How do I pay for lessons?

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For the first few lessons I operate on a pay-as-you-go basis and accept payment by cash or faster payment.  Once you / your child is settled in, usually after 4-6 weeks, I will at that point ask you to sign up to a standard Musician’s Union Teaching Contract and set up payment by monthly Standing Order.  

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What is the difference between a Standing Order and a Direct Debit?

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The Direct Debit service tends to be offered by larger companies, they decide how much to charge you, you decide a date each month that money can be collected and the company will take the amount they have calculated from your account on the relevant date.  A Standing Order is an instruction that you set up with your bank and tends to be set up for the same amount every month. You are in complete control of a Standing Order and can cancel or amend this at any point.

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What is your cancellation policy?

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I ask for a 24 hour's notice of cancellations.  If you are able to provide more than 24 hours notice of a lesson you cannot attend this lesson can either be rearranged or we will make the time yo with longer lessons.   The fee for any lesson cancelled with less than 24 hours's notice is forfeit.  In case of bad weather or if you are suffering from a cough or a cold an online lesson can be arranged on your choice of platform.

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Where can I find your term dates?

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I generally follow the term dates set out by Sheffield City Council. 

****  2026-2027 coming soon at Term Dates

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Do you teach during the school holidays?

 

I do not usually teach during the school holidays, however when I am booked to perform for a show I usually make up that week's teaching during the school holiday preceding the show.

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What is your notice period?

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If you decide that you no longer wish to continue lessons, I will firstly attempt to understand the reasons that have contributed to this decision to see if there is anything I can do differently either for yourself or for future students.  The formal notice period is 4 weeks.

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Do you have a DBS certificate?

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Yes, this will be available for your to view during your initial lesson or at any other time.

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What are your fees?

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I charge £26 for a 30 minute lesson and £39 for 45 minutes. I encourage all pupils to arrive 5 minutes early to set up and will not schedule another pupil for at least 5 minutes after your finish time.  This means that the time you pay for is uninterrupted teaching time.  These fees are in line with those recommended by the Musician's Union and are reflective of my qualifications, experience and bespoke teaching space.

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Should I go for a 30 minute or a 45 minute lesson?

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The majority of my pupils have a 30 minute lesson once a week.  Experience has shown that this is the optimum amount of time for me to listen to the student, provide some feedback and give suggestions for things for them to work on during the week.  It is worth noting that progress is largely dependent time spent practising in between lessons, therefore longer lessons do not necessarily translate to quicker progress. 

 

I like to really dive into how practice has gone at each lesson and during the course of each lesson I will equip you with tips and tricks to get the most out of your practice time.  The old adage goes that Practice Makes Perfect, however it is more accurate to say that Practice Makes Permanent. 

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For younger pupils or those with special needs, I sometimes offer 20 minute lessons whilst we get to know each other and until the pupil’s attention span is long enough to merit a longer lesson.

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For pupils who have already been learning their instrument for a couple of years or more I recommend a 45 minute as there becomes the need to spend more time each week on wider musical skills including aural skills, technique, scales and arpeggios, and music theory.  

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My Question isn't listed here, how do I get in touch?

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Please call me on 07366 861 304; e-mail me at mail@marie-claire.org.uk or fill out my contact form.

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