Effective Date: August 3, 2026
Welcome to AberMusic! We’re thrilled to help you on your musical journey. These Terms & Conditions outline how we work together. By booking lessons with us, you agree to these terms.
Section 1 – Our Role
1.1 AberMusic is a trading name of Swindells Music Ltd (the “Agent”).
1.2 We act as a booking and administrative agent for self-employed music teachers (the “Teacher”). When you book a lesson, you are entering into a contract for tuition directly with the Teacher.
1.3 We provide the studio facilities, student portal, practice app, and all the administrative management that keeps things running smoothly.
Section 2 – Lesson Tiers & Booking
2.1 Premium Slots: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM weekdays and all day Saturdays. These are our most popular times and must be booked as weekly recurring lessons.
2.2 Standard Recurring Slots: These can be booked either weekly or fortnightly.
2.3 Trial Period: No long-term commitment is required until after your initial first lesson is completed.
2.4 Online Lessons: We offer high-quality online lessons worldwide in addition to in-person lessons at our AberMusic Studio in Ceredigion.
Section 3 – Billing & Payment
3.1 Monthly Billing (Regular & Premium Slots): Recurring slots are billed monthly in advance. Invoices are generated on the 25th of each month and are due on the 1st of the following month. Payment must be cleared by the 1st.
3.2 Ad-Hoc Students: For students booked on an ad-hoc basis (not on a regular recurring slot), invoices are issued weekly on Monday of each week for lessons scheduled in the upcoming 7-day period (billed in advance). Ad-hoc lessons must be paid for prior to the lesson.
3.3 Real-Time Portal Balance: Students may make payments at any time via the student portal, including before an invoice is generated, with real-time balance updates.
3.4 Late Payments & Suspension: If an invoice remains unpaid after the 1st, a friendly reminder email is sent on the 8th. If payment is still outstanding after 14 days (by the 14th of the month), a £10 late fee applies, and AberMusic reserves the right to suspend lessons until the outstanding balance and late fees are cleared.
3.5 A Note on Genuine Hardship: We understand that life doesn’t always go to plan. If you’re facing genuine financial hardship or an emergency situation that makes it difficult to pay, please email us at [email protected]. We’re human too — and we’ll always do our best to work something out with you.
Section 4 – Cancellations, No-Shows & Credits
4.1 More than 24 Hours’ Notice: If you cancel with at least 24 hours’ notice via the Student Portal, your lesson fee will be credited to your account instantly (reflected as a balance credit off your next invoice). No cash refunds are issued.
4.2 Less than 24 Hours’ Notice: If you cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, you receive a make-up credit valid for 7 days. Make-up credits are redeemable only against a slot vacated by another student’s cancellation, with no guarantee of a make-up lesson. Students may hold a maximum of one make-up credit at any time.
4.3 Portal-Only Rule: All credits require cancellations to be processed directly through the Student Portal. Notifying your teacher or AberMusic by text, email, or phone is appreciated as a courtesy but does not qualify for a credit. If you experience technical issues, email [email protected] for a password reset, but the cancellation itself must still be completed via the portal.
4.4 No-Shows: If you do not attend your lesson and have not cancelled via the portal, the lesson is forfeited with no credit issued.
4.5 Teacher Absences: If your teacher cancels a lesson, a full balance credit is applied to your account.
Section 5 – Annual Break & Slot Retention
5.1 All students are entitled to one 3-week break per year to keep their regular slot, free of charge.
5.2 Beyond the 3-week break:
- Standard Slots: You may choose to pay a 50% holding fee to keep the slot reserved, or release the slot.
- Premium Slots: A 50% holding fee is required to keep the slot reserved.
Section 6 – Switching Teachers
6.1 Students may switch teachers for any reason by providing 4 weeks (28 days) written notice. Your existing prepaid monthly fee satisfies this notice period, meaning no additional charges or refunds apply for the notice window.
Section 7 – Ending Lessons
7.1 If you need to terminate recurring lessons, we require 4 weeks (28 days) written notice. Your existing prepaid monthly fee satisfies this notice period.
7.2 AberMusic reserves the right to terminate lessons immediately if a student is disruptive or breaches our Code of Conduct.
Section 8 – Cooling-Off Period
8.1 Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, you have a statutory right to cancel your enrolment within 14 days without giving any reason. This provision ensures the initial contract period does not automatically extend to 12 months.
Section 9 – Price Increases
9.1 Students will be given 28 days’ written notice prior to any lesson fee increases taking effect.
Section 10 – Incorporated Policies
By enrolling in lessons, you acknowledge and agree that the following policies form an integral part of these Terms and Conditions (full copies available on our website or by emailing [email protected]):
- Safeguarding Policy: All teachers hold up-to-date Enhanced DBS checks.
- Privacy Policy: Personal data is processed in accordance with the AberMusic Privacy Policy (Swindells Music Ltd).
- Photography and Video Consent Policy: Imagery and video of students are only captured and used for marketing with prior written consent.
- Complaints Policy: All complaints or concerns should be directed to [email protected].
- Online Lesson Code of Conduct: Standards of behaviour and environment for online lessons.
- Child-Friendly Privacy Notice: Simplified data protection information for younger students.
Section 11 – Liability & Law
11.1 While every care is taken, Swindells Music Ltd and its teachers are not responsible for loss or damage to personal property at the studio. Students participate in lessons at their own risk.
11.2 These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
For any questions, just shout! Reach us at [email protected] or via the Student Portal.