FAQ
What are your office hours?
Our Front Desk Assistants are in the office each weekday from 2pm-7pm, and on Saturdays from 10am-2pm. If you call before or after that, you can always leave a message and we will return your call as soon as we can. Email is also a good way to get in contact with us (info@musicologyalabama.com). We respond to all emails during office hours, but sometimes we do respond earlier if we are available.
How do I register/enroll in music lessons?
Give us a call or email us! We will talk with you to find out things like musical experience, age of the student, location (Madison or Huntsville), and your scheduling availability. Once we know those things, we will work with you to reserve a time slot on our schedule and then send you a registration link by email for the location that you chose. You have 48 hours to complete the registration process before the “hold” is taken off. We only operate with auto-debit by credit card, debit card, or a bank account. If you are paying by a bank account, there is a place in the registration for you to fill in that information. If you are using a credit card or debit card, you may skip over the financial part and submit the registration. When we receive your registration, we will call you for the card information.
What can I expect at my first lesson, and what should I bring with me?
Your first lesson will most likely be a “get to know you” type of lesson, figuring out your skill level and talking about your goals for music lessons. Bring any supplies you may already have (drum sticks, piano books, guitar, sheet music) and a notebook and pencil. Don’t worry if you are a true beginner, and have no supplies yet - your instructor will give you guidance on purchasing or renting items. We also have a great supply of music books in stock for most instruments, and your instructor may suggest you purchase one or more of those. Any music books you purchase here can be charged to the payment method you already have on file.
What happens if I have to miss a lesson due to sickness or schedule conflict?
No problem! Just give us a call and leave a message or email us, even if it’s the day of your lesson. We understand that illness and emergencies can occur. As long as you contact the Office (not your teacher), we will cancel the lesson for that date and issue a Make Up Credit. The Credit is good for a year from issue date, regardless of your enrollment status. If you don’t call and don’t show, the lesson is forfeited.
What happens when the school is closed for Weather Days?
If there is inclement weather, we will contact students via the phone number on file (make sure you keep it updated!), Instagram and Facebook pages and change the voicemail greeting to reflect the closure. If we cancel lessons due to inclement weather, we will issue Make Up Credits that are valid for one year from that date. You can use the Credit at any Make Up Class in that year, regardless of your enrollment status.
What about Summer Break, Thanksgiving and other Holidays?
Our lesson schedule is based on a 48-week year, meaning that every student will receive 48 lessons per year, no matter which day of the week their lesson occurs. When we are closed for a Break, no lessons are scheduled and no Make Up Credits are given. It is our way of making sure our teachers and staff are well-rested, without having to juggle substitutes for each of our 30+ teachers at different times throughout the year.
How do I redeem my Make Up Credits?
Each month we schedule Make Up Classes for each instrument (usually several classes per instrument). At the end of the month, we schedule the next month’s Classes. You can access the schedule on our website by clicking on “More,” then “Make Up Classes.” You can also call the Office, check the board in the Madison lobby, or see it in each month’s hardcopy newsletter. Be sure to check whether the class is in-person or online and if it’s beginner or intermediate level. Once you know which class you’d like, email or call the Office and we will register you for that class. You can always call the Office to see how many credits you have and when they will expire.
How do Make Up Classes work?
Once you are registered for a Make Up Class, you will receive an email reminding you of the class. Each class is scheduled for an hour, however, if you are the only one in the class it will only last 30 minutes. Your teacher for the Make Up Class may or may not be your regular instructor, but that’s okay! We can all learn different things from different people, and you will probably learn something new.
What if my teacher is absent?
We will do our best to keep you on track by having a substitute teacher (just like in school!). Your substitute teacher will be ready and waiting for you when you arrive. Just like the Make Up Classes, you will learn something new from a different teacher. If we don’t have a qualified substitute available, your teacher will contact you to schedule a One-on-One make up lesson.
What can I do if my student doesn’t really like their teacher or isn’t enjoying lessons?
Please let us know. We are more than happy to look at other options for you. It may be that a fresh face, a different personality, or a different instrument may be the answer! Of course, if the student has just started, it may take a while for the student/teacher relationship to take off, but if it’s been 4-6 weeks and it’s not working, let us know. Our teachers all know that sometimes a student needs something/someone different, and they will not be offended if you switch to a different teacher. Many of our instructors teach multiple instruments as well and the student is free to try another instrument that their instructor teaches.
How do I “un-enroll” or permanently cancel my lessons?
Please let us know if there is an issue that we may be able to fix. If you are not enjoying lessons, or not really “gelling” with your teacher, let us know! Otherwise, you’ll need to complete our Withdrawal Form (which we can email to you or give you at the Front Desk). The form must be on the Front Desk or in our email inbox by the 15th of the month to avoid being charged for the next month. For example, if you wanted July to be your last month of tuition and lessons, you’d need to have the Form completed and back to us by July 15th.
Can I “take a break” from lessons for the summer?
You have two options for “taking a break” from lessons:
Option 1- If you want to keep your scheduled time slot with your teacher, you would need to pay tuition. We would cancel the lessons you will miss and issue Make Up Credits for those lessons, which are good for a year from the date of the lesson.
Option 2- If you don’t want to pay tuition, we would take you off the schedule completely and you’d need to fill out a Withdrawal Form by the 15th of the month to avoid being charged further. We can’t guarantee that your time slot or teacher will be available when you return.
