Saxophone Lessons Policy

Required saxophone lesson materials:
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• Playable saxophone (alto or tenor saxophone)
• Band music, Method-book, or other music as recommended by instructor. Please do not forget to bring music to your lesson!
• Three-ring binder or notebook with paper.
• Pencil
• Metronome and tuner

Required materials for online saxophone lessons

• A computer with a webcam and microphone
• A reliable internet connection
• A exterior microphone capable of clearly capturing a saxophone's sound

Payment policy:

• Payment for advance lessons is due on the first of every group of 4 lessons.
• All lessons in an advance payment period must be completed within 5 weeks of the payment. For example, if the pay period begins on the 1st of the month, all 4 saxophone lessons must be concluded by the 7th of the next month.
• Payment for individual/intermittent lessons or ensemble classes is due at the beginning of each lesson.
• Payment can be made in cash, check (made out to Patrick McCulley), or online (Paypal, venmo, cashapp).

Attendance policy:

• Saxophone lessons will begin and end at their scheduled times, so please do not be late! Students must bring all equipment (saxophone, music, notebook, etc.) to their lesson. Students that repeatedly forget to bring necessary equipment to their lesson may be asked to leave to retrieve it or have their lesson canceled entirely at the student's expense.
• If a student shows up to a lesson without their saxophone and is unable to go home to get it and return before the lesson's end time the lesson will be cancelled and the cost of the lesson deducted from the student's advance payment.
• If the lesson begins late by a fault of mine, the lesson may be extended in compensation, or rescheduled entirely.
• In order to qualify for the discounted weekly lesson rate, the student must commit to lessons on a weekly basis, with a minimum of three lessons per       month.
• I will allow for scheduled absences, for vacations, holidays and special events.

Cancellations/Scheduling:

• Saxophone lessons may be rescheduled with more than 24-hour notice. Lessons must also be cancelled with more than 24hrs notice. Students will be responsible for payment for missed lessons without sufficient notice. Payment for missed lessons will be deducted from the advance payment for that month.
• In case of emergency or illness, the lesson may be canceled, but please try to give me as much notice as possible.
• I will honor a rescheduled lesson up to one month after the absence, but the lesson will be scheduled in addition to our regularly scheduled weekly  lesson. 
• If you are anticipating taking a vacation or any other planned absence, I am happy to accommodate but please let me know in advance so we do not have to deal with rescheduling!
• If a student is late to a saxophone lesson by more than 15min , I reserve the right to cancel the remainder of the lesson at the student’s expense.
• You will not be charged for lessons that I cannot attend due to my performance schedule or other conflicts on my part, and you will be informed of these occasions well in advance.
• In case I am ill, you will receive notice as soon as possible that lessons are cancelled for the day. You will not be charged for the lesson, and credit for the lesson will roll over to the next month.

Expectations and Behavior:

• Students are expected to practice regularly and consistently, as per their teacher's instructions.
• Students are expected to practice their assignments each week with the goal of improvement for the next week.
• In the event that a student cannot remember the specifics of their assignment or if they have questions they can contact me for details during the week at patrickmcculleymusic@gmail.com.
• Students are expected to come to lessons and conduct themselves with good behavior. Students are expected to try the methods that I suggest to overcome the challenges we face as we work to improve on the saxophone. Students who are purposefully distracting, that refuse to try, or refuse put in effort to improve during our lesson time will be asked to permanently leave my saxophone studio. 

Holidays:

• There will be no lessons on the day of, day before, or the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• I am willing to be flexible in observance of other holidays, but please be sure to inform me in advance.
• ​I often take the week following our biannual student recitals off, you will receive advance notice of this. 

Additional Materials Policy:

• If Patrick purchases additional materials, such as music books, the student will be expected to pay the full amount at the lesson at which the materials are received.

Discontinuing Lessons:
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• Students must give 30 days' notice to discontinue saxophone lessons for any reason. If a student chooses to discontinue lessons without 30 days' notice, the full month's fee will still be required.

 Contact: for lessons, please contact Patrick McCulley at patrickmcculleymusic@gmail.com.  Please provide the name, age, playing experience of the student as well as your name and contact information.