Q & A

Age restrictions

A small number of schools have grade restrictions for participating in the PMI program - and are subject to change based on your school's preferences. Please refer to your school/venue specific page for details - accessible via "Find your school" in the above menu.

Unless stated otherwise on your school/venue specific page the following age restrictions apply:

Guitar - students in years 1 and 2 must enrol in private or pair lessons. Not recommended for students younger than year 1.

Keyboard - students in year 1 or below are recommended to enrol in private or pair lessons.

Drum kit - not recommended for students younger than year 2.

Brass and woodwind instruments - not recommended for students younger than year 2.

Programs (instruments)

Please refer to your school/venue specific page for details - accessible via "Find your school" in the above menu.

Lesson formats (e.g. small-group or private lessons):

Please refer to your school/venue specific page for details - accessible via "Find your school" in the above menu. If you enrol for either pair or private lessons and there is not initially available space, we will allocate your child to a small group lesson. Please email us immediately if this is not your preference.

Lesson day(s)

Lesson days are confirmed by email when we identify a suitable available space and add your child to the timetable (see section below "Notifying parents when new students are added to the timetable"). These can also be checked at all times via the PMI online parent portal.

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We often only offer lessons on 1 day at each school based on teacher and school availability/preferences.

If lesson days change, we will notify parents of students currently having lessons by email and SMS (and will also call parents if your child's lessons are before/after school to coordinate a suitable new lesson day).

Lesson timing

We have a specialist timetable team and they submit timetables to your school for their approval. For lessons during the school day, we group together students from the same classroom (where feasible) and avoid clashes with specific lessons that we are instructed by your school to avoid.

Details of exact lesson times during the school day are subject to regular change e.g. fire drills, school camps, excursions, exams, etc. (and some of these events are only decided by the school on the day i.e. are not known in advance).

The default is that lessons are during the school day; although, at a small number of schools we offer lessons before/after school (if requested by your school). If your child's school prefers lessons before/after school you will be separately contacted by PMI to select your preferred lesson time.

Textbooks

Program prescribed textbooks (and PMI Stars workbooks for keyboard and guitar students) will be automatically mailed to your postal address once your child is added to the timetable.

For existing students that want to reorder a textbook or purchase a different textbook (as they progress through the program), please send an email to admin@primarymusicinstitute.com.au so our Parent Support team can assist.

Instruments

We require all students have access to an instrument for practice outside of lessons. Keyboard students are supplied with keyboards for use during PMI lessons. Guitar students and concert band students must bring their own instruments to lessons / rehearsals every week. Drum kit and ensemble students are not required to bring any equipment other than drum sticks.

Instrument guidance is provided if you click on "Instrument Info" within the "Parent FAQs" menu above.

At certain schools, students are able to borrow/rent concert band instruments from the school (coordinated by the school). If available at your school, details are listed when you enrol.

When EXISTING students start lessons

In term 1 each year, existing students will resume lessons in week 3 of the school term (unless advised otherwise by PMI). In terms 2-4, existing students will resume lessons in week 1.

When NEW students start lessons

In term 1 each year, new students typically will start lessons in week 3 of the school term (if we have received an enrolment by the end of week 1 and there is a suitable available space in the timetable). We will again add new students in week 5 of term 1 for enrolments received by the end of week 3 (again, only if there is a suitable available space).

In terms 2-4, new students will start lessons in week 1 if we have received an enrolment by 1 week before school resumes. As an exception, we will again add new students in week 3 of terms 2-4 for enrolments received by the end of week 1 (again, only if there is a suitable available space).

Notifying parents when new students are added to the timetable

If we have received your child's enrolment and we identify a suitable available space, we will add your child to the timetable and notify you by email - confirming your child has been added to the timetable, their lesson day and when lessons commence.

Students are normally confirmed 3 school days in advance of lessons commencing (e.g. Wednesday in school holidays for lessons starting Monday in week 1). The 3 day timeline is indicative and is sometimes shorter depending on when we are provided certain information from your school or when a suitable space becomes available.

If your child's lessons are before/after school, you will be separately contacted by PMI to select your preferred lesson time.

Invoices

Lessons and textbooks only need to be paid upon receipt of an invoice, which will be sent once your child has been successfully added to the timetable. The various payment methods will be detailed on your invoice. Please do not make payment to your PMI teacher or school.

Lesson room location

Lessons will occur on your school campus (with the exact lesson room determined by your school). Please confirm with your school Administration team if unsure.

For lessons during the school day, students will either be collected from their classroom by your PMI teacher or sent to the room where PMI music lessons are held (depending on school specific arrangements).

For lessons/rehearsals outside of school hours, parents (not your school) are responsible for the supervision of students participating in PMI lessons and rehearsals outside of school hours. All parents and guardians are required to drop-off and collect students to/from the PMI lesson room on all occaisions.

Cancellation policy

The process and timeline for cancelling (which we hope is not required!) is detailed in our Terms and Conditions within the "Parent FAQs" menu above.

Missed lesson and make-up policy

We try to be fair, and our missed lesson and make-up policy is detailed in our Terms and Conditions.

Duration / length of lessons

Lessons are approximately 30 minutes per week unless noted otherwise in school/venue specific details when you click on "Find your school" in the above menu. Lesson length includes collection/drop off of students for programs occurring during the school day.

Class sizes

Please refer to your school/venue specific page for details - accessible via "Find your school" in the above menu.

Structure of PMI lessons

The structure for a standard PMI lesson is described if you click on "About PMI" within the "Parent FAQs" menu above.

PMI Stars

For parents of students learning keyboard and guitar, please ensure you visit our "About PMI" section of our website and read details about our exciting PMI Stars Program! You will receive further information about the program once your child has been added to the timetable.

Correspondence with PMI

to help us provide a professional service and timely response, we request all correspondence is to be sent to our Parent Support team (admin@primarymusicinstitute.com.au).

Public holidays and pupil free days

PMI lessons will not proceed on public holidays or pupil free days unless PMI explicitly notify you of alternate arrangements.