Private Lessons Taught by Qualified and Experienced Teachers

Guelph School of Music (GSM) operated by the Guelph Youth Music Centre (GYMC) offers weekly private lessons in piano, guitar, voice, violin, saxophone, clarinet, flute, recorder and theory. Our private lessons are open to children ages 4 and up and adults, at all levels and are tailored to meet the needs of individual students. Based on student's goals, interests, and learning style, lessons may follow the Suzuki piano method, the Royal Conservatory of Music syllabus, or be personalized without a predefined curriculum. We have a faculty of highly qualified, professional, and experienced teachers who provide high excellence in music education. We teach with care and compassion, giving students the tools and knowledge to learn, excel, and enjoy their music study. Click this link to see our current faculty.

Annual Performance Opportunities

In addition to weekly private lessons, students are encouraged to participate in five performance opportunities throughout the academic year. There are three informal performance classes and two formal recitals. Performance classes are hosted by each private studio teacher and are designed to help students prepare for upcoming recitals or festival performances, learn performance etiquette, and assist in managing performance anxiety. Teachers also prepare interested students to perform in the Kiwanis Music Festival and Royal Conservatory of Music examinations.

Lesson Information

Lessons are held weekly at the Guelph Youth Music Centre at 75 Cardigan St. The Guelph School of Music 2024/2025 school year starts on September 7, 2024 and ends on June 12, 2025. The facility is equipped with pianos however, students studying other instruments must bring those instruments to weekly lessons. If you need help sourcing instruments, please get in touch with GYMC staff. Students are responsible for notifying their teacher if they will be late or absent from a lesson. Teachers are not required to offer make-up lessons that are missed by students, however, if a teacher is absent, they will provide an optional future date for a make-up lesson. Please see our school policies on our website for up to date information.

Registration Process

You can register for private music lessons any time during the current school year. To register for private music lessons, click your preferred teacher, then lesson day and length below. We'll do our best to pair you with your first choice of lesson day/time/teacher. However, scheduling is done on a first-come-first-serve basis and is based on teacher availability. Completing the registration form does not confirm your lesson time; it is just a request. Prospective students have the option to book a paid trial lesson. A trial lesson permits students to assess their compatibility with the music teacher and aids them in deciding whether they are genuinely dedicated to pursuing ongoing lessons. If you'd like to know current lesson availability before registering, or book a trial lesson, please contact us at office@gymc.ca as space is limited. 

Registration is done through amilia.com and you'll need to create a profile for each person registering for lessons on the platform to complete the registration process. Steps to register: Create or login to your amilia.com account-->If you are registering student(s) under 18 years old, create a child profile for each student under your amilia.com account--> Click your preferred teacher and lesson day and length below--> Click blue "register" button on teacher's registration page--> Checkout window will appear--> Click blue box next to the name of the student who's taking the lesson--> Click checkout--> Fill in all fields on the student's registration form--> Choose payment method--> Complete payment.

By registering, you will be signing up for the remaining lessons in the school year. Our pricing is prorated to reflect the number of lessons a student will have. At the start of the school year, Mondays and Saturdays have 33 lessons in the school year and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays will have 36 lessons. This is based around holidays and school closures.

Private Lesson Rates: The following rates will take effect in the 2024/2025 academic year.

• 30 minutes: $34.50 per lesson
• 45 minutes: $51.75 per lesson
• 60 minutes: $69 per lesson

Note: These rates are subject to change.

Annual School Fee

An annual school fee will apply to all students registered in private instrumental/voice lessons. Families registering more than one student will receive a reduced school fee for each additional student. The annual school fee covers the cost of administration, facility & instrument maintenance, recitals, and performance classes. The School Fee and first installment are due upon registration.

• Regular School Fee: $250

School Fee Discounts:

• Additional students from the same family receive a discount of $50 off of the school fee
• Early Bird School Fee (registration on or before May 20, 2024) receive a discount of $50 off of the school fee
• Students starting after December 1st, 2024 will pay a pro-rated school fee. The pro-rated school fee after December 1st is $200, pro-rated school fee after March 1st is $150, pro-rated school fee after June 1st is $100.

The price listed on the teacher's registration page is the pro-rated price. You can choose to pay the full lesson fee upfront, or choose the remaining installment plan listed on the registration page, which is monthly installments until April.

Questions? Please contact the GYMC Registrar at office@gymc.ca. 

Are you looking for fee subsidies? The GYMC has options for families who need assistance. Please contact the GYMC Registrar at office@gymc.ca.