Why My School No Longer Offers Make-Up Lessons

At Music Makers Academy, one of the most common questions we receive is: “Can we reschedule our missed lesson?” It’s a fair question—life happens, and sometimes it’s just not possible to make it to a scheduled lesson. However, after years of experience teaching hundreds of students, we’ve made the decision not to offer make-up lessons, and in this post, I want to share why.

Although it might seem like a simple, fair solution, offering make-up lessons often leads to more challenges than benefits—for students, families, and teachers alike.

Why Make-Up Lessons Seem Like a Good Idea

From a parent’s perspective, it’s understandable to want to get the full value of a lesson when you’ve paid for it. After all, if your child misses a week, shouldn’t that time be made up?

But in the world of private music tuition, it’s not quite so simple. Here’s why.

Why We No Longer Offer Make-Up Lessons

1. They Disrupt Learning Consistency

Music is a discipline that thrives on routine and momentum. Missing a lesson occasionally is okay—it happens to everyone—but rescheduling that lesson later doesn’t “catch up” the student in the way we often imagine. In fact, it can interrupt the natural rhythm of learning and slow progress more than it helps.

What’s far more effective? Keeping up consistent home practice and returning to regular lessons the following week, ready to keep moving forward.

2. They’re Logistically Challenging

Most music teachers run full schedules, often seeing 20+ students per week. Carving out additional lesson time outside those hours is extremely difficult—especially when families also have packed timetables.

Trying to coordinate a make-up lesson often leads to scheduling conflicts and frustration, which can detract from the joy and ease that should come with music education.

3. They Create an Unsustainable Workload for Teachers

Unlike booking a haircut or a doctor’s appointment, music teachers reserve a specific time each week just for your child. When that time goes unused due to a missed lesson, it’s still time the teacher has set aside and prepared for—without compensation.

Make-up lessons may seem small in isolation, but across a full studio of students, they add up to unpaid overtime and burnout for instructors.

4. They Undermine Commitment

Treating lessons as easily reschedulable can unintentionally send the message that they’re optional. But music education requires structure, consistency, and commitment—not just from students, but from families too.

The students who progress the most are the ones whose lesson time is viewed as a non-negotiable part of their weekly routine.

So, What Can You Do Instead?

We still want your child to thrive in music—and we have some great alternatives to make the most of their learning, even when life gets in the way.

✅ Online or Hybrid Options

If your child is unwell or away, we’re happy to arrange a Zoom or video call in place of an in-person lesson when possible.

✅ Asynchronous Support

Send us a video of your child playing, or email questions, and we’ll provide feedback and guidance to keep them moving forward at home.

✅ Stay Engaged Between Lessons

Missed a week? No problem! You can:

• Review notes or video recordings from previous lessons

• Watch performance videos or tutorials online

• Focus on reinforcing foundational skills or previously learned pieces

Understanding the Tuition Model

At Music Makers Academy, we follow a flat-rate tuition model. Your monthly tuition covers more than just the weekly lesson slot—it supports teacher preparation, communication, recitals, ongoing development, and more.

Rather than paying per lesson, you’re investing in a comprehensive, year-long music education.

Final Thoughts

It’s totally natural to want to make up for missed time—but we’ve found that make-up lessons rarely deliver what families are hoping for. What does make a difference? Showing up consistently, practicing regularly, and trusting the process.

By shifting the focus away from trying to "catch up" missed lessons and toward making the most of the ones we do have, we help students build a more sustainable and joyful musical journey.

Have questions or feedback? I’d love to hear from you! Email me at [your email] or send a message on Instagram.

Thanks for reading, and here’s to supporting your child’s music journey—one consistent step at a time.

📩 Send us a message on Instagram at @musicmakersacademy or email us at hello@musicmakersacademy.com.au.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more insights on music education!