Privacy Policy
This policy explains what personal data James McDonald Music collects through this website, why it is collected, who it is shared with, and the rights you have over it.
Who We Are
James McDonald is the data controller for personal data collected through jamesmcdonaldmusic.com. If you have a privacy question or would like to exercise your data protection rights, you can contact us using the contact form on this website.
Information You Give Us
When you submit the enquiry form we collect your first and last name, email address and phone number, all of which are required, along with whether the lessons are for an adult, how you heard about us if you tell us, anything you write in the message field, and whether you ticked the box asking to hear about lessons and guides by email. If you request the practice guide, we collect your name, email address and phone number in the same way. If you book a call, the booking is handled by Calendly and the details you enter there are processed by them on our behalf.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit this website, information may be collected automatically about your device and how you use the site — including browser and device information, approximate location derived from your IP address, the pages you visit, how you interact with them, the site or advert that referred you, and cookie or advertising identifiers. Where this involves non-essential cookies or similar technologies, it only happens after you consent through the cookie banner.
Why We Use It
We use enquiry details to respond to you, work out whether lessons are a good fit, and administer your lessons and payments. We use website and analytics information to understand how the site is used and to improve it. Where you have consented, we also use advertising and measurement technologies to understand how well our advertising performs and, where enabled, to show relevant advertising.
Advertising and Analytics
This website uses Google Analytics to measure how the site is used. Where enabled, it also uses Google Ads conversion tracking and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) advertising technologies to measure the results of advertising and, where you have consented, to show you relevant adverts. These technologies may set cookies or use identifiers linked to your device or browser. Where you have consented to marketing cookies, the Meta pixel also uses a feature called advanced matching: details you type into the enquiry form — your name, email address and phone number — are converted into a scrambled code on your device before being sent to Meta, so that Meta can recognise you as the same person who saw an advert. Meta receives the scrambled code rather than the details themselves. This only happens after you consent, and if you do not consent the Meta pixel does not load at all. Google's advertising signals are set to denied by default and are only enabled if you consent through the cookie banner, and you can change or withdraw that consent at any time.
Legal Bases
Different activities rely on different legal bases. Responding to your enquiry and arranging or delivering lessons relies on taking steps at your request before entering a contract, and on performance of that contract. Keeping records for accounting and tax relies on our legal obligations. Protecting the enquiry form from spam and abuse, and keeping the website secure and working, relies on our legitimate interests. Analytics, advertising measurement and any advertising personalisation rely on your consent, which you can withdraw at any time.
Who We Share It With
Enquiry emails are sent using Resend. Enquiries and lesson records are stored in HubSpot, our customer relationship system. Call bookings are handled by Calendly. The website is hosted by Netlify, cookie consent is managed by Cookiebot, and the enquiry form is protected from automated abuse by Cloudflare Turnstile. Where advertising and analytics technologies are enabled, information may also be shared with Google and Meta as described in this policy. These providers process data on our instructions, except Google and Meta, who act as controllers in their own right for some advertising activity. We do not sell your personal data.
International Transfers
Some of these providers are based outside the European Economic Area, or may process data outside it. Where that happens, the transfer is covered by the safeguards those providers put in place, such as the European Commission's standard contractual clauses or an adequacy decision.
Cookies
We use Cookiebot to manage cookie consent. Non-essential cookies — including analytics and advertising cookies — are only set after you agree, and you can change or withdraw your choice at any time through the cookie banner. Our Cookie Policy lists the cookies in use and what each one does.
How Long We Keep It
Enquiries that do not lead to a booking are kept for up to two years, so we can pick up the conversation if you come back to us. Lesson and payment records are kept for seven years to meet Irish accounting and tax requirements. Analytics and advertising data is retained for the period set within the relevant platform, which is typically no more than fourteen months.
Your Rights
Under the GDPR you have the right to access the personal data we hold about you, to have inaccurate data corrected, to have your data erased, to restrict how we use it, to object to processing based on our legitimate interests, and to receive your data in a portable format. Where processing relies on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time without affecting anything done before you withdrew it. To make a request, use the contact form on this website. You also have the right to complain to the Data Protection Commission at dataprotection.ie.
Changes to This Policy
If this policy changes, the updated version will be published on this page with a new review date below.