STUDIO POLICIES

WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT OUT OF LESSONS

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I will reserve a weekly time for you with lessons uniquely designed to meet you or your child’s needs and enhance musical and personal growth. These lessons will be pedagogically sound and be developed through my experiences as a musician and a wealth of available music education materials. Lessons will be targeted towards the development of musicality and artistic expression through work on fundamentals, technique, good practice habits, active listening, music theory, and performance. I will work with my students to identify musical goals and develop both short and long term objectives to achieve them. I will assign students clear and achievable tasks to spend time practicing over the week. 

 

I will prepare and give thought to a student’s development outside of their lesson time, and identify resources that will help them grow. I will keep in good communication with you by phone/email about student development and growth as we work together towards optimal learning.   Please notify me if there are ever concerns. 

 

If you are dropping your child off for a lesson, you may sit in the waiting room outside of the studio, sit quietly in the studio and observe the lesson, or explore beautiful downtown Bellefonte. I will not be able to supervise your child after their lesson has ended.

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WHAT I EXPECT OUT OF LESSONS  

 

Students are expected to arrive to lessons on time with all books and materials on hand, having practiced the assignments from the last lesson.  Students should not cram and try to prepare all their materials the day of their lesson.  Their embouchure (lip muscles) can be fatigued and the lesson can end up being unproductive.  Music practice takes consistency and sleep to truly pay off.

 

On time at my studio means: Arriving with enough time to assemble your instrument in the waiting area and being ready to play as soon as we begin the lesson, with music organized and in hand.  Late arrivals cannot be adjusted to move into a later time. The lesson will end at its scheduled time.

 

On time at your house means: The student should be playing and warmed-up for at least 10 minutes upon my arrival.  The lesson starts as I arrive.  Should I be late due to unexpected traffic or other glitches between houses, the student should keep playing/practicing until I arrive.  Time changes vary a bit due to different travel conditions each day but students will get their full lesson time starting when I arrive. 

 

Daily home practice is expected for true progress.  Of course life happens (and time can be made up on other days or the weekends), but at least an average of 30 minutes of practice a day is expected to make substantial progress in the long-term.  Students who practice this much or more will see exponential results, and will become the best musicians around in their age group.

 

I ask that my families respond promptly to emails and correspondence, and let me know of any changes at home or school that may be affecting the student. I ask that my families make music an active part of their family culture as much as possible! 

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MATERIALS

 

I will provide emails and links to purchase when a student is in need of pedagogical materials, like music and method books.

 

I will often provide photocopies of supplemental work.

 

I will send emails and links to purchase with recommendations on upgrading saxophone equipment such as reeds, mouthpieces, ligatures, and instruments.