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Got questions
about your music lessons? Need advice on buying a guitar? We're here to
help!
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| What We Do |
Deciding To Take Lessons |
Private Lessons |
Group Classes |
School Policies |
Buying A Guitar |
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What
We Do
I’m
a total beginner—can you help?
We
teach students of all levels, including the total beginner. Our teachers
have all the patience it takes and will show you in a fun, easy way everything
you need to know to get you playing the music you love as soon as possible.
I’m
an advanced player/professional—what can you do for me?
Our
faculty members are active in the entire spectrum of professional musical
activities: concerts, club gigs, solo performances, sideman work, session
work, recording, film scoring, soundtrack composition, pit work and more.
As such, their skills are finely honed and they can help you work on specific
skills or simply bring your playing to the next level.
What
do you teach?
We
teach both instrumental technique and musicianship in a broad range of
musical styles.
Instruments:
guitar, bass, piano/keyboards, voice, strings, winds, drums, digital recording
and more!.
Musicianship:
ear training, music theory, sight reading, sight singing, songwriting,
composition, arranging, and more.
Styles:
rock, jazz, classical, flamenco, blues, country, folk, fingerstyle, Brazilian,
latin, funk, r&b, fusion, heavy metal, thrash, ska, worldbeat, and
more.
Do
you teach children?
We
have specialists in childhood musical education that will introduce you
child to music in a fun yet effective way. We have students as young as
5 years old, and we tailor the lessons to the child’s attention span and
level of dexterity and coordination.
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Deciding
to Take Lessons
Which
is better for me: a group class or private lessons?
It
depends on your level of playing, your schedule, and the pace at which
you like to learn. Most of our classes are oriented towards beginners and
advanced beginners, although we do offer more advanced workshops at different
times of the year (please see our group class page for our current class
schedule).
Classes
are fun and easygoing while teaching you the practical skills you need
to be able to play. We keep our class sizes small so that everyone can
get some individual attention. If you are able to commit to the day and
time of the class for the 5-10 weeks that the class lasts, it can be an
ideal way to get your feet wet in the topic of the class.
Private
lessons are tailored to your individual goals and musical preferences,
and progress at your own pace of learning. They have the added benefit
that you can schedule them at a time that’s convenient for you.
Is it too late for me to take up an
instrument?
It’s
never too late to learn an instrument. Whether you start at age 6 or age
60, whether you’re just starting out or just turning pro, music can enrich
your life, no matter how well you play. All you need is a little determination
and some proper guidance, and we’re happy to help!
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What
if I don’t have the time or discipline to practice every day?
We’re
not going to tell you that you don’t have to practice. Of course you do.
But it doesn’t take monk-like dedication to enjoy playing an instrument.
There’s plenty of progress to be made with as little as half an hour a
day. And if you miss a day, nobody’s going to make you sit in the corner.
We’re here to help, not judge.
Besides,
practice doesn’t have to be the tedious chore you thought it was when you
were a kid. Now that you’ve grown, you’re more likely to find it a time
of relaxation, stimulation, and meditation. With our help, you can make
your practice time the best part of the learning process; the fun part,
something you can look forward to every day.
How
long will it take me to be able to play?
A
lot of it depends on what your goals are, how much you practice, and the
pace at which you’re comfortable learning. We get you playing music as
soon as possible, at whatever level you’re able to play. As long as you’re
getting pleasure, there’s no need to hurry the learning process.
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Private
Lessons
Do
I need to bring my own instrument for my private lessons?
We
have guitars and basses that we can lend you if you don’t want to carry
your instrument with you. However, it’s always preferable to use your own
instrument whenever possible.
How
do I choose a teacher?
Call
or come in and talk to us. Tell us about yourself. Tell us what you want
to accomplish. We’ll recommend one or more teachers for you that you can
either meet in person or speak with on the phone. If you’re comfortable,
you can start right away. If you’re not, we’ll introduce you to another
teacher. We want you to be completely at ease.
You
can also check our faculty pages and decide for yourself. In either case,
our staff is always available to answer all of your questions.
What
days and times are lessons available?
We
have teachers available Monday through Saturday, from about 10:00
am until 10:00 pm. We also offer Sunday lessons in some cases.
Can
I change teachers or study with more than one teacher?
The
lesson packages you buy apply to anything we offer in the school: you can
change teachers for any reason at any time and you can study with more
than one teacher in any combination (for example, classical and jazz guitar,
voice and guitar, piano and guitar, songwriting and piano, bass and voice
etc.). Feel free to call or come by the office any time so we can help
you customize your course of study.
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Group
Classes
Do
I need to prepare anything before the first day of class?
All
you need to bring for your first day of class is your instrument, a notebook,
and your enthusiasm. We take care of the rest. (For guitar classes, you
do want to make sure that your nails on the hand you use on the neck of
the guitar are short).
If
I miss a class, can I make it up by taking the same class on another day?
Each
class is uniquely tailored to the people in it, and are thus not interchangeable.
Do
I need to bring my own guitar for class?
For
group classes you do need to bring your own instrument as we otherwise
wouldn’t have enough to go around for everyone.
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School
Policies
What
is your cancellation policy?
Just
as in a college course, there are no make-ups for missed group classes.
If you call and let us know that you can’t make a class, the instructor
will be happy to tape the class for you and make sure you get any material
that was handed-out.
In
the event that we cancel a class, all students will be notified by the
first day of classes. If we are unable to place you in an alternative course,
we will give you a full refund of the class fee (registration fees are
non-refundable, but if you sign up for a future class you won't have to
pay it again).
Private
lessons may be changed or canceled with one week's notice. Lessons cancelled
with less than a week's notice will be charged to your account, but you
may have a makeup lessons withing the same week if your teacher has a time
available that works for both of you.
Lessons
are good for one year from the purchase date.
What
is your refund policy? Group
classes: A refund (minus the registration fee) will be
provided before the start date of the class. Once class begins,
there are no refunds. However, if you feel that you’ve made a mistake
in signing up for a class and let us know within the first week,
we can either transfer you to another class or use your balance
towards private lessons.
Private
lessons: There are no refunds for private lessons. If you
are unable to continue your lessons, you can provide us with a written
request to either freeze your lesson balance or transfer it to a
friend.
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Buying
a Guitar
What
kind of guitar should I get?
There
are certain things you should consider in obtaining the right guitar for
you. First it depends on the style of music that you want to play. Then
you should consider the size of your hands and body.
Nylon
string acoustic guitars are right for classical or Spanish guitar, or if
you wish a smaller size body.
Steel
string acoustics come in varying sizes and are right for folk, folk-rock,
blues or other popular guitar styles.
Solid
body electric guitars are right for classic rock, blues, hard rock, and
metal. And semi-acoustic instruments such as F-hole guitars are designed
for jazz.
For
children under ten years of age, smaller size instruments are suggested.
The
school has a selection of guitars for sale, and we also have a discount
arrangement with Sam Ash Music Stores, so be sure to check with the office
before you buy.
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