2025 term dates for Tipitina Music: Term 1 – Mon, Feb 10 – Thurs, Apr 10 (9 weeks) Term 2 – Mon, May 5 – Thurs, Jul 3 (9 weeks) Term 3 – Mon, Jul 21 – Thurs, Sep 25 (10 weeks) Term 4 – Mon, Oct 13 – Thurs, Dec 18 (10 weeks) Casual lessons are available during school holidays and for prospective students. It is recommended that advanced students and students preparing for exams continue lessons through the holidays. Sometimes changes to this schedule will be necessary due to public holidays, school development days and tutor availability.

Except by special arrangement, fees are payable at the beginning of each term. 2025 fees are as follows: Term 1 – $756 (1 hour lessons), $576(45 min lessons) or $405 (1/2 hour lessons) * Term 2 – $756 (1 hour lessons), $576 (45 min lessons) or $405 (1/2 hour lessons) * Term 3 – $875 (1 hour lessons), $675 (45 min lessons) or $480 (1/2 hour lessons) Term 4 – $875 (1 hour lessons), $675 (45 min lessons) or $480 (1/2 hour lessons) * Terms 1 & 2 are billed as 9 week terms. There is an admin fee of $18 per student, per term. Additional resources such as method books, sheet music, metronomes etc. are sometimes provided to parents/students by Tipitina Music and are billed separately. Casual lessons are $55.00 per half hour and $95.00 per hour, payable in cash at the lesson.

Lessons are invoiced in advance by the school term. Invoices are sent out at the start of term and must be paid by the due date indicated. A full term of lessons will be charged, even if the student is away on holidays or other reasons for part of the term. New students who start part way through the term will be invoiced for the remaining lessons in the term.

For new students starting piano lessons, the first lesson is considered a trial lesson. If the student wishes not to continue, the remaining lessons will be refunded in full. For new students who elect to continue after the trial lesson, and for continuing students, payments received are regarded as a commitment to lessons for the term and refunds are not provided.

The student’s time slot in the schedule is reserved for the whole term upon enrolment for lessons. Please choose your time slot carefully as missed or cancelled lessons are not refunded.

Students are expected to attend each scheduled week of the term. When you register for lessons with Tipitina Music, your time slot is reserved for the teaching year. Please keep in mind that our studio operates at full capacity. Therefore, missed lessons will not be refunded but may be rescheduled at the discretion of the teacher if there is available space in the schedule. In the event that your student needs to miss a lesson because of a conflict or illness, please contact us with as much advance notice as possible. Any lessons that are cancelled or missed by Tipitina Music for any reason will either be made-up, credited to the following term, or refunded in full.

There is no obligation to continue lessons beyond the term of lessons paid for in advance. If you choose to not continue lessons, please inform us by email at the end of the school term, otherwise we will assume they wish to continue. Lessons that are terminated during the school term cannot be refunded.

Feel free to contact us via email, or by phone between 9am and 8.30pm to discuss any issues or concerns (please leave a message if we are unable to take your call). We aim to respond to emails and return calls by the next business day. Students who are under 18 should not contact us directly without the permission of their parents. Likewise, any contact from us will be through parents or caregivers.

Students who take exams should be aware that it takes a huge amount of effort, determination and stamina. Because of the amount of preparation involved, a weekly half-hour lesson is often insufficient. It is recommended that students have a weekly one-hour lesson if they would like to work towards exams. In addition, parents must be prepared to pay for additional one-off lessons if needed. Students are entered for exams only when they are fully prepared. This is to avoid the situation where a student has to be pulled out of an exam due to lack of preparation which is not a pleasant experience for anyone involved.

Our Christmas concert is held at the end of Term 4. All students are strongly encouraged to perform, but it is not compulsory. Students who choose to perform should be aware that it is a commitment: pulling out, especially at the last minute, is unprofessional and strongly discouraged.

No - we were enthusiastic members of the Creative Kids Program for 5 years from 2019 til 2024 but made the decision to exit the program when the amount was reduced at the same time as the administrative requirements of remaining in the program increased.