McFarlane Studios Policies

1. Location: Instruction of Violin or Viola lessons will occur either at student’s home or
agreed public location agreed on by both teacher & student. If the event of in-studio
lesson or Skype lesson needing to be offered, it will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
2. Payment/Scheduling: Payments will be due on the end of each scheduled lesson, either in
cash or check. Missed payments will be subject to a late fee of 10% the lesson fee per
week that specific lesson isn’t paid for. Lessons will be scheduled on a monthly basis,
being booked the last lesson of each month. The first lesson for new students will be
given free of charge, and sequential paid lessons will be scheduled on a monthly basis.
3. Length of Contracts: Lesson contracts are binding for each month of instruction is being
offered. If the student does not wish to continue lessons for the next month, they must let
Ruben know by the end of the last monthly lesson. Canceling in the middle of the month
will result in payment of remaining monthly lessons.
4. Group Lessons: These are opportunities to have multiple students of each instrument play
for each other, receive feedback from other students, and work on technique in a larger
setting. Please contact Ruben McFarlane about scheduling group lessons.
5. Cancellation/Rescheduling: Lessons will be scheduled for the following month at the last
lesson of the current month. Should the student cancel at least 24 hours before lesson
time (for illness, death in family, schedule change, etc), a make-up lesson will be
rescheduled for that week or the following week (if space is available).
a. If the student cancels inside of 24 hours before the lesson, or fails to show up,
they will be charged for the canceled lesson. Payment for that cancelled lesson
will be due at the next lesson along with said lesson, and the late fee will apply if
payment is supplied.
b. In the event Ruben needs to reschedule a lesson, he will notify the student 24
hours before the lesson time as well, and offer make-up lesson times.
6. Materials: Ruben will let the student (and their parents/guardians) know if they should
purchase books for their lesson. There may be times where he will loan books to students,
but they must be signed out and returned at the end of the month.
7. Student Responsibilities: It is expected that students will practice music worked on in
lessons individually outside of their lessons daily. Being unprepared for lessons will not
be tolerated, and may result in termination of lessons if persistent. For chamber
ensembles or group lessons, the same applies policy applies for each student, along with
the group meeting at least once a week outside of the coaching time to rehearse.
a. Parent/Guardian Policies: For younger students, parents are expected to be active
in motivating their student’s individual practice. They will be invited to sit-in on
their child’s lesson; either way, parents/guardians will be informed what the
student worked on in lessons, along with what they should practice over the week.
 McFarlane Studios Lesson Agreement

I agree to the terms and conditions of accepting

private instruction from Ruben McFarlane.

Student:

Signature: Date:

Parent/Guardian (if under 18):

Signature: Date:

Instructor:

Signature: Date: