I've never taken lessons before - how much time should I book?
It depends on your age, your goals, and your experience. For young beginners, 30 minutes for a piano is a perfect amount of time. 45-minute and hour-long lessons are beneficial for older students as we can move faster, even if you have never played before. For students who would like to sing and play, I would recommend an hour.
How does payment work? What forms of payment do you accept?
All lessons at the Lakeshore Conservatory are pre-paid. Students pay for the entire month at the first lesson. We accept cash and e-transfers. Please see the 'payment' section in the studio policy for more specific information.
If I pre-pay for the month, but we miss a lesson that we can't make-up, where does that payment go?
Students pre-pay at the beginning of every month. If we miss a lesson that we can't reschedule (we'll always try to!) that payment is deducted from the following month.
How do make-ups and missed lessons work?
I require 24 hour notice for lessons when a student needs to reschedule. Sending a text, email, or leaving a voicemail are all different ways to give notice. When I cancel a lesson (unless I am under the weather) I give you at least a week's notice.
Lessons where I do not receive notice (calling or emailing an hour before your scheduled lesson time, for example) or 'no-shows' are charged in full.
When I receive notice for a missed lesson, I will try to come up with a make-up time that works for both of us. If we can't find one, then we'll wait until the following week and the fee for that lesson will be rolled over to the next month.
Please see the 'Cancellations' section of the Studio Policy for more information, including policy on snow days!
I have siblings coming for lessons one after the other. Is there somewhere for them and myself to wait?
Of course! There is a small waiting area right outside the studio with a chair and a bench. Also, we are below the best ice cream in the city, too - definitely worth spending sometime upstairs at the Ed's Real Scoop.
What about lessons for Adults?
We do cater to adult students of any experience. Lessons are for people of any age! About half of the studio are adults learning theory, voice, or piano.
