Teaching Philosophy / Rates / Policy
Welcome to my teaching page! Please read all policies carefully as I do not make exceptions to them.
Once you have scheduled a lesson time with me, I log that time into my online scheduler, Miss Heather's Magical Music. This website is hosted by Acuity Scheduling. Acuity sends reminders about your lesson two days in advance of the lesson. I work primarily through parent and student referrals.
Although I prefer in-person lessons, I do offer Zoom lessons if the student doesn't feel well but still wants to do the lesson. I appreciate it when parents let me know if their children have not been feeling well prior to a lesson. Depending on the circumstances, we can decide the best course of action for that lesson (i.e. both wear masks, have that lesson via Zoom, or cancel the lesson).
About me: I am an active performer, composer, and string arranger who works with various groups in Los Angeles, as well as with my own music projects. I formally studied piano since the age of 7 and violin/viola from age 9 onward. I have a working knowledge of guitar and banjo. I have an MA in viola composition and performance from California Institute of the Arts, and a BA from Occidental College in Comparative Literature (French/English) with minors in both Music and Visual Art. Since 2011, I have taught individual and group lessons, both privately and with child orchestra organizations, at the elementary through high school level. I improvise as well as read written notes, and I compose/arrange and write songs, all of which informs my teaching. I am a grammar nerd: prior to taking on music students, I tutored writing, grammar, critical thinking, reading comp, drawing and painting (oil/acrylic/watercolor/gouache/charcoal).
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Teaching Philosophy
There are many ways to teach, depending on the students' goals and personalities. My most successful students study with me for years, and lessons are based in a grounded personal relationship that lies somewhere between teacher, mentor and fellow human being. Students have gone on to schools such as School of the Arts Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Washington University, Cornell and Berkeley. My long-term students become sophisticated not only in reading written music, but also in the very different worlds of improvising and composition. I ask that students play their instrument in a dedicated way for 5 out of 7 days of the week. I honor parental involvement, especially for younger kids.
In the lessons I focus on improvisation, basic technique/note reading/theory, composition and discovering joy in making sound no matter what the level of the student. I host bi-yearly music gatherings, which are like recitals, but fun and with pot-lucks. With English students, I work from the Newbery Award Winners list and from several core grammar and writing books.
Piano, Violin, Viola Lessons: Rates and Policy
I teach both individual and semi-private lessons in piano, violin and viola, out of my home studio near Highland Park (Los Angeles), CA. I try to help students establish and maintain a healthy technique, connecting with the body and also with the music. I understand that each student is unique, and lessons are geared toward the abilities and goals of that student. Most importantly, learning music should be fun as well as a dedicated discipline.
Topics covered, depending on student needs, include:
Improvisation/Playing by ear
Games for making up your own music
Note Reading
How to warm up before practicing
How to practice your instrument
Breathing/Support
Projection/Resonance
Articulation/Phrasing
Developing Repertoire
How to support your young musician
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Rates for Private Lessons
Monthly flat rates:
• $380/month (up to four 1-hour lessons/mo @ hourly rate of $95/lesson)
• $300/month (up to four 45-min lessons/mo @ hourly rate of $75/lesson)
• There is an additional $80/month travel fee for lessons at student's house.
Please note:
• Beginning violin and viola players have the option to do an hour lesson divided between their stringed instrument and piano.
• In-person lessons generally take place at my studio near Highland Park in Los Angeles. We can also work out locations on a case-by-case basis.
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Policy
1. Payment:
Payment for the month's lessons must be received before the first lesson of the month. No exceptions will be made to this policy. I accept Zelle transfers and cash.
2. Cancellations/rescheduling lessons:
• Please let me know at the beginning of each month if there are any lessons you will need to miss during that month, so that we can schedule a make-up date in advance. All make-up lessons must take place within the month of the missed lesson.
• If you cancel a lesson mid-month, I cannot guarantee a make-up lesson, as my schedule fills up..
• If I need to cancel a lesson, I guarantee a make-up lesson within that same month.
• Please notify me by text/phone call and email if you must cancel a lesson or need to reschedule. If you do not receive a response, it may mean I did not get the message. Please resend or call again.
• If the student is a minor, I ask that only a parent or legal guardian schedule and/or cancel lessons.
3. HEALTH PRECAUTION: If the student is feeling ill on the day of the lesson, please let me know in advance, and have the student wear a mask to that particular lesson. I will also wear a mask during that lesson. And I'll do the same with you.
6. Billing rate--Student billing rates may be adjusted at any time with one month's notice. All rates are published on this website for reference.
7. Starting time--Lessons will begin and end on time. I will wait 10 minutes if the student is late. Lessons that begin late will still end at the scheduled ending time. If student's lesson takes place at my studio, it would be much appreciated if the student would knock at the back door at the time of the lesson, not before, unless we have arranged for a different arrival time prior to the day of the lesson. My studio is in the back, so please come up the driveway at the right of the main steps to the back door.