Clarinet Studio Policies

Materials

Necessities

1. Instrument

2. Swab

3. Cork Grease

4. Reeds + Case

5. Music

6. Practice Journal

7. Willingness to Try/Improve

8. Metronome + Tuner

All students are expected to bring all but a metronome/tuner to every lesson.

Upkeep

Clarinets need care and love just like people. Keep your clarinet playing its best by being gentle, patient, and thorough with the assembly, disassembly, and cleaning.

In the event your clarinet isn’t working the way it should, please contact the shops below and explain the problem in detail.

Better Than New

Travis Goldberg

https://www.btnbandrepair.com/

Phone: 512-388-7774

The Woodwind Shop

Nicki Cutean

Phone: (512) 440-0915‬

Email: woodwindsatx@sbcglobal.net

Strait Music South

https://www.straitmusic.com/

Phone: (512) 476-6927

Practicing

Personal practice is essential for improving your skills as a musician and as a clarinetist. Every student as part of my studio must commit themselves to practicing and making it a regular part of their weekly routine.

Minimum & Recommended Practice Time

• 6th/Beginners

  • Minimum: 2 sessions/week — 10 minutes

  • Recommended: 3 sessions/week — 15 minutes

• 7th/8th

  • Minimum: 3 sessions/week — 15 minutes

  • Recommended: 4 sessions/week — 25 minutes

• 9th/10th

  • Minimum: 3 sessions/week — 20 minutes

  • Recommended: 5 sessions/week — 35 minutes

• 11th/12th

  • Minimum: 4 sessions/week — 25 minutes

  • Recommended: 5 sessions/week — 45 minutes

Here are a few takeaways from my 20+ years playing clarinet: 

1. Practice time doesn't count class, band rehearsals, or lessons. We can improve our playing the most with minimal distractions.

2. Don't cram all your practice into the day before your lesson/performance/audition! Plan ahead, and spread your practice out over the week(s) into smaller, more manageable chunks.

3. Lessons can only show you the way, like Google Maps. It's up to you to take yourself there.

It’s my job to ensure every student has a chance to succeed. I promise that I will work with every one of my students to find a practice regimen that works for them. I also reserve the right to suspend any student not meeting their minimum practice requirements.

Lessons & Absence

Lessons are weekly throughout the year, excluding holidays.

Every student will have around 25-32 per school year (not including summer), but it changes depending on the school or location of lessons.

An absence is excused if at least 24 hours notice is given by a parent (e.g. leaving a voicemail, texting, etc), there is an extenuating circumstance (e.g. illness, injury, emergency), or I cancel. An excused absence lesson does not count towards the lesson total and is eligible for a make-up.

An absence is unexcused if the student is on a field trip, leaves their instrument at home, or notice is not given. An unexcused absence does count towards the lesson total and is not eligible for a make-up.

Invoices & Payment

Invoices are sent on the last week of each month for the following month They are due the first week of the next month and run from September through May.

Invoices are a flat-rate tuition. The total cost for all the lessons in a semester is evenly divided over the nine months of lessons.

For example:
(Cost of Lessons x 30 lessons per year) / 5 months = Monthly Payment

Invoices are sent via email using a service called Wave Apps. This email links to Wave’s site where you can pay via bank account or debit/credit card. If you wish to pay using another method, please specify that in the drop-down box below.

Pricing + Fees

≤24 minute lessons are $34 per lesson.

30 minute lessons are $34 per lesson. (Beginners & Middle Schoolers)

45 minute lessons are $51 per lesson. (Middle and High Schoolers)

60 minute lessons are $68 per lesson. (High Schoolers and Adults)

In-home lessons are an additional $15 (if outside 78748) and are scheduled on a case-by-case basis.

If a payment is late, a $15 fee will be added to that invoice.

If payment is not received by the next month, lessons will be suspended until payment is recieved.

Make-ups & Credit

Make-Up lessons are scheduled on an as-needed basis.

If lessons are still owed at the end of the year, they

Lesson credits will reset every fall, i.e. credits not redeemed during the spring semester or summer cannot be redeemed the next school year.

Ending Lessons

A written notice (by a parent/guardian) is required for the cessation of lessons. Lessons will continue for the remainder of the month.
Payment is expected for the month of cancellation.

Summer Lessons

Summer Lessons are not required but are highly encouraged. They can be less regular and take place at Anderson High, my home, Zoom, or elsewhere.

Students who take summer lessons will receive priority in scheduling for the next school year.