Posted by: Christie
Practice Time - 08/10/09 09:39 PM
There has been some uproar recently at my dance studio, and I am not sure exactly where I stand on the issue. It has been difficult to dicuss this with anyone because they are too preoccupied with their anger. I thought I'd pose the question to you guys in a neutral place as the same could apply to a martial arts school as a dance studio. This is the situation:
You sign up for martial arts lessons at the school of your choice. On the registration form you signed (not a binding contract with an expiration date, just a student information form, basic rules and regulations and a if you get hurt it is not our fault disclaimer) part of the situplations on the document you signed was that the school was open to students for practice for free during times there were no classes going on.
You do not pay a certain amount per month, what you pay for instead is a certain number of weeks of group lessons (where you can go as little or as often as you want to in a week), a certain number of private lessons (which you can schedule as often or as sparse as you want), a certain number of supervised practices (SPs).
When your weeks/privates/SPs run out you have the option of purchasing more but it is not obligatory. They also never expire; you can show up for two weeks, disappear for two months, and come back and lose nothing you previously paid for.
One day you show up to your supervised practice and there is a notice taped to the door with a change; you must now pay $10 everytime you wish to use the school to practice. There was no prior notice that the manager was thinking of making this change, no explanation, and no formal announcement (during regular times when announcments are made orally or in the monthly newsletter).
I'm conflicted with what I think of this, I'll leave my thoughts to after some people comment so I don't lead the discussion. A note about the studio that we dance in; practice times would be shared amoung other students and instructors giving private lessons, the $10 would not give you exclusive access, or instructor guidance.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Christie
You sign up for martial arts lessons at the school of your choice. On the registration form you signed (not a binding contract with an expiration date, just a student information form, basic rules and regulations and a if you get hurt it is not our fault disclaimer) part of the situplations on the document you signed was that the school was open to students for practice for free during times there were no classes going on.
You do not pay a certain amount per month, what you pay for instead is a certain number of weeks of group lessons (where you can go as little or as often as you want to in a week), a certain number of private lessons (which you can schedule as often or as sparse as you want), a certain number of supervised practices (SPs).
When your weeks/privates/SPs run out you have the option of purchasing more but it is not obligatory. They also never expire; you can show up for two weeks, disappear for two months, and come back and lose nothing you previously paid for.
One day you show up to your supervised practice and there is a notice taped to the door with a change; you must now pay $10 everytime you wish to use the school to practice. There was no prior notice that the manager was thinking of making this change, no explanation, and no formal announcement (during regular times when announcments are made orally or in the monthly newsletter).
I'm conflicted with what I think of this, I'll leave my thoughts to after some people comment so I don't lead the discussion. A note about the studio that we dance in; practice times would be shared amoung other students and instructors giving private lessons, the $10 would not give you exclusive access, or instructor guidance.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Christie