Lessons

Lessons are offered as stand-alones, on a weekly-basis, or on a bi-weekly basis, whichever fits the student's needs, though weekly lessons are recommended. Lessons must be scheduled at least one week in advance.

Students are welcome to join the studio at any time, pending my schedule and availability.

In-person lessons take place in my studio, located in the East Brainerd neighborhood of Chattanooga, TN. The exact address will be given upon enrollment.

Tardiness: Tardiness to lessons will not be made up as other students and commitments immediately follow lesson times.  

Absences: If a student is to miss a lesson, a 24-hour notice must be given in advance. With proper notice, a makeup lesson will be rescheduled within thirty days. If the student has not made up their lesson within thirty days, they will be charged the full lesson rate. Less than a 24-hour notice or no notice at all results in a forfeited lesson without makeup or refund. If I must miss a lesson due to illness or emergency, the lesson will be made up.  

Illness: For the health and safety of all members of the studio, students may not attend in-person lessons if they are ill. In the case of illness, online lessons may be offered to the student at the same time as their regular lesson schedule or a makeup lesson will be given with a 24-hour advance notice. 

Students who are taking lessons in person should be dropped off and picked up promptly. Children who are not my students may not be left unattended and should not distract from the lesson.  

Students taking online lessons should remove themselves from potential distractions for the duration of the lesson such as pets, television, and the like. Quiet spaces are preferred and students should ensure their computer equipment is working before signing on to the lesson.

For both in-person and online lessons, parents are invited to sit silently in the student’s lesson as long as their presence is not disruptive to the student. There is no gum chewing allowed during the lesson. All phones should be set to silent.

Students are expected to be prepared for their lessons by practicing throughout the week. Practice happens at home, not in the lesson. Just like athletes must practice their sport to become better, musicians must also devote time each day to getting better at playing their instrument. Practice fosters discipline and commitment, and without it, students are unable to progress.  

Students are expected to practice for the following durations: 

• Those enrolled in 30-minute lessons: 10-20 minutes a day for at least five days a week 
• Those enrolled in 45-minute lessons: 20-30 minutes a day for at least five days a week 
• Those enrolled in 60-minute lessons: 30-45 minutes a day for at least five days a week 
• Any student who desires to major in music in college should practice 45 minutes to an hour and a half each day, if not more, at least five times a week