Newsletter 2025

Jan 2025 newsletter


Happy new year All






Just thought I’d fill you all in with plans for this next year with us at the OB schools..


First of all. I do want to say that I am so thrilled that we have so many students still with us and choosing us for their music education.


I am forever grateful to all the amazing teachers and Their incredible attitude to all the students and their well being is something I’m truly proud of.


Let’s start with Plans for this year.


Lessons start back on Saturday
4th of January




Increased social media presence..


I really want to get something going with social media.
I understand this isn’t for everyone but if you use instagram or facebook and you or your child does something cool on their instrument or plays at a concert.
Please do tag us in them.. some parents already do and I love that.


Again no problem if that’s not how you work and or you don’t want your child on social media .
I understand totally.


My YouTube channel has some great additional lessons on there for students of all levels.. check that out..


Also.
Any google reviews are very welcome..
They are my only source of advertising at the moment and I really appreciate them if you haven’t done one yet.


Here are some links


Google Review and social media links


https://g.page/obdrumacademy?gm


https://www.facebook.com/obdrumacademy/


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8CfB55m8WU3OUq2IF9zq_w?view_as=subscribe


https://www.instagram.com/obdrumacademy?igsh=MWJ5cmdvaGF2b2lqZA==




Non grade based attainment targets.


I get it that some students don’t like doing grades.
So I’m putting together a set of home grown in house attainment targets that are aimed at a more vibe based student.!!


A mixture of material using James Courts book plus more of a fun approach to play along tracks that can be suited to a students musical choices.. I’m asking James chapman to help with this because he comes from a more alternative musical back ground.


For instance.
Beginner level.. gold , silver and bronze etc..


I think it would be a great thing to get students motivated without having to play 3 tunes and bore themselves to tears with it.


If a student loves heavy Rock. We will make their song choices more pushed towards that genre. Plus try and include modules on some Latin amercian and jazz areas.


Swag


I’m looking into getting some tote bags, branded sticks and practice diaries..
Good for presents and students feeling part of the club so to speak.


Lessons and the weekly slots.


We are going to go off timetable in August and students can book in as they need to..
So many students on holiday and are doing different activities.. it makes sense for everyone to be more flexible over that period.


Last year. It was so patchy and I’d like it to continue through the summer.. but maybe we can do a summer school in a studio or a group workshop or something as well?!


Are you interested in something like that ?


The whole academy WhatsApp group still exists and this is good for whole group bulletins and for buying and selling drums etc..


Let me know if you’d like to be part of it or not..






Money.. (here we go. I hate this)


There is currently a lot of different prices being paid at the moment for various historical reasons. .. which is a nightmare to keep on top of for me especially when it is paid in so many different ways.
Plus.. for Vat reasons I need some consistency in the payments..


So I know this may be annoying for some of you and for that I am so sorry.. but


Pay as you go..


Please can we stop using Pay pal now for individual lessons, It’s just another thing for me to keep track of.


For Blocks it’s fine. And I do encourage doing it in blocks for all types of payment


It just makes it easier for me and a bit cheaper for you.


If you are paying for an individual lesson online. I’d love it if you could pay at the time of the lesson like you are making a card payment. It just means that when I look at the days payments. I know everything has been paid on the day the lesson has happened.


Could you put the date of the lesson and the student name as the reference.


Sometimes I don’t know if a payment is in advance or afterwards and as you can imagine that takes time to work out and I’ll always miss stuff.


in general I think the 5 lesson blocks work.
I’ve thought about a monthly thing but it just gets too complicated if we miss lessons etc without some elaborate program that invoices automatically etc


whenever I send you a message about paying me at the end of a block of 5


I honestly don’t expect you to have remembered when the next payment is needed.. I will try and do that.


I do triple check it all when I send a reminder but that doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes so please do flag them up.


Also sometimes I remind after a lesson of the new block has happened.


Now.
I am so bad at keeping on top of prices and keeping up with inflation and the going rate.


I do need to raise them and make them the same across the board between both studios at this point..


As I’ve said.. students are all paying different prices depending on when they started and it’s just crazy complicated for me and the other teachers.


So the prices are now. From when the next payments are due.


Across the board in Hailsham and Polegate


20 min lesson - £13.50
30 min lesson -£18.50
45 min lesson -£26.50
60 min lesson - £36




5 x 20 mins - £65.
5 x 30 mins - £85.
5 x 45mins - £120.
5x 60mins - £160




I know for some of you this may be a bit of a hike..


Some of you are on a pay scale with prices im charging are still from 4 years ago..!!!
I hope you understand the need for the price rise.


A sports massage can be £70 and hour !!


Also Slight change in who you are paying for some of you.


For students on these slots


Monday, Tuesday, in Polegate With Josh
Monday and Tuesday in Hailsham with James
Weds in Hailsham with Josh ,
thurs in Hailsham with James.


You will now pay the teachers directly from now on…


Long story but generally teaching is a Vat except industry until the money goes through me and back out again!!!!


Any teaching I do is Vat excempt but not when the other guys do it for me..


if I continue to take payments then I will have to become vat registered and charge vat on lessons.


Not something I ever want to do..


Anyway
they we will be in touch to sort this out…and give you new payment details.


One more thing .


Just for clarity, here is the cancellation policy that I haven’t sent to everyone (only relatively recent starters)
and I know it can seem a bit harsh.


Especially when a child is ill etc.
I like to continue to give flexibility but just for the security of some of the teachers. Some come from over an hour away etc.


This is the cancellation policy I’ve sent to all new students and is on the website.


So the only thing we ask for is 24 hrs notice of a lesson cancellation.
I hope you understand that teachers need to know their earnings and have the availability to move students when needed if possible..


When a lesson is cancelled after this point we will now start sending a short catch up video to students covering what could be practiced in the following week in lieu of the lesson on request.
Teachers will only make them if you want one or have time to look at them.


This is obviously tricky for me ask for me when a student is pay as you go.
But please could you have the understanding if we ask you for payment for the previous lesson if it was cancelled late.


Anyway.
I just wanted to start this year with a bit of a clearer route through for everyone..


I’m a drummer not a business man..
I’m trying to play drums and keep the lights on and basically never turn anyone away..
I think what we do is great..
Having had a 100% pass rate on all exams and 99% merit and above. I’m proud of that.


and I’d hate to anyone to not come here because I think we are the only ones who have working professionals doing it who know what a student needs..


It’s never about money it’s about music
And that will always be my mantra even if I do need to make a bit for the crippling amount of admin..


To those I’ve never met..
And to those I havent seen in a long time..


I apologise.
I’m teaching in 3 schools.. all of this..


Rocky Horror show and the London palladium panto. Plus 2 kids under 4..
It’s carnage!


The way this model of consistent lessons (apart from November this year!!!)
work is by having a strong team who pick up the slack whenever one of us is playing or Unwell.
I appreciate all the teachers and the students and I hope you all have the best 2025.




I hope I can see everyone at some point this year. I love seeing what everyone has been up to..


Ps.. mind the decking in Polegate..
It’s a bit slippery at the mo


Kind regards
Ollie