Here are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions…
When do you offer lessons: I offer lessons five days a week (Mondays-Thursdays and Saturdays). Monday thru Thursday lessons are offered 8am until 9pm, depending on teacher availability. Saturdays lessons are offered 8am until 5pm, depending on teacher availability.
What kind of music lessons do you offer: I offer lessons in piano (playing by ear, classical repertoire, jazz, and pop), singing, rapping, music theory, music history, beat production, studio recording, songwriting, live performance, booking gigs, building a fan base, networking with other musicians, marketing your music, and making a full-time living in the music business.
How do lessons work: My students get the opportunity to study with a professional New York City musician! This is more than just lessons. It is a mentorship with a professional to help you take your playing to the next level – whether you are a total beginner or already playing gigs. Whatever your goals are, we will work together to make them happen!
Private lessons are weekly, one-on-one lessons that occur on an ongoing basis. The lessons take place every week on the same day and at the same time. These are either online lessons or in-studio lessons.
Masterclasses, workshops, and courses are all done online. All group classes are recorded so you will have access to watch the video of any class you are unable to attend. Courses are designed to allow you to go through the lessons at your own pace.
Where do the lessons take place: I currently offer 2 options for private lessons: 1) Online lessons, 2) In-Studio lessons at my studio in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. All masterclasses and workshops are done online.
Do you travel to student locations: At this time, I am unable to travel to student locations for lessons.
How much do lessons cost: Please visit my Pricing page for more info on the cost of tuition.
What are “Soft Semesters:” Lessons and classes work in what I call “Soft Semesters.” There are three of them per year - Spring, Summer, Fall/Winter. Each semester is 16 -19 weeks with a 2-week vacation built in. Every semester will contain at least 14-weeks of lessons or classes. These are called “Soft Semesters” because you can still enroll anytime and lessons are continuous between semesters. The vacation dates do not always land at the end of the semester. Tuition is still billed monthly on an ongoing basis until canceled by written notice.
The benefits of structuring things this way are 1) it gives students a goal to shoot for which is playing in the recital at the end of each semester (each semester will end with a student recital), 2) it also helps create a structure for more concrete vacation weeks so students can take a break every now and then!
2024 Semester Dates:
Spring: Jan 8 - May 5
Summer: May 6 - Aug 25
Fall/Winter: Aug 26 - Jan 5
2024 Vacation Weeks:
Spring: Apr 22 - May 5
Summer: Aug 12 - Aug 25
Winter: Dec 23 - Jan 5
How does the monthly tuition work: Monthly tuition for private lessons, group classes, and courses is the same each month no matter how many weekly lessons fall in that month. Tuition is subscription-based and includes a lot of things. Tuition is not a per-lesson fee so if you need to miss the occasional lesson, it’s no big deal because you are not paying per lesson anyway. Tuition is a reduced rate to account for the cost of the occasional student cancelation, vacation dates, and holidays - just like any school or college would do. That means student cancelations have already been figured into the price of your tuition. Three 2-week seasonal vacations have also been included in the price of your tuition. For more info on vacations, see WHAT IS YOUR VACATION POLICY below.
Lessons are every week on the same day and at the same time. Your tuition reserves your time slot every week.
Certainly, life happens and things come up, so if you ever need to cancel a lesson, you have a few options. Please see WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO CANCEL A LESSON below for more details.
Will my tuition ever go up: When you enroll, your tuition rate is locked in for one year. Even if rates go up in that year, your tuition will not change. At the end of the year, we will discuss if your tuition needs to be raised due to inflation or demand. You will always be a part of the conversation so that we can make sure you are getting what you need out of your lessons.
How do I pay: I offer simple, hassle-free recurring billing all done through my online Shop. Once you set it up, you are done. You will be automatically charged each month on the same day each month until you cancel. You can cancel at any time with at least 48 hours written notice before your next billing cycle. You will be emailed how to get this set up prior to your first lesson.
Billing does not have to start on the first of the calendar month. Your billing date begins the day you set up your payment and runs until that same day the next month. For example, if you set up your payment on the 20th of the month, then your billing date is the 20th of each month. Your payment would cover all lessons until the 19th of the next month. On the 20th of the next month you will be charged again for lessons in the upcoming billing cycle and so on.
Are there any registration fees or any other fees to get started: No! No registration fees. No application fees. No other hidden fees. Everything is included in your monthly tuition.
What is your vacation policy: Everybody needs a break now and then. There are 3 seasonal 2-week vacation breaks built into the calendar year - one in the Spring, one in the Summer, and one in the Winter. These breaks are a chance to relax with no lessons so you can go see the world or sit by the pool or watch Netfilx! These vacations are already figured into the price of tuition. Since the price of tuition already includes taking these weeks off, lessons that fall on a vacation week will not be rescheduled or refunded and tuition will not be pro-rated for that month.
What happens if I need to cancel a lesson: Everybody gets sick or has some kind of emergency or just needs a vacation from time to time. If you can’t make your lesson one week, it’s no problem. It happens. If you need to cancel a lesson for any reason, you have 5 options:
Miss the lesson: You can just miss your lesson for the week and pick things back up next week.
Do an online lesson instead: We can always do an online lesson instead during your regular lesson time.
Get a personalized lesson video: If you are unable to do an online lesson at your regular lesson time, I can send you a personalized video lesson for the week so you have something to work on for your next lesson.
Submit a video to be critiqued: You can make a short video of yourself playing or singing and email it to me. I will watch your video and send you some notes on what to work on - just like we would in your live lesson. Please note: Your critique video needs to be sent to me before your lesson time as I will use your lesson time to make the response video and update your lesson assignment.
Reschedule the lesson: I do allow every student 2 make-up lessons per calendar year. Make-ups are not guaranteed, but if I can find time in my schedule for a make-up lesson, I will give you some time slots to choose from. If none of them work for you, we will have to go with one of the other options. Once you have used up your 2 make-up lessons for the year, you will need to choose one of the other options if you need to cancel any future lessons until the new calendar year begins.
This policy applies to all missed lessons whether they are planned ahead of time or last minute, but does not apply to vacation dates or holidays. Your tuition will not be reimbursed to make up for any missed lesson and no lesson credits will be available to use toward future lessons. Please let me know no later than 4 hours before your lesson time if you need to cancel, reschedule or make other arrangements. If you do not let me know at least 4 hours before your lesson time, or if you do not show up or contact me about missing a lesson before your lesson time occurs, none of these options will be guaranteed. Lesson reschedules and video lessons must be agreed upon before your lesson time occurs. If no decision has been made before your lesson time and your lesson time has passed, it will be too late to reschedule or request a video lesson. At that point, the lesson will be forfeited.
For all group classes, these options do not apply because all group classes are recorded. If you need to miss a group class, you will have access to the recording so you can go through the lesson on your own time.
Why don’t you do unlimited makeup lessons for student cancellations:
Due to a full schedule, I am unable to reschedule student canceled lessons more than 2 times per year.
Your tuition covers a lot of things including participation in student recitals and administrative costs - it is not a per-lesson fee. Mainly your tuition reserves that time in my schedule every week just for you. If you cancel at the last minute I can’t fill that slot with another student. Missed lessons have already been accounted for in the formulation of your tuition. If you have to miss a lesson every now and then, it’s no big deal because you are not paying for every single lesson anyway. This applies to all missed lessons whether they are last minute or planned.
Tuition is the same each month no matter how many lessons there are in that month. Some months contain 5 lessons, so if you were paying per lesson your tuition would be more for that month. Instead of doing that, I keep it the same each month so that we have some wiggle room for student cancelations and vacation weeks.
If you need to permanently change your lesson time, due to a change in your schedule, just let me know and we can find you a new permanent time slot.
This policy also keeps you accountable as a student. Knowing you are paying the full amount for the month, whether you show up to your lessons or not, will make you want to show up more. Showing up more often is going to make you progress quicker and make you a better musician. When you get into the habit of thinking it is ok to not show up, you stop practicing. You start showing up less and less for lessons. Then you get frustrated because you are not progressing as quickly as you would like. And eventually, you quit. By following this policy, we can avoid this whole cycle and help you reach your goals quicker!
What if I need to cancel because of extreme weather conditions: If you need to cancel a lesson due to extreme weather conditions, you must let me know no less than 4 hours prior to lesson time. Then you have 4 options:
Miss the lesson: You can just miss your lesson for the week and pick things back up next week
Do an online lesson instead: We can always do an online lesson instead during your regular lesson time.
Get a personalized lesson video: If you are unable to do an online lesson at your regular lesson time, I can send you a personalized video lesson for the week so you have something to work on for your next lesson.
Submit a video to be critiqued: You can make a short video of yourself playing or singing and email it to me. I will watch your video and send you some notes on what to work on - just like we would in your live lesson. Please note: Your critique video needs to be sent to me before your lesson time as I will use your lesson time to make the response video and update your lesson assignment.
Reschedule the lesson: I do allow every student 2 make-up lessons per calendar year. Make-ups are not guaranteed, but if I can find time in my schedule for a make-up lesson, I will give you some time slots to choose from. If none of them work for you, we will have to go with one of the other options. Once you have used up your 2 make-up lessons for the year, you will need to choose one of the other options if you need to cancel any future lessons until the new calendar year begins.
What if my teacher cancels a lesson: If I have to cancel a lesson, then you have 4 options:
Bank the lesson and reschedule: The canceled lesson will be banked in my system. We can then schedule a makeup lesson within 60 days of the cancellation. If a makeup lesson is not used within 60 days of cancellation, the lesson will be forfeited. This rescheduled lesson will not count toward your 2 allotted for the year.
Do an online lesson instead: If you are an in-person student, I may be able to do an online lesson instead during your regular lesson time. We will discuss whether or not this is a possibility.
Get a personalized lesson video: If we are both unable to do an online lesson at your regular lesson time, I can send you a personalized video lesson for the week so you have something to work on for your next lesson.
Submit a video to be critiqued: You can make a short video of yourself playing or singing and email it to me. I will watch your video and send you some notes on what to work on - just like we would in your live lesson. Please note: Your critique video needs to be sent to me before your lesson time as I will use your lesson time to make the response video and update your lesson assignment.
What happens if my lesson falls on a holiday: I am unable to do lessons on 2 major US holidays - Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If your lesson falls on one of these holidays you have 3 options:
Miss the lesson: You can just miss your lesson for the week and pick things back up next week
Get a personalized lesson video: I can send you a personalized video lesson for the week so you have something to work on for your next lesson.
Submit a video to be critiqued: You can make a short video of yourself playing or singing and email it to me. I will watch your video and send you some notes on what to work on - just like we would in your live lesson. Please note: Your critique video needs to be sent to me before your lesson time as I will use your lesson time to make the response video and update your lesson assignment.
I am unable to do any reschedules for these two holidays.
If your lesson falls on any other major holiday other than Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, we can discuss whether you want to do the lesson, take the day off, if you want me to send you a video lesson for that week, or if you want to send me a video to critique. We can also reschedule the lesson if my schedule allows, but this will count towards one of your 2 make-up lessons per year.
Tuition will not be refunded or pro-rated for any holidays.
What is the 5th lesson policy for Takelessons students: If you are a Takelessons student, it is important for me to respect the agreement I have with Takelessons, which means I need to keep you on their platform for scheduling and payment. Normal tuition for my monthly subscribers is subscription-based and not per lesson-based and it covers a whole lot of things, it is not a fee for each specific lesson. I know it is a little different with Takelessons because you do have to pay per lesson on that platform.
So here is what we do about that:
Whenever there are 5 lessons in a month, I will cancel the 5th lesson in Takelessons so you don’t have to pay for it. We will, however, still do the lesson. I will let you know when it is a 5-lesson month and I will take care of taking that 5th lesson off the Takelessons calendar for that month so you don’t have to do anything.
This way you stay on the calendar in Takelessons whether you attend the lesson or not because you are not paying per lesson anyway. This will ensure that you keep your time slot and help to stay consistent.
By doing this, your tuition will average out to the exact same amount that my monthly subscribers pay so we can follow the same policies when it comes to cancelations, holidays, and vacation weeks.
Do you offer group classes or courses: Yes I do! I offer masterclasses, workshops, and even courses! For more info on masterclasses and workshops, CLICK HERE. For more info on courses, CLICK HERE.
What is a Workshop: A workshop is a group class where you get to learn and perform with other students at your same level. The class includes some teaching on technique, music theory, and ear training, as well as a chance for each student to perform in front of the teacher as well as other students and get feedback on their playing.
What is a Masterclass: A masterclass is a group class that is a lot like a workshop, except there is less of a focus on teaching and more of a focus on performance. This is where we work on things like expression, emotion, and advanced techniques. Students get the chance to perform live in front of the teacher and the other students while getting feedback from both on their playing. Masterclasses are for more advanced players who want to take their skills to the next level.
How do courses work: Courses are designed for you to go through the lessons at your own pace. This is perfect for the student who has a busy schedule and is unable to commit to regular weekly lessons.
Do you teach online lessons: YES! Actually, I offer online lessons and my students love them!
How do online lessons work: Most people are surprised at how well online lessons actually work. We can do all the same things that you can do with in-person lessons and do it from the comfort of your own home! I use Zoom as the platform to conduct the lessons. To learn more about how online lessons work, please visit my How Online Music Lessons Work page.
When are you open for enrollment: Enrollment for private lessons is open always! You may enroll at any time and begin as soon as I have availability. I am usually able to begin lessons within 1-2 weeks of registration. Enrollment for masterclasses and workshops is open up until the day the class begins.
Do I need to re-enroll for ongoing lessons: Once enrolled in private lessons, you are enrolled as a member of our student community indefinitely! To pause or cancel lessons, please provide written notice at least 48 hours before your next billing date by emailing me at chris@mynycmusiclessons.com. For masterclasses and workshops, when the class ends you can choose to enroll in the next level class or to stop. Your subscription will remain active so you can continue on to the next level of class. If you want to stop after your current class, just let me know at least 48 hours before your next billing date and I will cancel your subscription.
Do you offer any discounts: Funny you ask, I was just going to tell you about that! YES. I offer a 10% family discount for any family members taking back-to-back lessons. I also have some great discounted lesson packages so be sure to check those out on my Packages and Discounts page.
Do you offer a free trial lesson: I do offer a free 20-minute Zoom mini-lesson so you can tell me more about your goals and we can get to know each other a little bit. If you are interested in setting this up, just let me know!
Can I cancel my lessons at any time: If you are on monthly billing, you can cancel anytime before the end of each monthly billing cycle. You have a billing date that begins the day you purchase your first month of lessons and it runs monthly. As long as you cancel 48 hours via written notice (email is fine) before your next billing date, your account will be closed and you will not be charged again.
If you have purchased an upfront package, you can cancel or renew at the end of each package time frame.
For private lessons, monthly tuition is subscription-based and not per-lesson-based, so I am unable to give any refunds for cancellations made halfway through a monthly billing cycle. I am also unable to issue refunds for any unused lessons in a prepaid lesson package.
For group classes, refunds are available up until the first class. Once the first class has taken place, I am unable to give any refunds on group class tuition. I also ask that you commit to attending all masterclasses or workshops through to the end of the semester so that you can see the results!
How do I cancel my lessons for good: Just email me at chris@mynycmusiclessons.com before your next billing date, and I will cancel your account. Please give me at least 48 hours before your next billing date to process your cancellation.
What is included in my tuition:
Learn how to play the music you love - play piano by ear or focus on the classical repertoire, learn how to sing like a pro, or rap like a legend - the choice is up to you! I also offer lessons in beat production, studio recording, music theory, music history, songwriting, live performance, booking gigs, building a fan base, marketing your music, and making a living as a professional musician. Whatever it is you want to learn, we will structure your lessons to focus on that!
Weekly, private one-on-one lessons with me - either online or in-person at my studio in Manhattan
This is more than just lessons. This is a mentorship so I am here to help you in any way that I can!
Save time and energy by having a teacher who can guide you and give you feedback - instead of combing through YouTube videos and trying to teach yourself
Free participation in all student recitals (participation is not mandatory)
A video recording of every lesson. This way you can go back and review what you learned in your lesson anytime. This also adds another layer of security for parents as they can see exactly what is going on in each lesson.
A personalized lesson plan with clear goals that we will work towards and specific things to work on for your next lesson
Your own Google Drive folder with all your video lessons and lesson plans in one place so you can access them anytime
Free access to all of my online training videos on technique, fundamentals, music theory, and more!
Free access to directly chat with me via text, email, or phone call so you can ask questions whenever you have them throughout the week
Simple, hassle-free billing - set it up once and you're done!
No registration fees or any other hidden fees
How do I know you are any good. What are others saying about you: Great question! Be sure to check out some Reviews from current and former students. You can also read more reviews on Google!
What happens if I don’t like the lessons or don’t like my teacher: I take extra care in making sure I am serving my students. If you aren’t happy, then I am not happy. Please let me know how I can better serve your needs. If it turns out we just aren’t a good fit, then you can cancel at any time. I will also be more than happy to share some other resources so you can find a teacher who is a better fit for you. The most important thing is that you don’t give up!
How do I communicate with my teacher: All communication can be done directly with me via text, email, or phone call.
Do you do recitals: I do! I offer an online recital at the end of each semester (Spring, Summer, and Fall). Each student participates from the comfort of their own home. I also have in-person recitals throughout the year that students in the New York area can participate in. There is no extra charge to participate in recitals. Participation in recitals is not mandatory.
Can I be in the room with my child during their lesson: Absolutely! You are always welcome to sit in on any lesson.
How can I track my child’s progress: Parents are more than welcome to check in with me at any point on how their child is progressing. Parents will also have access to all lesson videos so they can see how their child is doing.
Can I pause or freeze my account temporarily: Yes you can pause or freeze your account if you’d like, but please consider the following first:
Your tuition reserves your time slot in my schedule every week. If you cancel your subscription, I can’t guarantee that same time slot will be available when you want to come back. I have new students coming in every week and my schedule fills up quickly.
When you want to restart your subscription, we will look at the schedule and see if we can find a new time slot that works for you. If we can’t find one, I’ll have to put you on my waiting list and I’ll let you know when something opens up.
I will be unable to send you video lessons and tutorials while your subscription is inactive. Those benefits are for active subscribers only.
For private lessons, monthly tuition is subscription-based and not per-lesson-based, so I am unable to give any refunds for cancellations made once payment is processed for the upcoming month. I am also unable to issue refunds for any unused lessons in a prepaid lesson package.
For group classes, refunds are available up until the first class. Once the first class has taken place, I am unable to give any refunds on group class tuitions.
If you need to go out of town or cancel for a week or two, it’s ok. It totally happens. Some student cancellations have already been built into the price of tuition so it’s best to keep your subscription active.
All that being said, I totally understand wanting to watch the budget. I always want to do whatever I can to help you achieve your goals so I will always do my best to work something out with you. What matters most is that we keep you moving forward in your musical pursuits!
What happens if I can’t make one of my masterclasses or workshops: All group classes are recorded so you will have access to watch the video of any class you are unable to attend.
Are lessons one-on-one or are they group lessons: Regular lessons are private, one-on-one lessons. But I do offer separate group classes and courses as well.
How long should my lessons be: 60-minute lessons are ideal, but we can do 30 minutes as well if that works better for your schedule. I recommend students under 10 years of age start with 30-minute lessons.
Do I need to have a keyboard or piano: Yes. You are going to need to practice at home the things you learn in your lesson. Even if you are not a piano student, it will help you to have something to play notes on at home. If you don’t have a keyboard or piano, let me know and I can help you find a great deal on a good board. For non-piano students, a lot of times a piano app will work too. You can get these for free on your phone or tablet.
What Covid-19 precautions do you have in place: The safety of my students is always my number one priority. I have reviewed the CDC safety guidelines and I want to do whatever makes you feel safe. I am fully vaccinated. I do not require my students to wear masks. But if you want to wear a mask and you want me to wear a mask, just let me know. I am more than happy to do so. Also, I disinfect all touched surfaces frequently.
Do you have a student referral program: I do! If you are a current student and you refer a student to me, when that student signs up for lessons, you get $25 cash (Sent to you via Venmo or PayPal)! You can put this $25 towards tuition or use it any way you want. The referred student who signs up also receives $25 cash. So if you know of anyone looking for music lessons, be sure to have them get in touch with me! They can call me, email me, or fill out the Contact Form.
How do I contact you if I have questions: You can email me any time at chris@mynycmusiclessons.com or you can call 314-616-0760
How do I enroll in lessons: Enrollment is super simple. Just follow the links below to enroll today!