Music Centre terms and conditions

Updated December 2025

  1. Music Centre membership
    1. Music Centre membership is mandatory for everyone who:
      1. receives individual music tuition (including scholarship students)
      2. participates in Music Centre-run groups, including scholarship groups and children’s groups
      3. uses Laidlaw Music Centre rooms, either as an individual or as part of a group/society. See also 1.3. Society membership
    2. Basic membership (also called lessons-only membership) covers people who only come to the Music Centre for lessons, and do not make use of any other facilities.
    3. Society membership covers room bookings by a specific society for its members. It does not cover practice by individual society members outwith society activity.
  2. Music tuition
    1. Everyone taking lessons at the Music Centre must pay the appropriate membership fee in addition to lesson fees.
    2. Lesson fees are payable in advance for the whole semester before the second lesson.
    3. The first lesson is an opportunity for the student and teacher to decide whether they wish to continue: if they do not, payment must be made straightaway for one lesson.
    4. Failure to pay on time may result in the lesson space being offered to another student.
    5. After the Music Centre has established the initial contact between teacher and student, it is up to the student and teacher to keep track of the lessons received.
    6. Timetables may be rearranged if required, by mutual agreement.
    7. Semester dates are published on the Music Centre website. Reminders are also included in the weekly e-newsletter which is sent to all members.
    8. Students should inform their teacher (directly, or via the Music Centre office), giving as much notice as possible, if they have to miss a lesson.
    9. In the case of student absence due to illness, and if practical, teachers will aim to teach online at the agreed time, or re-arrange the lesson, provided at least 24 hours’ notice has been given.
    10. Where suitable reason and notice of unavoidable absence is given, teachers may rearrange lessons but are under no obligation to do so. If less than 24 hours’ notice is given, the lesson may be forfeited at the teacher's discretion.
    11. Only in exceptional circumstances are fees refunded.
    12. If the teacher or student encounters any problems with their tuition, they should raise it with the office staff in the first instance.
  1. Scholarships
    1. All students in receipt of Music Centre scholarships must pay for Music Centre membership.
    2. See also Terms and conditions for scholarship recipients
  1. Music Centre groups
    1. All participants in Music Centre-run choirs, orchestras and ensembles must join the Music Centre and pay the appropriate membership fee.
    2. Tuition groups (e.g. children’s violin group, beginners’ guitar groups, beginners’ bagpipe groups) are also subject to an additional tuition fee.
  1. Practice room bookings
    1. Only Music Centre members may book and use Laidlaw Music Centre rooms.
    2. All members of a band or group must be Music Centre members. See also Society Membership (1.c).
    3. A maximum of seven hours per week may be booked in advance by any Music Centre member.
    4. University members should book rooms using the online booking system.
    5. Non-University members should email musicrooms@st-andrews.ac.uk. The Music Centre aims to respond to non-University booking requests within two working days.
    6. Rooms which are no longer required must be cancelled, either via the online booking system or by contacting the Music Centre office.
    7. Any room which remains unoccupied 10 minutes after the start of the booking becomes available for use by another member.
  1. Safety
    1. Fire Evacuation Procedure posters are displayed around the building.
    2. If the fire alarm sounds (except at 09.00 on Thursdays when a test is performed), leave the building immediately by the nearest exit and go to the evacuation point in St Mary’s Quad.
    3. If you discover a fire, activate the nearest fire alarm point and call 999.
  1. Lockers
    1. Lockers are available to Music Centre members for the storage of instruments and music.
    2. Lockers are allocated by office staff, with instructions.
    3. Lockers must be emptied at the end of the second semester.
    4. It may be possible to extend use over the summer vacation subject to availability.
    5. Any unclaimed contents will be removed and disposed of.
    6. Priority for locker use is given to members who live furthest away from the Laidlaw Music Centre, and to those who play in Music Centre ensembles.
    7. If a locker is no longer required, you must inform the office so that it can be allocated to another member.
  1. Instrument loan
    1. The Music Centre owns a large stock of musical instruments that may be borrowed by members, subject to availability.
    2. Damage to/loss of any instrument must be reported immediately to the Music Centre office.
    3. Any repair or replacement costs arising from a member’s use of an instrument, beyond reasonable wear and tear, will be charged to the borrower.
    4. Instrument supplies such as reeds, strings, cork grease etc. should be replaced as required by the borrower.
    5. All instruments must be returned at the end of each semester, unless special permission has been granted by the Director of Music.
  1. Information technology
    1. Visitors to the Music Centre must adhere to the University’s ICT regulations. Any breach of these regulations will result in membership being revoked.
  1. General
    1. No food or drink, with the exception of water in bottles/lidded cups, may be consumed in the practice and rehearsal rooms.
    2. Smoking, including e-cigarettes, and the use of naked flames and incense sticks is prohibited.
    3. Private teaching, except by Music Centre Associate Teachers, is prohibited.
    4. Rooms must be left tidy and all equipment replaced in its original location.
    5. Any problems with pianos, instruments, music stands, heating etc. must be reported promptly to the office staff.
    6. The University takes no responsibility for individuals’ property that is lost, damaged or stolen on the premises. Members should therefore ensure that they have their own appropriate insurance.
    7. Failure to adhere to any of these terms and conditions will result in membership being revoked.