Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We want you to feel comfortable with your instructor and confident about your lessons. Please call or text our front office at (508) 533-7700, or email encoremusicacademy1@gmail.com to discuss another option.

If you’ve taken a private trial lesson and would like to try a different instructor before enrolling, you can also book another private trial through the Book Now link on our website.

If you’d like to explore a different instructor or instrument, please contact our front office team. We’ll work with you to explore available options and find a better fit. Our instructors work as a team, and we encourage you to share your needs openly. It is our shared goal for every student to feel happy, supported, and comfortable with an instructor and learning environment that are right for them.

Across our faculty, languages spoken include Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Mandarin, and French, in addition to English. If you or your student has a particular language need or preference, please contact our front office team. We’ll be happy to discuss available options and help you find a suitable instructor.

You’re welcome to enroll in private lessons or classes at any time during the academic year, subject to availability. There’s no need to wait for a new term to begin. Simply use the Book Now link on our website to explore available options and enroll or call or text our front office at (508) 533-7700. We’re happy to help you get started.

Yes. Tuition for private lessons and classes is prorated based on the lessons or class sessions remaining in the applicable month or term when you begin. You won’t be charged for sessions that took place before your start date.

Once you enroll, your regular lessons continue through the end of the academic year in June, unless you withdraw from lessons.

When you commit to regular lessons, you’ll also be charged the $65 Annual Registration and Student Services Fee. This supports the services that help your experience at Encore run smoothly, including student and parent portal access, scheduling and account management, administrative support, recital planning and coordination, communications and reminders, technology and payment processing, and year-round customer service.

We look forward to welcoming you and supporting your musical journey throughout the year.

Fall registration opens to all students at noon on July 15, on a first-come, first-served basis. If July 15 falls on a Sunday, registration opens at noon the following Monday instead.

Because summer is a separate session, academic-year lesson schedules do not automatically carry over. All students, including returning students, need to register again for the new academic year. We encourage you to register early to secure your preferred lesson day and time.

Encore offers monthly, trimester, and annual payment options so you can choose the approach that works best for you. Your first payment is collected at registration and covers your first month, first trimester, or full academic year, depending on the plan you choose. Payments are automatically charged to the payment method saved in your online account.

With the monthly plan, subsequent payments are withdrawn on the first day of each month. The amount depends on the number of lessons scheduled that month.

Trimester payments cover a 14-week term and include a 5% discount. After your initial payment at registration, payments for the upcoming winter and spring trimesters are collected on December 1 and March 1. If you’re currently paying monthly and would like to switch to trimester payments, please let our front office know as early as possible, by the end of November for the winter trimester or the end of February for the spring trimester.

Annual payments cover all three academic-year trimesters, a total of 42 weeks, and include a 10% discount. The full annual
payment is collected at registration. This option is available only from July 15 until the start of the new academic year.

Please review the payment and withdrawal terms for your chosen plan before enrolling. If you’re unsure which option is right
for you, our front office team is happy to answer your questions and help you choose with confidence.

We understand that circumstances can change. You may withdraw at any time by informing our front office team. If you withdraw during a month, you’re welcome to attend all of your remaining scheduled lessons for that month.

The current month’s tuition is nonrefundable, and no refund or credit is issued for lessons you choose not to attend. Please be sure to notify our front office team, as simply stopping attendance does not cancel your enrollment or tuition obligations.

We understand that circumstances can change. You may withdraw by informing our front office team. Once the trimester has begun, tuition for that trimester is nonrefundable, and withdrawing does not remove your financial commitment for the remainder of the 14-week term. You’re welcome to continue attending your scheduled lessons through the end of that trimester.

However, if the instrument or instructor doesn’t feel like the right match, you don’t need to feel that withdrawing is your only option. Please talk with our front office team so we can explore other available options together. We encourage you to share your concerns openly, knowing that our instructors support one another and welcome the opportunity to help each student find the right fit. Our shared goal is for every student to feel happy, supported, and comfortable with an instructor and learning environment that are right for them.

If you’re facing serious illness, relocation, a family emergency, or another extraordinary circumstance, please let us know.
Encore may consider an exception on an individual basis, but a refund or release from the remaining tuition commitment is not
guaranteed.

We understand that circumstances can change. You may withdraw by informing our front office team. Annual enrollment is a commitment to the full academic year. Withdrawing during the year does not automatically entitle you to a refund of tuition already paid or cancellation of any amounts still due under your annual enrollment agreement.

However, if the instrument or instructor doesn’t feel like the right match, you don’t need to feel that withdrawing is your only option. Please talk with our front office team so we can explore other available options together. We encourage you to share your concerns openly, knowing that our instructors support one another and welcome the opportunity to help each student find the right fit. Our shared goal is for every student to feel happy, supported, and comfortable with an instructor and learning environment that are right for them.

If you’re facing serious illness, relocation, a family emergency, or another extraordinary circumstance, please let us know.
Encore may consider an exception on an individual basis, but a refund or release from the remaining tuition commitment is not
guaranteed.

We understand that schedules sometimes change. You can cancel your lesson directly through your online portal, without needing to contact our front office. Simply cancel at least six hours before your lesson to receive a makeup credit, provided you haven’t reached your limit of two outstanding student-cancellation credits.

Lessons cancelled with less than six hours’ notice are forfeited and cannot be credited or rescheduled.

To help keep our students, families, and instructors healthy, please keep your child home if they have had a fever within the past 24 hours or have been diagnosed with a contagious illness, such as COVID-19, the flu, or strep throat.

As a helpful guide, if your child is too ill to attend school that morning, they are probably too ill to attend their lesson in person that afternoon. If you’re notifying your child’s school that they will be absent due to illness, please cancel their Encore lesson at the same time, either through your online portal or by calling our front office. Canceling early helps ensure you meet the six- hour notice requirement for a makeup credit.

If your child feels well enough to participate, you may request a lesson conversion to Zoom through our front office at least three hours before the lesson begins, subject to instructor availability.

Eligible private lessons canceled at least six hours before the lesson begins receive a makeup credit under our usual policy: a maximum of two outstanding student-cancellation credits, to be used within 60 days. Lessons canceled with less than six hours’ notice are forfeited and do not receive a makeup credit.

Thank you for helping us care for our Encore community.

When you cancel a lesson, your makeup credit is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. You can choose an available time and book your makeup directly through your online portal. Please schedule and attend the lesson within those 60 days; booking it before the deadline for a later date does not extend the credit. Any unused credit expires after 60 days.

If your instructor cancels a regular private lesson, you’ll receive a makeup credit that never expires. This is part of Encore’s goodwill approach: when the cancellation comes from us, we want you to have the opportunity to make up your lesson without a deadline. You can book your makeup directly through your online portal. When booking, you can choose an available time with your regular instructor or select a different instructor who teaches your instrument.

You may hold up to two credits from student-cancelled lessons at a time. If you already have two credits from lessons you’ve cancelled, please book your makeup lessons through your online portal before cancelling another lesson for credit. Remember that these makeup lessons must take place within 60 days of the credits being issued.

Credits issued because your instructor cancelled do not count toward this two-credit limit and never expire.

Please choose a makeup time that works well for your schedule, as makeup lessons cannot be rescheduled. If you cancel or miss your scheduled makeup, the lesson is forfeited and cannot be credited or rescheduled. This applies whether the request is made online or through our front office.

However, if your instructor cancels a makeup lesson, you will receive a replacement credit that never expires. You can use that credit to book another makeup through your online portal, choosing an available time with your regular instructor or another instructor who teaches your instrument.

Makeup lessons are an opportunity to catch up on a missed lesson and are scheduled in addition to your regular lessons. A makeup credit cannot replace a regularly scheduled lesson. You can choose a separate available time through your online portal, keeping your usual lesson schedule in place.

When you’re ready to book, your online portal lets you choose from available makeup appointments within the next 35 days. Simply select a time that works for you and use your makeup credit to reserve it.

Please book your makeup at least 24 hours before it begins. For example, to book a lesson for Thursday at 4 p.m., you would
need to complete the booking by Wednesday at 4 p.m.

If you’d like a date more than 35 days away, check back closer to that date to see the available appointments.

If you don’t see a time that works for you, check your online portal again periodically. Additional makeup times may become available as instructors’ schedules change or other students cancel. Please remember that any appointment you choose must still be booked at least 24 hours in advance.

Yes. All Adult Lesson Packs give you one year from the date of purchase to complete your lessons, whether you choose 5, 10, or 20 lessons in a 30- or 60-minute duration. This gives you the flexibility to schedule around work, travel, and other commitments.

If you cancel an already scheduled lesson with the required notice, the cancellation credit has a separate deadline: you have 60
days from the date that credit is issued to book and attend your replacement lesson through your online portal.

In other words, unused lessons in your pack have a one-year window, while a credit from a lesson you cancel must be used
within 60 days.

Encore makes its own weather-related closure decisions and does not follow the public-school closure schedule. If local schools are closed, please check for an announcement from Encore rather than assume your lesson or class is cancelled.

We publish closure announcements in our Facebook group, on our Facebook page, Instagram, and website, and in our outgoing
phone message. Please check one of these sources before heading to Encore when the weather is uncertain.

Any private lesson cancelled because of a weather-related or emergency closure will receive a makeup credit that never
expires. Group classes affected by the closure will be rescheduled.

We also invite you to follow our Facebook page and Instagram account and join our Facebook group to stay connected with
Encore and keep up with important announcements.

Our business manager will be happy to help you understand your bill or review a charge. Please call (508) 533-7700, extension 105, or email encoremusicacademy1@gmail.com and let us know that your question is for the business manager.

You can update your saved payment information directly through your Opus1 online portal. If you’re on the monthly plan, please make sure a valid, current payment method is on file before the first of the month so your tuition payment can be processed on time, and you can avoid a late charge.

Each class description includes age recommendations and guidelines designed to help you decide whether it’s a good fit for your student. Start by reading that information, and if you still have questions, call or text our front office at (508) 533-7700. We’re happy to help you choose with confidence.

No. Parents are not required to attend our early childhood music education classes with their child. You’re welcome to relax in one of our three waiting areas while your child enjoys making music.

Yes! You’re welcome to pay for a single class before committing to enrollment. It’s a chance to meet the instructor, experience the group, and see whether the class is a good fit for you or your child. If you decide to enroll, the amount you paid for that first class will be deducted from your enrollment charges. Your first-class payment applies only to the date you book. If you cancel or do not attend, it cannot be transferred to another date.

Group classes meet on a set schedule, and each session takes place for the group as a whole. If you miss a session, there is no separate makeup class; you simply rejoin the group at its next scheduled meeting. We look forward to welcoming you back.

However, if Encore cancels a group class, we will reschedule it. A substitute instructor may lead the rescheduled class.

EnHarmonix welcomes students ages 8 to 18, with membership by invitation or audition only. If your student would love to join the group, visit the Book Now landing page through Encore’s website and select the EnHarmonix audition option to book an audition.

Yes. EnChorus welcomes adults ages 18 and older who would like to enjoy singing with others. No audition or previous singing experience is required.

Whether you’re trying something new or returning to a love of singing, EnChorus offers an opportunity to make music and connect with fellow singers.

To join, select “Book Now!” on our website, choose “Group classes available during the school year,” then select The EnChorus and your preferred trimester to book.

We’d love to have you join us and share the joy of singing together.

Yes. Encore offers camps and workshops, with most programs changing from year to year. Past offerings and possibilities for future programs include songwriting workshops for teens, themed camps for younger children, band camps, and vocal workshops and intensives for teens, to name just a few.

One consistent part of our summer offerings is the Summer Music Theory Intensive, an Encore tradition for 15 years. Students complete a full year of music theory in just four short weeks, with a commitment of only 12 hours per week. It’s a focused way to strengthen musical understanding, work toward RCM theory requirements, and prepare for AP Music Theory in high school or college-level music study, while leaving plenty of summer to enjoy. Registration opens in January for the following
summer.

For our full selection of summer programs, visit our website and the Book Now link as early as January. Please check back often as additional offerings are announced.

If you’re unsure where to begin, piano is often a wonderful starting point. It provides a strong foundation for understanding music, music theory, and how the different elements of music fit together.

For students ages three to six, we generally recommend Music Launchpad, our early childhood music education program. Students ages seven and older can begin piano and most other instruments. Violin is an exception, with lessons generally available beginning around age five.

For students interested in singing, our Vocal Prep class welcomes ages six to eight. From age eight, students can continue through our progression of vocal classes or begin private voice lessons.

For guitar, a student’s hand size and ability to comfortably reach around the neck of the instrument are important considerations. We recommend that young beginners start with an appropriately sized child’s guitar rather than an adult-sized instrument.

You don’t have to make the decision on your own. Tell us a little about your student’s age and musical interests, and we’ll be happy to help you find a starting point that feels right for you.

Absolutely. Adult beginners are welcome at any age, and you don’t need previous musical experience to get started. Your instructor will meet you at your starting point and tailor lessons to your interests, goals, and pace.

Whether you’ve always wanted to play an instrument or are discovering a new interest, we’d love to help you take that first step.

Most students begin with 30-minute lessons, particularly at the beginner level. Students who have already been taking 60- minute lessons elsewhere, or who are studying at an advanced level, are welcome to book 60-minute lessons.

As a student grows in skill and confidence, their instructor may recommend moving to a 60-minute lesson. That decision is made together with the student and, for younger learners, their parents. We’re here to help you find a lesson length that supports your progress and keeps learning enjoyable, at a pace that feels right for you.

If you’re unsure of your level, choose Beginner when booking your private trial lesson. If you’re certain of your level, you can select the corresponding option.

During the trial, your instructor will assess your current skills and guide you on the appropriate level to book for your ongoing lessons.

Yes. Private trial lessons can be booked online or through our front office. They are 30 minutes in duration and are charged at the regular lesson rate.

If you’d like to get a sense of what a lesson is like or explore whether an instructor is the right fit for you or your child, a trial lesson is a helpful place to start. During the trial, the instructor and student have an opportunity to get to know one another, discuss musical interests and goals, and explore the student’s current experience and skill level. It’s a welcoming first step toward finding the right fit for your musical journey.

When you book a private trial lesson, we reserve that weekly lesson time for you until two days after your trial, giving you time to decide whether you’d like to continue. After that, the time becomes available to others. You’re still very welcome to enroll, but your preferred time will depend on availability.

If you already know what you’d like to study and feel ready to begin, you’re also welcome to enroll directly in regular lessons. A trial is an option, not a required first step, and our front office team is happy to help you choose the approach that feels right for you.

Your first lesson is an opportunity for you and your instructor to get to know one another. Together, you’ll explore your current experience and skill level, the kinds of music you enjoy, and where to begin your musical studies. This applies whether you’re attending a private trial lesson or beginning regularly scheduled lessons.

Please bring your instrument if you have one, unless you’re studying piano, voice, or drums. If you need an instrument, contact us before your lesson. We can connect you with a reputable company that offers purchases and rentals.

If you’ve studied before, you’re welcome to bring music you’ve been working on. It can help your instructor understand your experience and choose a comfortable starting point.

Absolutely. Students are welcome to take as many lessons and classes as they would like, subject to availability and any class guidelines. Whether you’d like to explore another instrument or complement your lessons with a group class, we’re happy to help you find opportunities that suit your interests.

Yes. Having an instrument available at home allows you to practice between lessons, build confidence, and make the most of what you’re learning with your instructor.

For beginning piano students, not just any keyboard will do. If you’re choosing a keyboard, we strongly recommend a full-size model with 88 weighted keys. The weighted action more closely resembles an acoustic piano and helps students develop proper technique. A smaller keyboard or one with unweighted keys is not an equivalent substitute. From the advanced- beginner level onward, an acoustic piano is preferred whenever possible.

Young guitar and violin students should have an appropriately sized instrument. Both are available in smaller sizes to help young learners play comfortably.

Drum students may practice on an acoustic or electronic drum kit. Beginners can also start with a practice pad.

Students studying other instruments should have their instrument available for regular practice at home. If you’re unsure what to choose, your instructor can help you understand what would best support your learning.

Absolutely. You’re welcome to bring a school-owned instrument, provided your school permits you to use it outside of school. Your instrument doesn’t need to be one you own. What matters is that you have an appropriate instrument to learn on and practice with.

Yes, every student will need books at some point, and we make getting the right ones easy. Encore is a retailer for The Royal Conservatory of Music and works with other distributors to provide the books our students need, without adding a markup.

Your instructor selects and orders the appropriate books for you. We charge the cost to your payment method on file in Opus1, and your books are ready for you at your next lesson.

There’s no need to shop around, arrange shipping, or worry about choosing the wrong edition. We take care of the details so
you can focus on making music.

Regular practice helps you build on what you learn in your lessons and grow in confidence. Rather than recommending the same amount of practice for everyone, your instructor will help you develop a routine suited to your age, experience, and goals.

Aim to make practice a consistent part of your week. Short, focused sessions on a regular basis are generally more helpful than trying to fit everything into one long session just before your lesson. Your instructor can guide you on what to work on and how to make your practice time productive and enjoyable.

We recommend bringing a notebook to each lesson so your instructor can write lesson notes and homework assignments. This gives students and families a helpful reference for practice between lessons and makes it easier to follow what the instructor has asked the student to work on.

Yes. We encourage you to share the music you enjoy and the pieces you’d love to learn. Your instructor will help you explore suitable choices while balancing your interests with the skills and repertoire that support your musical growth.

Learning music you connect with can make practice more enjoyable and give you something exciting to work toward.

Absolutely. Recording part of your lesson can be a useful way to revisit your instructor’s demonstrations and guidance while practicing at home. We just ask that you get your instructor’s permission before you begin recording.