Studio Policies
Studio Policies
These Studio Policies apply to lessons and related services provided by Joy of Sound Music Studio (the “Studio”). Enrollment in lessons constitutes acknowledgement and acceptance of these policies. Where a separate written lesson agreement has been signed, these policies form part of that agreement.
Lesson Registration
Enrollment reserves a recurring lesson time for the student.
Students and parents/guardians are responsible for providing accurate and current contact information and advising the Studio of any relevant scheduling changes. For students under the age of 18, enrollment must be completed or authorized by a parent or legal guardian.
Payment
Lesson fees are payable in advance on the 1st of each month.
Students beginning partway through a month are responsible for payment for all scheduled lessons from their start date through the end of that month.
This initial payment is due before the first scheduled lesson unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Studio. Regular monthly payment is then due on the 1st of each subsequent month.
Payment reserves the student's scheduled lesson time and is non-refundable except as expressly provided by these policies or where otherwise required by applicable law.
The Studio may suspend future lessons while an account is overdue.
Cancellation of Individual Lessons
A minimum of 48 hours' notice is required to cancel an individual lesson. Lessons cancelled by the Client with less than 48 hours' notice are forfeited and non-refundable, except where otherwise required by law.
Makeup lessons are not guaranteed and may be offered at the instructor's discretion, subject to scheduling availability.
Where appropriate and mutually feasible, an online lesson may be offered instead of an in-person lesson.
Discontinuing Lessons
Written notice to discontinue ongoing lessons must be received no later than the 15th of the month for enrollment to end at the conclusion of that month.
If written notice is received after the 15th, the student's reserved lesson time will continue through the following month and the following month's tuition will be payable in full, regardless of attendance.
Tuition remains payable throughout the student's final enrollment period regardless of whether the student chooses to attend all remaining scheduled lessons.
Written notice of discontinuation may be provided by email to joyofsoundmusic@gmail.com or through another written communication method accepted by the Studio.
This policy allows sufficient time for the Studio to adjust its teaching schedule and make the reserved lesson time available to another student.
In-Home Lessons and Instructor Travel
For in-home lessons, travel is included only as agreed at the time of booking. The instructor reserves the right to modify travel arrangements or discontinue in-home service where travel becomes impractical, unsafe, or economically unfeasible. Alternative arrangements, including online lessons or lessons at the instructor's teaching location, may be offered where available.
Missed Lessons and No-Shows
If a student is absent without notice or is unavailable at the scheduled lesson time, the lesson will be considered forfeited.
No refund or makeup lesson will be provided for a no-show, except where otherwise required by law.
Instructor Cancellations
If the instructor must cancel a lesson, a makeup lesson for that lesson will be provided.
Safety Right to Refuse Service
Clients are responsible for providing a reasonably safe, sanitary, and appropriate environment for lessons taking place in their home or another location under their control.
The instructor may refuse to begin, immediately end, suspend, or discontinue a lesson where, in the instructor's reasonable judgment, the environment is unsafe, unsanitary, excessively disruptive, or otherwise unsuitable for professional instruction.
This may include, but is not limited to:
- aggressive or uncontrolled animals;
- smoking or vaping during lessons;
- illegal activity;
- hazardous weather or travel conditions;
- pest or insect infestations;
- flooding or water damage;
- hazardous substances;
- excessive noise or disruption; or
- any other condition that reasonably compromises health, safety, or the instructor's ability to conduct the lesson professionally.
Where an in-home lesson cannot proceed because of conditions within the Client's reasonable control, the lesson may be treated as a Client cancellation and the applicable cancellation policy will apply.
Policy Changes
The instructor reserves the right to amend these policies at any time. Updated policies will be posted on the website and apply to future lessons after reasonable notice has been provided.
Respectful Conduct
Joy of Sound Music Studio is committed to providing a safe, professional, respectful, and positive learning environment.
Students, parents, guardians, family members, and guests are expected to communicate and behave respectfully toward the instructor and others.
The Studio may immediately end a lesson or suspend or terminate services where a student, parent, guardian, or other attendee engages in abusive, threatening, intimidating, harassing, discriminatory, aggressive, or seriously disruptive conduct, or where the instructor reasonably believes that continuing the lesson would be unsafe.
If such conduct occurs during a lesson at the Studio, the instructor may require the individual to leave. If it occurs during an in-home lesson, the instructor may immediately end the lesson and leave the premises.
Where a lesson has already commenced and is terminated because of such conduct, the lesson will be considered completed.
Any prepaid fees relating to future lessons that will not be provided following termination will be handled in accordance with these policies and applicable law.
Force Majeure
The Studio will not be responsible for failure or delay in providing lessons caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including severe weather, illness, government orders, power outages, internet outages, natural disasters, emergencies, unsafe travel conditions, or similar events.
Where reasonably practical, the Studio may offer an online lesson, makeup lesson, lesson credit, or alternative arrangement.
Illness
Students experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness should not attend an in-person lesson.
Where reasonably feasible, the lesson may instead be conducted online.
The Studio reserves the right to decline an in-person lesson where the instructor reasonably believes proceeding would create an unnecessary health or safety risk.
Parent/Gaurdian Responsibility
For minor students receiving in-home instruction, a parent, guardian, or responsible adult must be present or readily accessible during the lesson.
Parents and guardians remain responsible for their child immediately before and after the student's scheduled lesson period.
Property Damage/Personal Belongings
Clients are responsible for damage caused by themselves, their children, or their guests to Studio property, musical instruments, equipment, furnishings, or teaching materials where the damage results from negligence or intentional misconduct.
Students are expected to exercise reasonable care when using musical instruments and Studio equipment.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Studio is not responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of personal belongings brought to lessons unless the loss or damage results from the Studio's negligence or other legal fault.
Online Lessons
The Studio is not responsible for interruptions, delays, reduced lesson time, or inability to conduct an online lesson resulting from internet outages, equipment failures, software problems, or other technical circumstances outside the Studio's reasonable control.
Where a technical problem caused by the Studio materially prevents a lesson from proceeding, the Studio will make a reasonable alternative arrangement.
Audio, Video, and Photography
Lessons may not be audio recorded, video recorded, photographed, livestreamed, or otherwise electronically recorded by a Client without the instructor's prior consent.
The Studio will obtain appropriate consent before recording a student for educational, promotional, or other Studio purposes.
Where the student is a minor, consent will be obtained from the student's parent or legal guardian where required.
Emergency Contact:
Parents and guardians are responsible for providing accurate and current emergency contact information for minor students.
The Studio should be notified promptly if this information changes.
Outstanding Fees
Amounts properly owing under the lesson agreement or these policies remain payable following discontinuation or termination of lessons.
The Studio reserves the right to pursue recovery of unpaid amounts through lawful means.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Studio is not responsible for indirect, incidental, or consequential losses arising from lesson services or attendance at a lesson location.
Nothing in these policies excludes or limits liability for negligence, wilful misconduct, or any liability, statutory protection, consumer right, or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
Termination by the Studio
The Studio reserves the right to suspend or terminate enrollment for:
- non-payment of fees;
- repeated failure to comply with scheduling or cancellation requirements;
- unsafe teaching conditions;
- abusive, threatening, harassing, discriminatory, or seriously disruptive conduct;
- material breach of the Studio Policies or written lesson agreement; or
- other circumstances that reasonably make continuation of the teaching relationship unsafe or impractical.
Any amounts properly owing before termination remain payable.
Any prepaid amounts relating to future lessons that the Studio will not provide following termination will be handled in accordance with these policies and applicable law.
Entire Agreement
These Studio Policies, together with any written Student & Parent/Guardian Lesson Agreement and any individual terms agreed to in writing between the Client and the Studio, constitute the agreement between the parties concerning lesson services.
If there is an inconsistency between these general Studio Policies and a signed written lesson agreement, the signed agreement will govern to the extent of the inconsistency, subject to applicable law.
If any provision of these policies is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.
Failure by the Studio to enforce a provision on one occasion does not constitute a continuing waiver of that provision.
Governing Law
These policies and lesson services are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the applicable federal laws of Canada.