Lessons at
Big Time Music
Where, When, How Much?

Effective January 1, 2010 (Last update, November 24, 2009)

Who
Mark Olson and Susan Mathews teach for Big Time Music, a division of Off Beat LLC. Mark teaches for and is head of the guitar program.  Susan teaches for and is head of the piano program.

Eligable Students
Mark (guitar) teaches adults and students in grade five and up.   Susan (piano) teaches adults and students in grade K and up.  Both teachers may accept and decline students for reasons that may include the following:  whether the student-teacher relationship is a good fit, whether a student practices regularly, behavior, the student's interest level, demand for lessons, non-payment of tuition, or any other reason. 

Where
Guitar and piano lessons are held at here in our home in Cambridge where we meet with students once a week for half-hour lessons. Click here for a Google map: Map to Big Time Music .  The address is N4328 South Street, Cambridge.   Tel: 608-423-4424.

When
Lessons are 30 minutes each, and they are back to back, so it is important that students arrive a few minutes in advance of their lesson time.  Please see the piano and/or guitar Lesson Schedules on the website to confirm lesson times or to check for open time slots. 

Attendance, Transportation, and Friends: Big Time Music accepts no responsibity for the supervision or transportation of students before or after their lesson time.  If a minor (or any student) does not come to their lesson, we will not attempt to contact them or their parents.  Because of traffic concerns and liability issues, friends and minor siblings of students are not permitted to "hang out" unattended by an adult during lessons.

How Much: A "Use-Them-or-Lose-Them" Policy.
Big Time Music charges quarterly tuition for enrollment in private lessons.  When students make a tuition payment, they book a lesson at a designated lesson time and no other time, on a quarterly basis. Some students enroll knowing they will miss some lessons, but it is worth it to them to hold their lesson time.  There are no refunds for pre-paid lessons.  Student lesson time, tuition, and enrollment, are non-transferrable.  Tuition rates are listed on the Tuition and Holiday page on the website.  Big Time Music allocates about 50% of tuition to music, supplies, extracurricular activities, equipment, maintenance, utilities, and facilities.

Non-Transferrable:
Tuition is not transferrable to others.  In otherwords, if a student is sick or cannot come to a lesson, please do not send a sibling, parent, relative or friend in his or her place.  Students may not swap lesson times with other students on a week to week basis.  Each department head is in charge of their own schedules. 

Inclement Weather:
Student safety is more important than one music lesson.  If travel seems unsafe because of weather or road conditions, please stay home (and practice!). Often, if schools are cancelled because of the road conditions, lessons are cancelled, too.  However, if it is a "snow day" for area districts because it was snowy in the morning, but the roads are fine at the time of lessons, let's have lessons; we will be here, and students might be bored out of their minds with no school.  A refund or credit ($15) is given for cancellations caused by weather.

Payment and Cancellation Policies
The payment and cancellation policies are designed to make payment and record keeping as painless as possible, encourage attendance, and help keep teaching schedules consistent.  The policies are also based on experiences, both good and the other kind.  

  • Advance Payment: Tuition is due in advance of each quarter.  Please refer to the Tuition and Holiday table which is available on the website or at Big Time Music.  By paying in advance, students reserve one specified time slot for their lesson, and we look forward to and plan for teaching students at their scheduled lesson time.  Please make checks payable to Big Time Music.
  • Forfeiture:  If a student's tuition is not paid by the due dates, he or she risks losing their lesson time.
  • Rescheduling:  Students are not entitled to reschedule.  Requests to reschedule should ideally be made one week in advance.  Requests may be granted if and when it is convenient for the teacher.  Students are not entitled to swap lessons with other students, siblings, family members, or friends.  Rescheduling is limited to a maximum of one (1) lesson per semester per student, if and when convenient to the teacher.  Ideally, requests for rescheduling will be made at least one week in advance.
  • Quarterly Payments:  Since many students take lessons on an on-going basis, the option to lock in your lesson time in quarterly chunks may be appealling.  Paying quarterly saves about 10% when compared to paying in monthly installments.  Paying and thinking quarterly also helps both student and teacher focus on long-term goals and plans. 
  • Credit:  If lessons are cancelled because of inclement weather, teacher illness, or unforeseen teacher conflict, Big Time Music will credit or refund $15.00.
  • Refunds:  Sorry, no refunds for prepaid lessons.  When tuition is paid, we commit to student and make scheduling, educational, and advertising decisions based on the roster.

Photographs and Recordings: 
As a document of events, performances, and student progress, Big Time Music, a division of Off Beat LLC, will record student performances and may take photo's of students at lessons, recitals, or other events. Enrolling yourself or a son or daughter, authorizes Big Time Music to use, re-use, publish, and re-publish the same in whole or in part, individually or in any and all media now or hereafter known, and for illustration, promotion, art, editorial, advertising and trade, or any other purpose whatsoever without restriction as to alteration or time.  Students or their parent or legal guardian hereby release and discharge Big Time Music and/or its staff from any and all claims and demands arising out of or in connection with the use of the photographs or recordings, including without limitation any and all claims for libel or invasion of privacy.  Big Time Music retains copyright to all such recordings or photographs in any form, and may use the student's name in connection therewith if it so chooses.