Will Mason actually offers some great advice on choosing an instrument for your child, but our general rule is that piano is a great introductory instrument, especially for younger children who do not have a strong preference to any one instrument. We also offer Beginner Camps throughout the year for students who want to get a taste of all the instruments we teach at our studios (piano, guitar, voice, violin and drums) before deciding what lessons to take.
Absolutely. In fact, our teachers love adult students! There are also quite a few advantages to taking lessons later in life. Find out why it’s never too late to learn music as an adult.
Students are matched with a teacher who will be the best fit for the student’s goals, experience, personality and schedule. You will meet with your teacher once a week each week for 30, 45, or 60 minutes, depending on which lesson length you select. The goal for each lesson is to provide time for building a relationship, warming up, reviewing what was learned in the previous lesson and providing new instruction. Most beginner students start with 30 minute lessons, while 45 minutes is great for teens and beginner-level adults and 60-minute lessons are best for most adults and more advanced students who are interested in accelerating their progress.
We charge a monthly fee based on the length of the lesson and the type of lesson (private, pair, group, etc). We also charge a one-time $50 registration fee that includes a special welcome bag for students. The most popular lesson option, our 30-minute private weekly lessons, is $145 a month. Here’s a complete list of prices for our private lessons. If you have any questions about pricing, you can chat with our studio about your specific interests and we’ll be glad to make a recommendation for what might best meet your needs.
Not at all! We offer a month-to-month option, which means you have the freedom to discontinue lessons (with a 2-week notice before the end of the month) whenever you need to. However, if you’re looking for something that gives you more flexibility with your schedule, we have 6-month and 12-month contracts that provide a number of make up lessons along with reduced monthly rates. We highly recommend these contract options for students who are interested in a longer term commitment to lessons. Contract payments are still charged monthly, just like month-to-month payments.
They sure are! We believe that consistency is key when it comes to taking lessons, and times like summer break can be some of the most productive and fun months for a musician. With less school work and more time to play music, younger students can progress further, faster during the summer. Another benefit of staying in lessons year-round is that you get to keep your preferred lesson time and teacher.
We have a spring and winter recital each year, usually in May and December. Students are not required to participate but are highly encouraged to sign up. There is a $25 fee to cover the cost of the venue and staffing expenses. Details about our recitals, like what to wear and where to go, can be found here.
Just like prepping for going to work or school, there are items that you or your child will need in order to have the best chance at a successful lesson experience. Our studios are equipped with many of the materials you’ll need as a beginner student, like music books, drumsticks, tuners or guitar strings.
If you are starting guitar lessons and have a guitar at home that you want to use, make sure you bring it to your first lesson so your teacher can make sure it’s in good condition (example: fits your body, stays in tune and the strings are in good shape). If you don’t have a guitar or are looking to upgrade your instrument for lessons, Mason Music offers a variety of beginner acoustic guitars by Alvarez and electric guitars by Tagima. We also have some great guitar tips in our blog for beginner guitar students.
Ready to rock? Click the button below to select in-person or online lessons, then fill out our online student questionnaire. A staff member from the studio you selected will contact you to find out more about your needs and match you with a time and teacher that works best for you. Come see why we have been voted the best place in Birmingham for music lessons six years in a row!