Main Cello Lessons Page Cello Essentials for Students About the Teacher Return to MusicWords Home

Policies for Cello Lessons

Payment & Scheduling. There is no charge for an initial "get acquainted" lesson. At this meeting, the student (and the parent of a young student) will have a chance to meet me, learn a little about my approach to teaching, and ask questions. I will listen to the student play, perhaps make a few suggestions, and choose or recommend some appropriate music for the student to begin studying. Prospective students should bring their instrument to the initial lesson.

If they have never played the cello before, the initial lesson will include numerous tips on caring for the instrument.

Each student has one lesson each week, each lesson lasting half an hour. Students should make an effort to arrive five minutes early for the lesson, so that they can be ready to begin at the appointed time. A student who arrives late will receive a short lesson.

The cost is $30 per lesson. Payment must be made by check for the entire month at the first lesson of the month ($120 for months in which there are four lesson days, $150 for months in which there are five). There will be no refund for short lessons or missed lessons. If the first lesson of the month is missed without notice, the cost of the remaining three lessons is still $120.

Unfortunately, I'm not able to offer a refund for missed lessons. (An allowance will be made, naturally, for new students who start their lessons after the beginning of the month.)

Lesson times cannot be "held" without payment and resumed at a later date, but I will attempt to accommodate unusual situations such as extended illnesses where possible.

If the student's normal lesson day falls on a holiday, the lesson for that day will be skipped, and the charge for the month's three remaining lessons will be reduced by $30. If a lesson has to be skipped because I have an unavoidable scheduling conflict, I'll let you know well in advance, and you can choose whether to ask for a refund, or take a credit toward the following month's lessons. With a minimum of two days' advance notice, it is sometimes possible to reschedule an upcoming lesson. Please feel free to ask, but please also understand that I may not be able to accommodate rescheduling requests. Missed lessons can never be rescheduled after the fact.

Lessons will normally be scheduled on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday between 2:00 and 6:00 P.M. or on Saturday between 10:00 and 3:00. The weekday lessons are at Fine Fretted Friends in Livermore, the Saturday lessons at Ingram & Brauns Musik Shoppe in Pleasanton. Evening lessons on Monday and Wednesday may become available in the fall of 2008.

Parent Participation. If you're the parent of a student and you're curious about what happens during lessons, you can come in at any time, sit quietly, and listen. Your participation is not required, however (as it would be in Suzuki teaching). If you'd like to take a more active part in helping your student learn about music, please feel free to consult with me about good ways to do this.

If you have any questions or concerns about these policies, or about your student's progress, please feel free to discuss them with me. I can be reached at 925-447-2906, or by email at editor@musicwords.net.