On this page, you will find information regarding my Studio, which include Lesson Rates, Studio Vacation Schedule, and tips for taking music lessons.

STUDIO ORGANIZATION

1. Teaching Year:  Lessons are offered during the week on an ongoing trimester basis. Fall semester runs basically from September through early January, and Spring semester runs basically from mid-January through May. The Summer semester runs from June through August on a flexible schedule designed around individual family vacation plans.
   
   
2. Enrollment Options: Fall/Spring/Summer/Pay as you go:
   -Fall and Spring semester consists of 15 lessons each. -The shorter summer semester is an 8-week flexible schedule with three purposes in mind:
   A) to provide some students with an opportunity to learn which they may not otherwise have during the school year, so they can be exposed to the joys of music;
   B) to give new students a flexible opportunity over the summer to be more prepared as they enter school in the fall;
   C) to give serious students an opportunity to continue developing for the fall semester.
   Lesson Rates: (see payment options below)
   
   
3. Late, missed, or cancelled lessons: 
   -In the event of a late arrival to a lesson, the remainder of the time will be dedicated to that lesson.
   -A missed lesson is simply a missed opportunity.
   -If cancellation is made up to 24 hours prior to the lesson, every effort will be made to reschedule that lesson, based on my availability.
   -But a missed makeup lesson also will not be rescheduled.
   - Sometimes I find I must cancel a lesson, for snowdays or other infrequent reasons. In this case, every effort is made to reschedule that lesson at no additional cost.
    
   TIPS FOR TAKING MUSIC LESSONS:
   
   
4. Basic Musicianship:  To be a well-rounded musician, it is important to listen to many different styles of music — from jazz to classical, opera to folk, pop to country, hip-hop, reggae, rap, bluegrass, latin ~ immerse yourself in many styles, even ones you don't usually listen to, and expand your tastes.  Become familiar with performers on other instruments as well, since this is important to developing good musicianship and becoming a versatile and sensitive performer.  You can find links to some classic examples of various vocal styles on my Links webpage to help get you started.
   
   
5. Responsibility: You will need to purchase music and other materials for lessons from time to time. Remember to bring your music with you to each lesson — have a separate bag for your music to help keep everything together for lesson-day.  Get a three-ring binder for loose music to keep it in good condition.  Recordings of lessons are available; If you prefer and have a hand-held recording device of your own, you can bring it with you to record your lessons. 
   
   
6. Practice:  Regular daily practice is necessary in order to see progress.  Depending on age and ability, practice sessions should last 20-45 minutes a day.  This is discussed individually at lessons.
   
   
7. You are on your way to exploring the joy of music, and uncovering your innate musical potential!

LESSON RATES

Option 1) Pay as you go : Individual lessons scheduled by availability are $40/half hour. This includes any expenses incurred, and are based on my availability.

Option 2) Fall and Spring semester : These are 15 half-hour lessons, scheduled for a weekly designated time slot, payable as follows:
option A)$360 per semester if the lessons are paid in advance.
option B) Four payments of $100 each paid at the beginning of each month of the Fall and Spring semesters ($400 per semester).
option C) Weekly payments of $30 each paid at the time of the lesson ($450 per semester).

Option 3) Summer flex-semester : consists of 8 lessons scheduled per family convenience, at a specific time slot or catch-as-catch-can based on my availability, for $210 paid at the first lesson.

Lessons are pro-rated based on start date. Every effort will be made to reschedule lessons before the end of the semester ~ no refunds are offered.  

STUDIO VACATION SCHEDULE

Vacation dates for the Fall 2011-Spring 2012 Studio year are based on the Londonderry school calendar ( see calendar link - applicable key is the No School Days (NS) boxes). In the event that your vacation weeks differ from those listed at the calendar link, arrangements can be made to take a lesson during alternate weeks, based on my availability. Otherwise, the lesson will be rescheduled to a mutually agreeable time, or will be put toward the end of the semester in which payment is made: The following National Holidays are also observed:

Labor Day
Columbus Day
Martin Luther King Day
Memorial Day
July 4