Music Lesson FAQs
What types of music lessons do you offer?
- Guitar
- Ukelele
- Drums
- Electronic Music Production
- Studio Recording
What to expect at your music lesson?
Ages 6+ are ready for music lessons. Students under 8 who want to learn guitar might be better suited to learning the Ukulele. Guitar and drum students need to be able to focus on a single drill or exercise for three minutes with minimal interruptions.What ages do you teach?
I teach students 8+. I do make exceptions for students that highly motivated and focused.
Students need the ability to focus on a single exercise for 3-5 minutes with minimal interruption.
Where do you teach?
The learning studio is in my home in North Round Rock. I can teach at your location for an additional fee.How hard is it to learn to play an instrument?
Like with so many things, it depends. Drums, for example, are easy at first but get progressively harder quickly. Guitar is on the other end of the spectrum. It’s hard at first then gets progressively easier.
How fast a student progresses depends on motivation. Highly motivated students who practice regularly will develop faster. For students who don’t practice, much of our lesson time will be spent practicing. I’ve seen some beginner guitar students progress rapidly in a few months while others progress slowly. The difference is how much they practice. As a teacher, I can’t emphasize the importance of practice. As a minimum, students should have AT LEAST 30-minutes of focused practice time each day.
How long are lessons?
You have the option for 30-, 45-, or 60-minute lessons. I recommend 45-minute lessons.How much do lessons cost?
- 30 minutes – $30
- 45 minutes – $45
- 60 minutes – $60
Do you offer group lessons?
Group lessons can be effective for siblings, friends, and family. Pairs of students that are the same age, skill, and maturity level tend to do well. Please contact me to discuss if this is of interest.How is payment handled?
All billing is done via Forte Lessons for payments. There’s no platform fee when using my referral code. Lessons are charged one-at-a-time at the end of the lesson.What if I can’t make a lesson?
Life happens! Please be aware that I spend time prior to our time crafting the most effective lesson. In addition, that time is reserved for the student. Please don’t cancel because there was a lack of practice. We can use the time to practice and review the material.
Please contact me 24 hours in advance if you know you can’t make a lesson. We can reschedule or cancel the lesson without cost.
“No shows” or cancelling same day is billable at the scheduled rate.
Will there be public performance options?
Yes! Once the student is comfortable, we can attend an open mic at a local venue. We usually play 1-3 songs. These are generally in the evening.What do I need for a lesson?
All students need the following basics
- Metronome There are great apps for phones and tablets that work well. (Amazon Link)
- 3-Ring Binder To organize lesson handouts and sheet music. (Amazon Link)
Essentials for Guitar Students
- A Guitar — For young beginner students, I recommend an electric or a nylon string acoustic guitar. Steel-string acoustic guitars are hard for small and young hands. However, if that’s what you have, don’t buy something else! We can work with it but be aware it can be a bit more uncomfortable and will require more practice to build finger strength. I can provide recommendations within your budget during our first lesson.
- Humidifier for Acoustic Guitars — D’Addario makes two excellent options. The GHP Acoustic Guitar Humidifier (Amazon Link) and the Humidipak system (Amazon Link).
- Bag or Case — Please transport your instrument in a bag or a case. Not only does it protect your instrument, but it also protects items from inevitable contact.
- Capo — the D’Addario Pro Plus (Amazon Link) or NS Tri Action capo (Amazon Link). These are great because they have an adjustable tension spring. Other capos will over-tension the strings and make the guitar sound out of tune.
- Guitar Picks — Any standard medium-weight pick will do. (Amazon Link)
- Tuner — Make sure you turn the power off on the tuner when done. The batteries drain fast! (Amazon Link)
- Short Fingernails on the Left Hand
- Recommended Books
- Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method 1 - Expanded Edition (Amazon Link)
- Visual Guitar Theory (Amazon Link)
- Guitar Aerobics (Amazon Link)
Essentials for Ukulele Students
- A Ukulele — Please contact me for recommendations.
- Bag or Case — Please transport your instrument in a bag or a case. Not only does it protect your instrument, but it also protects items from inevitable contact.
- Tuner (Amazon Link)
- Short Fingernails on the Left Hand
- Recommended Book
- Hal Leonard Ukulele Method Book 1 (Amazon Link)
Essentials for Drum Students
- Sticks - Size 5A (Amazon Link)
- Flat shoes (without a loose heel). Please do not wear flip flops to drum lessons.
- Recommended Books
- Hal Leonard Drum Set Method (Amazon Link)
- Drum Aerobics (Amazon Link)
- Mel Bay Drum Method Book 1 (Amazon Link)