Below are some of our Frequently Asked Questions.
If you can't find the answer to your question please email us at andreasmusicstudio@hotmail.com.
1.What Instruments do you teach?
8 Myrtle St. (Dartmouth) - Piano, Guitar, Drum, Voice, Ukulele, Bass Guitar, Mandolin, Violin
91 Sackville St. - Piano, Guitar, Drum, Voice, Ukulele, Bass Guitar, Mandolin, Violin
2041 Hammonds Plains Rd.- Piano, Guitar, Drum, Voice, Ukulele
1081Cole Harbour Rd. - Piano, Guitar, Drum, Voice, Ukulele
2. At what age can my child start lessons?
Below are our recommendations for starting age:
Drum - Age 5
Guitar- Age 7
Ukulele - Age 5 (great way to start a child who wants guitar lessons but is too young)
Bass Guitar - Age 7
Piano - Age 4 (your child must know how to hold a pencil and print the alphabet A-G when being asked to do so as opposed to copying).
Voice - Age 7 (if your child is younger, we recommend piano lessons until they turn 7 years old)
Violin - Age 7
3. Do you teach adults?
Yes! Adults are encouraged to take lessons whether you are a beginner, coming back to lessons after a break, or an accomplished player looking to upgrade or improve skills.
4. Are there any programs available for children under 4?
Our Music Makers programs are fantastic for children from birth to 5 years of age.
*Drop-Ins Music Makers classes are temporarily suspended until further notice
*Music Makers classes in Daycare and Preschool programs are temporarily suspended until further notice.
5. When can I register for lessons?
At any time of the year.
6. How often are lessons?
Lessons are once a week. You choose your desired day and time from lesson times available. This day and time remains yours until the end of the school year or until you request a change. Additional weekly lessons are available for students who are accelerating their studies or want to take an additional instrument.
7. When are lessons available?
Lessons are available afternoons and evenings, Monday-Friday and during the day on Saturdays. For exact days and times available, please contact Andrea: andreasmusicstudio@hotmail.com.
We follow the school year from September to June with a separate Summer Session option.
*Summer Sessions are available at our Sackville, Cole Harbour locations.
8. How do I register for lessons?
Registration can be done at any time throughout the year by contacting Andrea via email: andreasmusicstudio@hotmail.com.
Once the details of your lessons have been discussed and confirmed, you will be sent a Registration Form Link to fill out and submit. (either via text or email).
Once you submit the registration form you will immediately receive a confirmation. Please read this confirmation in it's entirety.
9. How do I login to my Parent/Student Portal?
At time of registration, once we receive your registration form, you will receive an email with a temporary link. Please open the link and follow the directions. This link expires in 24 hours, if it does not work please contact Andrea for a new link.
10. What is the cost of lessons?
Each teacher sets their own fee. Please refer to "Our Teachers" section of the website.
11. What methods of payments do you accept?
All payments are made monthly ONLINE through the invoice we send you using Visa, MasterCard, PayPal. You and also set up auto-pay.
12. When will my invoice be sent to me?
1. If you register for fall lessons during our registration period, June-August, your first invoice will be sent (via email) Sept 1st and will be due at that time. All future invoices will be sent to you on the 1st of the month and due for payment at that time.
2. If you register for lessons mid-month during our school year, your first invoice will be sent (via email) on the date of your registration and payment is due in full on the due date listed on your invoice and before attending your first lesson.
All future recurring monthly invoices will be sent in advance of lessons on the 1st of each month. Your saved credit card, once provided, will be automatically charged the total amount owing on your family account each month.
13. When are payments due?
All payments are due when your invoice is received on the first of each month.
Monthly invoices will be billed for the total number of lessons each student is registered for during each month. For example: if their lesson day has 4 weeks of lessons in a month, you will be billed for 4 lessons; if their lesson day has 5 weeks of lessons in a month, you will be billed for 5 lessons; etc.
14. How do I make my payment?
Payment is made through your invoice. If you previously set up auto-pay, your payment will automatically pay on the 1st of each month.
Please pay by opening your invoice. You do this by clicking the BLACK "Click Here to Pay Online" button underneath the description of charges on your invoice. We DO NOT accept cash, e-transfer and cheque.
15. What other fees are involved besides lesson fees?
Late Fees: 2 days after your invoice has not been paid in full, a late fee of $5 will automatically be added.
An interrupted lesson fee will be added for students who register after pausing for a portion of the September to June school year. This fee is to cover the administration costs associated with registering a past student within the same school year.
Studio supplied products: Prelude for Kids Piano Course (ages 4-11), Prelude for Kids Ukulele Course (agess 5-9) and all beginner students receive a set of flashcards and purchased through the studio via your invoice.
16. How do I get my books?
Prelude For Kids Programs & flashcards: we have these at the studio and the student will receive them during their first lesson.
All other books are supplied by student: online or support local at Long & McQuade. They have store locations in:
Dartmouth: 124 Main Street
Bedford: 1717 Bedford Highway
Halifax: 6065 Cunard Street
Andrea or your teacher will let parents know what books are needed 3-4 weeks before they will be needed in the lesson.
17. Can I have a trial lesson?
One lesson is not enough to gauge whether or not the instrument and the practice routine are a good fit for you and/or your child. We recommend that you try out lessons for at least 4 weeks to get the feel for the instrument, the teacher and the routine of weekly learning and practice. Regular lesson fee applies.
We are a studio with many instrument and teacher options so switching instruments or teachers can be done easily if you find that your instrument is not the right fit.
Please contact Andrea if you are interested in trying a month of lessons. The regular fee/lesson applies.
18. What do I need to bring to my first lesson?
Please bring a three ring binder, lined paper, pencil, eraser, and any books/supplies you were asked to purchase.
You may need to go to Long & McQuade to purchase your lessons books before beginning your lessons. You will be told what books are needed at time of registration or by your teacher once you start lessons
Long & McQuade has locations in:
Dartmouth: 124 Main Street
Bedford: 1717 Bedford Highway
Halifax: 6065 Cunard Street
19. How often will I need to practice?
We recommend that beginners get 15-20 minutes of practice 5 times a week. The most important practice days being the first 2 days after the lesson. This may increase over time as you progress to higher levels. The other option, especially for the younger student, is a designated number of times for each practiced item (this will take 10-15 minutes each practice day). We understand that some students will be learning how to practice and will also be working on their musical attention span so practice times will vary by individual.
Every student's goals are different and available time to practice can also be different. Your teacher can adjust the amount of information taught each week to reflect the amount of time you have to devote to practice. For example, if you can only practice 3 days a week for 15 minutes each day, please let your teacher know and s/he can prepare accordingly thus ensuring that the student arrives each lesson feeling prepared.
20. Do I need an instrument to take lessons?
Yes, each student needs an instrument at home for regular daily practice to prepare for the next lesson. We have guitar and keyboard rentals available for new beginners.
We are an authorized Dealer for Kawai Canada and always have a few entry level new digital pianos available for purchase. It is strongly recommended that students who are using a small keyboard upgrade to a digital piano at the 1-year mark: the small keyboard has served its purpose, now it's time to match the students playing ability with a more suited digital piano. Remaining on the beginner keyboard will do more harm than good: an upgrade is required to achieve the full potential of lessons and learning. Andrea is available to discuss this further with anyone having interest in purchasing a Kawai Digital piano through Andrea's Music Studio.
21. How long does it take to learn to play an instrument?
Lerning a musical instrument is ongoing and a lifetime acheivement. Within a few months the student should be able to play basic songs. This varies depending on student interest and practice amount.
22. Do you prepare students for RCM examinations?
Yes, we offer all grades of RCM lessons in preparation for RCM examination including the co-requisite theory. An RCM examination is always a choice but not required if the student wants to learn RCM without taking the examinations.
23. Should a student start on electric or acoustic guitar?
Both are taught the same way at the beginning. It is important to select the instrument of interest.
24. What happens if I miss a lesson?
Students are required to pay for all scheduled lessons through the year including December and June. Classes cancelled by the student are not made up.
Please give as much notice as possible by contacting your teacher: email or cell phone. Do not contact Andrea.
Once registered, if student takes a break in lessons, there is a $25 administration fee in order to commence lessons within that same school year. This does not include studio scheduled breaks: July & August, 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week for March Break.
All payments are non-refundable.
25. What if the weather is bad?
Inclement Weather: if your teacher has decided to close due to inclement or pending inclement weather, teachers will contact each student to move the lesson to the ONLINE PLATFORM. Teachers will contact families using the contact details they have on file. A decision will be made between noon and 2pm and based on current and predicted weather and road conditions, or a later decision will be made if conditions worsen after opening. Public school cancellation/closure does NOT automatically mean Andrea's Music Studio is closed.
There will be no makeup lessons offered for snow day cancellations.
There will be no refunds or lesson credits for cancelled lessons due to inclement weather.
26. What happens if my teacher cancels?
If your teacher cancels a lesson, you will receive a lesson credit on your account OR the teacher may have the option for the student to make up the lesson at a time convenient for both teacher and student.
Your teacher may choose to have a qualified substitute teacher to teach their lessons.
27. What if my lesson falls on a holiday?
The studios are closed on Remembrance Day and Statutory Holidays: Family/Heritage Day and Good Friday. We are closed over Christmas and March Break as per the HRM School Board Calendar. There is no charge for lessons that fall on these days. Please note that we are closed on the day of the holiday not the full weekend.
The studios are open on Non-Statutory holidays Thanksgiving Monday, Easter Monday and Victoria Day. If the student is not in attendance, regular cancellation policies apply.
Halloween - The studio is Open for lessons as usual. Students are encouraged to attend in costume. If the student is not in attendance regular cancellation policies apply.
28. I do not wish to continue lessons. What happens now?
We require at least 2 lessons advance notice of your intention to quit before your next invoice is given to you for payment: thus notice is given 2 weeks before the end of the current month you would like to stop lessons. You must pay for the final 2 scheduled lessons regardless of student attendance. Email Andrea to give your Intention to Quit notification: andreasmusicstudio@hotmail.com
Lessons and billing will continue each month until Andrea receives email notice of Intention to Quit from an adult registered to your account. This is the only accepted method of giving your intention to quit.
For example: Once you email Andrea of your notice to quit, you are required to pay to the end of the current month regardless of student attendance.
29. I would Like to discuss my child's lessons/progress. How do I do that?
Please ask the teacher to call you. Or send an email directly to your teacher.
30. I don't think my current teacher or instrument is a good fit. What do I do?
Please contact Andrea to discuss further. We have other teacher and /or instrument options.