FAQ's

We hope you will find this page helpful in answering any questions you might have about our studio, teachers, policies and lessons. If you don’t find an answer to your question, please contact us directly.

Welcome to our FAQ’s Page

Q. Can I start lessons if I am a beginner?

A: Yes, we offer lessons for beginners, intermediate, advanced students and and even professional musicians.

Q: How long will you hold a lesson time request?

A: Requests for lesson times can only be held for 24 hours from the time the request is made..

Q:Do I have to enroll at the start of the school year?

A: No. Enrollment is ongoing year round - even during the summer!

Q: What are the upfront costs?

A: For private and group lessons, tuition for the full enrollment block (4, 8, 12, or 36 lessons) is due in advance of the first lesson. You will also be charged for for Books and Supplies once the methodology has been chosen. For performance group programs you will be charged the remaining lessons payment in installments. We do not charge a registration fee or any of our programs. Rates are posted on the Tuition Page .

Q: If I can’t pay my tuition bill in full what are my options?

A: Contact us to discuss your unique situation. We may be able to offer a payment plan or grant an extension of payment. Most importantly, don’t just pull your child from his or her lessons. Talk with us first and let us see what we can do to assist you.Our goal is to keep your child learning and not allow the stresses of the adult world interfere with that experience. Please note, if you are granted a payment plan or extension of payments you will be under agreement to pay the tuition in full by the agreed date.

Q: When is tuition due?

A: Tuition for the first enrollment block is due upon reservation. Tuition for subsequent enrollment blocks is due on the last lesson of the current block.

Q: What happens if I forgot to pay my tuition bill by the due date?

A: Contact us immediately to discuss the status of your payment. All late tuition payments are subject to a late payment fee. If tuition is not paid by the Friday of the due week the student will be removed from the schedule and all outstanding balances will be immediately due.

Q: What is the lesson duration and frequency?

A: For private lessons most classes are 30 minutes once per week and group lessons are 40 minutes once per week. Longer classes can be arranged if the teacher feels the student will benefit from the additional time. Shorter class times of 20 minutes once to twice weekly are recommended for very young beginners.

Q: Do I need an instrument at home to take lessons?
A: Without regular practice at home, achievement on the instrument may prove to be difficult. However we understand that buying an instrument may not be something you can right away. To help with this we do however offer free practice sessions in the studio for students who do not own their own instrument.

Q: How long does it take to learn an instrument?
A: There is no set answer of how long it takes to learn an instrument. With regular practice a basic level of playing can be accomplished in a few months. Most of our students take lessons on a long term basis because they want to be constantly improving and because they find the lessons enjoyable.

Q: How much should my child practice?
A: The most important aspect of practicing is that it be regular. More can be accomplished by spreading one hour of practice over several days, than at one time. Most beginning students should practice at least 60 minutes a week, intermediate to advanced should practice at least three hours a week.

Q: I don't have any musical background or ability; can I still help my child practice?
A: Yes. Even if you don't have a musical background you can ask the teacher for advice on how to help your child practice. By simply monitoring that they are doing exercises a certain number of times per day the student will progress. Many parents occasionally sit in on their child's music lesson to get an idea of the proper way a song should sound or how the student should be positioning their hands.

Q: What if my child starts the lessons and does not like the instrument?
A: Sometimes students have "begged" to start music lessons on a particular instrument, so we suggest that the student sticks with their instrument choice for several months before switching to another instrument or voice lessons. If this situation occurs, the parent should contact our studio right away so we can give the teacher any feedback and discuss ways to generate more interest. Students can switch to another instrument at any time during the year, another benefit of taking lessons in a professional studio environment.

Q: Do you offer discounts on music lessons if I put more than one child in?
A: Yes. Family members receive a discount on lessons or programs at our studio.

Q: Can I sit in on my child’s music lessons?
A: Yes - we have an open door policy. It is your choice when to sit in. Some students find it distracting to have parents in the room and some work better with Mom or Dad in the room. If there are too many authority figures in the room often children will be concerned about having Mom & Dad's approval which can lead to loss of focus and confidence. In most cases children prefer that their parents do not stay in the lesson room. The decision to sit in is between the student and parent. We will only suggest not staying in the lesson room if the student is distracted by the parents presence. Parents who sit in on the lesson are encouraged to take notes so that you can offer your child help during home practice too.

Q: Can I drop my child off for their lesson or do I have to stay during the lesson?
A: We have an open door policy and you are welcome to come and go as you please while your child is in his or her lesson. It is your choice to drop off your child or wait inside during the lesson. If you are dropping your child off please do not pull away until you see that they are inside the studio. If you are dropping off your child please make arrangements to be back on time. If you choose to stay, you may sit in on the lesson (if agreed to by the student) or sit in the main room.

Q: Can my two children have a music lesson together, or both myself and my child?
A: We generally have found that student progress better in separate lessons. There are situations where this works however and we would be happy to discuss this with you. If you are looking for convenience, you can ask about scheduling both lessons at the same time with different teachers or book them back to back.

Q: Can we take lessons every other week instead of every week?
A: At first this might seem like a good idea, but we have tried this in the past and we do not recommend it (if you miss a lesson, it would be an entire month before you saw your teacher again!). It is really important that the teacher checks your progress and corrects your form every week. Also, attending weekly lessons will continue the learning momentum and generate mastering a skill more quickly.

Q: Do you have student recitals?
A: Yes. We have up to two recitals per year. We also hold smaller performance and competition events throughout the year.

Q: Are recitals mandatory?
A: No. We want the students' experience to be positive. If recitals cause apprehension or if they are not "your thing", you are not required to participate. We do however encourage all students to attend recitals.

Q: Can I schedule lessons at the same time for multiple members of the same family?
A: Yes if there is availability on the schedule. Since we have teachers that teach different instruments, it is possible to have lessons scheduled at the same time, whether they are for the same instrument or different instruments.

Q: What is your makeup policy?
A: We require a 24-hour notice of absence prior to the lesson for cancellations other than emergencies or illness. Makeup classes will be offered for advanced cancellations. Makeup lessons will be scheduled with the first available instructor. If you do not cancel your lesson prior to your lesson time the lesson will be marked as no call no show and a makeup class will not be granted. We can not guarantee the availability of makeup lessons so please do not make it a habit to cancel your lesson.