Notasium: Cary Music Lessons and Play Space

Wow! We went today for the first time & I thought it was the coolest place Ive seen to explore music through play

Update: We received a personal call from the manager (and my son's teacher) apologizing for the confusion and wanting to make things right. Because we signed up a week into the class, we didn't get the email correspondence. Aaron was apologetic and easy to communicate with. Thank you for reaching out! We appreciate everything!

We ADORE Notasium. We recently visited for a birthday party and used the opportunity to inquire about music classes for our 4 year old. He's in the Jr. Notemakers class and he loves his teacher, Mr. Aaron. He's amazing with the students and keeps them engaged for the full 45 minutes. My son has already learned about rhythm and instruments that he shares with us at home and his appreciation for music is already growing.

The play area is so engaging for her and our 8 year old. They love playing hide and seek throughout the play area, sliding down the big slide, and playing songs on all of the interactive instruments. They have yet to tire of the options. It's clean and I can even get work done while the play! #mombonus

If that were it, I'd have left a 5 star review, but our recent visit was disappointing. According to the website and all of the email correspondence, we were under the impression that students could play for free on the day of their class, and siblings can play for $5. This is straight from the website AND the email: "Students get to play for free on the day of class! Siblings play for just $5." On Saturdays specifically (which is our class day), "students and siblings get to play in the play space before class but not after class; siblings can play during class." Heard...and I thought we were following those rules.

We arrived at 11:20 to play before our 12:30 class and were told that we could only have 30 minutes before class to play. When I disputed it with what was on the website and our email, I was told that this rule only applied to the 12:30 Saturday class because of birthdays. This isn't stated anywhere and the employee didn't budge on this fact despite the fact that it wasn't ever communicated (and hasn't been enforced) until that moment. Apparently she did us a favor to let us in early.

My question is this...We signed up and paid for the music class knowing what was posted online when we signed up and even now. This was a giant benefit of signing up for a Saturday as it would allow kids ample time to play. I'm a teacher and it would do us no good to sign up on a weekday when we can't make the most of this benefit. But now I'm being told that the benefit doesn't even really apply to us. It's disappointing.

If the employee is correct, this should have been communicated both on the website so that parents can consider that when signing up for the class, and in the email correspondence. I will know from now on, but please do better to communicate or remind employee of official rules if this is not accurate.

*In addition, when the class for my 4 year old started, my 8 year old was the only one playing the play area and she was questioned (by the SAME employee) as to who she belonged to because she had no reason to be in the play area. I reminded the employee that she was a sibling and her response was, "Ok, but you shouldn't have your water here." My daughter had just grabbed it and walked away to come to me because she was just told she couldn't be there. What was she supposed to do? Do better.

Notasium is on the top list of indoor play space for my children (ages from 2 yrs to 6 yrs). So musical 🎤 🎶🥁🎹🎸🎼🎻🎺🪘. It exceeds our expectations. My oldest child said “That was fun, it was bigger than I thought.”

We held my son’s 2nd birthday at the Notasium. This is our second birthday party here and both have been flawless. The space is great and private (on some days!) which is important to me. It’s helpful to know what to expect - while the party host will assist you, you’re on duty to make sure things are set up the way you like and serve the food, so be prepared to have an extra hand or two around. But honestly for the price, I think it’s great.

Not a fan of this place. (I think its because my little girl is just too little) I didnt like the worker; I felt she had a little attitude, and I wouldn't say I liked how I watched a little girl push a few kids, and they didnt kick her out. Suitable for older kids, that guitar slide looks fantastic!