FAQ

How do I register for lessons?

• Get in touch with us by either giving us a call, sending us an email, or filling out your information on our contact page. We will then set up a time for you to take a tour of our studio and get to know you. Afterwards, we will find a lesson time that fits with your schedule and a teacher who will match best with the student. 

When is the start of the music year?

• The music year typically starts at the beginning of September and ends at the end of June. 

When do you start registration?

• Registrations for new families begin in the spring and will be ongoing throughout the summer.

Can I start in the middle of the year?

• Yes for private lessons! Registration is ongoing throughout the year. However, our availability may be limited as our teachers' schedules fill up. When re-registration begins, you will have a chance to pick your first choice.

• MYC classes begin in September. Since we follow a curriculum it will not be possible to enroll mid-year. We may offer January start classes if there is sufficient demand. 

How does payment work?

• You can pay by cheque, cash, or e-transfer. 

• If you pay by cheque: 

  • For private lessons: at the time of registration, please include the registration fee and 10 post-dated cheques (September–June). 

  • For MYC classes: at the time of registration, please include the materials fee and 9 post-dated cheques (September–May). 

  • Cheques are payable to "Leading Tone Music Studio" and dated for the first of each month.

  • Any NSF cheques will be subjected to a $30 penalty fee.

• If you pay by cash or e-transfers:

  • At the time of registration, please have full payments for the registration fee (private lessons) or materials fee (MYC) and the last month's fee (which would be May for MYC classes and June for private lessons).  

  • Payment is received monthly on the first day of the month for e-transfer and first lesson of the month for cash.

What happens if I need to withdraw from lessons mid-year?

• We hope that every registered student will give music a chance for the year. Music is a journey that will go up and down. We want to teach our students not to quit when the music gets hard. We are proud of every student who reaches the end of the year with another year's worth of skills and knowledge. 

• Therefore, at our studio It is expected that a student will carry on through the ENTIRE school year. If you decide to withdraw your child from lessons mid-year there will be NO REFUND of lesson fees for the remainder of the year. Students who pay monthly by cash/e-transfers are still required to pay any outstanding fees.

• Our studio reserves the right to cancel a child’s registration at any time for non-payment of tuition or inappropriate conduct (i.e., if a child is disrespectful to teachers and other students or if parents are argumentative with other parents or disrespectful to teachers).  

Please see the other sections on "Private Lessons" or "Music for Young Children (MYC)" regarding the specific studio policies and rates. 

What instruments do you offer at the studio?

• We offer private lessons in: piano, violin, vocal/singing, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, and ukulele.  

How long are lessons?

• Weekly private lessons are 30, 45, 60 and 75 minutes depending on the grade level and the individual student's musical goals.

• We recommend the following lesson lengths:

  • Beginner to Level 1: 30 minutes

  • Level 3 to Level 5: 45 minutes

  • Level 6 to Level 10: 60 minutes

  • Levels 6 to 8 practical and theory combined: 75 minutes

  • For Levels 9 and 10: 60 minutes for practical and 60 minutes for theory: 120 minutes (or two 60-minute lessons)

How much are lessons?

• We charge monthly for lessons. The monthly fee is unaffected by whether there are 3 or 5 lessons per month. It is based on a total number of lessons for the entire year: there are 38 lessons and 2 recitals each year for a total of 40 paid events. Students are expected to participate in all recitals. If we arrange “prep classes” to prepare students for festivals and exams, these are given out of our time and will not have to be paid for.   

• Here are our private lesson rates (one-on-one lessons):

  • 30-minute lessons: $130/month

  • 45-minute lessons: $195/month

  • 60-minute lessons: $260/month

• There is more information about fees if you check out the fees page including lump sum on discounts, group theory rates and junior teacher fees. 

Do you offer theory lessons?

• We offer all levels of theory classes following the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) curriculum, from preparatory to Levels 9 and 10 Harmony and History. 

• For theory up to level 4, we usually teach within the private music lesson. We recommend a separate theory class for levels 5 and up.

• For these separate theory classes, we offer private (one-on-one), semi-private (2 students) and group classes (3 or more students). 

How much are theory lessons?

• For private theory, we charge the private lesson rate (see above).

• For group theory (2 or more students), here are the rates:

  • 30-minute lessons: $70/month/student

  • 45-minute lessons: $98/month/student

  • 60-minute lessons: $100/month/student (minimum of 3 students) and for semi-private lessons (2 students)$130/month/student. 

Can we meet first before I decide to register for lessons?

• Yes, we encourage that! Please contact us and we will schedule a meeting. Usually our meetings with new families are between 30–60 minutes long where we give you a tour of the studio, get to know each other, show you the materials and present to you what a typical lesson may look like. For transfer students we ask that you prepare something to play for us so that we can learn about your musical background then give you a quick trial lesson.

• These meet and greets are free of charge. 

Where do I get music books and materials?

• You can purchase books from any local music store like Music Makers and Long & McQuade but we also help our students pick up books when needed and we invoice the books at cost (no extra fee added). 

How long should at home practice sessions be?

• We believe in quality practice over quantity practice. The goal is to walk away from each practice session feeling better about your pieces and technique. We encourage at least 5 days of happy practicing. As you advance through the grades and pieces become longer and more difficult then naturally the practice sessions should be longer.

Is there a registration fee?

• There is a registration fee of $40/student paid at the time of registration for each student per school year (Sept-June) that covers registration procedures, administrative costs (e.g., photocopying), new piano books for our library and a portion to the recitals. The cost also includes stickers, awards, gifts and prizes.

• This registration fee is non-refundable and is used to hold your child’s place.

• The maximum amount per family is $80 (for families with 3 or more children).

• However, if you decide to pay tuition in FULL, then the registration fee will be waived.

What is your cancellation and makeup policy?

• Please notify the studio with 24-hour notice if you are going to cancel your lesson. 

• We offer two make-up lessons per music year. These lessons can be made up by your teacher or another teacher who has an opening. 

• Lessons cancelled by the teacher will be notified in advance and will be made up at a time that works for both teacher and student.

• If you or someone in the family is sick, then we can arrange a virtual lesson at the usual lesson time. 

What happens if I need to withdraw from lessons mid-year?

• Once a child has been registered, it is expected that he/she will carry on through the ENTIRE school year. A place has been reserved for your child, and in many cases, others have been turned away for that space. If you decide to withdraw from lessons after they have begun, then there will be NO REFUND of lessons for the remainder of the year. Students who pay by monthly are still required to pay any outstanding fees. 

• Our studio reserves the right to cancel a child’s registration at any time if a child is not respectful to teachers and students or if parents are argumentative with other parents or disrespectful to teachers. 

How many lessons are there in a year?

• We have a minimum of 38 lessons in a year, from September to June. You can see all scheduled lessons and holidays in our private lesson calendar here on our website.

• If we arrange “prep classes” to prepare students for festivals and exams, these are given out of our time and will not have to be paid for.  

How many recitals are there in a year? Do I have to participate in recitals?

• We have two recitals per music  year, one in the winter (in December) and the other one in the spring (at the end of May or the beginning of June). They are always held on Sundays at the Symons Valley United Church in the community of Kincora where the students perform on a stage and on a beautiful grand piano. 

• All students are expected to participate in these recitals as we believe that performing for an audience is important. They will learn about goal setting as they prepare and polish their pieces and be able to feel successful when they showoff their final product. Recitals also help them manage performance anxiety and gain early experience in front of a crowd. Theses are all important life skills that they are gaining from performing in recitals. Students will also learn new repertoire from listening to other pieces. Also, it's a wonderful way to celebrate your child's achievements!  

• During the Covid-19 Pandemic we have held all our recitals online. We have streamed our virtual recitals on our YouTube channel: Leading Tone Music Studio where we can still enjoy all of our music students' performances. 

How do I reserve a spot for the fall? 

• After the studio receives your online registration form, registration fee of $40, a package of 10 post-dated cheques (or September's fee if paying by cash or e-transfer) then a spot will be reserved for you in the fall. 

What can I expect in a MYC class?

• Each MYC class is very dynamic. We do lots of up and down activities with lots of singing, dancing, listening, playing on the keyboard and on rhythm ensembles and much more.

• For more details please check out our page on MYC classes or contact us.  

How much are MYC classes? 

• MYC classes are $95 per month, for 9 months per music year (from September to the end of May or the beginning of June). One course will be completed per year.

• For more information on fee, please check out our Fees section. 

How many classes are there in a year?

• We have a total of 34 lessons and 2 recitals.

•  A calendar of all scheduled lessons and holidays will be given out in the fall or you can check out the MYC calendar here on our website. 

How long are classes?

• Classes are 1 hour long.

Are these classes parented?

• Yes, all MYC classes are parented, therefore an adult MUST attend each class with the child. Music class is a special time for you and your child to bond as you learn the musical concepts together. This bond carries on at home during daily practice. Many parents who have learned the entire MYC program with their children have chosen to go on to further in their own music study by taking their own private lessons and exams. 

• Other children tend to be a distraction to you, your child and other children in the class. Therefore, younger or older children are not welcome to accompany you and your child to class. If there is an exception, please notify the studio via email or phone. For older siblings, they are welcome to stay in the waiting area and do independent work. Also, if a relative comes to town, please feel free to invite him/her to class – but your teacher would like to know in advance so a place can be prepared for the guest.  

Can I view a class before deciding to register?

• Absolutely! We actually encourage all our prospective families to view one of our classes to get an idea of how a typical MYC class runs. We want to make sure that this program is something you'll enjoy before you commit to the year.

What is your cancellation and makeup policy?

• If you miss a class the lesson homework will be sent to you via email. If you need further details on the lesson please contact your MYC teacher for clarification. If you are planning to miss lessons for a length of time due to a trip, please notify the studio in advance so that your teacher can set out the material for you before you leave.

• You can also join the class virtually, or have your teacher record the class for you. 

• If your course is offered on a different day you may attend that class for a make up lesson. 

• Time lost because of a student’s lateness cannot be made up.

• In the event that your teacher must cancel a class, a make-up lesson will be scheduled at a time that is convenient for the majority of the group, or another MYC teacher may cover the lesson or alternatively, the date of the last lesson will be moved back one week later. 

• Our studio reserves the right to cancel a child’s registration at any time if a child is not respectful to teachers and students or if parents are argumentative with other parents or disrespectful to teachers. 

What happens if I need to withdraw from lessons mid-year?

• Once your child has been registered, it is expected that you and your child will commit to lessons for the ENTIRE school year (September to May or early June). A place has been reserved for your child, and in many cases, others have been turned away for that space. Once you register for next year’s classes and you decide to withdraw your child from lessons, there will be NO REFUND of lesson fees for the remainder of the year because another student cannot take your child’s place. 

• However, if you are moving across town or to another city please give the studio at least 1 month's notice then we can return all cheques to you. We can also help you with the transfer to another MYC teacher.  

What are the expectations for practice at home?

• We want your child to develop the happy habit of practicing so we recommend practicing a minimum of 5 days per week with the younger levels practicing less and the higher levels practicing more. 

  • Sunshine 1 = 5 min, Sunbeams 1 = 10 min, Moonbeams 1 = 15 min.

  • With each new level and year, add 5 minutes to each daily practice (i.e. Sunshine 2 = 10 min, Sunbeams 2 = 15 min, Moonbeams 2 = 20 min, etc.)

Where do I get music books and materials?

• After we receive the materials fee the studio will order all the required materials for the year through MYC where the materials will be shipped directly to the studio. You will receive your materials on the first day of class.  

How many recitals are there in a year? Do I have to participate in recitals?

• We have two recitals per music  year, one in the winter (December) and the other one in the spring (at the end of May or the beginning of June). They are always held on Sundays at the Symons Valley United Church in the community of Kincora where the students perform on a stage and on a beautiful grand piano. 

• All students are expected to participate in these recitals as we believe that performing for an audience is important. They will learn about goal setting as they prepare and polish their pieces and be able to feel successful when they showoff their final product. Recitals also help them manage performance anxiety and gain early experience in front of a crowd. Valuable life skills are gained from performing in recitals! Students will also learn new repertoire from listening to other pieces. Also, it's a wonderful way to celebrate your child's achievements!  

• During the Covid-19 Pandemic, our recitals have been held online. On our recitals dates, we stream our virtual recitals on our YouTube Channel: Leading Tone Music Studio, where you and your friends and family can still enjoy all of our students' performances!

How do I reserve a spot in class? 

• After the studio receives your online registration form, materials fee, a package of 9 post-dated cheques (or May's fee if paying by cash or e-transfer) then a spot will be reserved for your child in the fall.