New Student

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Getting Started

 

• Do you offer lessons for adults?

Yes! TMS offers lessons to all ages and abilities. Private lessons begin at age 7, Music Together® program offers group classes for babies through five-year-olds, and adults are welcome in private lessons, designated group classes and community workshops. Adults are generally scheduled during daytime, evening outside of prime after-school times (3–6 pm), which are reserved for school-aged students.

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• Where are lessons?

Unless otherwise stated, all lessons and classes take place at Teton Music School, located within the Center for the Arts in Jackson, WY (265 S Cache St.).View directions, parking information, and building maps here.

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• Do you offer in-home lessons?

No. All instruction takes place at Teton Music School or on-site at partner locations.

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• How do I register?

Registration begins by completing a Registration Request Form. A staff member will contact you about scheduling, tuition, and the registration fee.

 

👉 Submitting a Registration Request Form does not complete your registration. Students are not scheduled until all steps are complete and they have received confirmation from Teton Music School.

 

For details about registration periods, scheduling, billing, and scholarships, visit the Registration & Scholarships page.

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• Scholarships

Scholarships and monthly payment plans are available for all programs. Depending on your family's circumstances, support may be available through One22, Boundless, TMS Direct Scholarships, or a combination of these programs.

 

👉 Students cannot be scheduled without payment arrangements in place. If you plan to apply for scholarship assistance, you must apply (or notify Teton Music School that you are applying) before you are scheduled to avoid being billed the full tuition amount. Learn more and apply through our scholarship programs.

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Scheduling & Enrollment

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• Can I keep my same lesson time as last year? 

We build our teaching schedule from scratch each fall, so returning students should not assume they'll have the same lesson time from year to year. Teacher availability and room assignments vary from year to year.

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• Will a particular class fill up?

Some group classes and ensembles have limited capacity, while others can accommodate more students. Some require an audition. Visit tetonmusicschool.org/group-classes for specific details about each class.

 

• Can I still join a rock band if I missed auditions?

Yes! If you would like to join a rock band mid-year, contact the lead instructor for your age group:

• Grades 6–12 Rock Bands: Taylor Upton taylor@tetonmusicschool.org

• Grade 4–5 Rock Band: Clint Weaver clinton@tetonmusicschool.org

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• When will I know my schedule?

Students participating in annual fall registration receive schedule assignments by Labor Day. During the rest of the school year, please allow approximately two weeks for scheduling confirmation. Scheduling is based on teacher availability, registration timing, and instructional considerations.

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• What if the lesson time I want isn't available?

The more availability you provide on your Registration Request Form, the more likely we are to find a lesson time that works for you. If we are unable to offer a lesson that matches the availability you requested, we'll contact you to discuss the closest available alternatives. If you'd prefer to wait for your requested teacher or lesson time, you may choose to join a waitlist.

 

• Can we purchase a few lessons instead of the whole session?

TMS operates on a session-based model, and full-session enrollment is standard. Qualifying adult students may be eligible for a 5-lesson flex pass, depending on the teacher’s availability and teaching model. Please contact admin@tetonmusicschool.org if you are interested in the flex option.

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• I missed the change request deadline. Can I still cancel my lessons or make a change?

No. Change and withdrawal requests received after the published deadline are subject to tuition and fees associated with the upcoming session. We encourage all families to submit change requests on time to ensure smooth scheduling and accurate tuition billing. These deadlines allow us to fairly manage teacher schedules and honor program commitments. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

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Attendance & Policies

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• Sick?

​​If you won't be attending your lesson, please notify your teacher as soon as possible. Your teacher's contact information is available in your Pike13 account and was included in your enrollment confirmation. Even though student absences are not eligible for makeup lessons, letting your teacher know allows them to plan accordingly. Repeated no-call, no-show absences may result in your lesson time being forfeited.

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• If we’re going to be out of town for a lesson, can we get a refund or makeup?

Unfortunately, no. Tuition is nonrefundable, and make-up lessons are not offered for student absences. Make-up  lessons are only offered when a teacher is absent or if we must make a scheduling change. Even if student absences are planned in advance, we cannot offer a make-up. We understand this can be frustrating, but in the past, offering makeups for student absences led to widespread scheduling challenges and confusion. To be fair and respectful of our teachers' time, we maintain a consistent no-makeup policy for missed student lessons. Repeated no-call, no-show absences may result in your lesson time being forfeited.

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• Why is my monthly payment the same even if there’s a holiday or closure?

Monthly payments are a payment plan, not monthly enrollment. Monthly payments divide tuition into equal payments over the enrollment period and do not change based on the number of lessons in a given month. This structure provides a consistent and predictable monthly rate for families and helps simplify tuition management across the school year.

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• Can a parent/sibling sit in on or join a lesson?

We generally discourage this to preserve the student–teacher dynamic, and only offer private lessons at this time. Some teachers may allow exceptions - please ask your teacher directly.

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• Can I drop off my child early or use the Activity Bus?

Teton Music School is an extracurricular program. Students are not supervised before or after their scheduled class, lesson, or ensemble. If your child arrives early or stays after their scheduled lesson, class or ensemble, they must wait quietly and responsibly in the designated waiting area. Please ensure they can self-regulate during this time without disturbing lessons or moving through the building unsupervised. View the TCSD Activity Bus schedule here.

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We cannot provide structured supervision, and students who are unable to wait appropriately may be asked to arrive closer to their lesson time or be accompanied by a guardian. Ongoing behavior concerns may result in dismissal from the program.
 

Instruments & Facilities

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• Does my child need a junior guitar, or can they use a full-size?

We recommend starting with a junior-sized guitar or ukulele for younger students. Full-size guitars are often too large and uncomfortable to play with smaller hands. Your teacher is the best person to ask for a recommendation that suits your student.

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• Can we rent a guitar from the school?

While Teton Music School does not rent instruments, please visit tetonmusicschool.org/instruments for recommended local vendors and instrument suggestions.

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• Can I book a practice room or piano for a few hours?

TMS rooms and instruments are available only for use by scheduled TMS programs and approved program partners. We’ve heard the community’s interest in more accessible practice space, and while it’s something we’d love to be able to offer in the future, it is not an available option at this time.

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Contact​

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• Can I speak to someone on the phone?

Our small team primarily communicates by email. However, we’re happy to help via phone call or text at 307-201-1908. Also feel free to email us at admin@tetonmusicschool.org with your questions and the best time to reach you.

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