D Sharp Music Academy Terms and Conditions
Service:
Online and In-Person Music Coaching
Trading name
dsharpmusic academy
Legal provider
Darren Edwards
Contact
hello@dsharpmusic.com
Effective date
29 September 2026
These terms govern private singing, piano or keyboard, performance, songwriting, production and related music-coaching services supplied by the legal provider identified above, trading as dsharpmusic academy (the Academy). Please read them before booking. They explain how bookings, payments, changes, cancellations and online or in-person sessions work. Nothing in these terms reduces your statutory consumer rights.
Important: complete every item shown in square brackets and obtain review from a solicitor familiar with UK consumer and data-protection law before publication.
1 About these terms
1.1 These terms form the agreement between the Academy and the person who books and pays for a session (the Client). If coaching is provided to somebody else, that person is the Student. The Client is responsible for ensuring that the Student follows the parts of these terms that apply to them.
1.2 A booking is accepted when the Academy sends written confirmation or takes payment, whichever happens first. The booking confirmation, service description and any written package terms form part of the agreement. If they conflict, the booking confirmation takes priority for the specific booking, followed by these terms.
1.3 The Academy primarily serves adults. Coaching for a person under 18 is available only by prior written agreement and is subject to clause 14.
2 Services and coaching relationship
2.1 Coaching may include technical instruction, guided practice, feedback, exercises, repertoire work, performance preparation and general creative or career-development discussion. The precise content is tailored to the Student's goals, level and progress.
2.2 Coaching is educational and developmental. Results depend on factors outside the Academy's control, including attendance, practice, health and implementation. The Academy does not guarantee a particular examination result, audition, booking, career outcome, vocal range, performance standard or income.
2.3 The Academy may make reasonable adjustments to lesson content, exercises, platform or venue where this does not materially reduce the service. A material change will be discussed with the Client in advance.
3 Bookings and availability
3.1 Sessions are offered in the durations and at the prices displayed at the time of booking. A requested time is not secured until the booking is confirmed.
3.2 Recurring slots are subject to availability and do not create a permanent entitlement unless the Academy confirms this in writing. The Academy may propose a reasonable alternative time where scheduling changes are necessary.
3.3 A free discovery session is an initial assessment and discussion, not a full coaching lesson. It has no cash value and may be limited to one per prospective Student.
4 Fees and payment
4.1 Fees are those stated on the website or booking page, or in a written quotation. The Academy will state whether VAT is included or applicable. Payment is due in full when booking unless a written payment plan or invoice states otherwise.
4.2 The Client is responsible for any clearly disclosed third-party cost requested for their booking, such as specialist studio hire, accompanist fees, venue entry or agreed travel. The Academy will obtain approval before incurring an optional additional cost.
4.3 If a payment fails or becomes overdue, the Academy may pause future sessions after giving reasonable notice. The Academy will not charge an undisclosed late-payment fee.
4.4 Where a package or credit has an expiry date, that date will be shown before purchase. Any extension will be considered reasonably, including in cases of serious illness or other exceptional circumstances. Statutory rights are unaffected.
5 Client cancellations and rescheduling
6.1 Clients may move or cancel an individual session by giving at least 48 hours' notice through email of the booking system. A timely request may be rescheduled once, subject to availability, or credited as agreed in writing.
6.2 If less than 48 hours' notice is given, or the Student does not attend, the Academy may retain or charge the session fee to reflect the reserved time and loss caused by the late cancellation. The Academy will act reasonably, will not recover more than its genuine loss.
6.3 The Academy may make a reasonable exception or offer an alternative arrangement for genuine emergencies, serious illness or exceptional circumstances. Evidence may be requested where proportionate.
6.4 Repeated cancellations or non-attendance may result in the loss of a recurring slot or termination under clause 16 after reasonable notice.
6 Academy cancellations
7.1 If the Academy cancels a session, it will offer a suitable replacement date. If no suitable date can be agreed, the Client may choose a credit or refund for the undelivered session.
7.2 The Academy is not responsible for indirect losses arising from a rescheduled session, but this does not exclude liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
7 Lateness and lesson time
8.1 The Student should be ready at the agreed start time. If the Student arrives or connects late, the session will normally finish at the scheduled time so that other clients are not affected. The full fee remains payable, subject to the fairness provisions in clause 6.
8.2 If the Academy starts late, it will make up the lost time where reasonably possible or provide an appropriate credit.
8 Online sessions
9.1 The Client is responsible for a suitable device, stable internet connection, up-to-date software, functioning camera and microphone where required, and a safe, quiet space. Headphones and an external microphone may improve the experience but are not required unless agreed in advance.
9.2 The Academy is responsible for taking reasonable steps to maintain its own connection and teaching platform. If the Academy's technical failure materially prevents delivery, the session will be extended, rescheduled or credited. If the Student's equipment or connection fails, the Academy will provide reasonable troubleshooting but the session will normally remain chargeable.
9.3 The Student must not share a private session link, meeting password or course access with another person.
9 In person sessions
10.1 The booking confirmation will identify the venue. The Student must comply with reasonable venue rules, access requirements and health and safety instructions.
10.2 The Client must disclose in advance any access need or relevant condition for which a reasonable adjustment may be required. The Academy will consider reasonable adjustments in line with applicable equality law.
10.3 The Student is responsible for personal belongings. The Academy is not liable for loss or damage unless caused by its negligence or another liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
10 Health and vocal wellbeing
11.1 Music coaching is not medical diagnosis or treatment. The Student should stop any exercise that causes pain, dizziness, breathing difficulty or unusual discomfort and seek appropriate professional advice.
11.2 The Client should tell the Academy about any relevant injury, hearing concern, respiratory issue or vocal-health limitation where this is necessary for safe participation. The Academy may adapt or stop an activity if it reasonably considers this necessary for safety.
11.3 Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence.
11 Practice materials and intellectual property
12.1 Unless stated otherwise, the Academy retains copyright and other intellectual-property rights in its original exercises, worksheets, arrangements, course materials, recordings and teaching resources.
12.2 The Client receives a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use supplied materials for the Student's own learning and practice. Materials must not be copied, sold, uploaded, published, taught as the Client's own system or shared with others without written permission, except where permitted by law.
12.3 The Student retains ownership of their original songs and other original creative work. Coaching feedback does not give the Academy ownership or a royalty interest unless a separate written collaboration agreement says otherwise.
12.4 The Client is responsible for obtaining any permission needed to use third-party music, backing tracks, lyrics, scores or recordings outside private study.
12 Recording and publicity
13.1 Neither party may record a private session without the other's prior agreement. Any agreed coaching recording is for the Student's personal study only unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.
13.2 The Academy will not publish the Student's name, image, voice, testimonial or performance for marketing without separate, specific permission. Consent may be withdrawn for future use, although withdrawal may not affect lawful use already made.
13.3 Recording by or involving anyone under 18 requires prior written consent from a parent or legal guardian and appropriate safeguarding arrangements.
13 Students under 18
14.1 A parent or legal guardian must make the booking, accept these terms and provide accurate emergency contact details.
14.2 For online lessons, the parent or guardian must ensure the lesson takes place in an appropriate shared or supervised environment and must remain reasonably available. Private messaging with a child will be avoided except through an agreed safeguarding channel involving the parent or guardian.
14.3 For in-person lessons, collection, supervision and permission for the child to travel alone must be agreed in advance. The Academy may pause or end a session if safeguarding arrangements are not adequate.
14.4 Any safeguarding concern will be handled under the Academy's safeguarding procedure and may be referred to the appropriate authority where required.
14 Conduct and respectful participation
15.1 Clients and Students must behave respectfully and must not harass, threaten, discriminate against or endanger the Academy, its contractors, venue staff or other students.
15.2 The Academy may end a session immediately where conduct creates a safety or safeguarding risk or involves serious abuse. Any charge or refund will be considered fairly in light of the circumstances and the services already supplied.
15 Ending ongoing coaching
16.1 Either party may end an ongoing arrangement by giving 14 days written notice. The Client remains responsible for sessions properly due during the notice period, subject to statutory rights and the Academy's duty to keep any cancellation charge proportionate to genuine loss.
16.2 Either party may end the agreement immediately for a serious breach that cannot be remedied. Where a breach can be remedied, the affected party should normally give written notice and a reasonable opportunity to put it right.
16.3 On termination, the Academy will refund fees paid for services it will not provide, after deducting any fair amount properly due for services already delivered and reasonable loss directly caused by the Client's breach.
16 Liability
17.1 The Academy must provide services with reasonable care and skill. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability for fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or death or personal injury caused by negligence.
17.2 Subject to clause 17.1, the Academy is not responsible for loss that was not reasonably foreseeable when the agreement was made, or for business loss where the Client purchases as a consumer. If the Client purchases wholly for business purposes, any different limitation should be set out in a separate written business agreement.
17.3 The Academy is not responsible for a failure or delay caused by events beyond its reasonable control. It will contact the Client as soon as reasonably possible, take reasonable steps to minimise disruption and offer a fair remedy where services cannot be provided.
17 Privacy and communications
18.1 Personal information will be handled in accordance with the Academy's Privacy Notice at [INSERT PRIVACY NOTICE LINK]. The notice should explain what information is collected, why it is used, how long it is retained, who receives it and the individual's data-protection rights.
18.2 Service messages about bookings and coaching are not marketing. Marketing communications will be sent only where permitted by law, and recipients may opt out at any time.
18 Complaints
19.1 A Client should raise any concern promptly by emailing customercare@dsharpmusic.com. The Academy will acknowledge the complaint within 5 working days and aim to provide a substantive response within 14 working days.
19.2 The parties will try to resolve disputes fairly and directly.
19 General terms
20.1 If a court finds part of these terms unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining parts will continue in effect.
20.2 A delay in enforcing a right does not waive that right.
20.3 No person other than the Academy, the Client and, where relevant, the Student has a right to enforce this agreement under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
20.4 The Academy may update these terms for future bookings. For an existing ongoing arrangement, a material change will be notified in advance and will not remove accrued rights. If a material change significantly disadvantages the Client, the Client may end the affected ongoing service without an additional termination charge.
20.5 These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. A consumer may bring proceedings in the courts of the part of the United Kingdom in which they live, where applicable.