Lessons
When are lessons?
- I teach based on the Leander ISD calendar, starting lessons the week that school starts. There will be no lessons the week of Thanksgiving, the 2 weeks of Christmas break, and the week of Spring Break. Please visit calendar page for exact information about when lessons begin and end for the semester, and recital and festival dates.
- The majority of my school-aged lessons (K-12) will be scheduled from 3:00-8:00 p.m., Monday-Friday
- Homeschooled students are welcome to schedule lessons before 3:00
- Adult lessons are generally scheduled either after work or before 3:00 (depending on your work situation!)
- Preschool lessons are scheduled before 3:00
What if I miss a lesson?
- With the payment of tuition, a lesson slot is reserved in my teaching schedule for the student every week that the studio is open. As long as tuition is current, the student has the freedom to choose not to come to a lesson, without risk of losing his/her place in the studio. If you miss a lesson, there will be no credits or refunds given. However, make-up lessons are offered. If I have to cancel a lesson for any reason, I will certainly offer an aditional make-up lesson or refund.
- There are 3 ways to handle missed lessons. First, you may call any other student in the studio and try to switch lessons with him or her. I will provide all of my students with an e-mail and phone list of all of the students in the studio (with their permission of course). This works really well for lessons that you anticipate missing in advance.
- Secondly, if you call in advance to tell me that you will miss a lesson, you may be placed on my waiting list. I will then let you know throughout the semester if I have a free lesson space for a make-up lesson.
- Thirdly, I will offer one Saturday per semester as a make-up lesson day. If you notified me in advance about missing a lesson and were unable to attend a make-up lesson throughout the semester, you may schedule a lesson on this Saturday.
- If you just do not show up for a lesson and I have no advanced warning, no make-up lesson will be offered. Also, please note that I do not schedule make-up lessons outside of my normal teaching hours.
What type of technology do you offer in your lessons?
- Technology in my studio is used at almost each lesson, with every age of student. I use a digital piano to help students explore their pieces through different sounds, utilizing recordings on the keyboard for self-analysis, and through use of accompaniments as a metronome device to develop stable rhythm. I also have the capability in my studio to hook my digital piano to my computer, enabling students to record their performances and save them as MP3s for e-mailing or to put on their iPods or other MP3 players. Each of my students does a year round recording project, with a final CD of their performances completed at the end of the school year
- On the computer, I use music theory program to enforce theory concepts, use composition programs to help students realizing the notation of their pieces, and recording software to help students record and orchestrate their pieces.
What other concepts do you cover during your lessons?
- Throughout the year, I also incorporate theory, improvisation, harmonization, composition, an understanding of musical history, and transposition into each students’ lesson. All students are required to have some sort of theory book or worksheets. The other concepts are incorporated into weekly assignments.
Why are summer lessons important?
- From my own teaching experience, I have seen a lot of students who do not take summer lessons digress in their playing abilities. I understand that summer is a busy time for everyone, but scheduling 4 lessons over the summer break is an optimum way of keeping up one’s piano skills. Summer lessons are also a great time to focus on issues that we may not have time to focus on over the school year, such as composition, improvisation, study of music history, learning duets, learning jazz pieces, etc. I have also taught group lessons over the summer (2 or more students per lesson), and these have always been very rewarding with lots of progress and motivation.
- If you do not choose to take summer lessons, your spot for the fall is not guaranteed.
Summer lessons:
- 4 summers lessons are required to reserve a spot in the studio. Please contact me for current summer rates.