Austin’s Best Little Music School
Austin’s Best Little Music School

Important Resources – Franklin Music Academy

Resource

Find answers to common questions about starting music lessons at Franklin Music Academy, tuition and billing, attendance, and instrument resources.

Looking for lesson costs? Visit our Music Lesson Options & Pricing page. Current families can access their accounts through Parent/Student Login and review our Policy for additional details.

Can’t find your answer? Contact us—we’re happy to help.

Getting Started

We welcome students starting at age six. Some children are ready at six, while others benefit from waiting until seven.

Children should know their alphabet, be able to follow simple instructions, and be ready to participate in a 30-minute lesson.

If you’re unsure whether your child is ready, contact us for a free consultation.

Lessons take place in person at Franklin Music Academy’s home-based studios in South Austin’s Tanglewood Forest neighborhood, near Slaughter Lane and Westgate Boulevard.

We’ll confirm your studio location and arrival details before your first lesson.

How long you take lessons depends on your goals and what you’d like to learn.

During your first three months, we focus on building a foundation and helping you start playing songs. Progress varies with each student’s experience, regular attendance, and practice at home.

We encourage students to stay for at least one semester to develop a practice routine and give their skills time to grow. This is a recommendation, not a required enrollment commitment—lessons are month-to-month.

Whether you want to enjoy a few favorite songs or keep developing your musicianship for years, we’ll help you work toward your goals.

Yes! We welcome adult beginners and those returning to music after time away. No previous experience is needed.

Your teacher will tailor private lessons to your goals, interests, and experience, helping you build skills at a comfortable pace.

We want students to enjoy making music while building skills they can keep developing.

Our private lessons combine learning to read music, developing technique, and playing songs. Teachers select music that helps each student progress, with instruction tailored to their experience and pace.

Students’ interests matter, too. If there’s a song or style they’d like to explore, their teacher can help choose music suited to their skill level and goals.

Visits are by appointment only. Please contact us before coming to the school so we can arrange a suitable time.

If you have questions, we offer a free consultation to discuss your goals, scheduling, and how lessons work. To meet a teacher and experience a lesson, book a $49 trial lesson. The trial payment is credited toward your first month’s tuition if you enroll.

Yes! We welcome homeschooled students and offer lesson times before 3 p.m., subject to instructor availability.

Contact us with your preferred instrument and availability, and we’ll help you explore scheduling options.

No—you won’t need to start from scratch. Your teacher will assess your current skills, discuss your goals, and tailor lessons to your experience. We’ll build on what you already know and strengthen any areas that need attention.

FMA-created learning materials are included in your tuition. Your teacher may recommend method books or other materials based on your instrument, experience, and learning goals. These additional purchases are not included in tuition.

We keep parents informed through regular teacher updates about their child’s progress and what to focus on at home. You’re also welcome to ask questions about what your child is learning and how you can support their practice.

Bring a smiling face and a willingness to learn!

If you’re trying guitar, bass, or ukulele and own an instrument, please bring it with you. If you don’t have one yet, we can provide an instrument for the trial session. Piano students do not need to bring an instrument.

The trial lesson is $49, credited toward your first month’s tuition if you enroll. If you have questions before booking, we also offer a free consultation to discuss your goals, scheduling, and how lessons work.

After your trial lesson, we’ll contact you to hear how it went and explain how to enroll.

When you’re ready, let us know! We’ll confirm your recurring lesson time, set up your billing and AutoPay, and send your first invoice. Your $49 trial payment will be credited toward your first month’s tuition.

If you’ve had a free consultation and would like to take the next step, contact us to arrange your trial lesson.

Life happens! If you can’t make your free consultation, please contact us as soon as possible. We’ll help you find another available time.

If you need to reschedule your $49 trial lesson, please contact the office with more than 24 hours’ notice. We’ll help you find another available time.

If you cancel with 24 hours’ notice or less, the $49 trial fee will be charged to your card and is nonrefundable.

Please contact our office promptly if you’re unhappy with a lesson. We want to understand your concerns and work with you on a solution.

Depending on the situation, we may offer a replacement lesson, adjust the instruction to better support your goals, or explore a different teacher when available.

Open communication helps us give each student a positive and productive learning experience.

Start with the instrument you or your child is most excited to learn. Musical interests, age, comfort with the instrument, and access to an instrument for practice can all help guide the choice.

If you’re unsure, contact us for a free consultation. We can discuss your goals and help you choose from our available lesson options before booking a trial.

Franklin Music Academy is a home-based music school in the Tanglewood Forest neighborhood of South Austin, near Slaughter Lane and Westgate Boulevard.

Our main address is 9717 Nightjar Drive, Austin, TX 78748. Please confirm your assigned studio location before your first visit.

Recital participation is included in your tuition—there is no additional recital fee. Students have the opportunity to share their progress and celebrate their accomplishments with family and friends.

Resource Roundup

Instrument care depends on what you play and the instrument you own. Ask your teacher for guidance on everyday care, storage, and when to seek professional tuning or repairs.

Before purchasing an instrument or equipment, ask your teacher for guidance. We can help you understand what to look for based on the student’s instrument, age, experience, practice needs, and budget.

Whether you’re considering a keyboard, guitar, bass guitar, or ukulele, contact us before buying if you’re unsure where to start.

For acoustic piano tuning, we recommend Provo Piano Tuning. Visit their website for current services, pricing, and appointment availability.

Explore articles from our blog about learning an instrument, building confidence, and making music part of family life.

How Music Education Benefits Kids During the Pandemic or Anytime

Self Esteem Benefits of Learning An Instrument

Music Lessons in Austin

Billing, Cancellation & Policy

Billing Questions

Select Parent/Student Login on our website to access the Student Portal. For step-by-step instructions on updating your saved bank account or credit/debit card, please see our Policy.

AutoPay is set up for all new accounts. Your saved payment method is charged when your monthly invoice is issued, usually around the 23rd. Please update your payment information before then if you need to make a change.

If you need help, please contact the office.

Private lesson tuition is $175 per month for weekly 30-minute lessons during our September–May school year.

Our school-year calendar includes 35 lessons, with scheduled holiday breaks already factored into the monthly rate. Tuition stays the same each month, keeping your payment predictable even when some months have more lesson dates than others.

Invoices are emailed around the 23rd of each month for the upcoming month. Payment is due by the 5th of that month. A $10 late fee applies to past-due invoices.

For missed lessons, cancellation credits, possible makeup arrangements, or schedule changes, please review the cancellation FAQs below or contact us.

Weekly 30-minute private lessons are $175 per month on our school-year calendar. Recitals and FMA-created learning materials are included; method books and card-processing fees are additional.

Start with a $49 trial lesson, credited toward your first month’s tuition if you enroll.

Visit our Music Lesson Options & Pricing page for full details.

We do not offer pay-as-you-go billing for regular school-year lessons. Tuition is paid monthly in advance to reserve your weekly lesson time.

Invoices are emailed around the 23rd for the upcoming month, and payment is due by the 5th of that month. Tuition follows our flat monthly rate rather than changing with the number of lesson dates in each month.

For summer lesson scheduling and payment options, please contact us.

We accept ACH/bank payments and credit/debit cards through the Student Portal. Select Parent/Student Login on our website to access your account.

ACH/bank payments have no processing fee. Credit/debit card payments are subject to a small card-processing fee.

Payment is due by the 5th of each month. A $10 late fee applies to past-due invoices.

Tuition is billed in advance for the upcoming month. Canceling a lesson does not automatically reduce your tuition.

If approved, your cancellation credit is calculated by dividing your regular monthly tuition by the number of times your scheduled lesson weekday occurs in the month of the canceled lesson. Dates during scheduled FMA holiday breaks remain included in that count. The credit is applied to your next month’s invoice.

If you know about a scheduling conflict before your invoice is issued, please contact us early. Any adjustment to that invoice requires office approval.

A makeup lesson may be arranged instead of a credit when both schedules allow, but is not guaranteed. Holiday and emergency-closure exclusions still apply.

Invoices for the upcoming month are emailed around the 23rd of each month. AutoPay is set up for all new accounts, and your saved payment method is charged when the invoice is issued.

ACH/bank payments have no processing fee. Credit/debit card payments are subject to a small card-processing fee. You can manage your payment information through the Student Portal.

Any outstanding balance is due by the 5th of the upcoming lesson month. A $10 late fee applies to past-due invoices.

Scheduled holiday breaks are already factored into your monthly tuition, so they do not receive additional credits, refunds, or makeup lessons.

Our September–May school-year calendar includes 35 lessons and the following breaks:

  • Spring Break: one week

  • Thanksgiving: one week

  • Christmas/New Year: two weeks

Tuition is divided into equal monthly payments to keep your bill predictable, even when some months have more lesson dates than others. Please refer to our school calendar for exact closure dates.

If a holiday falls on a day when FMA remains open, your lesson takes place as scheduled. Choosing not to attend that day does not qualify for a credit or refund.

Cancellation Questions

Please contact the office more than 24 hours before your scheduled lesson to request a cancellation credit. Requests are reviewed individually; advance notice does not guarantee approval.

If approved, your cancellation credit is calculated by dividing your regular monthly tuition by the number of times your scheduled lesson weekday occurs in the month of the canceled lesson. Dates during scheduled FMA holiday breaks remain included in that count. The credit is applied to your next month’s invoice.

A makeup lesson may be arranged instead when both schedules allow, but is not guaranteed. The same missed lesson cannot receive both a makeup and a credit.

Cancellations with 24 hours’ notice or less do not qualify for a cancellation credit.

Tuition remains unchanged during scheduled school breaks. Choosing not to attend on a holiday when FMA remains open does not qualify for a credit or refund. Rain or cold weather alone does not automatically qualify an absence for a credit.

To cancel an upcoming lesson, please notify the office:

  • Email

  • Call or text 512-992-7899. If we don’t answer, please leave a message.

Include the student’s name and the lesson’s date and time.

Requests for a cancellation credit must reach the office more than 24 hours before the lesson. Requests are reviewed individually, and approval is not guaranteed. Telling your teacher alone does not count as notifying the office.

With more than 24 hours’ notice, you may ask the office to consider a cancellation credit. Approval is determined individually and is not guaranteed.

If approved, your cancellation credit is calculated by dividing your regular monthly tuition by the number of times your scheduled lesson weekday occurs in the month of the canceled lesson. Dates during scheduled FMA holiday breaks remain included in that count. The credit is applied to your next month’s invoice.

A makeup lesson may be arranged instead if both the instructor’s and student’s schedules allow. You will not receive both a makeup and a credit for the same lesson.

Our holiday and emergency-closure exclusions still apply.

If Franklin Music Academy or your instructor cancels a scheduled lesson in advance, we will adjust your invoice if it has not yet been issued. If you have already been billed, we will apply an account credit to your next month’s invoice.

A makeup lesson may be arranged instead when both the instructor’s and student’s schedules allow, but is not guaranteed. The same canceled lesson will not receive both a makeup and an invoice adjustment or credit.

Scheduled holiday breaks are already factored into tuition and do not receive additional credits or refunds. Emergency closures caused by circumstances beyond our control, such as ice storms or unexpected power outages, also do not qualify for credits or refunds. Makeup lessons for emergency closures may be offered when scheduling permits, but are not guaranteed.

If Franklin Music Academy or your instructor cancels a lesson at the last minute for reasons other than an emergency closure described below, we will apply a credit to your next month’s invoice. A makeup lesson may be arranged instead when both schedules allow. The same canceled lesson will not receive both a makeup and a credit.

Emergency closures caused by circumstances beyond our control—including ice storms, unexpected power outages, and other natural events—do not qualify for tuition credits or refunds. We may offer a makeup lesson when scheduling permits, but makeup lessons are not guaranteed.

If your canceled lesson qualifies for an account credit and a makeup cannot be arranged, the credit will be applied to your next month’s invoice. You do not need to book a future lesson to use it.

If you are ending lessons and have an existing account credit, please contact us to discuss a refund or retaining the credit for future use.

Lessons that are not eligible for a credit remain subject to our cancellation and closure policies.

If you need a temporary break, please contact the office in advance so we can confirm your last lesson date and planned return. Tuition is not charged during an approved break.

To reserve your current lesson time, you must pay in advance for the month you plan to return. Without that payment, your time slot may become available to another student. When you’re ready to resume, we’ll help you find a time based on availability.

Please give at least two weeks’ notice and contact us before the next month’s invoice is issued. Stopping attendance partway through an already-paid month does not automatically qualify you for a refund or credit.

To arrange a break, email us or call 512-992-7899. Existing account credits may be retained for future use.

Lessons are month-to-month. To stop lessons at the end of a month, please give us at least two weeks’ notice and contact us before invoices are issued for the following month, usually around the 23rd.

To withdraw, please:

  1. Email

Tuition is paid in advance for the full month. If you choose to stop attending partway through a paid month, the remaining lessons are forfeited and are not refunded.

Any existing account credit may be refunded or retained for future use. Your lesson time slot will not be held after you withdraw or take an extended break.

Special circumstances may be reviewed individually. Please contact us as early as possible to discuss your situation. Any exception to our standard cancellation or withdrawal policy must be approved by Franklin Music Academy; invoice adjustments, credits, and refunds are not guaranteed.

Yes. We understand that illness can happen unexpectedly. If you cancel with 24 hours’ notice or less, tuition remains due and no cancellation credit is issued because the lesson time has been reserved for your child.

Please keep your child home when sick and notify us as soon as possible. A makeup lesson may be offered if both the instructor’s and student’s schedules allow, but is not guaranteed.

Thank you for understanding and respecting our teachers’ time.

No. You’re welcome to let your teacher know you’ll be absent, but you must also contact the office directly via email to cancel a lesson or request a schedule change.

Cancellation notice is based on when the office receives your message. Please contact us more than 24 hours before the lesson if you wish to request a cancellation credit. Approval is determined individually and is not guaranteed. Telling your teacher alone does not count as notice to the office.

If your regular instructor is unavailable, we aim to arrange a substitute so your lesson can take place as scheduled. We’ll email you the details and welcome your feedback afterward.

If we cannot arrange a substitute and must cancel your lesson, we will adjust your invoice or apply an account credit to your next month’s invoice. A makeup lesson may be arranged instead when both schedules allow, but is not guaranteed. The same canceled lesson will not receive both a makeup and an invoice adjustment or credit.

Emergency closures, such as ice storms or unexpected power outages, follow our separate closure policy and do not qualify for credits or refunds.