Lesson policies:
Lessons should start on time. Some lesson time may need to be spent taking out and putting
away the instrument and/or tuning quickly so the student sounds their best and the instrument is
transported safely.
The student is welcome to prep ahead of time if taking a few minutes for tuning, etc is a concern
and they know how to tune. I try to teach tuning basics in the first month. There is no extra time
beyond the designated lesson time frame for taking instruments out or putting them away. I
sometimes have lessons back-to-back, so that is why that is important.
Illness and Attendance:
If anyone in your family is sick with a cold/flu, etc., please do NOT come to a lesson. Please
message me with at least 24 hours’ notice if possible so we can arrange something, and I will
give you the same courtesy if I am sick. We can do a FaceTime lesson instead - they are
actually very effective. Or, if that is not possible, we can do a makeup lesson for those times!
This is very important because if I’m sick, it affects the other students’ lessons the rest of the
week.
With the exception of sudden sickness the day of, at least 24 hours’ notice is needed to cancel
the lesson and/or schedule a makeup lesson. I will give the same courtesy! If the student/parent
gives less than 24 hours’ notice about canceling, the lesson is still paid in full, and there is no
makeup. Exceptions are for sudden sickness. Then there are two possible makeups per six
months for those sudden sickness exceptions.
Punctuality: Please be on time. I have lessons back-to-back sometimes, so this is very
important because I must end the lesson on time to prepare for the next one. I can’t go over
time because it affects the other students’ lessons and schedules.
Recitals:
We have two recitals per year, and there is a small cost for those (each one is the same as the
price of a lesson) for venue rental, setup, etc. We practice recital procedures in the lesson.
Parent involvement:
Students practice more efficiently and succeed more when a parent sits in the lesson, so the
parent knows what was taught and can help the student practice at home. This is mandatory for
students 15 and younger and suggested for older students as well, especially at first; though 16
and up, if the parent wants to sit outside the room, that’s okay.
Method Books and tentative plan for the first lesson:
For beginning string players, I’ve found String Explorer Book 1 to be a great method book for
teaching technique and posture, music theory, sight-reading, and composing/ improvising
music. The Suzuki method books are also good for a beginner’s repertoire, with enjoyable
songs to play for concerts that sound more advanced than they are. There are other possible
music method books we could use depending on interest and skill level, and students are
welcome to pick out easy holiday or religious violin songbooks, etc., or pieces they’d like to
learn, but these are the two main sets of books I use in the studio.
Let me know if you have any other questions!