Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Effective Date: May 19, 2024

Terms of Service

1. Course Access and License

Upon purchase, you will receive a non-transferable, non-exclusive license to access the online piano tuning and repair course ("Course") for personal, non-commercial use. This license is valid for one year from the date of purchase.

2. User Account

You must create an account to access the Course. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account information and for all activities under your account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.

3. Payment and Refunds

All payments are due at the time of purchase. Due to the digital nature of the Course, all sales are final. Refunds will not be issued, except where required by law.

4. Intellectual Property

All content provided in the Course, including videos, text, graphics, and software, is the intellectual property of Cook Piano Service LLC or its licensors. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from the Course content without express written permission.

5. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Share your login credentials with others.
• Use the Course for any unlawful purpose.
• Attempt to reverse engineer or interfere with the Course software.
• Distribute or publicly display any part of the Course without permission.

6. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Course is provided "as is" without any warranties, express or implied. We do not guarantee that the Course will meet your expectations or that it will be uninterrupted or error-free.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Cook Piano Service LLC will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Course, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

8. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting on our website. Your continued use of the Course after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the new terms.

9. Governing Law

These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Minnesota, United States of America. Any disputes arising from these terms shall be resolved in the courts of Minnesota, United States of America.

10. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at [email protected].

11. Age and Capacity to Consent

By purchasing this Course, you affirm that you are at least 18 years of age and of sound mind, capable of making informed decisions. You must be legally competent and able to enter into binding agreements to purchase and use the Course. Cook Piano Service LLC reserves the right to request proof of age and capacity to consent if necessary. If you do not meet these requirements, you are not authorized to purchase or use the Course.

Liability Disclaimer

By purchasing and participating in our online piano tuning and repair course ("Course"), you acknowledge and agree to the following terms and conditions. These terms are designed to release the course provider ("Provider") from any liability for incidents that may occur during the Course or while applying the knowledge and skills acquired from the Course. The Course is for informational purposes only, and the Participant accepts full responsibility for any outcomes when practicing on pianos.

Personal Injury

Physical Injury Risks

The Participant acknowledges and agrees that working with pianos involves physical activities that can result in personal injury, including but not limited to:

• Injury to the back, wrist, shoulder, elbow, or any other bodily injury while moving, tuning, or removing the action from a piano.
• Injury from unstable or broken piano legs.
• Injury from music wire, including skin punctures or eye injuries that may result in blindness. The Participant agrees to wear appropriate eye protection when handling music wire.
• Long-term hearing damage or tinnitus from exposure to loud noises while tuning pianos. The Participant agrees to wear hearing protection at all times during tuning activities.
• The risk of fatal accidents if a grand piano collapses. The Participant agrees not to go under a grand piano.
• Pianos are very heavy. When maneuvering them, ensure that other vulnerable people, animals, or property are cleared from the area to ensure safety.

• Note: This is not a piano moving course. While a piano may need to move several inches or centimeters to safely open it, this course does not in any way demonstrate piano moving from one building or room to another.

The Participant acknowledges that the Course is for informational purposes only, and accepts full responsibility for any personal injury that may occur when practicing the techniques learned.

Use of Soldering Irons

The Course includes demonstrations on the use of hot soldering irons to fix sticking keys. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that soldering irons can cause burns or start fires. The Participant must exercise caution when using a soldering iron and releases the Provider from liability for any personal injury, property damage, or damage to third-party property resulting from the use of a soldering iron.

The Participant acknowledges that the Course is for informational purposes only, and accepts full responsibility for any injury or damage that may occur when using a soldering iron.

Health Risks from Rodent Infestations and Mold

The Participant acknowledges and agrees that pianos may be infested with rodents or contain mold. Such conditions pose significant health risks, including but not limited to:

• Exposure to hantavirus, which can cause severe organ damage and be fatal. The Participant agrees to wear breathing protection when examining a piano for the first time.
• Exposure to mold, which can pose health risks. The Participant releases the Provider from liability for any health issues arising from rodent infestations or mold exposure.

The Participant acknowledges that the Course is for informational purposes only, and accepts full responsibility for any health risks encountered when working on pianos.

Property Damage

The Participant acknowledges and agrees that working with pianos can result in damage to personal property, including but not limited to:

• Damage to walls from the piano lid.
• Damage to floors when moving a piano or piano bench.
• Damage to the piano and surrounding property if the piano lid is not secured and crashes down.

The Participant acknowledges that the Course is for informational purposes only, and accepts full responsibility for any property damage that may occur when practicing the techniques learned.

The Participant releases the Provider from liability for any property damage that he or she causes.

Piano Damage

The Participant acknowledges and agrees that working with pianos may sometimes result in damage to the piano itself, including but not limited to:

• Breaking strings while tuning, which is a common occurrence.
• Breaking the piano’s cast iron plate, rendering the piano non-serviceable.
• Damaging the dampers by not lifting them with the pedal when inserting or removing a mute.
• Damaging the hammers by hitting the piano keys too hard.
• Cracking a grand piano’s pinblock by improperly pounding tuning pins without supporting the pinblock from underneath.
• Breaking the hammers by holding the keys down while removing the action on a grand piano.
• Causing the piano lid to crash down by improperly connecting the lid stick.

The Participant acknowledges that the Course is for informational purposes only, and accepts full responsibility for any damage to pianos that may occur when practicing the techniques learned.

Learning on Valuable Instruments

The Participant acknowledges that when learning to work on pianos, they should not practice on valuable instruments. It is recommended to practice on a piano that is structurally sound but not highly valuable. The Participant accepts the risk of making mistakes that are costly to fix when learning on valuable instruments and accepts responsibility for any costs incurred to fix their mistakes.

Working on Another Person’s Piano

The Participant acknowledges and accepts responsibility for any damage they may cause to another person’s piano when applying the skills learned from the Course.

The Participant releases the Provider from liability for any damage to a piano as described above.

General Safety Recommendations

To minimize the risk of injury or damage, the following safety measures are strongly advised:

• Use appropriate lifting techniques and equipment when maneuvering pianos.
• Wear supportive and protective gear, including gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, and breathing protection when necessary.
• Ensure the piano and all its parts, including legs and lids, are secure and in good condition before commencing any work.

End-User Agreement

The Course is intended solely for the personal use of the purchaser ("Participant"). The Participant agrees not to distribute, share, or provide access to the Course materials to any other person. If the Participant breaches this agreement and provides the Course to another person, the Participant accepts full responsibility for any damages or injuries that the other person incurs or causes as a result of using the Course materials.

Release of Liability

By enrolling in the Course, the Participant agrees to release, waive, and discharge the Provider, its owners, employees, and affiliates from any and all claims, demands, or causes of action that the Participant or any other person or entity may have, now or in the future, arising out of or related to any injury, loss, or damage sustained as a result of participation in the Course or the application of the skills and knowledge acquired.

Acceptance of Terms

By purchasing this Course, the Participant acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to these terms and conditions. The Participant’s purchase and participation indicate acceptance of this release of liability and assumption of all associated risks.

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: May 19, 2024

Cook Piano Service LLC ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and disclose your information when you purchase and use our online Course.

1. Information We Collect

• Personal Information: When you create an account and purchase the Course, we collect information such as your name, email address, payment information, and billing address.
• Usage Data: We collect information about your interactions with the Course, including access times, pages viewed, and other activity data.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and maintain the Course.
• Process transactions and send you related information, including purchase confirmations and invoices.
• Communicate with you, including sending updates, promotional materials, and support messages.
• Analyze usage trends and improve our Course offerings.

3. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to outside parties except:

• With service providers who assist us in operating our Course and conducting our business.
• When required by law or to protect our rights, property, or safety.
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets.

4. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Your Rights

You have the right to access, update, or delete your personal information. To exercise these rights, please contact us at [email protected].

6. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting on our website. Your continued use of the Course after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the new policy.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at [email protected].