Dr. Suzuki says, "Practice every day except days when you don't eat."
Comments from students, teachers, and parents:
Student got her report card. Teacher made a comment that she had improved.
Are you Student's teacher? She is doing so much better!
Student actually practices straight through her practice time without dawdling now!
I like the music that we work on in lessons.
I wanted to thank you for all your lessons the last 2 years that helped me achieve one of my goals…Your enthusiasm for what you do was very motivating and inspiring.
I really want to thank you…I can tell you really love what you’re doing and you take the lessons seriously. Student never would have practiced at home like that before.
Private Lessons
Lessons take place at either my home or Family Music Center. See my resume pages for musical background and experience.
Contact me for an informal interview session and times. Costs are as follows, covering the cost of preparation, lesson time, music, and other variables. Students and families are responsible for purchasing their own music, accessories, supplies, etc.
Viola/Violin 1 month tuition Cello/Theory 1 month tuition
1/2 hr: $17 $68 1/2 hr: $17 $68
45 min: $22 $88 45 min: $22 $88
1 hr: $25 $100
**MAKE-UP LESSONS:
Lessons can be made up if teacher is notified at least 24 hours in advance or in extenuating/emergency situations. Lessons cancelled within 24 hours of lesson time will be forfeited. If teacher notifies student of lesson time change, lesson can be rescheduled except for emergency situations.
GROUP LESSONS
These lessons offer a discounted rate per student, and are treated just like private lessons, except that there are 3-5 students having a lesson at the same time and the lessons are 45 minutes in length. This can prove very beneficial to the students especially at a younger age or beginning stage, as they watch their comrades grow, practice together, and perform for each other, yet the class is small enough to allow for individual attention on each student. Group lessons are available depending upon interest in the studio, and are for performance lessons only (violin, viola, cello). Group lesson students need to bring their own stand for each lesson as well as their usual supplies.
Viola/Violin/Cello 1 month tuition group lessons
45 min: $66 per student
Studio Lesson Guidelines
I am usually very flexible with scheduling hours, as I will want my students to be as well. Here are my expectations:
-We will discuss an appropriate time to meet that is regular, unless otherwise needed. Please respect the availability of lesson times.
-Payment is due on the first lesson date of the month. Late payments will incur a $3 late fee each week it is late. Payments may also be mailed to avoid extra late fees.
-CANCELLING: I need at least 24 hours notice if you cancel (unless an emergency arises), or you will still be charged for the lesson. I do prepare to teach my lessons, as I expect you to come prepared for them. If you follow the policy, we can reschedule your lesson for that week and it will be credited from the original payment of it.
-The student is expected to attend every planned lesson, with a notebook for assignments, appropriate music and instrument and supplies.
-I will be fair and honest with all of my students and families. I also have the right to suspend lessons should I feel they are not going well (for example, the student consistently comes unprepared, lessons are not being paid for, supplies are not replenished when necessary, attitude problems, etc).
-If there is a financial situation, please let me know so we can work things out. Music lessons should be enjoyable, educational, and accessible to all!
-If you have a habit of being sick or travel regularly (within reason), tell me now! Lots of precious time is wasted because students do not tell the teacher enough in advance if they will be gone or sick. Understandably, sudden illnesses still need to be confirmed with the teacher before cancelling so we can work out a rescheduled time.
**If you still have questions or are unsure about something, please ask before a problem could arise.
**If you would like to reschedule a lesson one week, please see if you can switch lesson times with someone on the lesson list by contacting them, and let me know of the switch before the date happens.
Music Education Philosophy
The most learning will happen from hands-on and real time experience. Rather than specifically choosing a teacher-centered or a student-centered classroom setting, my teaching style is all-encompassing. As a music educator, I lead rehearsals and lessons and shape my lesson plans based on my education of the materials I teach the students, but each student brings their own studies, skills, talents, and questions to the whole ensemble in order to create a more solid and student-grown performance in the end, regardless of how “perfect” the outcome may be. In music, each performance is unique because of its own flaws and ebb and flow of real time, and that is what the students learn to appreciate. They learn and teach themselves to be musicians and better citizens by becoming musical, knowledgeble, mentoring, disciplined, goal-oriented, responsible, and appreciative of not just the fine arts themselves, but of the process of how those arts are formed and maintained.
I start by clearly defining the expectations for behaviors and curricula from the beginning so there should be minimal to no doubt about standards to be attained (even at different levels of learning). I teach by visiting the basic steps to music in an ensemble or as a soloist (sight-reading, rhythm training, singing, music theory, music history), and presenting a sequence of steps the class may follow in order to achieve the next closest goal. I continue in this manner until the goals are reached, setting higher and higher goals for each student and each ensemble. I use a variety of approaches in my teaching to reach each individual including aural, visual, and especially kinesthetic activities to stimulate interest and provide an opportunity for musical and/or personal growth in the whole group. I will acknowledge goals that have been attained and challenge the group to become more pro-active thinkers and musicians in a variety of activities, to always reach for the next level. Even though we may have done great, we can always shoot for excellence.
As a musician, I always find myself researching better ways, historical approaches, or new ways to study, perform, or teach something that may be very easy or quite difficult. Reflection is an important part of the learning process. Even though I might practice something well and the performance goes horridly, I can reflect on the past experience to help me along on my next journey. I deem it rather important for myself and students to realize in real time what efforts they are putting forth, to consider how it has or has not worked for them in the past, and to find a way to make things easier through preparation in the future. As previously stated, the most learning will happen from hands-on and real time experience.
Certainly not least in priority or the very last item in my personal philosophy on music education is common etiquette. In my classroom at all times there will be expected an atmosphere of respect, positive attitudes, friendliness, and the hunger for learning more. My classroom will always be a place open to new ideas, and will always provide an outlet for curriculum that relates to other topics such as societal values, culture, history, and integration of all sorts of people and ideas. My teaching approach is all-encompassing and always thriving for unique and exciting ways to learn, not always to teach.
Student/Family Obligation:
Bring to lesson: Instrument, Accessories (rosin, shoulder rest, strings, etc), notebook, pencil---keep track of this notebook for lesson materials and updates so you know what you need to practice, aside from your own materials.
Evaluations: Please remember to fill these out when I give them to you. It is the best way for me to retrieve some of your thoughts about how our lessons are going, and to improve our studying together.
Honesty: is the best policy. Practice is important for your growth in and out of the studio. Not practicing will potentially give me discretion to release you from my studio.
Attitude: Carry a good one throughout your lessons (in and out of practice)!
Attendance/Arrival: Please show up to each scheduled lesson a few minutes early to quietly get out your instrument, supplies, etc while the previous student is finishing up. Please call at least 24 hours in advance regarding a lesson cancellation.
Fees: are due at the beginning of each month (the first lesson).
Daily practice: or at minimum a total of 3 hours or more each week. Quality short-time practicing is better than spending many hours struggling or breezing through your music.
Fun time: Don't forget that playing music is supposed to be fun. If ever you are struggling with it, talk with me so we can find an alternative approach.
Practice tips
Here are some generalized practice tips to help you during your most valuable practicing times (and even while you're not practicing).
Diet: HEALTHY. This will aid in prevention or progress of arthritis, tendonitis, poor posture and poor breathing techniques (yes in strings!), and anything else that ends in -itis, -ogy, or -tion
Time: Practice in smaller time slots rather than hours at a time. This gives your brain and body a rest in between.
Hydrate: Drink plenty of water and make sure to do some slight physical stretches and mental and physical warm-ups before diving into your most intense and difficult practicing.
How to practice: do not just breeze over the music and call it quits. Go over the parts you need most work on and work you way out from there. By the time you reach those parts from several measures befoer, you should not have problems through that section anymore.
Passages: Scales and arpeggios are common in string music. In a regular habit of these, musical passages will seem much easier to you. Scales really do pay off!
Cramming: DON'T. Think about contest/concert music well in advance to prepare for it. Slow practice is better than no practice.
Mental Practice: pays off in great proportions if you happen to be traveling and are unable to bring your instrument. Work on fingerings, bowings, and more by using your left hand on your right forearm as if your right arm were the fingerboard. Use your right hand also as if you had a bow.
Singing: your music and checking intonation helps you get through difficult key changes and sections with accidentals, and develops your ear for good intonation at the same time.
Ask: for help! There is no shame in gain. Do not get yourself frustrated. Individuals learn in individual ways. Share your ideas with friends to see if they have suggestions.
Recordings: there is a chance your piece may be on a recording. Listen to it for some ideas (but develop your own personal style to it). Watch and listen and steal techniques you can apply to your piece.
Metronome: use it and a tuner to ensure the best tempo and intonation.
There are plenty more, but these are successful ideas. Try them and prove to me they don't work!
Recitals
Studio recitals are required** and are included with lessons. Please do your best to reserve the dates as soon as you know about them.
Studio recitals will be held during one or more of the following times per year:
Fall/Winter Season (December)
Spring Season (April-May)
Summer Season (August)
Locations will be determined for each venue. Families are asked only to provide something at the reception and of course student transportation to and from location. An accompanist may or may not be used and you can use your own if you wish.
Performances are an excellent way to grow professionally as a player as well as a citizen of community. We will perform for any of or a combination of the following as things work out:
Families, Friends, Senior Citizens, Schools, Churches, Parks, Other Students, Other Teachers, Special Events, etc.