FAQ for Students
Lesson rates and purchases
Q. How much do lessons cost?
A: Each teacher sets his/her own rate.
Q. Where can I see the lesson rates?
A: Find a guru's profile and click on "View/Buy My Lessons." Or click "Online Store" in the top menu.
Q: What payment options do you offer?
A: You can pay online by eCheck (in the US) or by credit card. You can "pay as you go" or for convenience, subscribe for a monthly service. With the subscription, you select the number of lessons you want to take each month, and the amount will be charged automatically to your eCheck or credit card. You may cancel this option at any time before the next monthly charge (typically the 25th of each month), so there's no obligation. See Lesson Policies for details on this plan.
Q: I purchased some lessons. What should happen next?
A: Both you and your guru will receive confirmation of your purchase. You are then free to schedule your lesson with your guru. See our Getting Started page.
Q: Do lessons expire?
A: "Pay as you go" lessons may be scheduled at your and your guru's convenience. Subscription lessons should be taken in the month they were paid for. Gurus will accommodate occasional lesson rescheduling. If you find yourself running out of time to take the lessons, you can always reduce the number of lessons on your monthly subscription plan.
Q: What are your cancellation policies?
A: Music lessons require dedication and a commitment of time on both your and your guru's part. But sometimes life gets in the way. Cancellations generally require 24 hour notice, and may be arranged directly with the guru. Please see our Lesson Policies for more details.
Q: I live outside the US. Can I still take lessons thru WorldMusicGuru?
A: Yes, we have convenient credit card payments for all international students. Your payment will be fixed in US dollars, and you will see the conversion amount on your credit card statement, along with any foreign transaction fees.
Q: Do you offer refunds?
A: Since the gurus are independent, and WMG cannot track your Skype lessons, WMG generally does not offer refunds. However, student satisfaction is important to us, and WMG will refund a student's purchase in exceptional cases - for example, if a guru is unable to provide purchased lessons.
Q. What if there is a technical problem and the lesson is interrupted?
A: Ask your guru to reschedule your lesson at a different time.
Choosing an online guru
Q: How do I find the right Guru for me?
A: You can browse each guru's profile (under "Find a Guru" in the top menu) to help you find the right match. Most teachers will offer a free introductory or trial lesson. With WorldMusicGuru, you also have the flexibility of changing teachers anytime to match your learning style and goals.
Q. Where can I see the lesson rates?
A: You have to register and login to see rates. Each guru's lesson rates can be seen by clicking on "View/Buy My Lessons" on that guru's profile. Or scroll down the right column and click on Music Lessons
Q: Do you guarantee the quality of gurus on WorldMusicGuru?
A: Most of our gurus are professional musicians or experienced teachers, but we don't "select" gurus for our website. Our goal is to provide a supportive online community for both students and gurus. All students have different learning styles and preferences. Thus a guru might work fine for one student but not for another. For this reason, we do not "guarantee" your satisfaction with any one guru. You can, however, change gurus anytime.
Taking WorldMusicGuru lessons
Q: How do I take lessons?
A: Lessons are given via Skype, a popular, easy-to-use, and free online application. As of 2009, about 500 million people use Skype to connect with their friends, family, and business colleagues around the world.
Q: What instruments or musical styles does WorldMusicGuru offer?
A: Almost every instrument can be taught online using WorldMusicGuru. However, WMG's specialty is on instruments and styles for which local teachers are hard to find, especially in the West. Intially we are promoting Indian classical and folk music, but we will expand to other styles over time, so don't hesitate to contact us if you want lessons that we don't yet provide.
Q: Can children learn online?
A: Absolutely. If you have watched children play video games, you already know that they are naturally attracted to multimedia technology. As with in-person music lessons, children under 10 learn best with active parental involvement and support, both during the lesson and during practice.