Three options, whichever suits you: a trial lesson if you'd like to try it out first, the enroll form if you're ready to commit to a regular slot, or a lesson package if your schedule can't commit to the same time every week. None of them require any of the others. Either way, pick your instrument, day, and time, then pay via Stripe. You're set up straight away, and James confirms by email within 24 hours.

Bring your instrument if you have one. If not, James has instruments at the studio. Everything else is provided.

At James's home studio in South Melbourne, a short trip from Albert Park, Middle Park, Port Melbourne, Southbank, South Wharf, Docklands, the CBD and St Kilda. There's plenty of free street parking (2-hour limit) and a tram stop nearby.

Yes. Online lessons by Zoom or FaceTime cost the same as studio lessons and suit anyone who can't come in person. How online lessons work.

Yes. James records students and local musicians in his home studio, usually on Saturdays: a song you've written, a cover, or a gift recording for someone. Tell James about your song and he'll reply with times and a price.

Yes. A single trial lesson is available any time, no ongoing commitment required. For anything beyond that, lessons run through an enrollment: the same day and time every week or fortnight, so it's genuinely one less thing to think about. That's not a big commitment either: there's no sign-up fee, you can pause for up to 8 weeks a year, and you can cancel any time with no questions asked. If your schedule can't commit to the same time every week, a lesson package is the better fit: pay upfront and pick your own dates as you go.

Set up a weekly or fortnightly slot from the Weekly or fortnightly form. No sign-up fee. You pay for your first lesson when you enroll. After that, each lesson is charged 3 days before it, and a lesson only goes ahead once it's paid. You can pause for up to 8 weeks a year (no charge while paused), reschedule an individual lesson you can't make, or cancel any time, all yourself from My Lessons, no need to contact James. Cancelling keeps any lesson you've already paid for, it just stops future billing.

For anyone who can't commit to the same time every week, an irregular roster or similar. Buy 5 or 10 lessons upfront, same per-lesson prices as everything else, one Stripe charge for the whole package. Pick a date and time for every lesson yourself when you buy it, any time over the next 3 months, no fixed weekly slot needed. It's not an enrollment, so there's no pausing, but you can still reschedule an individual lesson the normal way if something comes up.

A group class is a regular lesson shared by two or three students. On the Group Classes section you can see lessons other students are happy to share, and ask to join one that suits your age group, level and music. The students already in the class are asked first (everyone must agree) and nothing changes unless they say yes. Per person, per lesson, with two students the group price is: 30 min $35, 45 min $45, 60 min $55, 75 min $65, 90 min $75. If a third student joins, everyone pays $5 less. If everyone else stops coming, it becomes a private lesson again and goes back to the normal private price (30 min $50, 45 min $70, 60 min $85, 75 min $100, 90 min $120), and you are emailed first. The price is set when each payment is taken. Group lessons need at least 48 hours' notice to cancel, after that you still pay in full. If a student cancels in time and the lesson would then pay less than a private lesson, those who attend share the difference on their next payment. You can stop any time.

Go to My Lessons, enter your email, and tap Can't make it? next to the lesson. Then choose: move it to another time in the next two weeks (no extra cost, needs 24 hours' notice), pause if you're away (no charge for paused weeks, up to 8 a year), or cancel just that lesson. No need to message James.

24+ hours' notice: rebook yourself, any day Monday to Friday over the next fortnight (James doesn't teach on Saturdays), no charge. Under 24 hours: full lesson fee applies, no rebooking. If James ever needs to cancel, you'll get a full refund or a free reschedule. Feeling unwell with cold or flu-like symptoms? Please reschedule rather than attending in person. Group classes are different: they need 48 hours' notice (see "How do group classes work?" below).

Cancel from My Lessons using the email you booked with. If it's 24+ hours before your lesson, you'll get an email with a "Rebook" button straight away, no card details needed. Pick any day Monday to Friday and time from the next fortnight and it's confirmed instantly (James doesn't teach on Saturdays). Handy if you're unwell and not sure exactly when you'll be back. The link is single-use; see the cancellation policy above for refund terms.

Go to My Lessons and enter the email you booked with. It shows your upcoming lessons, and your weekly slot if you're enrolled, and you can reschedule or cancel from there too. Every booking also sends a confirmation email.

Go to Pause or stop, enter your email and tap Update card. We'll email you a secure link to change your card on Stripe's page. Stripe then tries any missed payment again automatically. The payment reminder email has the same link.

James will let you know as early as he can, and you choose: a makeup lesson at a time that suits you, or no charge for that lesson. Your regular day and time is never changed without asking you first. See the Lesson Terms for the full details.

Yes. A lesson voucher is a prepaid package of 5 or 10 lessons. You pay once and the voucher is emailed to you, ready to print or forward. Whoever you give it to enters the code on the booking page and picks their own dates and times, all at once or a few at a time. It's valid for 3 years.

Go to mcqmusiclessons.com.au/vouchers.html (or tap Vouchers in the menu or at the bottom of any page), choose Use my voucher, and enter the code from your voucher. Then choose a date and time for each lesson. You can book them all at once or a few at a time, whenever suits, and there's nothing to pay. Lost the link? You only need the code.