Hello! I am very happy to welcome you/your child to my studio. Please read the following policies carefully, as they contain very important information. If you are interested in starting, please fill out the Lesson Interest Form here. I look forward to teaching you! 

 

Overview: 

I teach lessons weekly during the traditional school year from late-August to early June. These typically last about 22-30 minutes, or half of a class period. It is best to take lessons consistently throughout the entire year to maintain technique and efficiency.

 

Lesson Rates*: ​

Rates are based on ISD and in-school/at-home locations. Here is the current rate:​

• Lewisville ISD: (in-school):

  • Middle schools: ​$20 per 22-minute lesson 

  • High school: $24 per 30-minute lesson

• At-Home/Summer Rates: ​

  • ​$25 per 20-minute lesson

  • $30 per 30-minute lesson 

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*If you are in need of financial assistance, please let me AND your student's band directors know prior to starting lessons. 

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Payment plan:​

Payments are due on the 1st of each month and will vary based on weeks per month. An invoice will be sent a few days prior via email. 

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Payment options:

• Cash/Check

• Paypal*

• Venmo*

• Zelle (preferred)

*Can include optional G&S fee if desired 

 

IMPORTANT: No lessons will occur until payment is received. If the balance remains unpaid for over three days, I will communicate with the school director and lessons for the remaining month/quarter may be cancelled. 

 

Locations: 

In-school lessons will be during band or right before/after the school day. Please be aware that this may have increased scheduling difficulties and will require more organization on the student and parent’s part. At-home lessons typically occur after school hours or on weekends. 

 

Holidays/Breaks: 

The ISD calendar determines long holiday breaks. These breaks will not include lessons unless I am providing specific make-up slots. 

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• Thanksgiving Break (November) 

• Winter break (December-January) 

• Spring break (March) 

• Summer break (June-August, summer lessons can be offered on a case-by-case basis) 

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For single-day holidays, there are no lessons. Single-day holidays during the school year include the following: 

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• Labor Day (September) 

• Indigenous People’s Day (October) 

• Veteran’s Day (November) 

• Martin Luther King Day (January) 

• Memorial Day (May) 

• Any other single student holiday on the ISD calendar. 

 

MyMusicStaff 

All lesson information will be displayed on MyMusicStaff. After you register and schedule a lesson time, students/parents will be sent a login email to their respective portals. This will allow you to see all lesson times and notes, receive reminders, view billing/invoices, and sign up for makeup slots. Please check this portal often for important information and updates. 

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Virtual/Zoom Lessons 

I highly recommend taking in-person lessons if possible, but virtual lessons are always an option if that is more convenient for the student. I've had success with long-term virtual students and they can have a beneficial experience with online teaching. Please use a desktop computer or laptop when having a virtual lesson for the best results. An external microphone will also significantly increase sound quality. 

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Most video-calling services are unfriendly to instrument sounds and will automatically drown them out, making virtual lessons almost impossible. Luckily, Zoom has created the option for original sound to come through the microphone and will allow us to fully hear each other play.  See below for specific technology instructions for proper audio. 

Please go through these instructions PRIOR to a Zoom lesson to ensure our time is productive! 

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1. Sign into the Zoom app via desktop onto the main startup page. You are not able to do these instructions/features on a phone or tablet.  

2. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Settings"

3. Select "Audio" on the left side menu 

4. Under "Audio Profile", select "Original sound for musicians" and make sure that "High-fidelity music mode" is checked.

5. Uncheck "Echo cancellation" and "Stereo audio"  

6. When logged into a meeting, you should now see "Original sound for musicians: Off" in the top left corner of the screen. To turn it on, simply click the text. For virtual lessons, please make sure that it is turned ON.  

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Additional instructions/pictures can be found here​

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Cancellations/Schedule Changes: 

All absences must be given at least 24 hours in advance to be excused for make-up lessons. This includes appointments, school commitments, or any other events known ahead of time. If given less than 24 hours, it will be billed and not eligible for a makeup credit.

 

If the following occurs: 

• Illness: If you/your child is sick, please inform me at least 2 hours in advance of the lesson. Any later will result in an unexcused/billed absence. Please do not come/play if you are feeling unwell to avoid spreading any germs.  

• School Closures/Weather: If school unexpectedly closes or there is weather that is unsafe to travel in, you will receive a makeup credit. Additionally, if there are unexpected bell schedule changes, you will also receive a makeup credit.

• Emergencies: I understand that unexpected things happen. In the case of an emergency, please inform me at your earliest convenience and we will go from there. 

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In-School activities/changes: I make every effort to coordinate with band directors regarding school-wide events and typically plan/communicate my teaching schedule in advance. For students receiving in-school lessons, I ask that parents also communicate any events that may affect their child’s schedule—such as standardized testing, AP exams, UIL events, class schedule changes, assemblies, early releases, or field trips. If I am not informed of these conflicts by either the directors or parents, it may result in an unexcused absence. If there is a sudden schedule change that was not communicated by ahead of time by the school/district, you will receive a make-up credit. 

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Teacher absences: In the event that I need to reschedule due to sickness/performances/rehearsals, I will inform you and try to make those arrangements well ahead of time. I do my best to have any make-up lessons from my absence take place in-person. If a make-up lesson is not possible, I can either credit the lesson for the following month or reimburse. 

 

Lesson changes:  Lessons times may vary per semester, depending on my class schedule and performances. I will reach out ahead of time if I expect any conflicts. 

 

Continued Absences: If a student has over three absences (excused or unexcused), I will reach out to further discuss the continuation of lessons/scheduling. 

 

Lesson Discontinuation: If you wish to discontinue lessons before the end of the semester, please inform me at least one week before the 1st of the month and fill out the Lesson Discontinuation Form here. If that deadline is not met, you may be billed for the next month. If billed, you may choose to continue lessons for that month and discontinue the following month. 
 

Makeup lessons: 

If an absence is excused with at least 24 hours' notice, or results from a scheduling conflict on my end, I will do my best to schedule a make-up lesson during the regular school day. At-home lessons are an option if need be. If a make-up cannot be arranged in a timely manner, the lesson will be either refunded or credited to the following month’s invoice. Unexcused absences are not eligible for make-up lessons, refunds, or credits.

 

Diversity and Inclusion Policy:

I strive for my studio to be inclusive and welcoming to all students. Bullying or hurtful actions of any kind will not be tolerated and may result in further discussion/action. Thank you for understanding and contributing to a healthy and inclusive learning environment. 

 

Practicing: 

Every art form requires work. By taking lessons, you are also committing to practice time. Please dedicate at least 25-30 minutes each day to practicing your materials. Coming prepared is an essential part of lessons and will maximize our time together. Here are examples of what we will work on: 

• Fundamentals: This includes short exercises to improve overall technique on the clarinet such as long tones, scales, articulation, key signatures, rhythm, etc. 

• Etudes: These are short, unaccompanied pieces that focus on the elements of fundamentals. Popular etudes are written by Hyacinthe Klose, David Hite, and Cyrille Rose. 

• Solo Repertoire: These are longer works for solo clarinet/clarinet and piano and are typically more challenging. Composers with famous clarinet repertoire include Camille Saint-Saens, Theresa Martin, C.M. von Weber, Francis Poulenc, and Johannes Brahms.

• Audition repertoire: Audition materials for band, Region, All-State, and Solo/Ensemble will be incorporated into the lesson. This may include mock auditions and audio recording. 

• Band music: Although I typically don't focus solely on band music during lessons, please feel free to bring specific pieces/passages that need extra help. 

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Lesson Evaluations 

Individual lesson evaluations will be provided to all students/parents at the end of each semester. These evaluations will highlight the student’s progress, acknowledge improvements, and identify areas for further development. My goal is to foster a growth mindset and set meaningful goals for future lessons. 

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