Admissions & Policies
Begin whenever you're ready
Registration is open year-round. Private lessons begin with a free 30-minute trial lesson; PreK begins with a group trial class.
Step one
Begin with a free trial lesson
Every new private-lesson student begins with a free 30-minute trial lesson, a relaxed first meeting where student and teacher see if they’re a good fit before you sign up. PreK (ages 2 to 5) has its own trial class.
A $50.00 refundable deposit reserves the lesson; it is returned to you afterwards, or may be applied as credit towards a lesson package. Please give the office at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule: a trial lesson cancelled with less notice, or missed, forfeits the deposit.
At the lesson, you’ll talk with the teacher about your experience and goals. If you’d like to continue, you can register at the office afterwards, or later by phone, by email, or online.
Registration at a glance
You can start lessons at any time of year, but registering early in the Fall or Spring semester gets you the most out of it.
Lessons are also offered in July and August during our Summer Semester, and registration remains open throughout the year.
Full tuition, together with a nonrefundable annual registration fee of $80.00 per student, is due at the time of registration. The registration fee applies to all packages and covers lesson books and supplies. Payment may be made by cash, credit card, check, or Zelle.
The New Student Promotion, the 16-week package, and the Semester package can be split into two payments: half up front, and the balance within two months. The PreK 16-session Semester package can also be paid in two payments. The 8-week package, the PreK 8-session package, and drop-in lessons are paid in full.
Students who wish to perform in our recitals also pay a concert fee of $75 per school year. Performing is optional, but we strongly encourage it: our recitals show the hard work our students put into their musical studies.
Tuition
Lesson packages
Choose the commitment that fits your schedule. Rates depend on the package and the lesson length (30, 45, or 60 minutes), and are the same for every instrument and every teacher except Dr. Stryjniak.
Lesson rates
Private lessons with our faculty. The large figure is the rate per lesson; the smaller figure beneath it is the package total.
| Package | 30 min | 45 min | 60 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Student Promotion22 lessons, 20 paid at the Semester rate; new students | $70$1,400 | $85$1,700 | $105$2,100 |
| Semester packageEvery lesson to semester endTotal: rate x lessons left | $70 | $85 | $105 |
| 16-week package16 lessons | $74$1,184 | $89$1,424 | $109$1,744 |
| 8-week package8 lessons | $78$624 | $99$792 | $116$928 |
| Drop-in lessonOne lesson, no commitment | $85 | $109 | $127 |
Dr. Stryjniak’s studio
45 and 60 minute lessons, shown the same way. The New Student Promotion is not available with Dr. Stryjniak.
| Package | 45 min | 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| Semester packageEvery lesson to semester endTotal: rate x lessons left | $145 | $170 |
| 16-week package16 lessons | $150$2,400 | $175$2,800 |
| 8-week package8 lessons | $160$1,280 | $185$1,480 |
| Consultation lessonOne lesson, no commitment | $175 | $210 |
- • Rates are per lesson. Package totals are the per-lesson rate times the lessons you pay for, before any sibling or referral discount.
- • The annual registration fee ($80 per student) and the optional concert fee ($75) are separate; see Fees & family discounts below.
- • The Semester package costs less per lesson than the 16-week package and runs to the end of the semester, so it is our best ongoing rate.
PreK group classes (ages 2 to 5)
Trial Class
$75
per class
One class to try it out (first-time students only). No make-up class.
8-Session Package
$600
8 sessions
Two months of classes, including 8 sessions and 1 make-up class.
16-Session Semester Package
$1,040
16 sessions
16 classes over four months, at our best rate. Includes 2 make-up classes. May be paid in two payments.
An annual registration fee of $80 per student applies. Classes and schedule are on the PreK page.
Package details
| Package | Best for | Make-ups | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Student Promotion (22 for 20)Best value | First-time students ready to commit | 2 | In full, or 50% up front with the balance due within two months |
| 8-Week Package | A shorter first commitment | 1 | Due in full at registration |
| 16-Week Package | Regular weekly study | 2 | In full, or 50% up front with the balance due within two months |
| Semester Package | A full academic term of study | 2 | In full, or 50% up front with the balance due within two months |
| Drop-In Lessons | Flexible, week-by-week scheduling | None | Per lesson, at a slightly higher rate |
First-time students
New Student Promotion (22 for 20)
Twenty-two weeks of lessons for the price of twenty, our best available rate for new students. Two lessons are free, and paid lessons are at the Semester package rate. Includes 2 make-up lessons. Not available with Dr. Stryjniak.
8-Week Package
Eight weekly lessons with your NYCM instructor. Includes 1 make-up lesson. Take two lessons a week to finish in four weeks.
16-Week Package
Sixteen weekly lessons. Includes 2 make-up lessons. Take two lessons a week to finish in eight weeks. Students who cannot pay in full may pay 50% of tuition plus the registration fee up front, with the remainder due no later than two months after registration.
Semester Package
Every weekly lesson from your first lesson through the end of the semester, skipping school closures. Includes 2 make-up lessons. Students finishing another package partway through a semester can continue on the Semester package for the remaining weeks, so their lessons run to the end of the semester. Fall runs from early September (after Labor Day) to January 31, Spring from February 1 to June 30, and Summer from July 1 to August 15.
Drop-In Lessons
Individual 30-, 45- or 60-minute lessons with flexible, week-by-week scheduling, subject to studio and instructor availability. No long-term commitment; rates are slightly higher than package rates to reflect this flexibility. Drop-in lessons are not made up. Lessons every other week can be booked as drop-in lessons only.
Studying with Dr. Stryjniak
Students of Dr. Stryjniak may choose the Semester, 16-week or 8-week package, or book individual private consultations of 45 or 60 minutes, his equivalent of drop-in lessons. His rates are listed in the table above, and the New Student Promotion is not available with him.
Fees & family discounts
Annual registration
$80
Per student, non-refundable, and applies to all packages. Covers lesson books and supplies.
Concert fee
$75
Per student, for participation in NYCM concerts during the school year. Performances at major venues such as Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center may carry an additional performance fee.
Refer a friend
5%
Receive a 5% discount on your next lesson package once your referred friend signs up.
Sibling discount
5%
Families with more than one child enrolled at NYCM receive a 5% sibling discount on lesson packages.
Policies
Scheduling, refunds & make-ups
Weekly scheduling & changes
Every lesson package requires at least one lesson per week. Students who want to move faster can take two lessons a week: a 16-lesson package then finishes in 8 weeks, an 8-lesson package in 4 weeks, and so on. Lessons every other week are not available on packages because they are too hard to schedule; biweekly requests can be booked as drop-in lessons only.
Package lessons are held weekly at a regular day and time mutually agreed upon at enrollment. Time changes are subject to faculty availability and confirmation.
Cancellations and time-change requests must be communicated to the office at least 24 hours before the next scheduled lesson. Late cancellations, late time-change requests, and no-shows result in forfeiture of the affected lesson.
Lesson freeze: for a break of more than one week, you may freeze your remaining lessons for a $50 fee per freeze. Let the office know at least 24 hours before your next lesson; with less notice, that week's lesson is forfeited. Frozen lessons remain available for one year from the start of the freeze, after which unused lessons are forfeited. Your weekly lesson time is released when the freeze begins; when you return, the office will help you find a new time, which depends on teacher availability. A single missed lesson is not a freeze; it falls under the make-up policy. It applies to all lesson packages, including the Semester package, but not to drop-in lessons. Effective November 9, 2026.
Refund schedule
To withdraw from the school, a student must give written notification of withdrawal and a request for refund to the office at least seven working days prior to the withdrawal. Telling the teacher does not count as notice.
| Withdrawal timing | Refund |
|---|---|
| Before the first lesson | 100% refund of tuition |
| After the first lesson | Full refund minus the cost of one lesson |
| After the second lesson | 75% refund of tuition |
| After the third lesson | 50% refund of tuition |
| After the fourth lesson | No refund |
- • There are no refunds of the registration fee.
- • There is a returned-check fee of $30.00.
- • There is no late fee, but if your balance is not received one week before your lesson package ends, your time slot may be given to another student.
- • If lessons are placed on hold for any reason they must be completed within the year. There are no exceptions.
Make-up lessons
- The 16-week package, the Semester package, and the New Student Promotion include 2 make-up lessons; the 8-week package includes 1. Drop-in lessons are not made up.
- Make-up lessons require at least 24 hours’ notice to the office and must be completed before the last scheduled lesson of your package. If limited availability means we cannot schedule a make-up before then, the office will make an exception.
- Late cancellations and no-shows are not eligible for make-ups.
- Instructor cancellations are always rescheduled. If the instructor’s schedule does not permit a make-up, the office will work with you to find a suitable solution.
- Teachers are occasionally sick or away. When that happens, a substitute may teach your lesson.
Academic year
Semester dates & closures
Our full academic calendar for 2026–2027, with semester dates, breaks, and holidays, now lives on our calendar page alongside recitals, concerts, and master classes.
FAQ
Common questions
How much do lessons cost?
Per-lesson rates for standard faculty are $70, $85 and $105 for 30, 45 and 60 minutes on the Semester package and New Student Promotion, $74, $89 and $109 on the 16-week package, $78, $99 and $116 on the 8-week package, and $85, $109 and $127 for a drop-in lesson. Dr. Stryjniak's rates, package totals and PreK prices are in the tables on this page. The annual registration fee is $80 per student.
How does the trial lesson work?
Free 30-minute trial lessons are available to every new private-lesson student. A $50 refundable deposit is required to schedule one, refunded afterwards or applied as credit towards a lesson package. A trial cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice, or missed, forfeits the deposit. PreK group trial classes, for ages 2 to 5, are arranged through the office.
When can I register?
Registration is ongoing all year long, and you may begin lessons whenever you wish. We encourage registering early in the Fall and Spring semesters, and lessons are also offered in July and August during the Summer Semester.
What payment methods do you accept?
Payment may be made by cash, credit card, check, or Zelle. Full tuition plus the $80 annual registration fee is due at registration. The New Student Promotion, the 16-week package, the Semester package, and the PreK 16-session Semester package can be split into two payments.
Can I take lessons every other week, or twice a week?
Every lesson package requires at least one lesson per week. If you want to move faster, you can take two lessons a week, so a 16-lesson package finishes in 8 weeks and an 8-lesson package in 4 weeks. Lessons every other week are not available on packages, because they are too hard to schedule, but biweekly requests can be booked as drop-in lessons.
What is the make-up lesson policy?
Make-ups require at least 24 hours' notice to the office and must be completed before your package's last scheduled lesson; if limited availability means we cannot schedule one before then, the office will make an exception. The 16-week package, the Semester package, and the New Student Promotion include 2 make-ups; the 8-week package includes 1. Late cancellations and no-shows are not made up, and instructor cancellations are always rescheduled.
Can I mix online and in-person lessons?
Yes. Students who commute from farther away in the city, or who split their time between New York and somewhere else, often take some lessons online and some in person at our studios. A hybrid schedule works well as long as you keep your regular weekly lesson time.
Are there family or referral discounts?
Yes. Families with more than one child enrolled receive a 5% sibling discount on lesson packages, and you receive 5% off your next lesson package when a friend you referred signs up.
Try a lesson first
Every new student starts with a free 30-minute trial lesson ($50 refundable deposit). Meet the teacher, talk about your goals, and see if it’s a good fit.