Hello all!
Thank you for your patience as I've waited to send all the onboarding information until all the new students/families had a chance to create their account. Here is all (and I mean ALL --- sorry about that!) the information you should need regarding percussion lessons.
For those who have done this before, the changes from years past are:
1) I figured out a better way of invoicing students on scholarship - read below.
2) I added a short bit about having a marimba at home.
3) Not a change: Just a reminder to update your contact info and check the calendar for conflicts.
SCHEDULING: To see your lesson time, please log in to my website and look at your online calendar. (Let me know if you can't log in.) While you're there, please take the time to log in to your account so that you know how to access your calendar. (...and while you are there, please also check your contact information to make sure it is still up-to-date.)
Lessons happen ONLY on days when school is in session. That means that if school is closed, all lessons are canceled for that day. Half/altered days may also negate our ability to have a lesson that day, but not always, so we'll manage those as they come. There will also be times throughout the year where I am out of town for a gig and will have to cancel/reschedule lessons.
In all cases, the way that you will know we have to reschedule a lesson is if you see that your lesson is not listed on its normal day, but instead is listed at the end of the week (in the Saturday box). That does NOT mean that we have a Saturday lesson ---- THERE ARE NO SATURDAY LESSONS!!!! That is simply is my way of noting that we have to reschedule that week's lesson.
I've gone ahead and marked the calendar to show all currently-known conflicts for the entire FALL semester (Disregard the spring semester for now.) and will continue to update that the moment new conflicts come up. This includes LISD days off, LISD half days, marching band conflicts (HS students only), and days when I'll be gone gigging. I am extremely diligent about this, so you can trust that the calendar is always up-to-date with the most accurate information I have.
Please take a minute to login and look at your calendar. As every conflict is marked that I currently know about, that means that if it's still on the calendar, I DON'T know about the conflict --- so please, LET ME KNOW!!!
Also, while you're there, please let me know if YOU have any conflicts. For instance, if you know that you have an orthodontist appointment or are taking a trip to tour a college campus and will miss your lesson for that week, let me know ASAP so that we can reschedule. The earlier you let me know, the more likely we can find a time to reschedule.
Each weekend, I will email students/families needing a reschedule for that upcoming week --- to let them know of the upcoming conflict and the possible times to reschedule. With that said, if you want first crack at those reschedule slots (as there will many weeks where I won't have enough slots to reschedule everybody), feel free to email me as early as you'd like and we'll find a spot right then.
If ultimately we are unable to find an opportunity to reschedule a week's lesson, I will delete (or "cancel") those lessons from the calendar once it becomes clear that we can't find a suitable replacement time. You will not be charged for canceled lesson and that $25 you paid at the beginning of the month will automatically be credited to the following month.
So, in a nutshell, the online calendar is ALWAYS RIGHT (except for Saturdays because THERE ARE NO SATURDAY LESSONS) --- because we ALL have access to it. I reference this calendar on my website's app multiple times a day, so if it's on the calendar, I plan to have that lesson (except for Saturdays because....you know
). If you're ever not sure about a lesson, login and look at the calendar.Finally for scheduling, lessons are a semester commitment. As you just read, there is a lot that goes into managing the schedule. Teachers put a lot of time into creating a schedule that works for all the students wishing to enroll in lessons - and I take great pride in finding a spot for every kid wishing to have lessons. Families respect that by committing to lessons for the entire semester. Therefore, out of respect, it is customary and expected to continue lessons through the entire semester.
INVOICING: LISD sets the lesson rate at $25 per lesson. (...unless your lesson takes place during a 45-minute class and is split with another student, at which point it's $21 per lesson.)
In a nutshell, invoices will go out about a week before the end of the month and will cover the upcoming month's anticipated lessons and/or rentals. As an example, the email you will receive this week will cover charges through October 31st with a due date of October 1st. (As this is the first invoice of the school year, it will also cover Aug & Sept.)
You are welcome to submit payment however you'd like, so long as I do not incur a service charge. Basically, that means that if you are paying via PayPal, use the "Friends" option and do NOT use the "Goods and Services" option. You would not want a 3% deduction from your paycheck --- Neither do I. (...and your account will only be credited what I actually received --- with the service charge deducted.)
The best ways to pay are: PayPal, Zelle (Chase), and Venmo. Here is how to find me:
crashincymbals@hotmail.com
724-840-0823
crashincymbals
You will know that your payment has been received when you receive an emailed receipt from my website. If you don't receive a receipt, I didn't get your payment. (Give me 24hrs to credit your account --- though I'm usually much faster.)
DUE DATE: Payments are due by the first of the month. A late charge of $10 per week can be added on the 2nd, 8th, etc. However, if something's going on and a payment will be late, please just reach out by the 1st and let me know to avoid the charge. Communication is key!
"Cancelled" lessons vs. "Missed" lessons: If you need to miss/reschedule a lesson, 24 hours notice is customary to avoid being charged --- at which point, we'll try to reschedule. If, however, adequate notice of a schedule conflict is not given, it will be considered a "missed" lesson, and thus, charged.
Cancelled lessons are not charged. Missed lessons are.
No call/no show to a lesson: This one's pretty obvious --- It's charged.
Scholarship students: You will see the scholarship portion as a credit on your invoice. Therefore, all you have to do is pay the Total Due at the bottom right of your invoice - Easy. (I will take care of submitting scholarship requests to band boosters/directors.) For students previously on scholarship, this is a new (and clearer!) way to manage invoices - and something I should have thought of years ago!
MARIMBAS AT HOME: Having a marimba at home makes a huge difference for young percussionists --- because it gives them 24hr access to being able to practice. (I hae found it makes the second largest difference - only behind taking lessons.) If you do not have a marimba at home and would like to discuss the possibility of getting one (either buying or renting), please reach out and I'll happily help you. Note: Please do not just go out and buy "a good deal." Let me help you with this! (Note: Beginners do NOT need a marimba at home. Keep using your beginner kits.)
If you have any questions, please let me know. Otherwise, you will receive your first invoice of the school year tomorrow.
Thanks!
bk.