FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Does PMA offer online lessons via Zoom, Skype or FaceTime?
Yes we do! Online lessons are available via Zoom or FaceTime. Pricing for online lessons is the same as in-person lessons.
2. What is the best age to begin music lessons?
It depends on the student. Drums are great for very young students to start with. We currently have 3 and a half year-olds taking drum lessons and they have a blast! Drums provide an important rhythmic foundation. Ukulele is also great for young students around 4 years of age because the instrument is small and the soft strings are gentle on the fingers. Those who have played ukulele are able to more easily adapt to other stringed instruments like guitar. For guitar and piano we usually start no younger than 5 years old, and voice lessons typically around ages 6 or 7. Because so much depends on the individual student, we recommend contacting us for an evaluation.
3. Should a student start with piano lessons first?
Piano is a great instrument to start on but so is any instrument that the student shows an interest in. If a student is motivated to learn a particular instrument, they tend to advance more quickly because they will naturally spend more time with it. We highly recommend drums and ukulele as options for very young students.
4. Many music teachers charge per lesson. Why does PMA do it differently?
We have a payment system that's easy to keep track of for students/parents and teachers. Our tuition is divided into monthly payments. By paying this monthly tuition the student’s slot is reserved for the month. We do offer per-lesson pricing, subject to availability. Paying per lesson does not reserve a recurring slot.
5. What teaching method do you use?
Our instruction takes into account the individual interests and goals of the student. Although teaching methods may vary depending on the teacher, wherever possible we will strive to engage the student by incorporating their preferred styles and genres. We believe this approach helps motivate the student to spend time with their instrument and improves the overall learning experience.
6. Do you teach lessons during the summer?
Yes! We get a lot of new students signing up during the summer. It’s is a great time to make some serious progress.
7. What happens if I want to take a break from lessons (during the summer, for example)?
If you would like to take a break from lessons we ask that you let us know in advance. Those who wish to reserve their time slot during a break must continue to pay monthly tuition. Slots cannot be reserved without payment.
8. Do you teach theory?
Yes. The approach and frequency will depend on the teacher and student.
9. Can we do lessons every other week?
No. In our experience, weekly lessons is the most effective way to advance with an instrument. It provides structure and consistency for the student, and yields better results. Having lessons every other week puts the student at a disadvantage and also creates scheduling challenges for teachers. For this reason the only way to hold a regular recurring slot is to pay monthly tuition. We also have an option to pay per lesson, but this does not reserve a recurring time slot.
10. Can I sign up for 45 or 60 minute lessons?
Yes. You can ask your teacher about this and they will decide with you.
11. How do I know whether my child should play right or left handed guitar/ukulele?
This is not an easy question and could benefit from an in-person evaluation. But something to consider is that left-handed instruments are harder to find and have a limited selection. That didn't stop Jimi Hendrix or Paul McCartney, however there are many left-handed people who play right-handed instruments.
12. Do you teach in-home lessons?
All our lessons are taught at our studio in Redlands or online via Zoom/FaceTime.
13. Do you offer discounts for families with multiple children enrolled?
Our registration fee is waived for additional siblings or immediate family members who enroll from the same household. For example, if a parent enrolls two of their children in music lessons the registration fee would cover both children. This also applies to a student who enrolls - pays the registration fee - and then a few months later a sibling also wants to enroll. The registration fee is waived for the sibling (as long as the other sibling is still enrolled). There is also a 5% discount for families paying monthly tuition x3. Whether that is 3 students from the same family enrolled at PMA, or 1 student studying 3 instruments (again, paying monthly tuition). The family discount does not apply to those who opt to pay per lesson.
14. Do lessons for all instruments cost the same?
For one person to take weekly 30 minute lessons the tuition cost is $120 per month, per instrument. Tuition for GarageBand 102, Logic Pro 101 & Logic Pro 102 is $190 per month, for 60 minute sessions.
15. Do you offer make-up lessons?
If we receive at least 24 hours notice of a cancellation, we will do our best to provide options for a make-up lesson. However, this is not guaranteed. For more information visit the LESSONS page.