LESSONS
GUITAR - BASS - UKULELE
- PRIVATE LESSONS - $40/hour/week (effective January 2018*)- Utilizing a state-of-the-art lesson studio with full home audio recording capabilities and a full range of musical instruments, amplifiers, equipment and gear. We supply amps, cords, tuners, music, you supply the instrument and desire (some instruments are available for loan). Lessons are scheduled once per week for 50-55 sessions in either late afternoon or early evening time slots. Tuition for private in-studio lessons are $40.00 per session or usually $160.00 for a 4-lesson month. We are very flexible and will allow for occasional rescheduling. While our cancellation policy is liberal (>24 hours notice), we also recognize family needs and sick days. Please view our studio policies for additional information. *Please note that we reserve the right to adjust or change our lesson tuition fee schedule at any time.
- MATERIALS:
Students will need a quality playable Guitar, Bass, Piano/keyboard, or Ukulele, and appropriate support materials including a back up set of strings, strap, cord (if electric), case, and an electronic tuner. We’ve been trying to go paperless for several years, and TABS/music will normally be sent out as PDF documents via text or email. Some students do prefer reading off printed sheets, and we leave it up to them to manage any music binders. We do provide a music stand at our workstation during lessons.
LESSONS:
Lessons are usually about 50-55 minutes. Students can enter and wait briefly inside, but please do not interrupt other student lessons by coming too early or staying late. Parents are welcome to stay for the lesson (and many do) and wi-fi is available for your use.
TUITION:
Payment for lesson tuition is ALWAYS due the first week of every month in full. We offer online invoicing through SQUARE:- CREDIT CARD - Tuition for the month in an emailed invoice (we use Square). Students will be invoiced and can pay online OR swipe their card at the first lesson in studio.
- CASH is acceptable, but we can’t guarantee change.
- CREDIT CARD - Tuition for the month in an emailed invoice (we use Square). Students will be invoiced and can pay online OR swipe their card at the first lesson in studio.
- We will make every attempt to send out INVOICES a few days prior to the start of the month and ask that you use email to notify us of any schedule changes in advance. If the student misses the first lesson of the month for any reason we still expect the payment to arrive that week via online payment or mailed check. We reserve the right to apply a late fee if the payment is missed. We allow for vacations or track out times with a policy for a minimum of maintaining 3 lessons in the month. This applies only to one month (not consecutive months), and will reserve your scheduled lesson time. Please note that some months will have 5 lessons.
TUITION is $40 per lesson/week. Semi-private lessons (two students) tuition is $65 per lesson/week.
CANCELLATIONS:
We ask for the courtesy of a 24 hour notification on lesson cancellations, via email or directly to my cell at 919-271-8473 (text messages are also fine). This will allow us to schedule other student make-up times into your slot and avoid wasted hours on our schedule. With 24 hour notification a student will be eligible for a make-up lesson WITHIN THE SAME MONTH. Available make-up times are by appointment
Please NOTE that Tuition is still due on lessons cancelled with less than 24 hour notification at our discretion.
WE also reserve the right to cancel and or move lessons to meet our own schedule needs. Credits will be moved forward into the next month or a make-up time will be offered.
Please NOTE that we do not offer refunds on cancelled lessons but will always honor payed lessons with make-ups.
PRACTICING:
I realize that with the exception of my adults, many of my students are in school. My expectation is that the student is very motivated to play, becomes excited as their new skills emerge, and starts to enjoy the process of learning new techniques with scales,chords and songs. The reality is that new students are often surprised that guitar is a discipline that requires a very high level of dedication and steady practice). Finger tips will hurt, notes will buzz, rattle, and hum, and only time and concentration will conquer early lesson doubts and frustration. Students should try and practice at least 2 times during the week, absolutely NOT on the day of the lesson (sore fingers), for at least 1 to 2 hours in total. Most of the early time is spent just finding how to generate a good tone on the instrument and in keeping it in tune.
I will always do my best make sure the student knows their assignment/task for the week before leaving the lesson.
HAVE FUN!:
Hopefully my new students recognize they'll be learning a skill they can keep for the rest of their lives. I've had several students go on to take music classes in high school and college, form their own groups, perform at school events, and actively perform in the Raleigh area. I'm proud to say a few have gone on to become professional teachers and musicians themselves. Some have even had incredible experiences of performing in other countries on school or mission trips, or at family gatherings.
My base philosophy is that learning a musical instrument (with all the discipline that goes with that) should be something you WANT to do, not HAVE to do. I make every effort to keep our time together relaxed and fun.
As always, please let us know if you have any questions or anything we can help with. We look forward to a long musical journey. - Rob [revised January 2024]