Welcome to Cultivate
Music Studio!
We’re so glad you’re here.
At Cultivate, we’re passionate about helping students grow in both skill and confidence through music. Our team of caring, professional teachers is here to support your goals, encourage creativity, and make learning a joyful experience.
This guide outlines everything you need to know as a member of our studio—from lesson options to scheduling, payments, and more. Please reach out with any questions.
Sincerely,
The Cultivate Music Studio Team
Getting Started: Your Student Portal
All scheduling, communication with your teacher, and lesson notes live in your student portal at:
👉 www.cultivatemusic.org → Click Student Login
Once logged in, you can:
View your weekly schedule
Check your billing details
Read notes and practice tips from your teacher
Communicate with your teacher
Staying in Touch with Your Teacher
All communication with teachers should happen through your Opus1 student portal to keep everything organized and secure.
To message your teacher:
Log in
Click your student profile (If multiple family members are taking lessons, be sure to click on the correct family member’s profile.)
Click “Leave a Comment”
Select your teacher and type your message
The system will notify your teacher by email. Please don’t text or email teachers directly—we use the portal to keep all lesson communication in one place.
Can’t Make a Lesson? Here’s What You Can Do:
Your lesson time is reserved just for you each week. If something comes up, here are three options to stay on track:
1. Send a Video of Your Progress
Record a video demonstrating your progress and upload it at least 3 days before your next lesson. Your teacher will review it and send personalized feedback!
How to submit:
Log in to your portal
Click your student profile
Use “Leave a Comment”
Attach your video (500MB max) with the 📎 paperclip icon
You can upload multiple videos, audio clips, or photos if needed. When your teacher responds, you’ll get an email.
No need to cancel your lesson in the student portal—just let your teacher know you’ll be sending a video.
2. Online Lesson (Zoom)
If you’re sick or traveling but still available at your normal time, you can do your lesson over Zoom!
Message your teacher through the portal to let them know you’ll be doing an online lesson. Do not cancel the lesson in Opus1.
Log in at your regular time and click “Join Online” on your lesson event (the button becomes clickable 15 minutes before your lesson). This will send you to your teacher’s Zoom lesson link.
3. Reschedule with a Credit
Cancel the lesson in your portal (you will receive a reschedule credit). You can use this credit to book another time (based on your teacher’s availability).
Here’s how it works:
Cancel at least 1 hour before your lesson
Credits expire 30 days from the date issued
Limit: 2 credits per student every 90 days
Credits can only be used for lessons with your specific teacher.
No-shows are not eligible for a credit
If you can’t submit a video or reschedule due to an emergency, let us know: contact@cultivatemusic.org. If a makeup isn’t possible, we’ll apply a partial credit ($22) to your account after your lesson credit has expired.
Teacher Absences
We understand that occasional scheduling changes may arise. If a teacher is unavailable for a scheduled lesson, our studio will do our best to provide a qualified substitute for that week. If no substitute is available, a credit equal to the cost of one lesson will be applied to the student’s next invoice. Please note that if a student chooses not to attend a lesson with a substitute teacher, no credit will be issued.
Teachers may also reschedule lessons due to upcoming scheduling conflicts. In such cases, the teacher will contact the student directly to arrange a mutually convenient alternate day and time. Once confirmed, the new lesson time will be updated in the calendar and reflected in the student portal. If an alternate time cannot be agreed upon, the teacher will notify the studio, and a full lesson credit will be issued to the student’s account.
In Case of Emergencies or Illness
If a teacher has a last-minute emergency or can’t teach due to sickness, we’ll notify you ASAP and arrange a makeup lesson. If that’s not possible, your account will be credited for the missed lesson.
Studio Calendar & Holidays
We teach year-round and follow a semester model (Spring, Summer, Fall), with 46 lessons per year.
We take breaks during:
Spring Break (aligned with McKinney ISD)
Memorial Day (Monday students will receive a lesson on the Monday of summer break if needed)
July 4th (Students will be credited for July 4, 2025)
Labor Day (Monday students will receive a lesson the Monday of Thanksgiving week)
Thanksgiving (Tuesday–Saturday)
Winter Break (2 weeks)
One-week break between Spring → Summer and Summer → Fall
See our website for the full calendar!
Where We’re Located
📍 Downtown McKinney
209 E. Lamar St., McKinney, TX 75069
You can park behind the building or across the street in Lot 1.
Your First Lesson is Free! 🎉
All new students receive a free trial lesson to make sure it’s a great fit.
After your trial:
You’ll receive an email inviting you to enroll
Your first month will be prorated based on remaining lessons
Tuition is billed monthly and automatically drafted on the 2nd of each month
Note: Trial lessons must be booked at least 24 hours in advance (and no more than 14 days out).
What to Bring to Lessons
🎤 Voice: Notebook and pencil for taking notes
🎹 Piano: A teacher will recommend books. Students must have an acoustic or weighted digital piano at home + metronome
🎸 Guitar, Bass, Ukulele: Bring your instrument and picks. Materials will be discussed after your first lesson
💻 Online Students:
Have your music/documents ready
A second device for playing tracks is helpful
Use a tripod or stable surface for the best camera angle
Lesson Notes
Your teacher will post weekly notes in your portal after each lesson. These include what to practice and any helpful tips. You’ll get an email when new notes are added.
Practice Expectations
Great progress comes from consistent practice!
💡 A general guideline:
Ages under 12: Practice at least 15 minutes, 4–6 days a week (with some parent support)
Teens & adults: Make it a goal to practice 5 days/week for at least 20 minutes/day
Our teachers are here to support—but your time at home really makes the difference!
Tuition & Payment Info
🎵 Monthly Tuition: $155.25
Sibling Rate: $143.75 Additional Discounts: $11.50/month off for second weekly lessons or weekday lessons before 3:30 PM (homeschool/private school students)
Tuition is a flat monthly rate, whether there are 4 or 5 lessons that month
Payment is drafted automatically on the 2nd of each month
A $10 late fee applies if payment isn’t received within 7 days. You will receive an email notification if payment fails.
Tuition is non-refundable once the month begins
If you need to update your payment method, log into your portal and click the credit card icon.
Withdrawing from Lessons
To withdraw, simply fill out our Withdrawal Form by the last day of the month before your final lesson. This helps us wrap things up well and offer your spot to another student.
Please note: Verbal or email notifications alone aren’t sufficient.
Withdrawals submitted on the 1st of the month may not be processed in time to prevent your next charge.
Recitals & Performance Opportunities
We host recitals at the end of the Spring and Fall semesters. These are fun, supportive events that celebrate student growth!
Students are usually ready to perform by their second semester
A $35 recital fee will be added to May or December tuition to cover venue rental and teacher time
Have Feedback? We’d Love to Hear It.
We’re always looking for ways to improve your experience! Feel free to email us anytime with thoughts or suggestions: contact@cultivatemusic.org
Photos, Videos & Privacy
We occasionally take photos or short videos during lessons or events to use in studio materials (social media, newsletters, etc.). If you’d prefer we not include you or your child, just email us—we’re happy to respect your preference.
A Safe, Supportive Environment
All teachers at Cultivate have passed background checks and are chosen for both their musical skill and their character. Every lesson room has a window for transparency, and parents are welcome to observe lessons at any time.