NOTE: I am not accepting new students at this time. However, you may still find the information on my "General Info" page helpful if you are thinking about learning guitar or piano.
When it comes to taking lessons, there is more to discuss than you can imagine. This section is simply extra information that is probably more appropriately titled, "Questions You May Not Have Thought to Ask But May Want to Know Anyway." But I think FAQ is easier than QYMNHTTABMWTKA, don't you?
That's a very important question! It's so important, that I have a separate, downloadable pdf to answer your question (requires Adobe Reader to view).
I share your concern. But I am also concerned about chemicals from products such as Lysol, which can also be irritating and harmful. So, instead, I use a wonderful little disinfectant called Pursue that kills just as many germs and is much better for people who are chemically sensitive. I regularly disinfect my keyboard, especially when a child has been coughing.
Speaking of coughing, please teach your kids to cough into their arms, not their hands, since we use our hands to play piano!
Yes! Participation in recitals is optional but STRONGLY encouraged. Students who have been taking lessons for less than 3 months will not be expected to perform.
Details will be different every time, but usually my plan is to have one recital in the summer and one in the winter. Location may vary. My goal is to keep every recital free for all guests, but I cannot guarantee that at this point. Rest assured, if there is a charge, it will be negligible.
I tend to leave most of the disciplining to the parent; I do not slap or otherwise inflict any physical pain on any of my students. I have other ways of dealing with them. I'll bet what you're really wondering is, "Are you patient enough to take my kid?" Well, I don't exactly encourage children who have a pattern of misbehavior to sign up, so you may need to consider very carefully whether your child has the attention span and self-restraint required to sit through a half-hour lesson, but you can at least know that I am a very patient teacher. I have never blown up at any of my students before.
As soon as there's 24 and a half hours in a day! And that's assuming you snatch up the extra spot before one of my other close friends does... Until then, you'll have to pay like everyone else. Sorry. I love you guys! :)
Opus is Latin for "work" (as in a musical work). The works of composers are often given opus numbers, usually in the order that they are published. As a teacher, I want to help people move towards their first opus, hence the name, Opus 1 Studios!
No, I do not. Sorry!
Yes! I offer free broadband wireless internet access while your children take lessons. I will need your laptop's MAC address, and you will need to get the encryption key from me because it is a secured system. Please keep in mind that I cannot guarantee any of the following:
Please keep in mind that the initial setup may take some time (these things rarely work smoothly without a little effort up front), though after that it should continue to work normally from week to week. Whatever time we spend trying to get your laptop set up on the wireless network will come straight out of your child's lesson time for that week. I cannot delay my other students' lessons due to technical difficulties. If you want to make sure your child gets a full lesson for that week, then you can schedule a separate time with me so I can help get you set up on the wireless network (a flat fee of $5.95 plus tax will apply).