The mission of Charleston Classical Guitar Studio is to provide an exceptional and fun musical education based on a nurturing family and community environment. The studio teaches a wide variety of people from 5 years old to 90 and a variety of genres (classical, rock, jazz, pop, etc.). However, the core of education results from the foundation of a classical guitar program.

Tuition Information

The information below applies to all students at Charleston Classical Guitar. The studio follows the schedule for the public schools and runs 36 weeks for the entire year (download the calendar below). The summer schedule is announced in May. During the school year, if public school is closed because of the weather or teachers’ workday, lessons will usually meet anyway. However, the studio will observe and be closed for national holidays. Of course, a student can begin at any point in the year and the prices will be prorated accordingly.

Summer 2024

Summer (12 Weeks) 30-Minute Lessons

PAYMENT OPTIONS
Full Payment: $450
Monthly: $150

Summer (12 Weeks) 45-Minute Lessons
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Full Payment: $675
Monthly: $225

Summer (12 Weeks) 60-Minute Lessons
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Full Payment: $900
Monthly: $150

School Year 2024-2025

School Year (36 Weeks) 30-Minute Lessons Total: $1,350
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PAYMENT OPTIONS
Biannually: $660 ($1,350/2 with $15 discount per payment)
Monthly: $150 ($1,260/9 months from Sep to May)

School Year (36 Weeks) 45-Minute Lessons Total: $2,025

PAYMENT OPTIONS
Biannually: $997.50 ($2,025/2 with $15 discount per payment)
Monthly: $225 ($1,890/9 months from Sep to May)

School Year (36 Weeks) 60-Minute Lessons Total: $2,700

PAYMENT OPTIONS
Biannually: $1,335 ($2,700/2 with $15 discount per payment)
Monthly: $300 ($2,520/9 months from Sep to May)

Private Lessons Includes

• Reserved weekly lesson time for the 36 scheduled weeks or 12 scheduled weeks for the summer
• Skype or FaceTime Lesson during sickness or travel, ie: lice, cold, or flu. This is during the normal private lesson times.

Calendar Downloads

2024 Summer Calendar

2024-2025 School Year Calendar

Makeup Policy & Absences

Individual Lessons

• Tuition pays for the scheduled private time slot at a fixed rate, regardless of the number of lessons given. See Economist/Suzuki Parent’s Point of View here: http://ottawasuzukistrings.ca/makeuplessons.
• No reduction in charge during holiday breaks or personal vacation time. **

Student Absences

• Students may enquire about the possibility of rescheduling a lesson for the week of a known absence 48 hours or before the absence. Make-up lessons are not given.
• Absences must be rescheduled the same week as the missed lesson.
• Student credits will not be given.
• Parents/students are encouraged to use the studio online portal to cancel a lesson and reschedule in an open lesson slot if they know that they will be missing a lesson.
• In the event of an true emergency cancellation, a makeup lesson may be offered at the teacher’s discretion if an opening is available the week of the cancellation. If no opening is available that week, the lesson will not be made up or credited.

Lessons canceled due to instructor absence

• Optional Makeup may be offered to multiple students at once.
  • It’s unlikely an instructor’s schedule allows for multiple private makeup lessons
  • The instructor reserves the opportunity to find a substitute for private lessons in the case of instructor absence

Why don’t I make up student absences?

Teaching is my career, profession, and livelihood. When you sign up for lessons, you are reserving a weekly time slot in my schedule. If you miss your lesson, the time slot is over and gone. We can’t get time back and I am not likely to be able to schedule another student for that time. If you ask for makeup or reimbursement for the lesson, you are asking me to give up the time I have scheduled for other business activities and preparation, my personal life, and/or income I have budgeted. I may only teach for certain hours, but I still work more than 40 hours a week. See an Economist/Suzuki Parent’s Point of View here if you missed it above: http://ottawasuzukistrings.ca/makeuplessons.

Other Private Lesson Information:

• Monthly invoices and payments are sent out and due on the 1st of each month. This invoice is due within 7 days. After 7 days, a $10 late fee will be applied to the invoice.
• Students age 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult who can reinforce concepts and guided practice at home.
• We strongly encourage adult supervision for students ages 18 and under as well. Please see “Children Class Policy” for more information.

CHILDREN’S POLICY:

It is highly recommended that a parent/caregiver is present during the lessons/classes to assist the child at home. In the beginning, it can be difficult for the child to practice correctly and/or instill a practice discipline when not guided correctly. The person that will be practicing with the child should be present and either partake in the lesson and/or be told at the end of the lesson what the child is to practice and how they should practice. The child should pick up the guitar at least once a day and play what was taught for the week. It can be just a 10-minute practice session each day. It must be each day to instill and help the child to remember and be ready to go forward. If this cannot happen, it may not be the right time for the child to take lessons. It can actually be discouraging for a child when they do not have this practice routine because they will come back the following week and have to repeat the entire lesson or feel left behind. It’s not much work on the parent/caregiver’s side. It’s just having the child pick up the guitar and go through what she/he was taught in class once a day for 10 minutes or so. This must continue on until the child naturally picks up the guitar on his/her own without guidance.