Studio Policy
At the Lessons: Please arrive for your lesson in a timely manner. Most of our studios offer a waiting area where parents can sit during the lesson. Due to scheduling constraints, lesson times will not be extended if arriving late.
Lessons & Tuition: Piano lessons are taught on a weekly or fortnightly basis and require a minimum commitment of one term. Payment for ongoing lessons is due in full 7 days prior to the start of the term. We accept payment by credit card or electronic funds transfer. Cash is not accepted at our studios, except for payment of books and resources that the teacher may have purchased for you. Tuition fees are non-refundable.
Mid-term enrolments are possible dependent on availability and are billed for the remaining weeks in the term. Casual lessons for adults may be booked dependent on availability and are billed at the casual rates. Casual lessons are not available for children, except in cases where they are visiting Melbourne for a short period.
When payment is not received by the due date, you will receive a reminder via email or SMS. In the event that payment is more than 14 days overdue, a $15 late payment fee applies on each overdue invoice. An account keeping fee of $3.50 + GST per month applies for invoices that are more than 30 days overdue.
Lesson Observation: Parents / Guardians are welcome to attend their child’s initial lesson. To ensure a focused learning environment for students, we request that parents do not sit in on subsequent lessons, unless otherwise agreed with the teacher.
Cancellations / Missed Lessons: If the teacher needs to change or cancel a lesson, that lesson will be rescheduled, credited or refunded. In some cases, a substitute teacher may be provided if a teacher is unavailable due to illness.
If a student cancels a lesson, a make-up credit is issued offered if adequate notice was given (minimum 24 hours prior to the lesson), dependent on teacher availability. Make-up credits are limited to one per student per term and must be used within 8 weeks. Make-up lessons are always dependent on teacher availability and if a suitable time can't be found, the lesson / credit will be forfeited. Make-up credits expire if they are not used within 8 weeks.
When enrolling in lessons by the term you are reserving and committing to a specific lesson time each week. If you anticipate the need to change or cancel your lessons more than once per term, we recommend casual lessons instead.
For all lessons, if less than 24 hours cancellation notice is given prior to the scheduled lesson time, that lesson will be forfeited.
Our cancellation policy is a necessity to ensure a stable working environment for our dedicated team of teachers.
Illness: If you are feeling unwell and unable to attend your lesson, please contact your teacher to reschedule the lesson (as above). Parents are advised not to send children to lessons if they are feeling unwell.
Materials: The teacher will suggest music books and resources which can be purchased through the studio, or at your local music store. Please bring a notebook to all lessons for the teacher to record lesson notes and homework.
School & Public Holidays: Piano lessons are available during the holiday periods at some of our studios, and attendance is optional for ongoing students.
Professional Relationship with Piano Teachers
As a student or client of Melbourne Piano School you will be given the contact details for your piano teacher so that you can communicate directly with them about the lessons. If you need to cancel or change a single lesson, please contact your teacher directly. If you decide to discontinue lessons, need to change your regular lesson time, or have any billing issues please contact the Melbourne Piano School office.
Our teachers are not permitted to provide music tuition privately outside of Melbourne Piano School to current students or family members during the time they work at MPS and for a period of 12 months after their resignation. All lessons must be booked and paid for through Melbourne Piano School's booking system.
Group Music Lessons for Schools and Community Groups
In addition to our regular private one-one piano lessons, the above studio policy also applies to group music lessons that Melbourne Piano School may offer to schools, community organisations and other educational institutions. Group music lessons require a minimum commitment of one Victorian school term, unless otherwise agreed in writing. Cancellations or changes to any booked group lessons must be made with a minimum of 7 days notice.