A trial lesson is an offer we give all our new students at the Cantabile School of Music.

What is a Trial Lesson?

A Trial Lesson is a 30-Minute Private Lesson on the instrument of your choice. A Trial Lesson gives you the opportunity to:

• Meet the teacher to assess student and teacher compatibility
• Experience a private music lesson at our school with no obligation to enrol
• To ask any questions you may have to the teacher

What happens in a Trial Lesson?

Every trial lesson will differ slightly depending on the student’s age, level and their needs. However our teachers will generally make sure the following aspects are covered:

• Getting to know you – this is an important part of the lesson, especially with younger children. We will spend some time just to get to know the student and to find out a little about them. Please do not think of this as just general chitchat. As music educators, we know that the key to successfully teach your child is to know their personality, behaviour, goals and interests.
• Assessment – this will depend on the age and musical level of the student. If the student is a beginner on the instrument, then an introduction will be made to the instrument. In cases where a student is learning a stringed instrument, this can include the fitting of the size of the instrument. If the student has already learnt the instrument for a number of years, we will assess where to continue their progression and to construct a plan accordingly.
• Curriculum – based on the assessment, a curriculum will be planned for the student in order to progress. Books and other material may be introduced and will be chosen appropriately for the student’s age and level.
• Questions – this is the perfect time to ask any questions you might have about the lessons. Feel free also to get to know the teacher as well. If you have further questions after the trial lesson, you are always welcome to call reception.

What to prepare for your Trial Lesson

Here are a few things you may like to prepare for the Trial Lesson:

• Bring your instrument on the day if you have one, except for Piano students. If you plan on borrowing the school’s instrument for the Trial Lesson, please make sure we have been notified for it to be made available for you to use.
• Arrive early or on time. This gives you the chance to find parking if needed, to settle in, or to ask any questions to reception if needed. As our teachers also usually have back to back lessons, it’s important that students arrive promptly to their lessons so the lesson does not run over time. Otherwise the students that follow will have their lessons delayed. If a teacher is running late, you will still receive 30 minutes of your lesson time.
• If you’re already an experienced player, you may wish to prepare a piece of music to demonstrate to your teacher, or anything you have worked on recently.

FAQ about Trial Lessons

Can I have more than one Trial Lesson?

In most cases, students and parents can decide whether they would like to continue after having one trial lesson. In some circumstances, we have offered two trial lessons to students but it depends on the reason. If the teacher feels it best that a second trial lesson will help determine if on-going lessons are suitable then we can make that arrangement.

Can I book a Trial Lesson for different instruments?

Students and parents are welcome to book in Trial Lessons for different instruments.

Can I book a Trial Lesson with other teachers?

Yes – depending on teacher availability you can are welcome to have a Trial Lesson with different teachers.

What do I do after the Trial Lesson?

Let us know how you went after your trial lesson. We will follow up with you to see if you would like to enrol for on-going lessons and will require you to submit an enrolment form. You will need to submit this to secure your enrolment and your lesson time slot, and should be submitted before your first lesson.

If you need some time to decide, we typically reserve your placement in our schedule for 48 hours. If we do not hear from you during this time, we will offer your spot for another student to take.

We hope you enjoy your Trial Lesson. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.