FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Everything you need to know about music lessons at Benana Music Studio in Southampton.
From free tasters and lesson prices to cancellations, teachers, payments, locations, music grades and the Student Portal, we’ve put the questions we’re asked most often in one place.
Getting Started
Everything you need to know before booking your first lesson with Benana.
Do you offer a free taster lesson?
Yes. New students can book a free 20-minute taster lesson before deciding whether to continue with regular lessons.
It’s a relaxed opportunity to meet your teacher, talk about what you or your child would like to learn and get a genuine feel for lessons at Benana.
How long is the free taster?
Your free taster lasts 20 minutes. It gives you enough time to meet the teacher, discuss your interests and goals, and have a go without committing to regular lessons.
What happens during the free taster?
Your teacher will get to know you, your musical interests, any previous experience and what you would like to achieve.
You’ll then have the opportunity to sing, play or try the instrument so you can experience the teacher’s approach for yourself.
There’s no expectation that you already know anything — complete beginners are very welcome.
Will I get a reminder before my taster?
Yes. You’ll automatically receive an email reminder 48 hours before your taster and a text reminder 24 hours before your lesson.
What should I bring to my taster?
Just your enthusiasm — and your instrument if you already have one and it is practical to bring it.
If you don’t have an instrument yet, don’t worry. We have instruments and equipment available for students to use during tasters where required.
Am I committed to regular lessons after a taster?
No. There is absolutely no obligation to continue. The taster is there to help you decide whether the teacher, instrument and Benana feel right for you.
If you would like to continue afterwards, our team can help arrange your regular lessons.
What if I need to cancel or rearrange my free taster?
We completely understand that plans change. Please let us know at least 24 hours before your taster.
With 24 hours’ notice or more, your free taster can simply be moved to another suitable date and will remain free.
If we receive less than 24 hours’ notice, or the taster is missed without attending, we cannot offer another free taster. We’ll still be happy to help you arrange a regular paid lesson instead.
Can I have another free taster with a different teacher or instrument?
The free 20-minute taster is a one-time offer, so we don't offer another free taster simply to try a different teacher or instrument.
If you would like to try another option before deciding, we can arrange a half-price 30-minute lesson for £13.
You can also speak to our team first and we’ll help you work out which teacher or instrument is likely to suit you best.
Lessons & Scheduling
Lesson lengths, prices, frequency and flexible scheduling.
How much do music lessons cost?
Our standard individual studio lesson prices are:
- 30 minutes — £26
- 45 minutes — £32
- 60 minutes — £37
These prices include VAT.
For current prices and other lesson options, visit our lesson fees page →
Should I choose a 30, 45 or 60-minute lesson?
There isn’t one perfect lesson length for everyone. It depends on the student's age, concentration, experience, goals and the instrument being learned.
Shorter lessons can work particularly well for younger students or those just starting out, while longer lessons provide more time for students who want to explore technique, repertoire, grades or more detailed musical goals.
If you’re unsure, tell us a little about the student and we’ll be happy to recommend a suitable lesson length.
How often can I have lessons?
We offer weekly, biweekly and ad hoc lessons, depending on teacher availability and what works best for you.
Weekly lessons are popular for students who want a consistent routine, while biweekly or ad hoc bookings can work well around work, family, shift patterns or other commitments.
Do I have to attend at the same time every week?
No. You can have a regular lesson time if you prefer, but we also offer flexible arrangements for students who cannot commit to the same time every week.
Available times depend on the teacher, instrument and location.
Can I book lessons around shift work or an irregular schedule?
Yes. Ad hoc and flexible lesson scheduling can be particularly useful for people working shifts or whose availability changes from week to week.
Tell us how your schedule works and we’ll help find the most practical arrangement.
Can I change my regular lesson time, length or teacher?
Yes, subject to teacher and room availability.
Permanent changes to your regular lesson day, time, length or teacher need to be arranged directly with our admin team rather than through the Student Portal.
Can I learn more than one instrument?
Absolutely. You don’t have to limit yourself to one instrument.
Some students focus on a single instrument while others learn several, or combine instrumental lessons with singing or other areas of music.
Do you offer paired or group lessons?
Yes. Alongside one-to-one tuition, we offer our Bring-a-Mate lesson option and selected group music opportunities.
Availability depends on the students, instrument and programme, so contact us if you’re interested in learning with somebody else.
Can siblings have lessons at Benana?
Yes. We teach lots of children from the same families and, where availability allows, we can look for lesson times that make attending as convenient as possible.
Can I temporarily pause my lessons?
Yes. If you need to pause your regular lessons, contact our admin team and we’ll help with your individual arrangement.
Lessons that are already booked remain subject to the standard 24-hour cancellation policy.
How do I stop regular lessons?
Simply contact our admin team. There is no separate long notice period for stopping regular studio lessons.
Any lessons already booked remain subject to our standard 24-hour cancellation policy, so please contact us before that point where applicable.
Who Lessons Are For
Beginners, children, adults and experienced musicians are all welcome.
Do you teach complete beginners?
Absolutely. You do not need any previous musical experience to start lessons at Benana.
Your teacher will start at the right level for you and build from there.
Do you teach both children and adults?
Yes. We teach children, teenagers and adults, including adults picking up an instrument for the very first time.
There is no “too old” age to start learning music.
What is the minimum age for music lessons?
We don’t have a fixed minimum age. Whether lessons are suitable depends on the individual child, instrument, attention span and how they respond to one-to-one learning.
We currently teach children as young as three. If you tell us your child’s age and what they’re interested in, we can help advise whether a taster would be appropriate.
Do I need any musical experience?
Not at all. Complete beginners are very welcome. Your lessons will begin from wherever you are now, rather than assuming previous knowledge.
Do you teach more advanced musicians?
Yes. More experienced students can work on advanced technique, repertoire, performance, theory, grades, songwriting and other individual musical goals.
Are lessons personalised?
Yes. Personalised tuition is at the heart of the way we teach.
Lessons can be shaped around your musical interests, experience, goals, learning pace and the music you genuinely want to play.
Can lessons be adapted for students with additional needs or different ways of learning?
Yes. Every student learns differently, and we want lessons to feel comfortable, encouraging and manageable for the individual student.
Our teachers can adapt things such as pace, explanations, lesson structure and activities where helpful.
If there’s anything that helps you or your child feel settled, communicate, concentrate or enjoy learning, please tell us when you enquire. It helps our team think carefully about the teacher and approach that may suit them best.
Teachers & Matching
Finding the right person to teach you matters.
How do you decide which teacher is right for me?
We don’t simply allocate the first teacher with an empty space.
When matching a student, we can consider things such as the instrument, age, experience, musical interests, goals, personality and availability.
This helps us recommend a teacher who we think could be a genuinely good fit for the individual.
Your free taster then gives you the chance to meet that teacher before deciding whether you would like to continue.
Can I request a particular teacher?
Yes. If there is a particular Benana teacher you would like to learn with, let us know and we’ll check their instrument, location and availability.
Can I change teachers?
Yes, subject to availability. The relationship between student and teacher matters, and sometimes a different teaching style or personality may be a better fit.
Speak to our team and we can look at the available options with you.
Will I normally have the same teacher?
Yes. Regular lessons are normally arranged with the same teacher so you can build a consistent relationship and your teacher can follow your progress.
There may occasionally be cover arrangements if your normal teacher is unavailable.
What happens if my normal teacher is away?
We’ll normally try to arrange cover with another suitable Benana teacher first so that your lesson can still go ahead.
If suitable cover cannot be arranged, the lesson will be cancelled. If you have already paid for it, the payment will be carried over.
Can I meet my teacher before committing to lessons?
Yes — that’s one of the main reasons we offer the free 20-minute taster.
You can meet your teacher, experience their teaching style and see whether the match feels right before deciding whether to continue.
Cancellations & Missed Lessons
These answers relate to standard lessons held at Benana studios.
What is the cancellation policy for studio lessons?
Standard studio lessons require at least 24 hours’ notice for a cancellation or amendment.
Lessons cancelled, postponed, amended or missed with less than 24 hours’ notice remain fully chargeable.
School-based lessons have their own arrangements. See the School-Based Lessons section below if your lessons take place at school.
What happens if I cancel more than 24 hours beforehand?
If you cancel a standard studio lesson at least 24 hours before it starts, you will not be charged for that lesson.
If payment has already been made, it can be credited or refunded in line with our Payment & Refund Policy.
Can I cancel and book another available lesson?
Yes. If you are outside the 24-hour cancellation period, you can cancel the original lesson through your Student Portal.
You can then use Find & Book to choose another available lesson. If your usual teacher doesn’t have a suitable time, contact our admin team and we can look at other options.
What if I cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice?
The lesson remains fully chargeable because the teacher’s time has already been reserved for you and it may no longer be possible to offer that time to another student.
What happens if I forget or don't attend?
A missed studio lesson is treated as a late cancellation and remains fully chargeable.
What happens if my teacher is unavailable?
We’ll try to arrange a suitable cover teacher first.
If cover isn’t possible, we’ll cancel the lesson. Any payment already made for that lesson will be carried over.
Payments & Invoices
How payment works for standard Benana studio lessons.
How do I pay for lessons?
Benana is cashless. Students can securely add and manage their payment method through the Student Portal.
Card payments are securely handled by Stripe.
Does Benana see or store my full card details?
No. Benana does not see or store your full card details. Card information is securely handled by Stripe.
When are weekly studio lessons invoiced and paid?
For students using weekly invoicing, invoices are issued on Friday for lessons booked for the following Monday to Sunday.
Payment is then processed automatically on Friday using the saved payment method on your account.
Your invoice will also show any applicable outstanding balance or credit.
Can I have monthly invoicing instead?
Yes. Students can request monthly invoicing if that arrangement works better for them.
Contact our admin team and we can arrange this for your account.
Where can I see invoices and receipts?
Your invoices and receipts appear automatically in your Benana Student Portal and can be downloaded whenever you need them.
What happens if an automatic payment fails?
Don’t worry if a payment fails. The payment will normally be retried after a couple of days, and we’ll remind you if payment remains outstanding.
If needed, you can update your payment method through the Student Portal or contact our admin team for help.
What happens if my lesson is still unpaid?
If a lesson hasn’t been paid for, we’ll normally send a friendly reminder two days before the session.
If payment is still outstanding the day before your lesson, we’ll normally cancel the booking.
This also helps protect you from being charged under the 24-hour cancellation policy if your plans have changed and you no longer intend to attend.
Are your lesson prices inclusive of VAT?
Yes. Benana’s published standard studio lesson prices include VAT.
Can I pay cash?
No. Benana operates as a cashless music studio.
Student Portal
Your online home for managing your Benana lessons.
What is the Benana Student Portal?
The Benana Student Portal is your all-in-one online account for viewing and managing your lessons with us.
Once your regular lessons are set up, you’ll receive details explaining how to create your password and access your account.
What can I do through the Student Portal?
Depending on your lesson type, you can use your portal to:
- View upcoming lessons
- Cancel eligible lessons
- Find and book available lessons
- View and download invoices and receipts
- Manage your payment method securely
- Keep track of your lesson schedule
- Access studio news and updates
It means many everyday lesson-management tasks can be handled whenever it suits you, without needing to wait for the office to make the change.
How do I cancel or rebook a lesson through the portal?
Log in to your Student Portal, open the Calendar, select Schedule and find the lesson you want to cancel.
Open the lesson, choose Cancel Booking and confirm the cancellation.
To arrange another available lesson, go back to the Calendar and choose Find & Book.
The cancellation policy that applies to your lesson type still applies when changes are made through the portal.
Can I permanently change my regular lesson through the portal?
No. Permanent changes to your normal lesson day, time, teacher or lesson arrangement need to be made directly with our admin team.
Where do I log into the Student Portal?
You can access it through the Student Portal link in the main website menu or use the page below.
What if I can't log into my account?
Contact our admin team and we’ll be happy to help you regain access or assist with your booking, invoice or payment method.
Locations & Accessibility
Benana teaches from multiple locations across Southampton.
Where are Benana's music lesson locations?
Benana teaches from locations across Southampton, including Bitterne Park, Southampton City Centre and Shirley, as well as teaching rooms at our sister business, Pure Rehearsal Studios.
For current addresses, parking information, directions and location-specific details, visit our locations page.
Can I choose which Benana location I attend?
Yes, where the appropriate teacher and lesson time are available.
Not every teacher works from every location, so we’ll consider your location preference alongside teacher matching and availability.
Can I move my lessons to another Benana location?
Yes, this can usually be explored subject to teacher, timetable and room availability.
Contact our admin team if you would like to make a permanent location change.
Is the Queens Terrace studio accessible by lift?
No. Our Queens Terrace teaching rooms are on the first floor and there is currently no lift.
When you arrive, use the intercom/buzzer for Benana Music Studio.
If stairs would make Queens Terrace unsuitable for you, please tell us before booking. We can look at other Benana locations and available teachers with you.
Where can I find parking and arrival information?
Parking, arrival arrangements and facilities vary between our locations, so we keep the latest location-specific information together on our locations page.
Instruments & Practice
Getting equipped and making progress between lessons.
Do I need to own an instrument before starting?
No. You don’t need to rush out and buy an instrument before your first lesson.
If you need an instrument for home practice, Benana also has an affordable instrument rental scheme, subject to what is currently available.
Contact us and we can let you know what rental instruments are available at the time.
Do I need to bring my instrument to lessons?
It depends on the instrument and location. We have teaching instruments and equipment available at our studios, while in some cases bringing your own instrument can be useful.
If you’re unsure, ask us before your first lesson and we’ll tell you exactly what to bring.
How much should I practise between lessons?
There isn’t one amount that suits everybody. Consistent, manageable practice is usually more useful than one very long session every now and then.
Your teacher can recommend an approach based on your age, level, goals and available time.
Will my teacher give me things to practise?
Yes. Teachers will normally give students suitable songs, exercises, techniques or goals to work on between lessons where appropriate.
Teachers can also use Benana notebooks to help students keep track of lesson notes and what to practise before next time.
Can parents sit in during children's lessons?
Yes. Parents are always welcome to sit in during their child’s lesson.
This can be particularly useful with younger students or when a parent would like to understand what their child can practise between lessons.
Exams & Progression
Grades are available if you want them — they are not compulsory.
Do I have to take music exams?
No. Music grades are completely optional.
Some students enjoy having grades to work towards. Others learn purely for fun, confidence, performance or simply because they love making music.
Your lessons can follow the path that suits you.
Which exam boards can Benana support?
Depending on the instrument and pathway, Benana can support recognised music grades including RSL / Rockschool, ABRSM and Trinity.
Can lessons focus on music I actually like?
Absolutely. This is an important part of Benana’s personalised approach.
Technical skills and musical understanding can often be developed through the songs, artists and styles you genuinely enjoy.
Do you teach music theory?
Yes. Theory can be incorporated into your lessons where it supports your instrument, grades, songwriting, understanding of music or individual goals.
Performances & Community
For students who would like to take their music beyond the lesson room.
Do students get opportunities to perform?
Yes. Benana runs student showcases and takes part in performance opportunities and community events around Southampton.
Do I have to perform at showcases?
Not at all. Performing is an opportunity, never a requirement.
Some students love getting on stage while others prefer to enjoy their music privately. Both are completely fine.
Are showcases suitable for beginners?
Yes. Our showcases are intended to be welcoming opportunities for students at different stages of their musical journey.
Participation is subject to suitability and available space, and your teacher can help you decide when you feel ready.
Can family and friends come to watch?
Yes. Family and friends are generally very welcome to come along and support students at our showcases, subject to the arrangements and capacity of the particular event.
What is Pure Music Collective?
Pure Music Collective is a group-music opportunity connected with our sister business, Pure Rehearsal Studios.
It gives young musicians an opportunity to make music with other people and develop experience beyond the standard one-to-one lesson format.
If you’re interested in joining, contact us and we can give you the current details and availability.
School-Based Lessons
Lessons delivered during the school day have their own booking and make-up arrangements.
Does Benana offer lessons in schools?
Yes. Benana works with schools and education providers to offer selected music lessons during the school day.
Are school lessons managed under the same policy as studio lessons?
No. School-based lessons have their own booking, cancellation, payment and make-up arrangements.
The School-Based Lesson Provision Policy takes precedence where it differs from our standard studio lesson policies.
What happens if I cancel a school-based lesson with at least 24 hours' notice?
If at least 24 hours’ notice is provided, an eligible school-based lesson can receive a make-up credit.
The make-up credit must be used within the same school term.
What happens if my child misses a school-based lesson?
If a school-based lesson is cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or the student does not attend, the lesson remains chargeable and a make-up credit is not issued.
How long are school make-up credits valid?
School-based make-up credits are valid within the school term in which they are issued and expire at the end of that term.
Make-up credits have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for a refund.
Can my child withdraw part-way through a school term?
Yes. If a student withdraws part-way through the term, eligible future lessons can be refunded, less a £10 administration fee.
Any make-up credits already held have no cash value and cannot be included in the refund.
Will I receive reminders for school-based lessons?
School-based lessons take place during the school day and are scheduled in advance. If you would like lesson reminders for your account, contact our admin team and we can help.
Ask Us — We're Happy to Help
If your question isn’t answered above, our friendly admin team can help with teacher matching, availability, locations, lesson types, your Student Portal or anything else you need before or after booking.
Looking for a Piano Tuner?
We can recommend Shaun Cassidy, a highly skilled and reputable piano tuner.
Ready to Give Benana a Try?
Tell us what you or your child would like to learn and we’ll help find the right teacher. Meet them first with a free 20-minute taster before deciding whether to continue.
