment for the 40.00 "per each" rate (non-semester students) will be due at time of lesson.
Jam Camps will be scheduled seperately, as well as paid for seperately. This is
also due to scheduling problems as well as accounting issues. Jam camps will
continue at 25/person for two hours payable at time of camp, weekly on either
Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, (or both). For my own scheduling reasons, a "cut
off" date of Sunday evening each week will be employed for participation in Jam
Camp. If you are unsure whether you can attend or not, you may still attend if
the camp "makes", but I have to know by Sunday night whether it will make or
not. I can't plan my time if I am waiting on Tuesday afternoon for people to
decide whether they will participate that evening or not.