Lessons FAQ

There are individual variables in determining when young children may be ready to begin lessons. This may include the instrument your child is interested in as well as their age and maturity.  A determining factor is whether a child is ready to sit for a 30-minute lesson. Many of our teachers are experienced with young beginners and will create custom lessons based on the student’s needs. Research indicates that young children who learn music and read musical notation enhance skills for reading words.  Our goal at CMC is to ensure each child has a positive experience.

Yes. We have many adult students of all ages studying music which offers tremendous benefits for the brain and well-being at any age. Whether you’re trying an instrument for the first time or picking up where you left off, it’s never too late to make music!

To get the most out of private lessons, it is important your child practices between lessons. For younger students it is common that their interest in music typically needs to be supported and sustained with parental or guardian involvement, which is extremely helpful in facilitating practice.  This helps to ensure continued progress. Younger students may not be able to sit with their instrument for very long, so practicing five to 10 minutes a day (four to five days a week) is fine. It is more valuable to practice 10 minutes a day several days a week than to practice an hour just one day a week.  As hard as it is, we always advise parents or guardians to resist pestering younger children to practice more. That said, it is also important for students of all ages to understand that it is imperative to practice.

We recommend making practice time – no matter the number of minutes – a part of a student’s daily routine, just like homework time and soccer practice. You may also want to consider a practice routine that involves more minutes on the weekend than during the week when children are more tired.

For adults, the primary key to success is regular and routine practice. 

For younger musicians, consider stickers and other small rewards for a good week of practicing. Make a chart with a practice goal for the week. For older children, a practice timer may help so there is a specific beginning and end to the practice time. It is also helpful to make practicing a part of their daily routine, just like homework and sports. If you’re looking for more ideas on encouraging your child to practice, ask your teacher or any member of our staff.

We offer 30, 45 and 60-minute lessons. Most beginners start with 30-minute lessons. More advanced  students may take 45 or even 60-minute lessons. Adult students generally begin with 45-minute lessons. Lessons are scheduled on a weekly basis.

Yes. Off-site student recitals are scheduled in winter and spring with exact dates to be determined by the studio. Recitals are an added benefit included in the cost of lessons with free admission for family and friends. Recitals  provide an opportunity for students to feel successful in realizing a goal and shows your child that you value and support their involvement in music.

In order to get the most out of lessons it is important to participate regularly and consistently.  Students may not realize their goals and see progress on their instruments without ongoing lesson attendance.

In addition, Creative Music Center attracts some of the best, most committed music instructors in Connecticut because we acknowledge and understand that teaching music is how they earn a living. Teachers only get paid when they teach. Therefore, a studio that promises refunds for missed lessons is giving the message to students that it isn’t important to attend lessons, at the same time telling teachers they may or may not be paid during any given week. These inconsistent circumstances make it more than challenging to retain a committed, professional teaching staff.

Consistency and commitment are the keys to developing and mastering any pursuit, including playing a musical instrument. Therefore, students are encouraged to attend every lesson in order to advance their skills. If your student misses a lesson, we ask that you please call the studio a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the lesson day that will be missed. We do not issue refunds for missed lessons and missed lessons are not made up. However, each student will receive one floating credit per semester block. The blocks are as follows: Sept 1 – Jan 31 (Fall/Winter) and Feb 1 – June 30 (Winter/Spring). This floating credit becomes available to new students after four lessons. To utilize your floating credit, the studio must be notified in advance no later than 24 hours prior to the day of the lesson scheduled.  Credits will be applied to a customer’s account and NOT refunded to a customer’s card.

A minimum notice of 2 lessons is required to discontinue. Floating credits may not be used as part of the 2-lesson cancellation notification.  If lessons are stopped, remaining lesson credits will be held on the account for use in future lessons or by family members.

If your teacher is absent, a substitute may replace the teacher for that week. There are no credits for lessons missed if a substitute has been provided. Should the teacher be absent for more than two weeks, you will be notified by phone call or e-mail. Students will not be charged for studio holidays and will receive a teacher absence credit if we are unable to provide a substitute.  

Creative Music Center studio holidays are listed below.

Labor Day

Thanksgiving

Christmas Day **

New Year’s Day **

Memorial Day

July 4th

**There are no lessons between December 24 and the first Monday in January for the Winter Holiday.

NOTE: Creative Music Center does not follow the public or private school holiday calendar.

Weather-related cancellations for in-person lessons will be decided no later than 12 pm during the week, with Saturday lessons to be decided no later than 6:00 pm the previous evening whenever possible. In-person lesson cancellations will be emailed and/or texted to students as well as posted on our Social Media pages.  Should in-person lessons be canceled, online lessons may be an option offered by the student’s teacher. If online lessons are not an option, students will receive a credit to be applied toward the next billing cycle.

*Note: These cancellations will not automatically follow school closings.

School delays or cancellations do not necessarily indicate lessons are canceled at CMC. Online lessons may be an option offered if we do cancel in-person lessons and you will be notified by email and/or text from the studio.  Weather-related issues will also be posted on our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cmcmusicforall/ 

Creative Music Center accepts checks, cash or credit card (Visa/MasterCard, American Express and Discover). An active credit card is required at the time of registration regardless of whether you choose auto pay. Customers are required to keep their credit card information updated.  If you opt-in, for auto-pay, this card will be used to charge tuition and any outstanding lesson book/accessory charges on your account. If you do not choose auto-pay, this credit card is used only in the case of a past-due lesson payment and open account balances for the purchase of music or accessories. All credit card numbers are confidential and secure.  Auto pay customers will be charged on the 21st of the month for the following month’s lessons, or on the following business day if the 21st falls on a weekend or holiday.  For example, on August 21st customers will be charged for lessons in the month of Sept.

Lesson payments are due by the 21st of each month prior to lessons being given. Customers on auto pay will be charged to their designated credit card on file. The number of lessons billed is based solely on the number of lessons for your given day in the next month. (e.g., If your lesson day is Monday and there are four Mondays in a month, you will be billed for four lessons; if there are five Mondays in the month, you will be billed for five.)  

The first lesson must be paid in advance. Lessons are pro-rated for new students according to their start date.  Full payment for the month’s lessons and a registration fee of $30.00 are due once ongoing lessons are confirmed. Families registering a second student will owe a $20 registration fee with no fee needed for a third student. The registration fee is waived for students returning within a 3-month absence or less.

If a student’s account becomes 7 days past due, a non-refundable late fee of $20 will be assessed.

In the case of non-payment, lessons may be suspended until the account is current.  A $30 fee will be charged to the student’s account for any checks returned.  Any student returning after a 3 month or longer absence will be charged another administrative fee of $30 ($20 if second student in family is currently taking lessons).

Failure to pay the full balance on student’s account may result in default at which time student (parent/guardian if student is under 18 years old) will become responsible for Creative Music Center’s costs incurred due to the collections process. 

** Creative Music Center reserves the right to cancel lessons at any time and is not responsible for unattended students and children.

No.  Sheet music and accessories are separate.  When teachers give students music books or accessories, students are requested to pay at the store’s front desk immediately following their lesson.  If the store is closed at the time, the item(s) will be added to the student’s account for follow up payment.

Yes. Creative Music offers a full line of student band and orchestral instrument rentals. For more information, stop by the front desk or go to our rentals page.  

Yes. Creative Music Center carries all of the best brands of intermediate and professional instruments at competitive prices. Stop in or call for further information. (203) 261-7301.