STUDIO POLICY

Thank you for choosing to study cello with me. To foster a productive learning environment where students can grow musically and develop their skills, I have outlined the following policies. These guidelines are designed to ensure that students receive the maximum benefit from their lessons. Please review them carefully, and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

PRIVATE LESSONS

I teach private cello lessons both online and at my studio in Pleasanton, CA. Lessons are given once a week at a reserved time slot of 30, 45, or 60 minutes in length, depending on the student’s age and experience level.

TUITION

Tuition holds your weekly time slot in my teaching schedule throughout the year. Tuition is payable monthly and due in advance by the first day of each month. A late fee of $25 will be applied to payments made after the 10th of the month. Since the number of lessons can vary each month, please check your calendar for the amount owed. Payment may be made via Zelle (preferred), PayPal, Venmo, check, or cash.

ARRIVAL

Please arrive at least five minutes early to ensure that the lesson may begin on time. Lesson times will not be extended for late arrivals. If you are running late, please send me a text message to let me know. If you arrive early or while another lesson is finishing, please come in and sit quietly in the waiting area.

ILLNESS

Please do not come to the studio if you are sick (cough, fever, sore throat, etc.). If you feel well enough for a lesson, we can arrange an online lesson via FaceTime or Zoom. If I am sick, I will also conduct lessons online via FaceTime or Zoom. If you are recovering from an illness and still have mild symptoms, please wear a mask to your lesson.

STUDENT CANCELLATION

Each student has a lesson time reserved exclusively for them. Therefore, students are expected to attend all scheduled lessons. No credits or refunds will be given for lessons missed by the student. 

Please notify me in writing at least 24 hours in advance if you cannot attend a lesson, and I will try to reschedule the lesson during my regular teaching hours. Unfortunately, due to my busy schedule, I cannot always guarantee a make-up lesson. If a lesson is missed or canceled without 24 hours notice, the student will still be charged for the scheduled lesson and no make-up will be given. 

TEACHER CANCELLATION

If I need to cancel a lesson for any reason, it will always be rescheduled or credited. If I am sick, I will conduct lessons online via FaceTime or Zoom.

SUMMER LESSONS

Lessons are expected to continue during the summer if the student is in town. My schedule is more flexible during this time, so lessons do not necessarily have to be on the same day each week. If you’re traveling or have other commitments, we can arrange lessons around your schedule.

Unfortunately, I am unable to hold lesson times if you plan to take an extended break (1 month or longer). However, online lessons via FaceTime or Zoom are available if you are traveling.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

For younger students under 10 years old, a parent or guardian is expected to attend lessons and assist with daily practice at home. Parental involvement helps younger students stay motivated and progress effectively. As students grow older, parental attendance can gradually decrease to foster independence in their learning.

PRACTICE

I cannot stress enough the importance of daily practice for consistent progress. The best strategy is to schedule practice at a regular time each day to build a regular routine.

Suggested practice time length can vary from student to student. For young children, 2-3 hours per day is ideal to develop real ability on the instrument. For more advanced students preparing for auditions and competitions, 3-4 hours is required. For adults wanting to improve their skills, 1-2 hours is recommended.

The student’s practice space should be quiet and free from distractions.

RECITALS

There will be at least one studio recital per year, and students are encouraged to participate. A recital fee of no more than $50 will be collected before the recital to pay the accompanist and rent the recital space. Specific details about the recital will be provided as the recital date approaches.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Please bring your cello and all assigned music to every lesson. Sheet music may be purchased in-store or online at retailers such as Johnson String Instrument, Shar, Sheet Music Plus, and Ficks Music.

The student’s practice space should be quiet and free from distractions. At home, it is recommended to have the following:

  • Music stand

  • Rosin

  • Endpin stop/anchor

  • Tuner

  • Metronome

  • Chair of suitable height

Please keep fingernails trimmed to be able to play with proper technique. 

Regarding instrument maintenance, it is important to keep your instrument in good condition. Strings should be changed at least twice a year, and the bow should be rehaired at a similar frequency depending on wear. Especially with younger children, it is common for light scratches to occur on the varnish with daily use, so please visit a luthier for touch-ups as needed.