Lesson policies:
Lessons should start on time. Some of the lesson time may need to be for taking out and putting away the instrument and / or tuning really quick so that the student sounds their best and so 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 not extra time on top of the designated allotted 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 is sick with a cold/ flu etc in your family please do NOT come to a lesson. Please message me with at least 24 hour 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 hour notice is needed ahead of time to cancel the lesson and/ or have a makeup lesson time. I will give the same courtesy! If less than 24 hours notice is given by the student / parent about canceling, then 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 have to 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 and set up, etc. We practice recital procedures in the lesson.
Parent involvement:
More efficient practice and success is achieved by the student if a parent is sitting 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 good for a beginner’s repertoire as well to have some 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 some easy holiday or religious violin songbooks, etc of pieces they’d like to learn, but these are the main two sets of books that I use in the studio.
Let me know if you have any other questions!