General information notice. These terms describe how we run our piano-tuition service in plain English. They are not a substitute for formal legal advice. If anything is unclear, please contact us before booking.
1. About us
Bournemouth Music School Ltd (“we”, “our”, “us”) provides piano tuition services in Bournemouth, Dorset, and the surrounding areas. By booking a lesson or purchasing a package, you (“the student” or “the parent/guardian” if booking on behalf of a minor) accept these terms.
2. Booking a lesson
Lessons can be booked online via our website or by emailing hello@bournemouthmusicschool.com.
- When you select a slot online, it is held in a temporary reservation while you complete payment. If payment is not completed within the reservation window (the “TTL”, currently 15 minutes), the slot is automatically released.
- Your booking is only confirmed once payment has been successfully captured (for card payments) or the slot has been allocated to you (for cash and package-credit bookings). You will receive an email confirmation.
- We reserve the right to refuse or cancel a booking in exceptional circumstances (e.g. teacher illness, double-booking, or safeguarding concerns). In such cases you will receive a full refund or be offered an alternative slot.
3. Payment
You can pay for lessons by:
- Card payment online — processed securely by Stripe. We accept all major debit and credit cards.
- Cash at the lesson — the booking is confirmed on a trust basis and full payment is due at the start of the lesson.
- Package credits — if you have purchased a lesson pack, the booking is paid for using one credit at the time of confirmation.
All prices are quoted in pounds sterling (GBP) and are inclusive of any applicable taxes. We reserve the right to change our prices, but any change will not affect a lesson or package already paid for.
4. Cancellations and refunds
We operate a clear, fair cancellation policy designed to give you flexibility while protecting the teacher’s time:
- More than 24 hours’ notice: you may cancel or reschedule for free. If you paid by card, your payment is refunded in full to the original payment method. If you used a package credit, the credit is returned to your account.
- Less than 24 hours’ notice: the lesson is treated as taken and is non-refundable. Package credits used for the booking are not returned. This protects the teacher’s income against last-minute slots that cannot be re-sold.
- No-show: if you do not arrive for the lesson and have not contacted us, the lesson is treated as taken and is non-refundable.
- Cancellation by us: if we have to cancel for any reason (e.g. teacher illness), you will be offered an alternative slot or a full refund — your choice.
Card refunds are typically processed instantly via Stripe but may take 3 to 5 working days to appear on your statement, depending on your bank.
5. Lesson packages
Lesson packages allow you to buy multiple lessons at a discount. Package credits are governed by the following terms:
- Validity: credits expire 12 months from the date of purchase unless otherwise stated on the package page.
- Non-transferable: credits are tied to the purchaser’s account and cannot be transferred, gifted, or resold.
- Non-refundable after partial use: packages are fully refundable for 14 days from purchase, provided no credits have been redeemed. Once a credit has been redeemed against a lesson, the package becomes non-refundable.
- Booking with credits: you may use credits to book any standard lesson slot of the matching duration. Credits cannot be used for home-visit lessons unless the package was specifically sold for home visits.
6. Code of conduct
We aim to provide a positive, respectful environment for all students. By booking a lesson you agree to:
- Treat the teacher and other students with courtesy and respect.
- Arrive punctually. Late arrivals reduce the lesson time available; we cannot extend the slot to compensate.
- For students under 16, ensure that a parent or legal guardian is contactable for the duration of the lesson.
- Not record audio or video of the lesson without prior written consent from the teacher.
We reserve the right to refuse further bookings, with a refund of any unused credit, where a student or parent acts in a way that is abusive, threatening, or otherwise inconsistent with this code.
7. Liability
We carry public liability insurance for our tuition activities. Nothing in these terms limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for any other liability that cannot be limited under English law.
Subject to the above, our total liability arising out of or in connection with the lessons we provide is limited to the amount you have paid us in the 12 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim. We are not liable for any indirect or consequential loss.
8. Intellectual property
All teaching materials, exercises, lesson plans, and recordings provided by the teacher remain the intellectual property of Bournemouth Music School Ltd (or the original copyright holder where third-party material is used). Materials are licensed to you for personal study only. You may not redistribute, resell, or publish them without prior written consent.
Sheet music supplied during lessons is provided under fair-use teaching provisions; you should purchase your own copy of any work you wish to perform publicly or take to an ABRSM exam.
9. Changes to these terms
We may update these terms from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Changes will not affect bookings already paid for before the date of the change.
10. Governing law and jurisdiction
These terms and any dispute arising out of them are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any such dispute, subject to any statutory rights you may have as a consumer.
11. Contact
For all booking enquiries or questions about these terms, please email hello@bournemouthmusicschool.com.