FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Typically the price is $20 per lesson for individuals which is the going rate locally. When I've been able to offer group classes the price is $10 per class period. Class duration depends on the student and varies from 30-60 minutes. Group classes for kids are usually an hour while I sometimes increase that to 90 minutes with adult groups. The time also can vary depending on the attention span of the individual student. With some special needs students the lesson might have to be only 15 minutes in duration which also means the price is reduced in negotiation with the parent. With students at the Senior Activity Center no one is turned down because they can't afford the standard rate. I'm open to negotiations in such cases.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
The first meeting is to assess the students guitar skill level, the students learning potential, motivation and commitment level to regular practice. My desire is to work as best I can within the student's learning level and learning style. We make sure that the instrument the student plans to use actually fits them physically and also fits the level of music they want to learn. Beginners need a good but not expensive student level guitar. I'm open to assisting in located such an instrument as needed. The proper fit of the instrument is essential to maximize learning. A guitar that does not fit has led to many students giving up. This includes kids and adults I've worked with.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Though my college degrees are in psychology I have been involved in music since I was in the 6th grade. I had six years of choir and three years of piano during which I learned to read music. I was a student director in my high school choir and one of the musical directors of a community band made up of high school students. I'm a self taught guitarist except for the classes I took at Tech starting in 2013. For a few years I was the worship ministry leader and one of the worship leaders where I attend church. I've played guitar on the worship teams there for over 35 years. Part of that time has been used to teach younger guitarists how to blend their playing into a team situation. I've worked with our Pastor on both his guitar and worship leading techniques. I've played with a variety of local acoustic musicians in local live folk music performances. I was the only acoustic guitarist to play with the local community band, Common Ground. That was for about 8 years. The two directors both hold music degrees from Arkansas Tech. My serious use of college level home study guitar courses began in about 2012 and continues. Some of those materials have been reviewed by an ATU music professor to verify for myself that they were college level materials. Since I do not have a formal music degree I have tried to insure that the materials I study at home are of good quality. As a Visiting Artist at Tech in the guitar class I'm able to better insure that my continuing studies are up to an acceptable standard for teaching beginning and intermediate guitar students. My ongoing plan for self directed studies is to continue to have lots of fun while filling in knowledge and skills gaps as I become aware of them. My time with the Arkansas Tech Guitar Ensemble was such an endeavor. When possible I will be sitting in with the Guitar Ensemble as new classes are formed.