Questions and Answers

Dudley Performing Arts produce a leaflet called 'in tune for life' which can be obtained from your school or the Music Centre. Simply complete the application form and return to the music centre to start the process. (see conditions of service, Terms of Agreement for further details, you can also down load a copy of the application form)

 

Teaching usually starts on the first full week when schools return in September.  A full calendar can be viewed in the calendars section of this web site.  Lessons will not take place every week as there are some points in the year dedicated to other activities. Again, more information on this can be found in the calendars section.

 

As soon as we have completed the timetables (at the end of the previous term) new starters will receive a letter giving the date and time of their first lesson. We will contact you in the unlikely event that we are unable to provide tuition.

 

We guarantee to be available to teach your child for 30 weeks during the school year. The remaining weeks are scheduled to allow for variations in the school calendar and Live Music weeks (see calendar). If a lesson is missed during a teaching week, we will make it up if it is our fault (staff illness etc). If it is missed through no fault of our own the lesson will not normally be made up.

 

 

Child illness - Not made up (although in the case of prolonged illness a refund will normally be arranged).

 

DPA teacher absent - We will make it up.

 

INSET in school - We will try to make it up, particularly if we are informed well in advance.

 

Monday Bank Holidays - Our teaching weeks are organised to accommodate this.

 

Polling Days - We will try to make it up if possible.

 

School Trips - We will try to make the lesson up if possible, particularly if we are informed well in advance.

 

Snow - We will try to make it up.

 

The teaching weeks are organised to allow teachers to catch up on missed lessons. In order that lessons can be made up DPA may arrange for other teachers to deliver tuition.

 

We try to avoid this. Our teaching weeks are designed to avoid missing consecutive lessons, although this can happen due to events beyond our control (e.g .school trips following Bank Holidays)

 

Normally for the duration of your child's time with us although a limit of 2 years applies to clarinet, cornet, flute and trumpet. We operate a VAT-free purchase scheme for our students.

 

We try to minimise teacher changes. From time to time they simply can't be helped as staff leave or timetables become over-full. We timetable as late as possible in order to accommodate any new starters, so it is not always possible to let every pupil know of teacher changes in advance.

 

There are comprehensive lists in the calendars and ensemble systems areas

 

Once timetable are set and teaching has commenced it is not possible to cancel lessons until the following term.  DPA do not issue refunds for students who wish to stop learning mid term. If your child is to stop learning or cease instrument hire you should inform DPA in writing by half term. NB - hire charges will still apply until the instrument is returned to the music centre.

 

 

Please write to or contact the music centre and our staff will make the necessary arrangements. Half a term's notice is required.  If you wish to pay by a different method or your child is not continuing next term, please let us know in writing with half a term's notice and inform your bank of the changes.

 

DPA teaches in most of the Borough's post-16 establishments. Where we do, arrangements are normally made for lessons to be continued. The basis of payment varies, however, so you would need to contact the college directly.

Pupils who are leaving school altogether or are going to a non-DPA establishment can continue at post-16 rates. Please contact the Music Centre for further details.