Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to questions you might have:
Q: How long does it take to learn how to play?
This depends on your level of commitment. It will take time to reach your musical goals. With a consistent instruction and a regular practice schedule, you will make progress faster and enjoy the results of your efforts.
Q: Don’t you need talent to play an instrument?
Not necessarily. While it does help to have some natural talent, or an “ear”, we believe everybody can learn and enjoy a musical instrument at even a basic level. Becoming a professional musician takes years of study, but being musical in your own home for family, friends, and yourself is something everyone can and should enjoy.
Q: Is it too late to learn how to play as an adult?
Never. We have many adult students who are picking up an instrument for the first time, or returning to something they played in their youth. Studying music as an adult can bring tremendous satisfaction as you express your creativity, develop new skills, and reduce stress.
Q: How old does my child have to be to start taking lessons?
This will primarily depend on the child’s maturity. Besides a child’s physical ability to handle an instrument, the child should be able to focus for a minimum of 20 minutes of instruction. Instruments such as piano or violin can be started as early as 6 years old, while guitar, drums, and voice are better started at 7 or 8, and wind instruments around 9 or 10 years old. We are happy to set up an evaluation meeting with your child and an instructor, or the studio director to properly assess your child’s readiness. Starting instruction at the right time is important in order to avoid frustration or a possible distaste for music. In many cases, simply waiting 6 months can make all the difference.
Q: Do you have early childhood education classes?
Yes. We offer group classes for children ages 18 months to 5 years old. This can be a wonderful way to get your child introduced to music while setting solid groundwork before picking an instrument. Check our schedule for the next session of Little Music classes.
Q: How often should I practice and for how long?
Consistent, regular practice is the key to learning an instrument. While the number of minutes will vary for each student, practicing as little as 20 minutes every day is far better than cramming hours into only one or two days. As in physical exercise, taking long periods of time between practice sessions will take much longer to develop coordination, muscle memory, and musical comprehension.
Q: Will your teachers come to my house?
No. Our facility has 7 lesson studios with all the equipment and materials necessary for music instruction. It is important to provide both our students and teachers with a comfortable, focused environment to work in.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
Please make your scheduled lesson a priority. If you must cancel, we must receive notice by 10am for lessons after 12pm, and by 10pm the night before for morning lessons. Lessons cancelled with appropriate notice will be issued a make-up lesson time slot. There is a strict limit of 1 cancellation per month. If a student believes they will be missing a number of lessons due to another activity, the lesson must be moved to a time in which there will be no conflicts.
Q: What happens if there is a "Snow Day" or if my teacher is absent?
Lessons cancelled due to teacher absence, or inclement weather will be rescheduled, and not count towards the 1 cancellation-per-month limit. R&D Music does not necessarily follow school district snow cancellations. In the event that we are closed, there will be messages on the studio and retail phones, as well as notices on our website and Facebook page.
Q: What happens on holidays?
If your lesson falls on a day in which our Studios are closed, you will not be charged for that lesson. R&D Music does not necessarily follow school holiday schedules, so please review the complete list of Studio observed holidays.
Q: I want to make sure I like an instrument before buying one, do you rent?
Yes. Purchasing an instrument is a commitment. It's our goal to make sure you select an instrument you will enjoy playing for years to come. For this reason, we offer rentals on keyboards, guitars, percussion kits, woodwinds, brass and strings. See our rental page for more information. When you are ready to purchase something, we do that too!
Q: Are books included in the lesson fees?
No. Instruction material varies by teacher and student. We are happy to give our students a 10% discount on any books and accessories you may need to learn your instrument.
This depends on your level of commitment. It will take time to reach your musical goals. With a consistent instruction and a regular practice schedule, you will make progress faster and enjoy the results of your efforts.
Q: Don’t you need talent to play an instrument?
Not necessarily. While it does help to have some natural talent, or an “ear”, we believe everybody can learn and enjoy a musical instrument at even a basic level. Becoming a professional musician takes years of study, but being musical in your own home for family, friends, and yourself is something everyone can and should enjoy.
Q: Is it too late to learn how to play as an adult?
Never. We have many adult students who are picking up an instrument for the first time, or returning to something they played in their youth. Studying music as an adult can bring tremendous satisfaction as you express your creativity, develop new skills, and reduce stress.
Q: How old does my child have to be to start taking lessons?
This will primarily depend on the child’s maturity. Besides a child’s physical ability to handle an instrument, the child should be able to focus for a minimum of 20 minutes of instruction. Instruments such as piano or violin can be started as early as 6 years old, while guitar, drums, and voice are better started at 7 or 8, and wind instruments around 9 or 10 years old. We are happy to set up an evaluation meeting with your child and an instructor, or the studio director to properly assess your child’s readiness. Starting instruction at the right time is important in order to avoid frustration or a possible distaste for music. In many cases, simply waiting 6 months can make all the difference.
Q: Do you have early childhood education classes?
Yes. We offer group classes for children ages 18 months to 5 years old. This can be a wonderful way to get your child introduced to music while setting solid groundwork before picking an instrument. Check our schedule for the next session of Little Music classes.
Q: How often should I practice and for how long?
Consistent, regular practice is the key to learning an instrument. While the number of minutes will vary for each student, practicing as little as 20 minutes every day is far better than cramming hours into only one or two days. As in physical exercise, taking long periods of time between practice sessions will take much longer to develop coordination, muscle memory, and musical comprehension.
Q: Will your teachers come to my house?
No. Our facility has 7 lesson studios with all the equipment and materials necessary for music instruction. It is important to provide both our students and teachers with a comfortable, focused environment to work in.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
Please make your scheduled lesson a priority. If you must cancel, we must receive notice by 10am for lessons after 12pm, and by 10pm the night before for morning lessons. Lessons cancelled with appropriate notice will be issued a make-up lesson time slot. There is a strict limit of 1 cancellation per month. If a student believes they will be missing a number of lessons due to another activity, the lesson must be moved to a time in which there will be no conflicts.
Q: What happens if there is a "Snow Day" or if my teacher is absent?
Lessons cancelled due to teacher absence, or inclement weather will be rescheduled, and not count towards the 1 cancellation-per-month limit. R&D Music does not necessarily follow school district snow cancellations. In the event that we are closed, there will be messages on the studio and retail phones, as well as notices on our website and Facebook page.
Q: What happens on holidays?
If your lesson falls on a day in which our Studios are closed, you will not be charged for that lesson. R&D Music does not necessarily follow school holiday schedules, so please review the complete list of Studio observed holidays.
Q: I want to make sure I like an instrument before buying one, do you rent?
Yes. Purchasing an instrument is a commitment. It's our goal to make sure you select an instrument you will enjoy playing for years to come. For this reason, we offer rentals on keyboards, guitars, percussion kits, woodwinds, brass and strings. See our rental page for more information. When you are ready to purchase something, we do that too!
Q: Are books included in the lesson fees?
No. Instruction material varies by teacher and student. We are happy to give our students a 10% discount on any books and accessories you may need to learn your instrument.
