MY PHILOSOPHY
STUDENTS ACCEPTED
RATES
PAYMENTS
STUDIO LOCATIONS
CANCELLATION POLICIES
DISCONTINUING LESSONS
MY EXPECTATIONS
HOME STUDIO POLICIES
VIOLIN PURCHASES & RENTALS
SUMMER LESSONS
RECITAL EXPECTATIONS

MY PHILOSOPHY

I have been teaching private violin lessons in San Diego since 2005.  My teaching philosophy for beginning students combines music from Suzuki, Barber Barber, and Mark O’Connor. I have a deep appreciation for the Suzuki Method, but love the Americana and fiddling songs from the O’Connor books. In recent years I have included “Solos for Young Violinists” books into my teaching curriculum. I am Suzuki Certified in Violin Suzuki Book 1 and Book 2.  have also taken the Mark O’Connor Certification Course for Book 1 and Book 2. 

Music reading and understanding basic theory is very important for students of all ages and levels. Even in Suzuki Book 1, I have my students reading and understanding the music on the page. Musical flashcards and musical computer games are great tools. I encourage and expect all my students to listen to their recordings and watch YouTube videos of all their pieces.

STUDENTS ACCEPTED

I am currently accepting violin students ages 5 and up, and all levels. I have had students that range in age from 4 to 83 years old. If your child has special needs PLEASE talk to me ahead of the first lesson so we can make sure it is a good fit.

RATES

30 minutes: $70

45 minutes: $90

1 hour: $110

PAYMENTS

Monthly lesson tuition is due In Full at the first lesson of each month. Payment in cash is preferred, but I do accept Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or check.

COVID UPDATES

I am fully vaccinated and boostered, as is my husband.

STUDIO LOCATION

My home violin studio is conveniently located in University Heights: Washington East off the 163, or Texas Street off the 8. Please note that I have two cats, in case you have any allergies. Since Covid, I have become very comfortable teaching lessons on Zoom. We can use Zoom when there is a sickness in the household, or to make scheduling easier.

I do not offer lessons every other week, and I do not drive to student’s homes for lessons. I have found that there is minimal progress when lessons are every other week.  Bad habits are formed and it is nearly impossible for a teacher to make changes as progress is very slow and limited.  Lessons every other week is frustrating in different ways for both teacher and student. After years of teaching, I have seen that students advance far better with lessons away from the comfort of home. When lessons are held at the teacher’s studio, there is a more formal and professional attitude from all involved: student, parent, and teacher.

Please note I need both parents on board- especially when parents are divorced.  For example, I cannot have a student practicing only at mom’s house, and leave the violin at home when staying with dad (or visa versa). Both parents should encourage and enforce my daily and weekly practice expectations.

CANCELLATION POLICIES

If you are running late on a lesson, please text me immediately. Do not email me. If I don’t hear from you within 15 minutes of the lesson start time, I reserve the right to leave, and you have forfeited your lesson time. Additionally, lessons cannot be made up when canceled after the set lesson time has already started. Please do not ask me to make up this type of missed lesson as I have set aside my time for your lesson.

Parents/students who cancel lessons less than 24 hours in advance will be charged in full for the missed lesson. Lessons cancelled due to sickness and emergencies can possibly be rescheduled for makeup later in the week or month, but only if I can accommodate the change in my schedule. I would be happy to work with you to reschedule your weekly lesson time if you notify me at least 24 hours in advance. Using words like “please” and “thank you” and “sorry for the inconvenience” may persuade me to accommodate.  I do not make up missed or forgotten lessons- no exceptions. Please plan ahead and TEXT me (not email) the request.

There are times when I am called to perform for an event, which may require me to reschedule your lesson. I will always notify students/parents ASAP if and when this part of my profession impacts your scheduled lesson time. Thank you for your understanding.

DISCONTINUING LESSONS

For students/parents who are changing teachers and/or discontinuing lessons mid-month, I do not refund money for unused lessons. I will gladly finish out the month of paid lessons and cannot refund money that has already been received. No exceptions. Please be considerate and give me two weeks notice, as I have your lesson time reserved for the entire year. I get lesson requests all the time from students wanting lesson times already taken. This two week period allows me to plan ahead, and time to fill the available lesson time.

Additionally, please talk to me on the phone or in person if you or your child is planning on stopping lessons. Please communicate with me before you decide to quit, if you feel I am not tough enough, or I am expecting too much from you, or your child. I would greatly appreciate this communication, so that I can continue to grow as a teacher. I have many hats that I put on as a teacher- I am not the same teacher to every single student. 

MY EXPECTATIONS

Please keep your nails clean, cut and trimmed. It is impossible to play the violin correctly with long nails. I do not want to waste our lesson time waiting for students to cut their nails. A good plan is to make sure you cut them the day before your lesson.

I expect all of my students to practice between lessons, and to listen to their songs on the CD’s and recordings I send. Please listen to the entire CD, and always be prepared for the next song in the book. Being ready for the next song should include active listening. If you have not done your homework with the listening, you are wasting precious lesson time.

Between lessons, I would be happy to view and critique any videos you have taken of yourself playing specific passages. You are also welcome to text me any question you have about the music you are playing.

Daily practice is very important for violin progress. The most important days to practice are the day after your lesson, and the day before your lesson. Please remember that 15 minutes a day is much better than cramming an hour practice right before the lesson. Practice calendars are helpful for students of all ages.

SLOW PRACTICE is always very important! Slow practice allows you to hear intonation, manage the bow, and improve your sound quality. Slow practice allows you to listen to the intonation, and immediately fix your notes. Always practice your songs slow before playing them fast. The tempos on the CDs can be extremely fast, and I do not want my students playing them so fast. I only want to hear my students playing tempos where they sound good and are in control. Slower and in control is always better than fast and sloppy. As a violinist, you are expected to always be listening and adjusting. Please do not wait for me to tell you the note is out of tune. Listen and adjust. 

Younger students under 10 years old need daily practice with help of the parent who brings them to the lessons, and cannot be expected to practice by themselves. Parents should therefore plan to watch all lessons and take notes, so they can help with practicing. If a parent cannot bring them and a grandparent or nanny needs to, please communicate with me so we can make this arrangement work.

The “Suzuki Triangle” is an equilateral triangle with Parent, Teacher, and Student equally working together. I expect the parent or parents who bring the student to their lesson to actively take notes even though I provide lesson notes. If for some reason the “practicing parent” cannot come to the lesson, then I expect whomever comes in their place to watch and take notes for the parent who cannot be there. Please inform me ahead of time if the “practicing parent” cannot come to the lesson, and let me know who will be bringing them. 

Children need encouragement and incentives for good daily/weekly/monthly practice. The rule in my house was that I could not go outside and play until I had done my practicing. I also would get a piece of candy after practice, which was a more useful tactic in the 1980’s! My parents enforced the rule, and I in turn understood their expectations of me. Today this may translate to no TV/ video games/ iPad until practicing has been started and finished. Children thrive when they understand and know the daily practice expectations. Do not expect that your child is going to want to practice. Playing the violin requires a commitment to daily practice, period.

Practicing too late in the day can be very challenging for young students. Right after school and after a snack is a perfect time to devote the energy to a good practice. Break up the practice into 2 separate sessions if concentrating for the entire practice is difficult. 

HOME STUDIO POLICIES

Parents: Please make sure that students and siblings are well mannered, respectful and calm while at my home. I do not tolerate running around and yelling and screaming in my living room. I expect parents to parent their children. During a lesson if a student is not paying attention and not being respectful, I reserve the right to end the lesson early. I am a violin teacher, not a babysitter. 

Please make sure all cellphones are turned to silent, as beeps and vibrations are disruptive. 

VIOLIN PURCHASES & RENTALS

If you are just starting the violin and have no experience PLEASE DO NOT BUY OR RENT your first violin without consulting a teacher. I cannot reiterate this enough. There are many horrible and junky violins out there on Craigslist, Ebay, Offer Up etc. Violin is hard enough to start in general, please minimize the learning curve and get a violin that will help and not hurt the process. I have seen violins come to me which are only good for firewood or for putting on the wall, and I am sadly not kidding! The rule is that you get what you pay for.  A full size violin outfit for $300 is probably not a good idea. The Violin Shop has great violin rentals. Please call the shop directly for more information.

For me as a teacher, please do not get a violin rental from Alan’s Music in La Mesa. They are a band and sheet music store, and do not have the knowledge for violin set up and quality. Likewise, any music store that has saxophones, clarinets and trumpets on the walls is not going to be a good place to get a violin.

SUMMER LESSONS

Students ages 5 through 17 are to have a minimum of 6 lessons during the summer months (June, July, August). Taking off the entire summer because it is “Summer Vacation” is a detriment to all the violin progress made throughout the year. I am happy to accommodate changes to lesson times and days for the summer. I can also do lessons over on zoom for students who are away on an extended vacation.

RECITAL EXPECTATIONS

Violin is a Performing Art. I expect all of my students to participate in recitals. Students get better, I am happier, and everyone wins. Without a goal to strive towards, progress is not made. I expect all of my students to participate, or at the very least, attend all recitals. Recitals are very important for progress for students of all ages. My younger students (under 18), are expected to participate in the recitals unless they are out of town. 

Please dress for the recital with respect: no jeans, sneakers, or flip flops. While in the audience, please be respectful by muting your cellphone, not talking or whispering, and keeping any noise to a minimum. We can hear you.

Ideally, the week before the lesson, your normal lesson will turn into a “piano lesson” with the recital piano accompanist. Please pay the pianist at the lesson. There is also an additional recital fee that ranges from $10-$30 per student, which help cover the cost of the recital rental.