For one half-hour per week: $60.00/month
One hour per week: $100.00/month, which is recommended for adult students or students studying both violin and piano.
If you start after the first week of the month, I can pro-rate your fees and wouldn't charge you for the whole month. Lesson fees are due the first week of every month, at your lesson. There is a $5.00 late fee if the fees are paid after the first week.
Children may start as early as four years of age, but this requires an effective "Suzuki triangle" (student/parent/teacher) in order to be successful. The parent is the home teacher. I use Suzuki method for the little ones. It is also very effective to start lessons when the child is six or older. And adult students are very welcome; no one is "too young or too old to Twinkle."
I do have special rates for big families. All sorts of combinations are possible: the parent(s) may want a lesson, and any number of children may take both piano and a stringed instrument. Lessons may consist in being in my home for two or three hours; I try to remain flexible. I have some time free during the day to accommodate homeschool families, or families who travel some distance to take lessons.
It is a Suzuki tradition that everyone is welcome to observe at lessons, and I have plenty of toys for children to play with while they're here. They just must play quietly and pick up their toys before they leave. Family members and friends are also very welcome.
Yes; some teachers insist on the parent buying a piano, but I don't feel that way. I think the action on a keyboard is actually easier for the younger student, though if lessons are continued after a year, parents need to look into purchase of a piano. Pianos are frequently available through craigslist, if you keep an eye on that.
Yes; I do this frequently, though the underlying technical and theoretical principles are the same in all styles of playing. If students so desire, we use the American Fiddle Method which goes well with the Suzuki books, and I have a large library of jazz piano repertoire. Mariachi pieces are also included in the repertoire, and are performed every year at the recitals, which are held in December and May (scheduled around the Lubbock ballet). Everyone gets a thorough grounding in music theory and music reading.
I don't do that, but if you want that—particularly for a child three to four years old—if you will call me, I'll give you a referral to a lady here in town who does that.
I don't do that, I'm sorry. I find that lessons taken on this basis are not very productive. However, if you just want a coaching for some specific event, I would be happy to schedule that for you. Sometimes a student is just really wanting coaching for some specific audition, and misunderstandings can arise. Just be specific about what you want. My fee for coaching is $40.00 an hour.
I'm an eclectic teacher, and use what I think is most effective: Suzuki with the little ones and Suzuki plus more traditional works, the older the student is. I think I may teach more music theory and history than many teachers do; thus the requirement of a three-ring, looseleaf notebook for handouts and notes.
To new students: I'll send you the email links to the required materials (Suzuki books and CDs). To students who have studied before: I can determine what books you may need after your first lesson. Pretty much all of the materials I use may be found on the sheet music page. More advanced violin and viola students, please see:
Pre-College Prep.
To older string students who have only studied in public school: Even at my advanced level, if I were to go to a new violin professor in university, they would start me again using their own methodologies. So you will probably need to do that, too, though your progress may be faster than someone who has not studied at all. Patience is particularly required when private lessons are started later on, but the rewards are substantial.
Violins come in "fractional sizes" (4/4, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, even a tiny 1/32). The 4/4 is full size, suitable for nearly all adults. The 7/8 size is rather rare, and only available in the more expensive instruments. It is frequently used by adults who are very petite. The best price point I can find for that is $625.00 Please see: K500 Student Outfit.)
Violas While violins come in fractional sizes, violas are measured in inches (17", 16 1/2", 16", 15", 14", 13", 12"). For students changing from violin to viola, or adding viola after studying violin, the 14" viola is approximately the same size as a full size violin. Many violists start on violin. It may be difficult to find a 12" viola with a good sound on the C string.
The 16" is the usual adult size. Any size above the 16" may be difficult to handle for young people and is probably not recommended. Viola length is measured in centimeters in Europe (41cm, 41.5cm and 42cm), and there is no exact standard with respect to size. Many professional violists play a 17" viola; Michael Tree (of the
Guarneri Quartet), Bruno Giuranna, Gerard Coussè. [See discussion on Maestronet]
The GEWA violin outfits are $195.00. Viola outfits are $230.00. "Outfits" come with bow, case and rosin. If the student upgrades at a later time, you may trade in the old instrument to me and I will credit you with the full amount you paid for it originally, minus bow rehair, if needed. Many students upgrade bows, cases and their instruments. We also have accessories available, as a rule, such as stands, chromatic tuners, better rosin, etc. It usually takes five business days for the new violin or viola to arrive.
I am a studio musician with two university degrees in violin performance and conducting (Rice and North Texas). I have extensive experience as an orchestral and chamber music player; I have been playing the violin and piano for 50 years. I have done doctoral work in composition (Tech) and continue to work as a composer and writer in string pedagogy. I've been cited several times in the periodical Strad and am involved in Connexions, which is an open source project based at Rice University. Please see my résumé for further information. Also see: Publications List.
