LESSON Terms & Conditions

Lesson Booking & Payment

• Lessons are paid for in advance in monthly blocks of four.
  Payment secures your weekly time slot.
  Payment for the next block is due on the day of your final lesson of the current block. This reserves your regular weekly time slot.
• Please ensure to send your payments on time.
• Payment methods: bank transfer or cash.
• Your next lesson slot is not guaranteed until payment is received.

I also offer a one-off paid trial lesson at the standard lesson rate. This must be paid in advance via bank transfer. If you decide to continue after the trial, lessons then move onto the usual block-of-four payment structure to secure a regular slot.

Lessons run weekly only. I do not offer fortnightly or bi-weekly lessons, as they do not support consistent progress.

Cancellations, Reschedules & Missed Lessons

• 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule any lesson – for any reason (including illness, holidays, school events).
• If 48 hours’ notice has been adhered to, I will try to find you a new time slot or credit you another lesson. Please note however, there is no guarantee of a re-schedule.
• Less than 48 hours’ notice?
  That session will still be charged and can’t be rescheduled.
• I’ll always try to offer a new slot if I can, but it’s not guaranteed.
• No-shows (non-attendance with no notice) will be charged in full.

This applies equally to single lessons, block bookings, packages and vouchers.

 Late Arrival: Lessons will finish at the scheduled end time regardless of late arrival. If the tutor is late, they will make up reasonable lost time where possible. 

Feeling Unwell?

 If you or your child is unwell (cold, flu, Covid symptoms, etc):

• Should you wish to cancel or re-schedule, our lesson will not be refunded unless I have been given 48 hours’ notice, as per my cancellations policy. The same goes for no-shows due to illness.
• We can however switch your session to Zoom at the usual time (paid-for at the usual rate). Just ensure you pre-arrange this with me in advance.
• If you do not want to switch to a Zoom lesson, please ensure you give 48 hours’ notice to avoid your lesson being charged.
• Please don’t bring visibly unwell children in person.
  I may refuse the lesson without refund if a child arrives clearly unwell.

Trial Lessons

 A one-off trial lesson is available at the standard lesson rate (no discount available). Booking a regular time slot following the trial requires full payment in advance for the next month to secure your place. 

Gift Vouchers / Pre-paid Packages

A prepaid package must normally be used within 12 weeks of purchase.

The 12-week period will be extended where:

• Charlie cancels or is unavailable;
• the package could not reasonably be used because suitable agreed appointments were not offered;
• an agreed reasonable adjustment requires an extension; or
• Charlie has confirmed another arrangement in writing.

Any expiry or deduction will be applied fairly and will not remove the pupil’s statutory rights.

Pre-paid lesson packages (including 4-lesson packages):

• All pre-paid lesson packages must be used within 12 weeks of purchase.
• Lessons cannot be held or carried beyond this period.
• Unused lessons after 12 weeks are forfeited.

Going Away?

• If you’re taking a break (e.g. school holidays, summer term, vacation), please let me know at least 4 weeks before your next scheduled lesson to avoid being charged. Otherwise, full charge applies.
• You can pause lessons for up to 4 weeks per year with the appropriate notice. Any longer and your slot may be released and offered to someone else.
• Please give at least 4 weeks’ notice. If not, you’ll need to pay a fee covering 4 weeks of lessons in lieu to temporarily pause your slot.

The same applies for School terms and Summer break, I will not assume your child is taking the full Summer off of lessons, since many children do continue learning with me. Please provide the full 4 weeks of notice to allow me time to fill my calendar and make up for lost earnings, otherwise 4 lessons will need to be charged for.

This helps keep things fair, protects my income and allows me time to offer your slot to someone else during your break.

Online Lessons

• Zoom lessons are available at the same price as in-person lessons.
• If you prefer to switch to Zoom temporarily or permanently, this is fine — just let me know.
• You can switch between in-person and online lessons with notice.
• Please make sure you have:
  
  • A good internet connection
  • A quiet space
  • Guitar tuned and ready
  • Logged in on time for your session

Late Arrival

 A pupil who arrives late will receive the remaining part of their booked lesson. The lesson will still finish at the agreed time and the full fee remains payable. 

Teaching Location & Arrival

I teach from my home guitar room in Kings Langley. There is on-street parking available.

• The full address and door number will be shared once your lesson is confirmed and payment has been received.
• Please ring the doorbell on arrival. If I don't come down straight away, don't worry, I'm likely still teaching someone else, please be patient and I'll be with you as soon as possible.
• Please arrive no earlier than your lesson time, as I teach back-to-back sessions and there is no waiting room.

Important Contact Information

 For anything urgent, including same-day changes or issues, please call or text me directly on 07709 118932.

Please do not email for urgent matters, as emails are not checked regularly.

 Regularity of Lessons 

Lessons normally take place weekly at the regular time agreed with the pupil.

Fortnightly, occasional, flexible or ad-hoc lessons are available only where Charlie has expressly agreed this and has suitable diary availability.

Advertising a range of lesson times does not guarantee that every format or time will remain available.

Between-lesson Support

Reasonable WhatsApp, email or telephone support may be available between lessons for brief questions about practice, songs, equipment or lesson preparation.

This support:

• is not unlimited;
• does not guarantee an immediate response;
• is normally answered during reasonable working hours;
• is not a substitute for a booked lesson; and
• is not an emergency, medical or mental-health support service.

 Lesson Cancellation 

At least 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule a private lesson.

Where less than 48 hours’ notice is received, or the pupil does not attend, the full lesson fee will normally remain payable because the time has been reserved and may not be capable of being filled.

If Charlie fills the cancelled appointment with another paying pupil, he will not recover twice for the same time.

Where more than 48 hours’ notice is given, Charlie will offer a reasonable alternative date or lesson credit, subject to availability.

If Charlie cancels, he will provide a replacement lesson or refund the affected lesson fee.

Online Lessons

The video-conferencing platform will be confirmed when the lesson or course is booked.

The pupil is responsible for a suitable device, internet connection, instrument and safe private location.

If the pupil’s technology prevents the lesson from taking place, the normal cancellation terms apply.

If Charlie’s technology prevents the lesson from taking place, he will offer a replacement lesson or refund.

Charlie may use a different suitable platform after giving reasonable notice, provided this does not materially disadvantage the pupil.

Ending Lessons

A pupil may stop regular lessons by giving written notice before the next unpaid booking period begins.

Any lesson already confirmed remains subject to the cancellation policy.

Charlie may end tuition for non-payment, serious or repeated misconduct, safeguarding concerns, an irreparable breakdown in the teaching relationship or another substantial reason.

Where possible, Charlie will explain the concern and provide reasonable notice. Any unused prepaid balance exceeding tuition supplied and Charlie’s reasonable loss will be refunded.

Learning Outcomes

Charlie will deliver tuition with reasonable care and skill but cannot guarantee a particular result, grade, performance outcome or rate of progress.

Progress depends on attendance, practice, starting point, health, motivation and other individual factors.

Reasonable Adjustments

Pupils and parents should tell Charlie about access, disability, SEND, sensory, communication or support requirements that may affect tuition.

Charlie will consider reasonable adjustments but cannot guarantee that every requested arrangement can be accommodated safely within a private home teaching environment.

Changes to Prices and Terms

Price changes apply only after reasonable advance notice and do not retrospectively change the price of lessons or packages already purchased.

Updated terms apply to future bookings. A material change will not be imposed on an existing booking without agreement.

Statutory Rights

Nothing in these terms limits the pupil’s statutory consumer rights or excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

WORKSHOP TERMS AND CONDITIONS

These terms apply to adult and children’s guitar workshops, short courses, group sessions and holiday workshops provided by Charles Hodgson, trading as Charlie Hodgson Guitar Tutoring.

They should be read alongside the booking confirmation, workshop information, Privacy Notice and, for children’s workshops, the Parent Consent and Participant Information Form.

1. Booking and acceptance

A workshop booking is confirmed only when:

• Charlie has accepted the booking in writing;
• any required deposit or course fee has been received; and
• any mandatory participant or parental forms have been completed by the stated deadline.

Submitting an enquiry or registration form does not guarantee a place.

The person making a booking must be aged 18 or over. For a child’s booking, that person confirms that they have parental responsibility or authority from somebody with parental responsibility to make the booking.

These terms must be read before agreeing to attend.

2. Workshop format

The dates, times, duration, location, age range, intended ability level, course fee and number of sessions will be shown in the booking information.

Where a workshop is sold as a connected course, all listed sessions form one booking. Individual dates cannot be separated, exchanged for private lessons or purchased individually unless Charlie agrees otherwise in writing before the booking is confirmed.

The participant is expected to attend every date included in the course.

Charlie may adapt the order of activities, repertoire, exercises and teaching material according to the ability, interests, safety and progress of the group. Minor adjustments to content do not amount to cancellation of the workshop.

3. Participant numbers

Workshops are designed as small-group tuition. Any advertised group-size range is an intended or maximum size rather than a guaranteed number unless the booking confirmation expressly states otherwise.

A workshop may run with two participants. This means that there may be only one other participant attending.

The number of people who attend a particular session may be lower than the number originally booked because another participant may cancel, become unwell, arrive late or fail to attend. Charlie cannot guarantee that every booked person will attend every session.

If another participant withdraws or is absent after the course has begun, or at short notice before a session, the workshop may continue with fewer participants, including one participant, where Charlie considers this suitable and safe. The scheduled tuition will still be provided and a refund will not arise solely because another participant is absent.

If Charlie knows before the course begins that only one participant is confirmed, he will explain the proposed format. The customer may agree to proceed with a tailored individual session or receive a refund of the workshop fees paid.

Where a minimum number is required for a particular course, this will be stated before booking. If that minimum is not reached, Charlie may:

• cancel the course and refund all course fees paid; or
• propose a different format, duration, price or date.

Any revised arrangement will require the customer’s written agreement. The customer is not required to accept a materially different arrangement.

4. Age, level and suitability

Participants must meet the age and experience requirements stated for the workshop.

Parents and adult participants must give accurate information about current playing level, experience, support requirements and any matter that may affect safe participation.

Charlie will aim to group participants by age and ability where this is part of the course description, but cannot guarantee an exact age, grade, personality or experience match.

Sometimes workshops may be for all abilities. Charlie may contact the customer before confirming a place to assess whether the workshop is suitable.

If the workshop is not suitable on his side before it begins, Charlie may decline the booking and refund any payment received.

If relevant information was withheld or was materially inaccurate and this makes participation unsafe or seriously unsuitable, Charlie may require the participant to leave. Any refund for future sessions will be assessed fairly, taking account of tuition already provided and losses caused by the breach.

5. Fees and payment

The total fee, deposit, balance and payment deadlines will be confirmed before booking.

A deposit reserves a limited workshop place and contributes towards administration, preparation and the commercial loss that may arise if the place is cancelled.

Unless the booking information says otherwise, a set deposit is required to reserve a place.

The deposit is non-refundable where the customer cancels, subject to:

• the cancellation terms below;
• Charlie’s obligation to avoid recovering more than his net loss; and
• the customer’s statutory rights.

The deposit will be refunded where Charlie cancels the whole course, makes a material change that the customer does not accept, or the law otherwise requires a refund.

The remaining balance must be received by the deadline stated in the booking confirmation.

If payment is late, Charlie will contact the customer and may give a short final deadline. If payment remains outstanding, the place may be released. Any amount retained will be limited to Charlie’s reasonable loss.

6. Cancellation by the participant

Workshop places involve fixed dates, limited capacity and advance preparation. The following cancellation charges apply where the participant or parent cancels the complete booking:

The the full course fee remains payable, no refunds allowed.

Failure to attend without notice: the full course fee remains payable, no refunds allowed.

These charges represent a contribution towards the likely loss caused by holding a limited place, preparing the course and being unable to fill the place at short notice.

Charlie will take reasonable steps to fill a cancelled place where there is a suitable waiting list or reasonable opportunity to do so. If the place is filled, Charlie will refund any amount retained which exceeds his reasonable administration costs, unrecoverable expenses and net loss.

Cancellation must be communicated by email, WhatsApp or text. The cancellation takes effect when it is received.

1. Illness, emergencies and changes in personal circumstances

Illness, family emergencies, holidays, transport problems, work commitments, school activities, timetable clashes and changes of mind do not automatically entitle the customer to a refund or rescheduled workshop.

The cancellation terms above will normally apply because the place and teaching time have been reserved and may be difficult to fill.

A participant must not attend if they have an infectious illness that could place Charlie or another participant at risk. However, no refunds will be offered.

Where possible, the customer may propose a replacement participant for the complete remaining course. Any replacement must:

• meet the stated age and ability requirements;
• be approved by Charlie;
• complete all required forms;
• accept these terms; and
• provide adequate notice for Charlie to assess suitability.

Places cannot be transferred privately without Charlie’s written agreement.

7. Missed sessions

A missed session cannot normally be:

• refunded;
• repeated privately;
• transferred to another workshop;
• exchanged for a private lesson; or
• added to the end of the course.

Charlie may provide materials or brief practice guidance from the missed session where practical, but this is not guaranteed.

Arriving late does not extend the finishing time.

8. Cancellation or changes by Charlie

Charlie may cancel or rearrange a workshop because of illness, emergency, unsafe premises, severe disruption or another circumstance that prevents the session from being delivered safely.

If Charlie cancels the complete course before it begins, all course fees paid will be refunded.

If Charlie cancels one session, he will offer a reasonable replacement date. If a suitable replacement cannot be provided, or the customer cannot reasonably attend the replacement date, the fee attributable to the cancelled session will be refunded.

Charlie may make minor changes to the teaching plan, repertoire, room layout or running order.

If Charlie proposes a material change to an agreed date, location, duration, overall format or price, the customer may reject the change and receive a refund for the affected service.

Charlie will not be responsible for losses that were not reasonably foreseeable when the contract was made, such as unrelated travel, accommodation or lost earnings, except where the law requires otherwise.

9. Children’s workshops

Children must be collected and dropped off by the agreed adult unless another arrangement has been confirmed in writing.

A parent or guardian must:

• complete the Parent Consent and Participant Information Form;
• provide at least one primary and one alternative emergency contact where possible;
• remain contactable during the workshop;
• name every adult authorised to collect the child;
• notify Charlie of any change to collection arrangements;
• collect the child promptly at the stated finish time; and
• disclose relevant medical, allergy, medication, SEND, sensory, communication, access and support information.

Charlie will not release a child to an adult who has not been authorised in advance unless the parent or guardian confirms the change directly and Charlie is satisfied that it is safe to do so.

Children will normally remain within the designated teaching, refreshment and toilet areas.

Charlie does not provide intimate or personal care. Any relevant support requirement must be discussed and agreed before booking.

Parents must not send unbooked siblings or additional children to remain at the premises.

10. Medical information, allergies and medication

The participant or parent must provide information that Charlie reasonably needs to run the workshop safely.

For children, this includes relevant:

• allergies and intolerances;
• coeliac disease and dietary requirements;
• medical conditions;
• emergency instructions;
• prescribed medication;
• hearing sensitivity;
• physical restrictions; and
• support or access requirements.

Medication must be in date and labelled. Unless a different written arrangement has been agreed, children who carry medication must be able to use it independently.

Charlie may contact a parent, emergency contact or emergency services if somebody becomes unwell or is injured.

In an urgent situation, Charlie may share relevant medical or allergy information with emergency services.

11. Refreshments and allergens

Where refreshments are offered, Charlie will normally use shop-bought, individually packaged products.

Parents will be asked to provide allergy, intolerance and dietary information and may be shown the proposed product and ingredient label.

Parents may provide a named, sealed snack from home instead.

Charlie will take reasonable care when selecting and serving refreshments, but cannot promise that the home, manufacturers or packaged products are entirely free from traces of a particular allergen.

Participants must not exchange or share food.

Food and drinks must remain in the designated refreshment area and away from guitars, amplifiers, cables and electrical equipment.

12. Disability and reasonable adjustments

Charlie welcomes information about disability, SEND, sensory, communication, mobility and access requirements.

He will consider reasonable adjustments that may enable the participant to take part safely and without substantial disadvantage.

An adjustment must be discussed before the workshop where advance planning is required.

Charlie cannot promise that every requested arrangement will be possible within a private home teaching environment, but he will consider each request individually and will not charge for a reasonable adjustment.

13. Conduct and safety

Participants must:

• treat Charlie, other participants and the premises respectfully;
• follow reasonable safety and safeguarding instructions;
• use instruments and equipment appropriately;
• avoid threatening, abusive, discriminatory or seriously disruptive conduct;
• keep food and drinks away from electrical equipment; and
• avoid moving amplifiers, furniture or cables without permission.

Charlie may pause a workshop, contact a parent or ask a participant to leave where there is serious or repeated conduct that creates a safety risk or prevents the session from continuing.

Where appropriate, Charlie will explain the concern and allow the participant an opportunity to correct their behaviour.

If a booking is ended because of a serious breach, the customer remains responsible for tuition already supplied and Charlie’s reasonable losses. Any unused balance exceeding those losses will be refunded.

14. Instruments and personal property

Participants should bring the instrument and equipment specified in the joining information.

Guitars, amplifiers, cables and other electrical items must be in safe working condition.

Charlie may decline to connect or use equipment that appears unsafe or damaged.

Personal belongings remain the participant’s responsibility. Charlie is not responsible for loss or damage unless it results from his negligence or breach of contract.

Participants must take reasonable care of Charlie’s instruments, equipment and home. The customer may be responsible for the reasonable cost of repairing deliberate or negligent damage caused by them or their child.

Valuable items should not be brought unless needed for the session.

15. Home teaching premises

Workshops may take place in Charlie’s downstairs home teaching space or upstairs teaching space.

Participants and accompanying adults must remain within the designated areas.

Arrival should be no more than a few minutes before the stated time unless another arrangement has been agreed.

Parking is on surrounding public streets and is subject to the applicable restrictions. Charlie is not responsible for parking penalties, vehicle damage or theft unless caused by his negligence.

Smoking, vaping, illegal drugs and alcohol are not permitted within the teaching premises.

Anybody who appears intoxicated or unfit to participate safely may be refused entry.

16. Photography, audio and video

Photography and recording permission is separate from the compulsory booking terms.

Refusing promotional photography or recording does not affect a participant’s place.

No identifiable photograph or recording of a child will be published by Charlie unless the appropriate permission has been obtained. Charlie will also consider the child’s own wishes.

Participants and parents must not publish identifiable images, recordings or personal information about another participant without that person’s or parent’s permission.

Workshop teaching must not be secretly recorded.

17. Teaching materials and copyright

Chord sheets, arrangements, exercises, lesson notes and other materials supplied by Charlie are for the participant’s personal learning.

They must not be sold, republished, uploaded, distributed, used to teach other people commercially or reproduced publicly without permission.

Copyright belonging to third-party composers, publishers and rights holders remains with those owners.

18. Outcomes and satisfaction

Charlie will deliver the workshop with reasonable care and skill.

Musical progress depends on many factors, including starting level, attendance, practice, confidence and participation.

Charlie does not guarantee:

• a particular grade or examination result;
• mastery of a song or technique;
• a specified level of progress;
• increased confidence;
• friendship or social connection between attendees;
• attendance by a particular person;
• a particular number of participants; or
• that every song request will be taught.

A refund is not due only because a participant changes their mind, dislikes a musical choice, finds an activity challenging, expected faster progress or decides that the format is not personally enjoyable.

This does not limit the customer’s rights where the service is not supplied as described, is not delivered with reasonable care and skill or otherwise breaches consumer law.

19. Liability and statutory rights

Nothing in these terms excludes or restricts liability for:

• death or personal injury caused by negligence;
• fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
• breach of statutory consumer rights; or
• any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Charlie remains responsible for reasonably foreseeable loss or damage caused by his breach of contract or negligence.

Charlie is not responsible for:

• loss caused by the participant’s failure to follow reasonable instructions;
• damage caused by unsafe equipment brought by the participant;
• loss arising from inaccurate or withheld information;
• personal possessions left behind, except where Charlie was at fault; or
• business losses incurred by a consumer booking for private purposes.

These terms do not affect statutory rights.

20. Complaints

Concerns should be raised with Charlie as soon as possible so that he has a reasonable opportunity to investigate and, where appropriate, put the matter right.

Complaints may be sent to:

contact.charliehodgsonmusic@gmail.com

Charlie will acknowledge and respond in accordance with his complaints procedure.

Making a complaint does not remove or restrict the customer’s statutory rights.

21. Privacy

Personal information is handled in accordance with Charlie’s Privacy Notice.

Health, allergy and safeguarding information is subject to additional protection.

Marketing and photography permissions are requested separately and are optional.

22. Changes to these terms

The version supplied when the booking is confirmed applies to that booking.

Charlie may update the website terms for future bookings, but will not impose a material new term on an existing booking without the customer’s agreement.

23. Governing law

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.

Consumers retain any mandatory rights relating to the courts available to them under applicable consumer law.