Terms & Conditions
Michael Hegeman — Specialist Violin Consultation Services
Last updated: September 2026
1. About the Service
Michael Hegeman provides specialist consultations for violinists experiencing physical problems, technical difficulties, discomfort, tension, or other problems that may affect their violin playing.
The service is intended for violinists of all levels, including students, advanced players, professional musicians, teachers, soloists, and other experienced players.
Consultations may take place in person or online, including with clients located internationally.
The service is based on Michael Hegeman’s extensive experience as a violin teacher and specialist in violin playing and technique.
2. Nature and Scope of the Consultation
The consultation is a specialist violin-playing consultation. It is intended to examine problems in relation to violin playing, technique, posture, movement, physical coordination, use of the instrument, and related playing habits.
The consultation is not a medical consultation, medical examination, diagnosis, physiotherapy treatment, chiropractic treatment, or other healthcare service.
Michael Hegeman does not diagnose medical conditions or prescribe medical treatment.
Where a client’s symptoms or circumstances appear to require medical assessment or treatment, the client may be advised to consult an appropriately qualified medical or healthcare professional.
The client remains responsible for obtaining appropriate medical or healthcare advice where necessary.
3. Confidentiality
Client confidentiality is an important part of the service.
Information disclosed by a client during a consultation will be treated as confidential, subject to applicable law and any circumstances in which disclosure is legally required.
Particular care is taken with information concerning professional musicians, soloists, teachers, and other clients for whom privacy and professional confidentiality may be especially important.
The consultation is intended to provide a private and confidential environment in which a violinist can discuss physical or technical problems without concern that the information will be disclosed publicly.
4. Recording, Reproduction and Publication
The client may not record, reproduce, copy, photograph, screenshot, livestream, transmit, or otherwise capture any part of a consultation or session in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Michael Hegeman.
This prohibition applies to all forms of recording or capture, including but not limited to:
- audio recording;
- video recording;
- screen recording;
- photography;
- screenshots;
- digital or analogue recording;
- livestreaming;
- transcription or other means of reproducing the content of the consultation.
The client may not publish, post, upload, distribute, transmit, broadcast, share, sell, license, reproduce, or otherwise make available to any third party any recording, photograph, screenshot, transcript, extract, or other reproduction of the consultation or session, whether in whole or in part.
This prohibition applies to publication or distribution through any medium, including websites, social media, video-sharing platforms, messaging services, forums, online communities, or any other online or offline channel.
The restriction also applies to any person attending or participating in the consultation at the client’s invitation or on the client’s behalf.
Any permission to record or reproduce a consultation must be expressly granted in writing in advance by Michael Hegeman. No verbal, implied, or assumed permission constitutes authorisation.
Unauthorised recording, reproduction, publication, distribution, or disclosure constitutes a breach of these Terms & Conditions and may result in termination of the consultation or service without refund, in addition to any other rights or remedies available under applicable law.
5. Appointments
Appointments are arranged following communication with the client.
The client may initially provide a brief indication of the physical or playing problem they are experiencing. A detailed medical history or medical diagnosis is not required for the purpose of arranging an appointment.
Appointment arrangements are handled by email.
The client will receive confirmation of the agreed date and time together with payment instructions.
An appointment is considered confirmed only after the required payment has been received.
6. Consultation Fees
The current consultation fees are:
- Initial Specialist Consultation — 75 minutes: $295
- Follow-Up Consultation — 60 minutes: $225
- Three-Consultation Package — $625
- Five-Consultation Package — $975
Fees are stated in US dollars unless otherwise specified.
The applicable fee will be communicated to the client at the time of booking.
7. Payment
Payment must be made in accordance with the payment instructions provided to the client.
For an appointment to be confirmed, payment must be received before the appointment unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Michael Hegeman reserves the right to decline or postpone an appointment where payment has not been received.
For consultation packages, the package terms and any applicable expiry period will be communicated to the client at the time of purchase.
8. Online Consultations
Online consultations may be provided to clients internationally.
The client is responsible for having a suitable internet connection and appropriate equipment for participating in the consultation.
Michael Hegeman is not responsible for technical problems arising from the client’s equipment, internet connection, software, or environment.
If a technical problem prevents the consultation from taking place or materially interferes with it, the circumstances will be considered and an appropriate solution may be arranged at Michael Hegeman’s discretion.
9. In-Person Consultations
Where available, consultations may take place in person.
The client is responsible for arriving at the agreed location at the agreed time.
The client should bring the violin and any other equipment reasonably required for the consultation.
Specific location and appointment details will be provided when the appointment is arranged.
10. Cancellation and Rescheduling by the Client
Any request to cancel or reschedule an appointment must be made in writing by email to the email address provided for appointment arrangements.
Cancellations or rescheduling requests made verbally, by telephone, text message, social media, messaging service, or any other communication method will not be considered valid unless expressly confirmed by email.
The date and time on which the cancellation email is received will determine whether the cancellation has been made within the applicable cancellation period.
Cancellation more than 48 hours before the appointment
Where an appointment is cancelled more than 48 hours before the scheduled appointment time, the client may cancel or request rescheduling without charge.
Where applicable, payment may be refunded or transferred to a rescheduled appointment.
Cancellation less than 48 hours before the appointment
Where an appointment is cancelled less than 48 hours before the scheduled appointment time, the full consultation fee will normally remain payable and will not normally be refundable.
Failure to attend
If a client does not attend a scheduled consultation without providing appropriate notice, the full consultation fee will normally remain payable and will not normally be refundable.
Exceptional circumstances
Exceptional circumstances may be considered at Michael Hegeman’s discretion.
Any decision to waive or reduce a cancellation charge in exceptional circumstances does not establish an entitlement to such a waiver or reduction in future cases.
Nothing in this section affects any statutory cancellation or consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.
11. Cancellation or Rescheduling by Michael Hegeman
Michael Hegeman may, where necessary, cancel or reschedule an appointment.
Where Michael Hegeman needs to cancel or reschedule an appointment, the client will be notified by email as soon as reasonably practicable.
Where possible, the client will be offered the opportunity to reschedule the consultation for another mutually suitable date and time.
If the client does not wish to reschedule, or if it is not possible to arrange a suitable alternative appointment, any payment made for the cancelled consultation will be refunded.
No additional compensation will be payable for an appointment cancelled or rescheduled by Michael Hegeman, except where required by applicable law.
Cancellation or rescheduling may occur for reasons including illness, emergency, technical problems, travel disruption, unforeseen circumstances, or other circumstances that make it impractical or impossible for Michael Hegeman to conduct the consultation as scheduled.
Where reasonably possible, reasonable efforts will be made to minimise inconvenience to the client.
12. Client Responsibilities
The client is responsible for providing accurate information relevant to the consultation.
The client should communicate any significant limitations or circumstances that may affect their ability to participate safely in the consultation.
The client remains responsible for their own decisions concerning their physical activity and violin playing.
The client should stop or modify an activity if they experience significant pain, worsening symptoms, dizziness, loss of strength, or other concerning symptoms and should seek appropriate professional medical advice where necessary.
13. No Guarantee of Results
The purpose of the consultation is to provide specialist observation, analysis, guidance, and practical suggestions relating to violin playing.
Because each violinist and each physical or technical problem is different, no specific result or outcome can be guaranteed.
The effectiveness of any recommendations may depend on factors including the nature of the problem, the client’s individual circumstances, implementation of recommendations, playing habits, practice, and other factors outside Michael Hegeman’s control.
14. Professional and Specialist Information
The information and guidance provided during a consultation are based on Michael Hegeman’s professional experience and specialist knowledge of violin playing.
The service does not replace assessment or treatment by a suitably qualified healthcare professional where such assessment or treatment is required.
Professional musicians remain responsible for determining whether and how any recommendation should be incorporated into their professional playing activities.
15. Intellectual Property
The teaching methods, explanations, exercises, demonstrations, written materials, diagrams, terminology, and other original materials provided by Michael Hegeman remain his intellectual property unless expressly stated otherwise.
The client receives permission to use such materials for their own personal learning and violin practice.
The client may not reproduce, publish, distribute, sell, license, teach, commercially exploit, or otherwise make such materials available to third parties without prior written permission.
This provision is separate from and in addition to the prohibition on recording and publication contained in Section 4.
16. Professional Conduct
Clients are expected to conduct themselves respectfully and appropriately during consultations.
Michael Hegeman reserves the right to terminate a consultation or refuse future services where a client’s conduct is abusive, threatening, harassing, discriminatory, disruptive, or otherwise inappropriate.
Where a consultation is terminated for serious misconduct or a material breach of these Terms & Conditions, the consultation fee may be retained.
17. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Michael Hegeman shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or other losses arising from participation in a consultation or from the client’s use of information or recommendations provided during a consultation.
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by applicable law.
The client remains responsible for deciding whether and how to apply information or recommendations received during a consultation.
18. Privacy and Personal Information
Personal information provided in connection with an appointment will be handled in accordance with applicable data-protection and privacy legislation.
Information will be used for purposes including arranging appointments, processing payments, communicating with the client, providing the consultation, and maintaining appropriate business records.
Personal information will not be publicly disclosed except where required or permitted by law or where the client has provided appropriate consent.
19. Changes to These Terms & Conditions
These Terms & Conditions may be updated from time to time.
The version applicable to a client’s booking will normally be the version in effect at the time the appointment is booked, subject to any legal requirements concerning changes to contractual terms.
The current version will be made available on the website.
20. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands, to the extent applicable to the relevant transaction.
Subject to any mandatory rights or protections applicable to a consumer under the law that cannot legally be excluded or restricted, any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms & Conditions or the services provided under them shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts of the Netherlands.
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to deprive a consumer of any mandatory rights, protections, or legal remedies available under the law applicable to that consumer.
Where legally permitted, the courts of the Netherlands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any such dispute.
21. Acceptance of These Terms
By booking and paying for a consultation, the client acknowledges that they have had the opportunity to read and understand these Terms & Conditions and agrees to be bound by them.
In particular, the client acknowledges and accepts the provisions concerning:
- the nature and scope of the consultation;
- payment;
- cancellation and rescheduling;
- confidentiality;
- recording and publication;
- intellectual property;
- client responsibility; and
- applicable limitations of liability.
22. Contact
Questions concerning these Terms & Conditions, appointments, cancellations, or the consultation service should be made by email using the contact details provided on the website.
Michael Hegeman
Specialist Violin Consultation Services
Email: info[at]michaelhegeman.com
Website address: michaelhegeman.com