Private Lessons

All guitarists in the studio learn in a private lesson setting.  Parents are welcome and encouraged to sit in on the lesson.  For younger students, parents should be there so that they are better able to assist during practice at home.  Beginning students will usually start with a half-hour lesson.  Once students have developed the necessary skills they will also join the master classes.

Tuition & Sessions

We follow a session system for your study and tuition. Regular students receive a reduced rate by committing to the full session for study.  Your monthly payments cover all of our activities (lessons, master classes, rehearsals and recitals) over the course of the session.

You either can pay your tuition at the first lesson of each month or, if you prefer, you can make one full payment the first month to cover the whole session.  Some financial assistance is available for those who qualify.  Inquire about details.

Monthly payments should be made at the first lesson of the month.  After the 15th of the month payment is considered overdue and we will send you a reminder via email.

Payment by check or Venmo is preferred.  If paying in cash, please use an envelope with the student’s name, the month and the amount.

Summer session covers with eight lessons (which includes one master class for those participants).  The specific dates are on the calendar.  The total cost for the summer semester is $240 for a half-hour slot and $440 for a one-hour slot.

As always, I do my best to accommodate travel and other plans, especially during the summer.  Lessons can usually be rearranged or made up when times are available.

 

Full-session students’ reduced rate

Half-hour private lesson:  $120 per month

45-minute private lesson:  $175 per month

One-hour private lesson:  $220 per month

Single Lessons

One-hour private lesson:  $65

30-minute, single lesson: $35

Fall Session – late-August through early-December
4 Payments Due Monthly

Spring Session – January through May
5 Payments Due Monthly

Summer Session – June through July
2 Payments Due Monthly

Absences

Students are expected to be at their lessons each week.  If due to illness or for another serious reason a student must miss a lesson, please give as much notice as possible.  If possible, lessons will be made up at a time available to both the instructor and the student.  If, for any reason, the instructor has a schedule conflict, the lesson will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

Practice & Commitment

Your instructor is committed to providing the highest quality study environment and guidance with a sensitivity to the development of the individual student. Fulfilling this mission requires a reciprocal commitment from students and, for younger people, from their parents.

In order to fully enjoy the rewards of playing the guitar, students must be willing to commit to the discipline of a regular practice schedule. Consistent daily practice is a necessity for training the mind and body to play a musical instrument. This also means committing to a given lesson time slot and arriving in a timely manner.  Parents of younger students should aid and encourage their children in fulfilling these commitments.  

Students must create their own practice schedules. Practicing must be regular and consistent for the development of strong musical skills. Practice schedules will vary from student to student but a general recommendation would be for daily practice of at least 20-30 minutes (10 minutes for beginners). It is more effective to practice daily and for a shorter time period than to practice for long stretches once or twice per week. More advanced players should be investing an hour or more to daily practice.

Students should also designate an area specifically for practicing. Students are more successful at maintaining a practice schedule when instrument, music, chair and stand are easily accessible.

Your instructor can only guide; it is the student who must have the discipline to do the work in order to develop the skills to play the instrument well.

What You Will Need

Guitar:  Students must have an appropriate instrument for the style and skill level of their study. Your instructor can help you to choose an instrument that will work for you.  All students must have an acoustic guitar which is not too large for them. Nylon-stringed instruments are preferred but steel-string guitars may be used.

Text:  Beginning students will use different texts depending on age, ability and interest.  Most texts are available from your instructor, but you may purchase them on your own if you prefer.  Texts for more advanced students will be selected on an individual basis.

Folder/Binder Each student will need a lesson folder for keeping track of lesson assignments and additional sheet music. Folders should be the 3-prong-type made of paper/cardboard with pockets.  Plastic folders do not work well.

Chair/Bench:  An appropriately-sized, sturdy chair or bench is necessary for good playing posture.  (To test this, student should sit on the chair with feet flat.  The thighs should be parallel to the floor).   Adjustable piano benches work well for this.

Music Stand:  A simple, portable music stand is sufficient to hold the book and other music.  If you prefer you can also get a sturdier model.  These can be purchased at any musical instrument store.

Guitar Support or Footstool:  For the best technique, the neck of the guitar should be raised at a good angle.  A guitar support or small footstool can be used in order to raise the instrument to the appropriate height.  A guitar support attaches to the instrument via suction cups and allows you to keep your feet flat on the ground.  The ErgoPlay guitar support is my recommendation. Either item can be purchased at StringsbyMail.com or another musical instrument store.

Optional Items:  Students may also wish to have a tuner, a gig bag/guitar case, guitar stand, and guitar wall-hanger.  It’s also a good idea to have an extra pack of strings handy.

The instructor will give full details of the requirements for each student at the first lesson.

Quick List

  • Guitar
  • Text
  • Folder/Binder
  • Chair/Bench
  • Music Stand
  • Footstool or Guitar Support
  • Optional Items

Master Classes

Several times during the year we gather as a studio to perform for one another and to study more in depth a particular musical topic as a master class. Master classes provide students with an opportunity to perform in a relaxed atmosphere for others who are also studying the instrument. Master classes prepare players for recitals and other public performances. They help to build confidence and they provide valuable feedback from peers and instructor.  Additionally, we explore topics and studies not included in the private lesson setting. Sample topics include: musical styles & composers, artists, and instrument construction & maintenance.

Students are divided by age and ability and work in a small group.

Master classes are held in lieu of private lessons for that week for those students who are at the appropriate skill level. 

Recitals

In May and December the studio offers its public recitals.

In the fall session students are assigned a piece of music to play with an ensemble composed of other students.  The December recital focuses on ensemble performances.

For the spring session students may select a piece to be performed either as a solo or as a duet with the instructor.  The May recital focuses on these solo and duet performances.