diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session.rb
index a24595552..f93d0bf70 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/active_music_session.rb
@@ -693,6 +693,10 @@ module JamRuby
       description
     end
 
+    def is_lesson_member?(user)
+      music_session.is_lesson_member?(user)
+    end
+
     def musician_access
       music_session.musician_access
     end
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/connection.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/connection.rb
index 8bd75a4a6..81bbfbc8d 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/connection.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/connection.rb
@@ -98,8 +98,6 @@ module JamRuby
 
     def can_join_music_session
 
-      # puts "can_join_music_session: #{music_session_id} was #{music_session_id_was}" if music_session_id_changed?
-
       if music_session_id_changed? and !(music_session_id_was.nil? or music_session_id_was.blank?)
         errors.add(:music_session, ValidationMessages::CANT_JOIN_MULTIPLE_SESSIONS)
         return false
@@ -118,13 +116,21 @@ module JamRuby
 
         if music_session.musician_access
           if music_session.approval_required
-            if !(music_session.music_session.creator == user || music_session.creator == user || music_session.invited_musicians.exists?(user.id))
+            if !(music_session.music_session.creator.id == user.id ||
+                music_session.creator.id == user.id ||
+                music_session.invited_musicians.exists?(user.id) ||
+                music_session.is_lesson_member?(user))
               errors.add(:approval_required, ValidationMessages::INVITE_REQUIRED)
               return false
             end
           end
         else
-          if !(music_session.music_session.creator == user || music_session.creator == user || music_session.invited_musicians.exists?(user.id))
+
+          if !(music_session.music_session.creator.id == user.id ||
+              music_session.creator.id == user.id ||
+              music_session.invited_musicians.exists?(user.id) ||
+              music_session.is_lesson_member?(user))
+
             errors.add(:musician_access, ValidationMessages::INVITE_REQUIRED)
             return false
           end
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/music_session.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/music_session.rb
index fb4a37d30..119568d18 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/music_session.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/music_session.rb
@@ -417,6 +417,11 @@ module JamRuby
       !!lesson_session
     end
 
+    # checks if this is a lesson and if the person indicated is a teacher or student
+    def is_lesson_member?(user)
+      is_lesson? && (lesson_session.teacher.id == user.id || lesson_session.student.id == user.id)
+    end
+
     def grouped_tracks
       tracks = []
       self.music_session_user_histories.each do |msuh|
diff --git a/web/spec/requests/active_music_sessions_api_spec.rb b/web/spec/requests/active_music_sessions_api_spec.rb
index d797a3ed3..71afde879 100755
--- a/web/spec/requests/active_music_sessions_api_spec.rb
+++ b/web/spec/requests/active_music_sessions_api_spec.rb
@@ -544,6 +544,36 @@ describe "Active Music Session API ", :type => :api do
       music_session["join_requests"][0]["id"].should == join_request["id"]
     end
 
+    it "should allow join of teacher or student" do
+      client = FactoryGirl.create(:connection, :user => user, :ip_address => "1.1.1.1")
+      teacher = FactoryGirl.create(:teacher_user)
+      lesson_session = normal_lesson(user, teacher)
+
+
+      music_session = lesson_session.music_session
+
+      music_session.musician_access.should be false
+      user2 = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+      client2 = FactoryGirl.create(:connection, :user => user2, :ip_address => "2.2.2.2")
+      client3 = FactoryGirl.create(:connection, :user => teacher, :ip_address => "3.3.3.3")
+
+      login(user)
+      post "/api/sessions/#{music_session["id"]}/participants.json", {  :client_id => client.client_id, :as_musician => true, :tracks => [{"instrument_id" => "bass guitar", "sound" => "mono", "client_track_id" => "client_track_guid"}]}.to_json, "CONTENT_TYPE" => 'application/json'
+      last_response.status.should eql(201)
+
+
+      login(user2)
+      post "/api/sessions/#{music_session["id"]}/participants.json", {  :client_id => client2.client_id, :as_musician => true, :tracks => [{"instrument_id" => "bass guitar", "sound" => "mono", "client_track_id" => "client_track_guid"}]}.to_json, "CONTENT_TYPE" => 'application/json'
+      last_response.status.should eql(422)
+      rejected_join_attempt = JSON.parse(last_response.body)
+      rejected_join_attempt["errors"]["musician_access"] = [ValidationMessages::INVITE_REQUIRED]
+
+      login(teacher)
+      post "/api/sessions/#{music_session["id"]}/participants.json", {  :client_id => client3.client_id, :as_musician => true, :tracks => [{"instrument_id" => "bass guitar", "sound" => "mono", "client_track_id" => "client_track_guid"}]}.to_json, "CONTENT_TYPE" => 'application/json'
+      last_response.status.should eql(201)
+
+    end
+
     it "should now allow join of approval_required=true session" do
       client = FactoryGirl.create(:connection, :user => user, :ip_address => "1.1.1.1")
       post '/api/sessions.json', defopts.merge({:approval_required => true}).to_json, "CONTENT_TYPE" => 'application/json'