Things that come up

Before you start

When can I start?

Private lessons and choir are join-anytime, subject to teacher availability. Reach out and the front desk team can find a starting slot. Group classes work on a different model. Tunes & Tots and Junior Jammers run in seasonal cycles with fixed start and end dates, with new cycles offered year-round.

Do I have to commit to a weekly membership?

No. Lessons run by weekly membership or as single drop-ins, booked one at a time. To weigh the two, see how membership and drop-ins compare.

What’s the best age to start private music lessons?

Most students do well starting private lessons around age 6. Younger than that, our group programs (Tunes & Tots for ages 2–3 and Junior Jammers for ages 4–5) are usually the better fit, both play-based with a focus on rhythm, singing, and musical exposure rather than instrumental technique. From age 6 onward, private lessons on most instruments work well, though physical size and readiness vary at this age and a short conversation with the front desk helps figure out whether a particular student is ready to start. Some families start earlier. We’ve had four-year-olds in private piano and violin lessons where the child is genuinely ready and a parent is involved in practice. That’s an individual call rather than the default recommendation.

When is Resonate closed?

We close for about two weeks over the December–January holiday period and one week over the August long weekend. The December–January closure usually lines up closely with the Edmonton public school system calendar. Lessons don’t run on statutory holidays. The annual schedule is built to absorb these closures, so monthly tuition isn’t adjusted for them.

Do you close for the summer?

No. Resonate runs year-round, including through July and August. Summer often turns out to be a useful stretch for lessons. Schedules tend to loosen up, and the work done over a quieter season tends to carry into the fall.

Are there family discounts?

Not at this time. Tuition is consistent across all members rather than tiered by household.

Do I need anything before my first lesson?

Depends on the instrument. Pianos and drums live in the lesson rooms, so nothing to bring. For everything else, guitar included, plan on having your own instrument by the first lesson. Renting or buying both work, and we recommend Myhre’s Music first. If you’re starting fresh and not sure what to look for, the front desk can suggest a starting setup that fits without overcommitting before you know whether the lesson will stick. A folder or binder is also useful for keeping printouts and notes between lessons.

Your first lesson

How early should I arrive?

Five minutes early is usually enough. The lobby is a comfortable place to land before the lesson starts, and the front desk team will check you in. Arriving much earlier isn’t necessary, though students often hang around after to listen in on what else is happening.

What happens if I’m running late?

If you arrive 10 or more minutes late, the lesson is considered an absence, and the instructor isn’t required to remain. Late arrivals don’t qualify for make-up lessons, since the policy is built around advance notice. If you’re running late on the day, give us a call as early as you can.

Can a parent be in the lesson room?

For younger students just starting out, yes. A parent in the room can help bridge the first few sessions. Past a certain age and comfort level, most students get more out of lessons with the room to themselves and the parent in the lobby. The instructor will let you know what they recommend as things settle in.

Should I stay during my child’s lesson?

Either works. The lobby is built to hang out in. There’s lounge seating, a refreshment station with coffee, hot chocolate, and tea, and a rotating music playlist that runs through the day. People stay, chat, listen, get some work done. Others use the lesson hour for an errand. There’s plenty of shopping nearby. Just one ask: please be back before the lesson ends, since instructors aren’t able to wait with students afterward.

While you’re enrolled

How do make-up lessons work?

When notice of an absence reaches the front desk at least a week ahead, we set that lesson aside as a make-up: the same lesson, taught later in an open time, used within 90 days. A make-up is a lesson, and only a lesson, so it can’t be applied against tuition. The full make-up policy lives in our school policies, and the reasoning behind the rules is on how make-up lessons work.

What if I’m sick on the day of a lesson?

Illness isn’t eligible for a make-up. A make-up comes from advance notice, and a same-day absence gives none: your teacher’s time is already held for you that day. Stay home if you’re unwell, and let us know as early as you can. If you’re well enough to play but should stay out of the building, ask us about taking the lesson online.

How do recording studio hours work for members?

Active members earn one complimentary hour of studio time for every three consecutive months of membership. That hour is yours to use toward any service the recording studio offers, subject to availability. Hours accumulate without expiry while you’re a member, with a cap of 3 hours redeemed in any single calendar month. They don’t transfer to anyone else, don’t convert to cash, and end with the membership.

How much notice do I need to give to cancel enrollment?

30 days from the date you give notice. You can submit your notice through our cancellation form, or call the front desk. Letting your instructor know isn’t enough on its own. Tuition is owed for the full notice period whether or not you attend the lessons in it. Through your final lesson day, make-ups on file can be used or donated to the Community Fund, and studio hours can be used within the monthly limit. Whatever is left then expires. Medical circumstances are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Account and billing

How do I update my billing info?

Through your member account, the same place you message your teacher, see your schedule, and view your make-up lessons. Update your card details there before the next billing cycle, and the change takes effect on the next monthly run. If you run into trouble or prefer to do it in person, the front desk team can update it for you.

How do I check how many make-up lessons I have on file?

In your member account. The make-ups on file are listed there, alongside scheduling and teacher messages. The front desk team can also pull them up for you anytime, with the date each one is usable by.