Below you will find answers to some of your most frequently asked policy-related questions. All students and parents agree to follow these rules as a part of their continued enrollment. You can expect the same level of respect from me in return.
Your First Two Lessons
If you’ve never played an instrument before, you might not know what to expect at your first two lessons. For starters, for your first two lessons, you pay as you go—bring cash or a check with you to each of these two lessons. And if your first lesson happens to be towards the beginning of the month, at your third lesson, you’ll have to pay for the remainder of the lessons you’ll have that month. 30-Minute lessons are $35.
Keep in mind that the first two lessons allow us to get to know each other. We need to make sure that we’ll be able to get along and work together. Sometimes personalities don’t jive, or people have different expectations. It’s not personal and if it doesn’t work out, I can try to point you in another direction or towards another teacher.
For lessons in my studio, bring your guitar, if that’s your instrument. Bring a guitar cable, if you have an electric. You don’t have to bring an amplifier. Other instrumentalists just need to bring their studio-provided binders each week.
Paying for Lessons
Bring cash, check, or make an electronic payment at the first lesson of every month. My studio uses tuition-based pricing. Your monthly rate doesn’t change based on the number of lessons received—whether 3 or 5.
Lesson Cancellations, Absences, Sickness
If you need to cancel a lesson, no problem! If you cancel the day of your regular lesson—for any reason—you still have to pay for the lesson and it cannot be made up. There are no exceptions even if you are sick. Again, remember that studio pricing is tuition-based and not per-lesson-based.
If you cancel more than 24 hours before your regular lesson time, you are entitled to a make-up lesson. Where possible, that make-up can be conducted during the same week as your canceled lesson, or it can be scheduled during our studio’s “week 13”. For more info, read our tuition page. Every effort will be made on my part to schedule make-up lessons the same week they are missed.
Cancellations are valid when made by phone, text or email. Voice messages count. Please contact: 630-313-0409 or lessons@jaymathes.com. You can also tell me at any lesson that you can’t make your next scheduled lesson if you do so unambiguously. (If you just say “I might not be able to make next week’s lesson,” it doesn’t count.)
What about me? When can I cancel lessons? I also have to give you 24-hour’s notice for a lesson cancellation, with one exception: if I am sick. When I cancel, you are always entitled to a make-up lesson.
Discontinuing Lessons Permanently
Just like with lesson cancellations, I need 24 hour’s notice prior to your assigned lesson time if you decide to discontinue lessons altogether. If you do not give 24 hour’s notice, the lesson will be considered a same-day cancellation; and you will be expected to pay for the lesson. This is just being courteous. Don’t be a meanie by not calling, not showing up, not paying, and never talking to me again. Besides, when I run into you on the street it’s going to be really awkward.
Students and parents will not be refunded for lessons paid for in advance if they decide to discontinue lessons in the middle of the month.
Canceled or Bounced Checks
If you pay me by check and it bounces, you are expected to pay for all of my banking fees related to the bounced check. I will provide you with any necessary documentation, and you will reimburse the full amount, in addition to the month’s lessons within a reasonable amount of time.
Learning Resources and Materials
From time to time, students will be asked to purchase equipment or supplies as a part of their continued music education. Most items cost under $15, but a few might be closer to $35. Here are just a few things I may recommend that you pick up: metronome, tuner, string winder, strings, sheet music, staff paper, guitar cables, capo, music albums, or digital download songs or music subscription services.
When you start lessons with me, I’ll ask you to purchase staff paper from me, at cost. I buy it in bulk, so it is cheaper than going to the store to buy it. We’ll use it every week to keep track of our lessons, keep everything in one place, and actually write out music. Pretty cool. And, it’s only about $5. A worthy investment.
Practicing
Don’t waste my time. If you’re not going to practice, I won’t teach you. I don’t want to teach you. I don’t say this to be mean – it’s just a reality of learning an instrument. It takes hard work. I expect my students to practice for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.