Lessons Policy
Clear and objective, here is our Online Lessons Policy.
Learning Plans & Courses
All the features included in each Learning Plan or Course are stated on their specific pages:
Piano Online Lessons
Music Creation Lessons
Piano for Professionals
Lessons in Braga
PianoClass for Kids
Academic Calendar
Visit the PianoClass Academic Calendar page to learn about our working days and hours and to see scheduled events and lessons.
A new Learning Plan can start at any time of the year and includes little breaks and extra activities throughout the year to optimise the musical learning and life experience.
The Office Hours and Special Activities are also scheduled on Google Calendar and can be seen on the Academic Calendar page.
Punctuality & Lesson Material
Live lesson
🗸 have ALL your learning material at hand before your lesson time
🗸 adjust your bench and start a new meeting on zoom to adjust your camera and microphone
🗸 enter your teacher’s lesson room 1-2min before the time and check your settings
Recorded lesson
🗸 upload your videos and files by at least 1 hour before the scheduled time
🗸 ensure they will be ready and available in time for the teacher’s recording
Delays
🗸 If you realise you will be late for your lesson (live or recorded), let us know via WhatsApp as soon as possible and before the first 10min of your lesson.
🗸 We always wait for 10 minutes, but without any notification of a delay, the lesson will be considered given, and the instructor will no longer be available for the remaining time.
Safety and Privacy
We value your safety and privacy, and therefore, we need to be clear about our recording policy.
Individual lessons
You are already authorised to record your lessons, and the instructor may do the same. However, these recordings are yours, and PianoClass may only use these materials after receiving your (or your legal representative’s) authorisation.
Special Activities
The videos recorded in or for the Special Activities are PianoClass’s property. Your participation in these events implies your authorisation to use the images and audio on various public media.
Digital Platforms
As the lessons happen through virtual media, PianoClass is not accountable for any issues related to the video call platforms, cloud services, or any other learning apps.
We suggest that you regularly back up your files on these platforms to avoid losing any material.
Technical Problems
We always have a backup plan ready in case your main device or internet connection fails during your lesson, and we encourage the students to do the same.
Instructor issues
If the instructor has technical problems on their side, the student may choose among:
🗸 transferring the lesson or the remaining time of the lesson to another day/time of their preference
🗸 having the remaining time of the lesson as a recorded lesson
Student issues
If the student faces technical problems during the lesson, this will be our protocol:
the instructor will guide the student – to the best of their knowledge and means – to solve the issue and make the best use of your lesson’s time
student and teacher may decide to move to the backup plan (like using a smartphone with Zoom)
if none of the above works, the instructor will provide practice guidance, and the lesson will be considered given.
The instructor may also record the remainder of your lesson if the student has sent videos from their practice or has presented enough material before the technical problem occurs.
Missing Lessons
By the teacher
It is rare, but if the instructor can’t teach due to health issues, an in-person emergency, or a professional improvement event, you may choose one of the following options:
🗸 transferring the lesson to the end of your learning plan or another day/time that would work for you
🗸 having the lesson with another PianoClass instructor
🗸 receiving written guidance and a recorded lesson from our library – which will be relevant to your repertoire
By the student
If you realise you will miss a lesson, let your teacher know as soon as possible and either reschedule it or plan to have it recorded.
🗸 By 12 hours BEFORE your lesson, try to reschedule it (rescheduling calendar) for before or up to 10 days after the missed lesson.
🗸 Notify your teacher by 10 minutes AFTER the lesson’s start time through WhatsApp. Upoload videos from your last practices and your teacher will record your lesson in the remaining time.
Your notification will be valid after your teacher’s reading confirmation.
Reschedules are available if your teacher has open slots on their calendar.
Rescheduled lessons can’t be rescheduled again and must be attended by the holder of the lesson.
We have you covered!
If you can’t attend a rescheduled lesson, you may watch our Special Activities Libraries and older lessons in your YouTube playlist, schedule an Office Hour, and use the Follow-up to continue your practice and clarify any questions that may come up until your next lesson.
Long vacation periods (more than 2 weeks) and permanent schedule changes must be informed to your teacher as soon as possible. We can’t guarantee reschedules, but we may have a few options to solve it.
Single Lessons – student absence
🗸 try to prepone your lesson
🗸 ask the instructor to change it to a recorded lesson, upload your last practices to YouTube or Vimeo, and send them the links
Purchase and Cancellation
Purchase
A new plan may be purchased at any time of the year.
The payment happens via PayPal, bank transfer, or Wise before the beginning of the lessons
Cancellation
Our learning plans are non-refundable.
Nonetheless, if you are in your first 3 months and had no more than 9 x 55 minutes or 18 x 25 minutes of lessons, we can convert your annual plan into a ChopInTrial Learning Plan.
If you can’t continue attending the lessons, you can transfer the remaining of your learning plan to another person (once).