Lessons
Suzuki Style - Short Term - My Studio Policies & FAQ - What You Need

UPDATE February 18, 2022:
​I continue to offer a combination of online and in-person lessons. In person lessons are held outdoors in Monrovia, weather permitting, with hand sanitizing, masks, and all eligible persons vaccinated before beginning in-person lessons.


What does this mean?
Text me if you need to switch this week's lesson from in-person to online, or vice versa! I will contact you if I need to change a lesson due to weather or other concerns.

For group classes & private lessons online, I'll send a Zoom link. The Zoom link will remain the same throughout each semester. Or, for private lessons, we can arrange to meet on a different video calling platform (Facetime, Skype, Google, etc.), depending on what works best for you.

I'm happy to spend extra time with you to help you get familiar with how to set up your tech for online learning.
In general, here are some tips for a better experience:
  • use the device you have with the largest screen and the highest processing power.
    • Best choice is usually a desktop computer (because of large screens and higher processing power)
    • Consider using a wired adaptor - not a wireless/bluetooth connection - to mirror your screen to a large tv!
  • use a high speed reliable internet connection.
    • wired ethernet is better than wifi;
    • limit or completely kick off other people on your network during your lessons or classes (depending on your connection)
    • close all windows or background tabs and apps other than what you're actively using for the lesson (to free up processing power)
  • clean the smudges off your camera/webcam lens with a soft clean cloth (like what's good for cleaning eyeglasses)
  • place brighter sources of light (window, lamps) in front of you (and behind the camera) so I can see you. If there are windows behind you, pull the curtains closed. Adjust your camera angle so I can see your head, shoulders, instrument, and hands.
  • an external mic, if you have one, will very likely allow me to hear you better than the built in one on your device.
  • headphones or earbuds, if you leave one ear uncovered, (or external speakers), may help you hear me better

If you'd like to take lessons with me, here are some other things you'll need to know:

  1. When are lessons and classes? I offer lessons and group classes Mon-Wed & Sat. during the school year with breaks at Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year's, the week of Presidents' Day, and the week before Easter. Summer lessons are offered when I am in town, and can be scheduled around trips & vacations. 
  2. Where are lessons and classes? 
    • Group classes meet on Zoom. Private essons typically meet using Zoom, but students may arrange to use another platform such as Facetime, Skype, Slack, Google Meet, etc.
    • When available, lesson and class videos are shared online via private, password protected Vimeo showcases.
    • In-person lessons 
      • Private lessons take place outdoors at my home studio in Monrovia. When it is safe to return to group classes, they will be offered in Pasadena.
      • In-person lessons can be mixed with distance/online lessons as needed. For example, if a student needs to be out of town, if a commute is longer than practical for weekly driving, or for those who are recovering from being sick and may be contagious, during their regular lesson time.
      • I will continue to offer distance lessons online after the pandemic is over. Regular distance lessons can take place online for older students who have no options for local teachers in their area.
  3. What if someone needs to miss a lesson? 
    1. ​Up to 3 times a year, if you give me at least 24 hours' notice, you can reschedule a private lesson to one of my other open time slots during the school year, or defer it to a summer lesson.
    2. However, I don't guarantee that my summer availability will match yours. Any deferred lessons that aren't used expire at the end of the summer.
    3. There are no makeups for lessons cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice. However, if you need to cancel with less than 24 hours' notice (or if you need to cancel more than 3 lessons in a year) you can redeem some value from the time slots you're paying for if, before the start of the missed lesson, you send me a recording of your latest piece or etude. I will spend your lesson time watching or listening to your recording and will send you feedback and customized advice so that you can continue to make progress even though you could not attend a live lesson.
  4. How frequent/long are lessons?
    1. ​During the school year, private lessons and group classes each occur weekly (making for a twice a week commitment). Summer lessons can be scheduled more or less frequently, with more flexibility depending on vacation schedules.
    2. I currently schedule private lessons based on student's age and level. You'll notice that I give about 20 minutes leeway for each lesson level, and that the length of lesson for each level overlaps: Beginners (20-40 minutes), Intermediate (35-55 minutes) and Advancing students (50-70 min). This is because each week you may receive a different length of time, depending on attention span, endurance, the type of skill we are currently working on, or the amount of practice you were able to put in the previous week. All of my lesson lengths are approximations. When taking lessons with me, please be prepared to be flexible with start and end times, and with lesson length. 
  5. Who attends lessons? 
    1. For children (under 18): In addition to the student and the teacher, a parent or other loving adult in the student's life attends the lesson alongside the student. This adult practice partner takes notes, pictures, and records part of each lesson, in order to support the student's home practice sessions. In essence, it is not the child who takes lessons, but a 2 person team (child+loving adult) who take the lessons together.
    2. For minors taking in-person lessons: NO PARENT or GUARDIAN Present = NO LESSON, NO REFUND, NO VIDEO CONSULTATIONS, & NO RESCHEDULING; no exceptions.
    3. For those taking online lessons: Your lesson may be RECORDED and stored ONLINE. While common privacy precautions (such as using private YouTube channels or password protected Vimeo pages) will be taken, there are no privacy guarantees online, and students (or parents of minor students) must agree to this before taking online lessons. 
    4. Siblings are welcome at in-person lessons if they do not distract the student (bringing homework, a book, or something quiet to do during the lesson is a good idea for children who need to wait through a sibling's lesson).
    5. For adults (18 or older): A parent, guardian or practice partner is not required, however many beginners find that encouragement and support from a friend or family member is helpful. Any student is welcome to bring an observer, carer, driver, family member or other personal assistant to their lesson as needed or convenient.
    6. For all: There may be other people observing your lessons. You may be asked to quietly observe other student's lessons.
  6. At what age can I/my child begin lessons?
    1. Because each family is different, I ask that I be allowed to meet and interact with a young child and their adult practice partner, before assessing whether or not a child is ready to begin viola or violin lessons. 
    2. I have taught violin and viola to child-adult teams where the child is as young as 3 years old. While I might consider a 2-year old with an adult practice partner who is interested, most children under age 3 aren't ready. I have no upper age limit for teaching adults. For children between ages 0 and 3 years & 11 months of age, I highly recommend attending SECE classes before signing up for private lessons on violin or viola.
    3. Many children begin in the age 4-7 range; some earlier, some later. Most children over the age of 8 are developmentally ready for the discipline of violin or viola music lessons. Most children under the age of 3 are not developmentally ready. The younger a student, the more hands-on and intense the parent participation required. 
    4. 3 year olds are more likely to be ready for lessons if they have attended a Suzuki Early Childhood Education class for several months or years, and if they have been constantly exposed to older siblings, parents, cousins, or other household members who practice and listen to music in the child's home on a daily basis.
  7. What about tuition, or other costs?
    1. Tuition is pre-paid to reserve your spot in lessons and classes.
    2. The price to reserve individual lesson time slots ranges between $38 (beginners) and $80 (advancing students), depending on the students' level & lesson length. Tuition for group classes ranges between $120-$300 per semester.  
      1. Payment in installments can be arranged if needed, but a 10% discount for the entire school year applies to those who pay for 25 or more lessons in one (single) installment at the start of the school year.
      2. You will also be responsible for paying group class tuition by the semester if appropriate for the students' age & level. I offer an additional 4% off of private lessons for those who are concurrently enrolled in my group classes. Summer lessons are pay-as-you-go.​
    3. Other costs of taking music lessons include instrument purchase or rental, instrument maintenance, sheet music & recordings, and various other supplies (see What You Need).
    4. Are music lessons a high priority but also a significant financial hardship for your family? If so, please ask me about alternative payment arrangements or financial aid. As a child, I not only benefitted from my parents' exchanging services instead of paying full tuition to my music teacher, but I also received both need-based and merit-based financial aid to study music. I would love to pay it forward where there is a need - and help you teach your children about the concept of paying things forward, too!
  8. Can we enroll in your private lessons and not participate in a group? No, nott if a group class is available for your age and level. In order to learn efficiently, violin or viola students need both customized teaching (private lessons) and social motivation (group classes, orchestra or chamber music). 
    1. There are things that private lessons can't cover (how to play in ensembles)
    2. Similarly, there are things that group classes can't cover (customized techniques and an individual pace designed to fit a student's unique personality, learning style, body type, and musical instrument)
    3. Those who get both private lessons and a group or ensemble experience every week learn their music more thoroughly, learn a larger number of things in less time, and (consequently) get to have more fun with more challenging and more satisfying music much sooner in life.
    4. Adding group classes to private lessons makes financial sense: group lessons are a fraction of the cost of private lessons but they can easily double or triple the effectiveness of private lessons.
    5. Playing the viola or violin is hard enough! Why make it harder by depriving yourself of the rewards of your hard work? Playing music with others - yes, even if it's "just" online - is the one of the best, most meaningful musical experiences you can have. It provides inspiration, motivation, encouragement and a drive to improve. It is fun to work hard with other people, show off what you've learned, and cheer each other on. It's boring, tedious and depressing to only ever improve yourself alone, and never show anyone but your teacher the results of your work.
  9. Are there materials fees? You will need to purchase or rent a good quality instrument outift of the proper size. Please bring any instrument to me for inspection before purchasing it. (Beware the "VSO"!) You are responsible for instrument maintenance (I will recommend qualified repairpersons when necessary), and you are responsible for obtaining the sheet music and audio recordings recommended at the lessons.
  10. Are there any performance fees? For performances of any kind, please plan to pay your accompanist for any extra rehearsal time that I don't provide for you. Concert hall rental and other sundry fees for my recitals are included in your tuition rate, except for the SMAC-LA graduation concerts or SMAC-OC festival concerts, which do require an extra fee.
  11. So you teach both viola and violin?
    1. ​Yes, at the beginning & lower intermediate (Suzuki books 1-4) levels, I teach technique & repertoire (how to play the instrument), I teach Creative Ability Development (improvisation), and I teach music theory & musicianship (how to read & understand sheet music & charts) on both violin & viola. 
    2. Beyond the Suzuki book 4 level, I teach viola technique & repertoire. Violin students beyond the Suzuki book 4 level who are interested in Creative Ability Development (improvisation) or Theory & Musicianship (reading & analyzing music) can schedule lessons with me if they are also continuing to study violin technique & repertoire with a violinist.
  12. What if the student (or someone in the student's family) gets sick? Please do not physically attend the lesson if you are ill, contagious, or have recently been exposed to a contagious disease; or if you know you've been recently exposed to lice or bedbugs and you have not yet ensured that your hair and clothing are completely insect-free.
    1. Distance lessons can be arranged online if the student and practice partner are up to taking a lesson but may be contagious (or need to stay home to keep an ill or contagious family member out of my music studio).
    2. Video consultations, including customized feedback and practice recordings, can be arranged if a live online lesson is not practical.
    3. Practice partners may attend the lesson without the student if a child is ill and can stay home alone but the practice partner is not contagious.
    4. Up to 3 times a year, if you give me at least 24 hours' notice, I'm happy to try to find a mutually agreeable time to re-schedule the lesson.
  13. Is it OK to use phones, laptops, tablets, or other devices during the lesson? 
    1. If you're the student, or if you're the practice partner, and it directly relates to the lesson, YES! For example...
      1. Are you using a tablet to display your sheet music at home? Use it during the lesson, too.
      2. Need an app to help you tune at home? Using a metronome app at home when you practice? Show me how you use it. 
      3. ​​A great way for parents or practice partners to use your phone or other mobile device is to take pictures of your child's and teacher's posture, and record short audio clips or videos of the week's practice assignments, to watch at the start of each practice session at home! You can also take notes on how to practice for the week.
    2. If you're the student or practice partner, and it doesn't relate to the lesson, NO. For example...
      1. The lesson is not an appropriate time for students or their practice partners to answer a social phone call, compose a text message, email, tweet, or use social media, etc., unless it directly relates to the lesson currently being taught.
      2. Got an emergency? Need to be on call as a family carer or for work during your lesson? Please interrupt the lesson to let me know that you need to communicate with someone else. We will wait - or cancel the rest of the lesson if needed. 
    3. If you're at a lesson but you're not the student or practice partner (like a sibling), and the app does not distract the student, YES. If the app makes sounds, or if the app distracts the student, NO.
  14. Are there performances? All students are expected to attend recitals or group concerts and perform at least once a year. (More if possible!) Group classes also perform together on larger concerts, once or twice a year. During the Covid-19 pandemic, performances and recitals are held online, and students are welcome to invite family members to watch our online performances!
  15. What can we do to support the quality and speed of our learning? I strongly encourage attending local concerts and participating in a summer Suzuki institute or other summer music camp for an extra "boost" in learning, or finding supplementary online musical classes or events to support your learning - along with checking through the 8 points in the next question.
  16. What if we don't seem to be making progress? Here's my eight-step self help trouble-shooting guide:
    1. Do you like the sound of your instrument when it is played by competent professional musicians? Is your instrument playable? (Are your strings new, do you have a good quality bow, is your rosin fresh enough, is your setup comfortable, do you have all the accessories and tools and modifications you need in order to make the sounds you're trying to make? Ask me if you're not sure!)
    2. Are you attending lessons and classes regularly (i.e. on average twice a week)?
    3. Are you listening to professional musicians perform (live or recorded) every day?
    4. Do you regularly practice on consecutive days with a good night's sleep in between? Are you physically healthy (drink enough water, eat a balanced diet most days, move/exercise regularly)?
    5. Do you practice the particular, customized assignments given (specifically) to you or to your class by your teacher(s)?
    6. Do you watch other students learning music on a regular basis (at least once a week)?
    7. Do you practice both individually (alone), and socially (together with friends who are also studying music)?
    8. You must do these things over sustained seasons of time (i.e. years). If you are doing all of these things and are still dissatisfied with your progress, let's talk! There may be other more complex issues in play.
  17. What are lessons like? Prospective students are invited to observe me teaching a lesson before signing up to begin! If observing isn't practical, a trial lesson can be arranged. You can also read what I have to say about my teaching style or read excerpts my students and colleagues have written about me.
  18. What if we need or want to stop taking lessons with you?  Although I do occasionally take on short term students, most of my students study with me on a long-term basis. If you know how long you'll be taking lessons, please tell me before the first lesson what you anticipate your last lesson date to be. If you are a long-term student with no pre-set "end" date, here's the etiquette on How to Quit, How to Take a Break, (or how to change teachers) after you've pre-paid for lessons:
    1. Please LET ME KNOW at least four(4) lessons in advance, so we can schedule a last lesson date, and so I have time to fill your spot (or adjust my budget to handle the decrease in income).
    2. Tuition is due for the four (4) lessons following the date you notify me, regardless of whether or not you take those lessons. If you have pre-paid the discounted price for 25 or more lessons, but suddenly discover you need to move out of town, or you decide to change instruments or teachers, or start at a new school or a new job that requires more of your time, etc., then I'll calculate the regular, non-discounted tuition rate for all the lessons you've reserved up through four (4) lessons after I'm notified, and will refund whatever you've paid over that amount.
    3. If you need to quit only because you have unexpected financial difficulties and cannot (for example) both feed, house and clothe your family and also pay for music lessons, please ask me about alternative payment/barter arrangements. I have been the recipient of need-based financial aid, tuition work-study discounts, and merit-based scholarships in my own music education, and would be happy to pay it forward - and help you teach your child about paying it forward to others when they are older, too! I am especially happy to work out a way to continue for a student who wants lessons and will practice, but who can't afford my current tuition rates - especially if I already have a working relationship with the student!


~ I reserve the right to dismiss any family at any time. If I need to stop teaching you, I will try to provide a recommendation for a new teacher, and any pre-paid lessons not yet received will be re-funded.
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~ Please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions about these or other logistical things BEFORE you schedule or attend your next lesson.