At the Williamsburg School of Music, our goal is to help you succeed in learning/improving at an instrument.  We know that things come up sometimes that may make this inconvenient and we can sympathize, but in order for us to offer the best private lessons we can at the lowest rates we can, it is important to us to hold the following policies:

Please be aware that WSM and any of its teachers are not responsible for any loss of property or personal injury. By attending any class, lesson, or event with WSM, you are waiving any rights to the liability of WSM and its teachers and to any claims, suits, demands, damages, judgements, costs and expenses that you may incur.

We value the safety and security of our students and staff, so we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who is disruptive, disrespectful, harassing, intoxicated, or who causes any kind of safety concern to anybody here.

The cancellation policy for private lessons is as follows: 24 hours notice is required for cancellation or rescheduling of any lessons.  Otherwise, you will still be charged for the missed lesson.  There are no exceptions for this.  
Our teachers are all part-time and have their own music careers, and must arrange their lives around the lessons that are booked here. That is why it is important that students understand and adhere to our 24 hour cancellation policy.  When you schedule a lesson with us, the teacher is reserving their time and may be giving up another gig or lesson because they are scheduled to work with you instead, hence the need for 24 hours notice of any cancellations or schedule changes.  We also need to pay them regardless of whether you show up or not, as well as our bills.

There are no make ups, rescheduling or refunds for missed group classes for any reason. 

We reserve the right to cancel or (with your permission) reschedule any lesson at any time.
We try very hard to never do this, but sometimes we have to cancel lessons on short notice for a variety of reasons.  We appreciate your understanding that this may (but will very rarely) happen.  You will not be charged for these canceled lessons.  We may also have a different teacher substitute your lesson in the event that your teacher cannot make their scheduled appointments.

You must have a current, valid lesson package to reserve a lesson in advance.

You must have had a lesson within 7 days in order to use our space for free practice.  Practice time is not guaranteed, and is available only when the room/equipment isn’t being used by students taking lessons.

Contacting WSM: Emailing us at info@williamsburgschoolofmusic.net is our preferred method of communication (and you will probably get a faster response, to be honest), but our office number should you ever need it is 718-963-3600.

We are super excited that you are student at the Williamsburg School of Music and look forward to having you in a lesson!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can I wait for my lesson/wait for my child?  
You're more than welcome to wait in our lounge and enjoy free WiFi and a comfy seat. 

Will there be a performance at the end of the semester?
Yes!  Our private students are offered at least two opportunities to play concerts at local venues every school year. Our band students play at least three concerts per school year - one at the end of each trimester. We are often offered performance opportunities by other organizations/events in our neighborhood and we love saying yes to all of them!

Can I get a refund if my child wants to drop? 
Yes. Private lesson students are entitled to a full refund within 4 weeks of starting lessons. After that they are entitled to credit at WSM which they can use for someone else/gift to someone. There are no refunds for any reason for after-school band, group lessons, or day camps.

My child wants to switch instruments/teacher mid-semester .
No problem!

Do I need to buy an instrument for myself/my child?
Definitely.  In order to get the most out of instruction you're going to need to practice at home.  Drummers can get away with just practice pads if noise is an issue.  And luckily our friends at Main Drag Music are offering discounts on all equipment for our students!

Can I take my lesson in my home?
Yes, on Zoom/Facetime/Skype/etc. Even if it’s last-minute, we’re happy to turn an in-person lesson to a virtual one instead.

Do I need to purchase a piano for piano lessons?
Not necessarily.  Many beginner students are fine starting with an electronic keyboard, and high-end electronic pianos are an affordable option for more advanced students.   

Do you rent instruments? 
No.  We focus on education.  We're happy to steer you in the right direction, though, if you're looking to rent.

How young or old do I have to be to start lessons?
We offer introductory mommy-and-me music classes for as young as 6 months.  Generally when a child is old enough to read the numbers 1-5 they may be old enough to play piano, drums or violin.  4 is a good general age to start ukulele, and 8 for guitar (because of the size of the instrument) but there are always exceptions depending on a child's ability to stay focused.   And you're never too old to pick up an instrument, ever.

How long should I practice? 
There are no hard and fast rules.  Generally speaking, 15 minutes each day for beginners and up to an hour or more a day for advanced students. 30 minutes is a good general rule for intermediate players. It is best to establish a daily routine to achieve the best results.

If I miss a lesson, can I make it up? 
We have a very reasonable make-up/cancellation policy - just give us 24 hour's notice.  Most missed lessons can be made up. There are no make ups for group classes.

Are you a franchise?
 No.  We're a family business and we are independently owned and operated.