Covid-19
As you are aware Covid-19 hasn’t disappeared and I am in the highly vulnerable group and as case numbers are variable. Given that when I contracted covid in hospital my admission lasted 4 months.
I have carried out a risk assessment and we have returned to a
blended teaching formata combination of face to face (in school/studio lessons) and zoom lessons.
It has not been possible to return to teaching in all schools as this requires their risk assessment to allow for visiting teachers as well as meeting the requirements of Owl Music risk assessment! Instead pupils have been offered a lessons at the studio in River.
Changes
Parents will be required to agree to an updated contract and terms and conditions prior to resuming face to face lessons.
A copy of the Risk Assessment will be available on the parent portal along with specific instructions regarding attending lessons.
All pupils and parents may be required to wear a face covering during the lesson
Parents may be asked to wait outside and siblings will no longer be permitted to accompany pupils. The full recommendations can be found here - ISM guidance for private music lessons
The main message is if you are unwell don’t come to lessons!
Contact me and we can arrange online or possibly rearrange a face to face lesson.
Please note that in line with T&Cs rearranging an in person lesson is not automatic and you may be charged for cancellations within the notice period.
Term 1 Update
Saturday, August 29, 2020 by Ceri Jones | Uncategorized
Welcome back to the new school year and well done to those of you who have kept playing and learning all through summer!
Enjoy your first week back and good luck to those of you starting new schools!
Lesson slots are now uploaded to the student portal calendar to allow you to book your lessons for term 1- September and October
I appreciate that until school timetables and arrangements are confirmed you may not be able to book in a repeating lesson and so have set every lessons as individual slots available for any instrument to allow for changes in parent working patterns and school timetables. Please can you ensure you have booked in for September lessons.
If there is a specific/repeating time you would prefer and you cannot see it on the calendar please contact me.
All slots are open for all instruments and 30 minutes long even if you have a 20 minute lesson to allow for technical/internet glitches.
ALL lessons will remain online for September and October. Risk assessments are continuously being reviewed in line with the current COVID guidance but currently studio lessons must remain online.
String Instruments - Socially distanced tuning is available so an out of tune instrument is not a barrier to continuing to learn.
Bursaries - If you have been notified you have been awarded a `Kent music bursary please can you let me know. They have a new online application process this year.
If your financial circumstances have changed you may be eligible for support - For further information please see the Kent Music Financial Assistance Scheme.
Contracts - I will be reissuing the lesson contracts as I do every September the main change is to reflect the change to online zoom teaching. Please can you also ensure your details especially phone number and email address and details are correct in the student portal.
Invoicing
To reflect the ever changing "new normal" while many parents were on furlough invoicing had been altered to monthly as a temporary measure for the summer holidays and to use any credit left over from lessons cancelled due to Lockdown.
To allow for budgeting
Term 1 invoices will be issued at the end of SEPTEMBER to cover September and October lessons
From term 2 (November 2nd) we will return to termly invoicing with blocks of 5 lessons (minimum) booked and paid in advance.
New Pupils
As Whole Class Instrumental teaching is unable to resume in schools until January 2021 I do have online slots available for new pupils or pupils who may no longer have access to a teacher. I also have loan instruments available thanks to the Beatrice Jeffery award - If you know anyone who may be interested in piano keyboard cello viola violin percussion or drama lessons please direct them to the Owl music website www.owlmusic.co.uk
and finally - Henry the Hodgepodge
Footage of Henry is available as requested on our instagram account.........https://www.instagram.com/cj_owlmusic/
Stay safe and well!
