30 min lesson is $40 - monthly 4 lesson fee is $140 which includes a $20 discount
45 min lesson is $50 - monthly 4 lesson fee is $180 which includes a $20 discount
60 min lesson is $60- monthly 4 lesson fee is $220 which includes a $20 discount
I do 2 types of payments for the month. One is for school age children for a four-week period, and it is (in part) for the time that has been reserved. Over a 10 month school year the discount is equal to 4 free lessons, or $200 discount. The extra lesson in any five week month is just added to any 3 week month, keeping the fee the same each time. Dec and March are usually short months with Christmas and Spring break for example, so any 5 week month can be applied to one or both of those. I will always make sure you have your 4 lessons over the course of the school year.
Summer lessons just work around all of our schedules!
Adult students pay for however many lessons there will be in that month, as there is no school term scheduling to navigate. Minimum of 4 to maintain the discount.
I generally do not do last minute make up scheduling, and it is why I give the discount. The discounted lesson fees easily cover a few missed lessons over time. I will however, reschedule an occasional request that is made ahead of time for that week's lesson, as long as there is an availablility, maintaining the discount.
Twice monthly scheduling for intermediate or advanced players is available, and full fee per lesson applies. Scheduling priority and discounts are given to any student paying for a minumum of 4 lessons per month.
After school hours are reserved first for a consistent monthly scheduling (August through May school year schedule) and not occasional lessons, although I'm happy to schedule anyone in a free time slot.
For 2 children in one family, same discounts apply teaching back to back as 2 separate lessons. There is a lot of hands-on guidance needed for a correct foundation in playing habits, so I do not teach 2 beginners at the same time, although there may be some overlap.
Lessons that need to be canceled due to extreme weather or other traveling issues can still be held via Face Time, as are all long distance lessons. This is also available to do whenever an adult student wishes. This is to accommodate work requirements, etc.
Methods of payment: Cash, Check, Zelle, Cash App, Venmo. No credit cards.
Checks are written to me, not to the studio and payment (for the month) is due at the first lesson of any given month. If a first lesson is missed, it is still due by latest the 3rd of the month. Paying at the last lesson for the next month is an option; checks can be dated for the first of the upcoming month.
Single lessons can be paid at each lesson. For online lessons, any of the above cash apps will do.
New students pay full fee for that first hour, and if scheduling further, will pay for whatever lessons are left during the month they are starting, at the discounted rate.
The first lesson is always an hour ($60) to sufficiently cover many basics. This includes getting familiar with parts of the instrument, general care, and fitting a violin correctly to the student. The importance of a comfortable chin rest and shoulder rest will be discussed while each student is shown how to hold their instrument free of tension. There is a lot of information given and correct physical set up done at this time. We might go over that first hour a bit, but that's included.
Young students 6 or 7 through 9, continue with half hour lessons until ready to expand; older students should start at 45. 45 minute lessons are the minimum for adults, then longer later on if desired. After years at this, I have learned that it is just not sufficient to squeeze playing time and discussion into a half hour for adults or more experienced teen or young adult players. There are teachers who do not even offer half hours for this very reason.
All students can also receive the benefit of learning several fun Brain Gym (c) activities, which make learning anything much easier.
Violin rentals when available are at a reasonable $20.00/month. I hand out a simple rental agreement at the first lesson. If I do not have the size you need, I would refer you to the String Workshop here in Oak Ridge or any music store that rents violins in Knoxville.
Oak Ridge: The String Workshop, 225 Jackson Square, 865-483-8075; Jonathan Goldstein
Knoxville: knoxvilleviolinshop.com and Wilhitestrings.com and there are a few more.
Please note...it is generally advisable to not buy a violin until you speak to a teacher first. The quality of an instrument, although not needing to be amazing, does affect a student’s ability to learn. Your teacher is your best help and resource for that decision; not any impressive write up on Ebay or Amazon!
***Please email for any other information and scheduling***
fiddlemusik@gmail.com