Macpherson Music

Please review the details on this page carefully.  Thank you!

Lesson Tuition

New Lesson Fees for 2023 (please see Fees below)

Private individual lessons are conducted on a weekly basis for 30, 45 or 60 minutes.  Shorter lessons are available to very young students (under 6 years of age) on arrangement with Mr. Macpherson.  Tuition will be calculated starting from the date on which you join the studio and is based on a Two-Term period (September-December; January-June), and can be divided into monthly payment installments (in advance of each month) or may be paid in full each Term. The studio runs much like a private school; tuition is based on enrollment, not attendance, reserving each student’s exclusive lesson time throughout the teaching year, whether the student attends lessons or not.  It is not the teacher’s responsibility to reschedule a student’s lesson if he/she has a conflict with another activity.  A student who does not attend a lesson will simply miss the benefit of that lesson.  Your tuition reserves you a weekly time slot and the benefits within the studio.  Please give as much notice as possible when canceling a lesson.  

Payment(s) will be automated through the My Music Staff account and will be invoiced annually.  Account details can be reviewed through the parent portal.  After registration, an email message with details on "How To Setup your student (and/or parent) Portal(s)" will arrive.  An invoice for upcoming lessons, following the trial lesson, will also be forwarded.  Invoices are to be paid by email transfer, cheque or cash.  At this point, online credit card payments are not setup.

Lesson cancellation policy

When a student cannot make it to a regularly scheduled lesson due to inclement weather, transportation difficulties, or illness, the student should notify the teacher and have their lesson via video call.  I will initiate the call at the time of the lesson.  Moving forward, make-up lessons will not be offered for last minute cancellations, but video lessons should be used as an alternative during the scheduled lesson time.  I am thrilled to offer online lessons moving forward as it will enable more students to attend a lesson online when they have circumstances which prevent their attending their regular lesson in person.  Online lessons are an amazing alternative and a highly effective way to have a lesson with me!  

***If attending a scheduled lesson is ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE, and you are also unable to do a virtual lesson at your regular lesson time, there is a small window of opportunity to make up a canceled lesson: UPON PRIOR ARRANGEMENT WITH MR. MACPHERSON, a missed lesson can be made-up by a VIRTUAL lesson on the SUNDAY of the week of the missed lesson, between 2:00 and 6:00 PM.***

Lesson duration and Commitment

Beginner and younger students benefit from a weekly 30 minute lesson. As student ability, focus, endurance and independence grow, a 45 minute lesson may be more appropriate. Many intermediate, advanced and adult students prefer a full hour, as they are able to sing or play without fatigue for that length of time, and require the full hour to work in depth on technique and repertoire.

Students and parents are expected to commit to a year of weekly lessons, in general. There are two terms per year: September to December and January to June Of course, new students may begin lessons at any time during the year, as long as an open time slot is available. At Mr. Macpherson`s discretion, bi-weekly lessons may be available in specific instances, although weekly lessons are the norm. Summer lessons are available through prior arrangement with Mr. Macpherson only.

Fees

Fees are due at the first lesson.  Trial lessons are invoiced at the same rate as regular lessons.  Lessons are offered by the half-hour, 3/4 hour and full hour. 

Lesson fees are as follows:

Discontinuation of Lessons

To discontinue lessons, the parent/student must provide at least one month’s advance written notice. If the parent/student does not provide one month’s advance written notice, the parent/student shall be liable for one month’s tuition in full, even if no lessons are provided during that month.

I reserve the right to discontinue lessons for any reason.  If I decide to terminate lessons, fees will be adjusted up to and including the last lesson taken, and a refund provided, if applicable.  

The reasons for discontinuation may be:

• Persistent absences/tardiness
• Excessive requests for scheduling changes
• Lack of progress due to insufficient practise
• Uncooperative attitude or general dislike of lessons
• The student/teacher working relationship is not successful and the student would benefit from a different approach.

ORMTA Member Studio Policy

As a member of ORMTA, I abide by the Association's policies.  All other policies above still apply.***

***Any and all of the above policies, guidelines and expectations may be modified and redistributed at any time by Mr. Macpherson***