Summit School of Music and Dance - Music FAQ - Calgary Music Lessons Choir Guitar lessons Piano Lessons Drums Voice Musicial Theatre

Music FAQ

If you have questions or concerns not answered by this FAQ section please feel free to call the office at 403. 240.9315. We will return your call as soon as possible.

Q	Do I need a piano at home to take piano lessons?
A	It is ideal if you do have a piano at home, but you can start lessons with our piano teachers by using an electric keyboard to practice on. Most of our students rent or buy small electric keyboards practice on at home. We recommend a keyboard that has regular sized keys and a touch sensitive response. A touch sensitive keyboard means if you press a key harder it will play louder and if you press a key softer it will play quieter.

Q	Do I need a full drum set to take drum lessons?
A	No you do not need a full drum set to start drum lessons. Students can start lessons by using a practice pad. This is a small dinner plate sized pad that costs $20-$30 that is used for practicing basic drum rhythms.

Q	How long does it take to learn an instrument?
A	There is no set answer of how long it takes to learn an instrument. With regular practice a basic level of playing can be accomplished in a few months. Most of our students take lessons on a long term basis because they want to be constantly improving and they find the lessons enjoyable.

Q	I don't have any musical background or ability; can I still help my child practice?
A	Yes. Even if you don't have a musical background you can ask the teacher for advice on how to help your child practice. By simply monitoring that they are doing exercises a certain number of times per day the student will progress. Many parents occasionally sit in on their child's music lesson to get an idea of the proper way a song should sound or how the student should be positioning their hands.

Q	Can I withdraw my child from classes after they begin?
A	30 days written notice from the first of the month is required to discontinue any classes. Please email us to request a withdrawal form. Withdrawal will not be official until we receive this form back. No withdrawals will be accepted during the summer months(July or August) or after February 1. To withdraw from classes a parent or adult student must: Request that the Withdrawal Form URL be emailed to them. Complete and submit the withdrawl form. No refunds will be given for dance lessons. Summit School of Dance and Music Inc. reserves the right to terminate lessons to any student without notice. In such a case a refund for unused lessons will be given. Collections: Although we do not expect ever needing this, if we have to take collection or legal actions to recover any payment, we retain all remedies at law or in equity, and you agree to pay all costs and disbursements of these actions on a solicitor client scale. We also retain the right to refuse tuition to the Student immediately upon late or non-payment of the tuition fees.

Q	Can I watch my child during class time?
A	If your child is participating in private lessons you can make pre arrangements with your child's instructor to sit in on there lesson. If your child is participating in group lessons you will be able to view your child’s lesson in our lobby area on our closed circuit television system.

How do I pay for my child's classes?

Info Regarding Fees: Fees will be taken by automatic withdrawals from visa/mc/auto debit on the 25th of each month. When you register you will be required to pay your Registration fee and first month's tuition by visa/mc. Your registration will not be complete and therefore your confirmation in the class will not be confirmed until we have your credit card on file.

Note: All fees must be paid by pre-authorized debit or pre-authorized credit cards at time of registration.

Auto-debit from bank account and credit card payments are only available for regular auto-charge recurring monthly fees. Credit cards are not accepted for individual in-person payments for lessons each month.

Declined payment fees are $25.00 and include declined method of payment (NSF), expired credit cards, returned payments.

Q	What if my child misses a lesson/class? Are there make up lessons available?
A	No make up lessons will be given for missed lessons unless absence is due to serious illness and 24 hour notice is given to the school office. Make up lessons will be limited to 2 per teaching year and will require a Doctors note. No refunds are given for missed lessons. There are no make up lessons for group music or dance classes.

Why do I have to pay the full month’s tuition when my child only gets two classes in December?
That doesn’t seem fair!

If monthly payments for tuition were based on a certain number of classes in a month, it wouldn’t be fair! But you have to remember that the monthly payment is not related to the number of classes in the month. When you enroll a child with us, you are enrolling him/her for an entire season of classes - i.e., September through June. We guarantee that 32 classes will be offered during the school year. Tuition is a fee based on the number of hours per week that your child takes lessons. The annual fee is divided into 10 equal payments - one each month your child comes to classes - in order to make your payments reasonable!

The number of classes that occur in any given month depends on the calendar and any holidays that may take place during that month. Each month is different, depending on the day of the week that your child comes to class. Some months will have 3 classes some months will have 4 or even 5. But no matter what day your child comes, by the end of the year, he/she will have come to at least 32 classes. As you can see, everything balances out over the year!