1. Contact Your Teacher 

   1. Agree with your teacher on the day, time, length, and format of your lessons (in person or online). 
      1. Lessons can be 30, 45, or 60 minutes long. 
      2. Students and teachers will determine a mutually available lesson time within Mon-Thu 3:00-8:00 or Fri 3:00-6:00 before completing registration. 
      3. Please note the parking information in case parking costs affect your preference of lesson time.
   2. New to CMS? See our teachers, then either fill out the CMS Waitlist Form or email asucommunitymusic@appstate.edu to let us know which teacher you'd like to connect with.
   3. Your teacher must reserve your lesson time for you before you register.

1. Read the Musician Handbook

   1. Please note the supervision requirements for minors under 18. 

Register through Iris

REMINDER: Your registration and payment DO NOT guarantee your lesson time or teacher's availability without their prior agreement.

Full Semester Package (10 lessons) - Iris Registration Link

• If Iris asks you for a code, enter LessonsFall25.
• New students or returning students may order a full semester package. 
• A payment plan is available in the form! Anyone may choose to either use the payment plan or pay upfront by selecting the appropriate option on the payment page. Payment plans require 40% to register and two 30% payments.
• For technical help with Iris Registration forms, contact Carey Driskell (driskellc@appstate.edu, (828) 262-2942).

New Student Package (4+ lessons) - Iris Registration Link

• If Iris asks you for a code, enter NewLessonsFall25.
• Full payment is required for each order or addition of lessons in the New Student form.
• Do not use this form to add more lessons! To have more lessons added to your account in the New Student Package, confirm with your teacher and email asucommunitymusic@appstate.edu.
• If you would like to add more lessons, they must be added in either 4-lesson increments OR the right amount of lessons to finish out the semester. 
• For technical help with Iris Registration forms, contact Carey Driskell (driskellc@appstate.edu, (828) 262-2942).

Complete Your Permission Form

In-Person Lessons for Minors (under 18)

A parent or guardian will need to fill out the Youth Form 2 business days before the first lesson. Be sure to select "Community Music School" from the drop-down. The link can be found on the Private Lessons registration forms.

The first lesson will be postponed if all forms are not completed by this time.

• Visit our Private Lessons page to read about our instruments, faculty, and pay rates.
• Students will need to agree on a lesson time with their teacher before registering. 
• New students can email the CMS team at asucommunitymusic@appstate.edu and we will put you in touch with your desired teacher. We can also recommend a teacher for you. 
• CMS is not able to provide instruments at this time. Please visit your local music store for more information about instrument rentals and purchases. Your teacher may be able to offer some recommendations for your specific instrument. 

How to Apply

Tuition assistance may be available towards CMS private lessons. Applying promptly is recommended for best results. Tuition assistance applications may take up to 2 weeks to be processed.

1. If you are interested in applying for tuition assistance, proceed through the normal registration process shown on this page (including getting in touch with your teacher, planning a lesson time, etc). 
2. There are two ways to apply for assistance:
   1. Full semester commitment: After you have made your selections in the full-semester Registration Form, you will have the opportunity to pause your order (saving your information) and complete the Tuition Assistance Application.
   2. Beginning with 4 lessons: If you are new to CMS or are not sure if you want to commit to a full semester, you can begin by paying in full for your 4-lesson package. After completing your first 4 lessons, you will have the opportunity to complete the Tuition Assistance Application and await results before adding more lessons.
3. If CMS is able to award tuition assistance, we will notify you at the email address you provide. 
   1. If you accept a tuition assistance award, the balance of your order will be reduced before you make your first payment in Iris.
   2. If we are not able to award tuition assistance or it does not suit your needs, there is no obligation to complete the order. Just let us know if you do not choose to accept. 

Terms and Conditions

Please visit this important link to read the Tuition Assistance Terms and Conditions. (The Terms and Conditions can also be found in the Musician Handbook.)

Special note for private lessons: The participant will need to attend lessons regularly as scheduled. If more than one private lesson is missed/canceled/rescheduled with less than 24 hours' notice to the teacher, CMS reserves the right to discontinue tuition assistance and require remaining lessons to be paid at the regular rate. (Please note the sections on "Withdrawals and Refunds" and "Missed or Rescheduled Lessons" in our Handbook.) If circumstances make it difficult to attend lessons, please let us know ASAP so we can discuss options. 

Please email asucommunitymusic@appstate.edu with questions about tuition assistance.

Fall 2025

• Lessons may begin as early as August 25 (actual start date depends on teacher and when all registration forms are completed). The registration (and the Youth Form for students under 18) must be completed 2 business days before the lesson in order to not delay the lesson time.
• All lessons should be completed by November 25. Lessons are permitted to extend until December 2, but keep in mind that parking passes expire at the end of November.
• Lessons may not be held in the Broyhill Music Center from October 13-17 (Fall Break). No lessons can be held on September 1 (Labor Day) or November 26-28 (Thanksgiving Holiday).
• New students may register until October 24.
• The due dates for payments in the payment plan are October 1 and November 1. 
• Lessons are offered in Spring and Fall semesters. CMS does not offer any programs in the summer. (High schoolers interested in an intensive summer music experience may consider Cannon Music Camp.)

• Log into your Iris account: https://appstate.irisregistration.com.
• Click on "Registrations" and find the entry for your CMS program.
• Click the orange “Make a Payment” button.
  • Iris accepts MasterCard and Visa. 
• Payments are not to be made directly to teachers at any time. 
• Payment Due Dates
  • Full Semester Private Lessons
    • See "Calendar and Deadlines" section above. 
  • New Student Private Lessons
    • Students in the New Student package can add more lessons after their first 4. Any lessons added will need to be paid for before continuing with the added lessons. 
• For help making a payment in Iris, please contact Carey Driskell (driskellc@appstate.edu, (828) 262-2942).

Lessons will be paused if payment is not received by the due date.

• A lesson missed or rescheduled with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged as a regular lesson. 
• A teacher will reschedule one lesson without penalty if the student/family provides over 24 hours’ notice. 
• Even with advance notice, a teacher may not be able to reschedule frequently due to their other time commitments. For this reason, a teacher is not required to reschedule more than one lesson. Students and families are recommended to ask their teacher if and when a lesson can be rescheduled before planning to reschedule a lesson for a vacation, appointment, etc. Please note that unfinished lessons do not roll over to future semesters and are not refunded.

• Private lessons are typically not eligible for refunds except in extraordinary circumstances. 
• If a student needs to withdraw from private lessons, the student (and parent/guardian if applicable) must email a notice of withdrawal to asucommunitymusic@appstate.edu.
• For lessons missed before officially withdrawing, no refunds will be given and no charges will be waived.
• If a student withdraws from private lessons and receives a waiver or refund, the following will be subtracted from the waiver or refund:
  • a $30 processing fee
  • the full value of any previous lessons (based on the regular price even if tuition assistance was received)

• Pricing is based on the instructor's training and experience. 
• See our instructors here. Each instructor's pay rate (Apprentice, Master, or Professional) is listed above their bio. 
• One $25 registration fee will be added in checkout. 

College students are welcome to join Community Music School programs that are open to their age range. CMS lessons are a great opportunity for adult students who are not music majors or minors to pursue their musical interests. 

However, college students should note that Community Music School-sponsored lessons and classes do not count for college credit. Students wishing to take music courses for college credit can find a variety of ensembles and classes on the Hayes School of Music's Opportunities for Non-Majors page. (Please also check the current course catalog for the most up-to-date class offerings and times.) 

Before choosing a lesson time, college students are encouraged to consider where they will be able to practice their instrument or receive online lessons. The practice rooms on the fourth floor of the Broyhill Music Center are available to active App State students, faculty, and staff. While available to all, please be respectful and understanding of the students pursuing music degrees that require additional rehearsal times to meet degree requirements. Practice rooms can be reserved via 25Live.  Signs posted on each door provide quick access to the room's schedule and booking system.