I work for the Center as a contract instructor and have for over 20 years. I value that they respect my privacy by not giving out my personal contact information to every student because I could not possibly juggle all those messages and still plan lessons. Having the fabulous staff coordinating schedules and attendances in one location is so beneficial. And knowing that I get paid even if a student is out assures me my bills get paid! I try to work with my students closely to catch them up or if possible find a small amount of time to make up for time lost but that is not always possible with my busy schedule teaching in multiple locations. Many years ago, I also had my children in music lessons there and it was a wonderful experience where they were nurtured and valued. When we did have an emergency, the staff helped us to work out a solution for a make up or kindly credited us to ease our worries during the crisis. I never asked nor expected a refund if we canceled for basic illness or other reasons. We were always credited if the Center closed due to weather. This is standard practice in most lesson-based businesses per my experience, much like signing up for a community college class or having a child in preschool. It is a small price to pay for the quality instruction you are getting from professional musicians and artists in the Richmond area. The staff are always looking to be helpful and listen to any concerns, as one might expect from a church-run program. read more
