What to ask a music school before you enrol
Ask any music school seven things before you enrol: what happens if you miss a lesson, whether there are enrolment or joining fees, whether lessons run in the school holidays, which formats suit your child's age, how teachers are matched and changed, how children are kept safe, and whether you can try a lesson first. The answers show how the school will work for your family, week to week.
Last updated: 8 October 2026
1. What happens if we miss a lesson?
Missed-lesson policies differ a lot between schools. Some schools charge for every missed lesson, whatever the notice, while others waive the fee if you tell them in advance. Ask how much notice they need, whether a missed lesson is credited or made up, and what happens when the teacher is away.
At Narellan Music Centre, give us at least 7 days' notice and you are not charged for that lesson. A lesson missed at shorter notice, such as for illness on the day, is charged because your teacher has kept that time for you, and your teacher sends through the lesson content and practice resources. If your teacher is ever away, you receive a make-up lesson or a credit.
2. Are there enrolment or joining fees?
Ask about one-off enrolment or registration fees, book and materials costs, and whether you are tied to a term or a contract. Published prices make schools easy to compare.
At Narellan Music Centre, there are no joining fees and no lock-in contracts. Private lessons start from $49 for 30 minutes, group lessons from $35 and Mini Musos from $25, all published on our pricing page.
3. Do lessons run in the school holidays?
Some schools teach only during the school terms, and others teach all year. If you want a steady weekly routine, or the holidays are when your family has the most time, ask.
At Narellan Music Centre, private lessons run all year, including the school holidays: in the July 2026 break, students attended more than 300 private lessons at our studio. Group classes, including Mini Musos, keep running whenever at least three children are booked in, and our holiday camps run during the breaks.
4. Which formats suit my child's age?
Ask what the school offers at your child's age, whether that is a play-based group class, a small-group class, private lessons or a mix, and the youngest age for each.
At Narellan Music Centre, children aged 3 to 5 start in Mini Musos, small-group classes start from about age 5, and private lessons start from around age 5. More than 50 children aged 4 to 7 take private lessons with us (October 2026). Our guide to group or private lessons for a young child walks through the choice.
5. How are teachers matched, and can we change?
The teacher shapes your child's experience more than anything else. Ask how the school decides which teacher your child gets, and what happens if the fit is not right.
At Narellan Music Centre, your child's first lesson helps us understand how they learn, what they enjoy and what they want to achieve. We then match them with the teacher who suits them best from our talented group of specialist teachers, each running their own teaching practice from our studio. If the fit is not right in the long run, we are always happy to arrange a change. More on choosing a music teacher.
6. How do you keep children safe?
In New South Wales, the Working With Children Check (opens in a new tab) is a requirement for anyone who works or volunteers in child-related work. Ask how the school verifies each teacher's Check, whether parents can sit in on lessons, and how concerns are handled.
At Narellan Music Centre, we verify a current Working With Children Check for every teacher who teaches at our studio, we are committed to the NSW Child Safe Standards, and parents are welcome to sit in on private lessons. Read our commitment to child safety.
7. Can we try a lesson first?
A trial lesson tells you more than any brochure: how the teacher speaks to your child, whether your child relaxes and joins in, and whether the studio feels right.
At Narellan Music Centre, every new student can book a trial lesson, with no obligation to enrol.
Seven questions to take with you
- What happens if we miss a lesson, and how much notice do you need?
- Are there enrolment, joining or materials fees?
- Do lessons run in the school holidays?
- Which formats do you offer at my child's age?
- How do you match teachers, and can we change if it is not right?
- How do you verify Working With Children Checks?
- Can we try a lesson before we enrol?
Ask us anything
Book a trial lesson and bring your questions, or browse our FAQ first.
Related questions
What should I ask a music school before enrolling?
Ask seven things: what happens if you miss a lesson, whether there are enrolment or joining fees, whether lessons run in the school holidays, which formats suit your child's age, how teachers are matched and changed, how children are kept safe, and whether you can try a lesson first.
Is it normal to pay for a missed music lesson?
It is common, because the teacher has kept that time for you. What varies between schools is the notice needed and whether you receive a credit or a make-up lesson. At Narellan Music Centre, there is no charge if you give at least 7 days' notice.
Do music schools run lessons in the school holidays?
Some do and some do not. Some schools follow the school terms and pause over the holidays, while others teach all year. Narellan Music Centre teaches all year, including the school holidays.
Do music teachers need a Working With Children Check in NSW?
Yes. In New South Wales, the Working With Children Check is a requirement for anyone who works or volunteers in child-related work, which includes teaching music to children. At Narellan Music Centre, we verify a current Check for every teacher who teaches at our studio.
Come and see for yourself
A trial lesson answers the questions no guide can. Meet a teacher, see the studio, and decide with no pressure.