Full RMT Terms & Conditions available here
When do in-school instrumental/vocal lessons take place?
During the school day, including over break and lunch times. Your child will come out of an academic lesson to take part in their instrumental lesson.
Are lesson times fixed?
Lesson times at primary school are fixed unless the school requests otherwise. At secondary school timetables rotate on a weekly basis in order that pupils do not miss the same academic lesson several weeks in a row.
How many pupils are in a beginner group?
Most beginners will start tuition in a group of four pupils. Pianos start with two or three per group.
How long is a group lesson?
A standard beginner group is 30 minutes long.
How many lessons will my child receive?
Ten lessons per term.
Will I need to provide an instrument for my child?
Yes. Have a look on our buying/hiring an instrument page for advice.
How does the application process work?
Please complete the form on the apply now page and we will place your child on the relevant waiting list(s). You will receive an auto reply when you submit your form, but will not hear from us again until a place becomes available.
Should I send payment with my application?
No payment is due until we are able to offer your child a place. When a place becomes available we will send you an offer and an invoice for tuition fees.
How many instruments can I apply for?
You are welcome to apply for up to three instruments. Parents often put their child on more than one list and accept the first instrument that they are offered tuition on.
Aside from school, where else can my child learn with you?
We deliver tuition on many instruments at our music centres. We also offer online tuition via zoom. Both options are listed on the application form.
How often will you invoice me for my child’s tuition?
Over one academic year you will receive three invoices. We ask for payment in advance of each term’s tuition.
How can I find out the dates of lessons?
A link to the Term Dates calendar listing teaching weeks will be included in the email containing your termly invoice. Term dates are also listed on our calendar page.
How can I communicate with my child’s teacher?
The best way to communicate with your child’s teacher on a weekly basis is via the yellow Practice Notebook. Each week the teacher will write down what your child should be practising for the next lesson, and there is space at the bottom of each page for you to comment on how the week’s practice has gone, or to ask specific questions.
How often will I receive a report on my child’s progress?
You should check your child’s yellow Practice Notebook (see previous question) each week for regular feedback on how your child is progressing. You will also receive a written report from your child’s teacher at the end of each academic year.
What happens if the teacher is absent?
We expect our teachers to make us and schools aware of their absence by contacting us and each school as early as possible on the day of absence. We ask teachers to request that each school then lets pupils know that their teacher is absent. At primary level this may be a verbal or written message to the class teacher of each affected pupil. At secondary level the message of absence would normally be communicated to pupils by the Head of Music via a written note on the main Music Department noticeboard.
We are committed to delivering 10 sessions per term and build in a catch up week at the end of each term to enable teachers to teach any missed lessons. If a teacher is absent for more than one week then they may need to build more than 10 lessons into the following term. By the end of the academic year your child should have received 30 lessons, and if this is not the case we will credit your account to compensate for any sessions missed due to teacher absence.
What measures do you have in place to compensate for lessons missed due to Bank Holidays and school INSET days?
We ask our teachers to liaise with their schools early on in each term to find out whether there are any days on which they will be unable to teach because of school closures due to Bank Holidays or INSET. We build in a catch up week at the end of each term to enable teachers to teach any lessons which may have been missed through Bank Holidays or INSET.
My child missed a lesson as they were unwell. Will this lesson be made up?
Unfortunately not, as the Trust is only liable for instrumental lessons missed as a result of the absence of our teachers.
My child could not get to their lesson as they were involved in another school activity. Will this lesson be made up?
Our teachers are not obliged to make up lessons pupils miss due to school trips, school exams, and work experience, although many teachers will try to teach on an alternative date if they are given sufficient notice.
My child is at secondary school. How will I know if my child does not attend their lesson?
Checking your child’s Practice Notebook on a weekly basis will show whether your child was present for each lesson. If your child does not attend, the teacher will mark any absence on the register and will ask why they were absent when they attend the next lesson. If your child is absent for two consecutive weeks the teacher will contact the Trust to arrange for a non-attender’s letter to be sent to your home address, notifying you of your child’s absence. If a child is absent for three or more consecutive weeks the above procedure will be repeated and you will be asked to contact the Trust on 020 8538 3866 to confirm whether or not you wish to continue with tuition.
What should I do if I am unhappy with my child’s tuition?
Please contact us immediately so that we can address your concerns.
How do I cancel tuition?
Please notify us in writing at least half a term before you would like tuition to stop. We reserve the right to charge half a term’s fees in lieu of notice if this requirement is not met.